Upgrading from J to F on A380

[bossreggie]

I didn't come across any "kneel & serve" with SQ Suites in Jan 13

I have on my flights with them, however it seems to be common in many Asian countries when serving a guest.

 

[Nizar]

I didn't come across any "kneel & serve" with SQ Suites in Jan 13

I get this regularly the times I have flown SQ in J

 

[pagingjoan]

That is incredibly comprehensive thank-you. Yes it is indulgent but I don't find it embarrassing I am sure pretty much all of us on this board who indulge in F whether via cash or upgrades or business, have worked for their indulgence - don't think there are too many trust fund recipients on here. While I feel one should have a social conscience and do share with others in not such fortunate circumstances, I am also not a saint and want to enjoy what I have worked for! EK F will be happening next year as part of a trip to Africa to Singita Grumeti, I definitely will have to try SQ as well - although maybe at a lower priority. Not too sure about kneel and serve ....I love our egalitarian Aussies.

Very nicely put, Flying Mermaid!

Alas, not a whiff of a trust fund in this direction - and yes, a lifetime of hard work, and loads of NFP work as well, so I will try to remember your wise counsel, even when presented with a dedicated gate for four passengers, while the other boarding lines snake around the terminal.
The ultimate benefit for those in another long-lived thread on Premium Boarding?

And, confession time:
EK F is definitely still on my Wish List. Only in the interests of comparative research, of course. Ah ... the shower!

 

[pagingjoan]

I have on my flights with them, however it seems to be common in many Asian countries when serving a guest.

Yes, agree with that.
For that reason, it didn't bother me, any more than other culturally influenced service differences do.
It's quite likely that Asian passengers may find the QF service too informal, although it suits our preferences.

 

[bossreggie]

Yes, agree with that.
For that reason, it didn't bother me, any more than other culturally influenced service differences do.
It's quite likely that Asian passengers may find the QF service too informal, although it suits our preferences.

I agree. I prefer the more casual service offered by Qantas.

IMHO they get it right for me.

 

[legroom]

.....EK F is definitely still on my Wish List. Only in the interests of comparative research, of course. Ah ... the shower!

+1

I shared the same view there.

'Sample' I'd explain to my inner SQ guardians.

 

[Flying mermaid]

And, confession time:
EK F is definitely still on my Wish List. Only in the interests of comparative research, of course. Ah ... the shower!

Of course - how can you possibly be a member of this board if you can't report back on onboard showers - I too am keen to try it

 

[bossreggie]

Of course - how can you possibly be a member of this board if you can't report back on onboard showers - I too am keen to try it

Just proves how hopeless I am when it comes to trip reports etc.

They are more than just a novelty. It means you can leave the aircraft fresh and relaxed, rather than using an arrival lounge or waiting til you get to your hotel/home.

 

[RooFlyer]

Terrific data from bossreggie and pagingjoan - thanks!

Through a combination of points, 'in lieu' client paid J flights and hard dollars I hope to do QF, SQ and EK in F by the end of this year and will happily be comparing what seem to be the best of the best.

BTW, is the kneeling on SQ a 'cultural' thing, or just being thoughtful to the pax - so the pax doesn't need to crane their neck looking upwards to converse? Squatting on one's haunches is OK for a guy, but perhaps not so elegant (or even comfortable, or practicable in the SQ silks) for a lady?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just proves how hopeless I am when it comes to trip reports etc.

They are more than just a novelty. It means you can leave the aircraft fresh and relaxed, rather than using an arrival lounge or waiting til you get to your hotel/home.

You probably have so many you don't have time to write them all

 

[Flying mermaid]

BTW, is the kneeling on SQ a 'cultural' thing, or just being thoughtful to the pax - so the pax doesn't need to crane their neck looking upwards to converse? Squatting on one's haunches is OK for a guy, but perhaps not so elegant (or even comfortable, or practicable in the SQ silks) for a lady?

That's a good point - I generally kneel down when I talk to young children as I think it is too intimidating otherwise - I shall think of it like that....

 

[pagingjoan]

Like all those responses and points of view.
And will happily adopt the role of volunteer researcher, along with a few others here, Flying mermaid.

RooFlyer:
No need for concern for the aesthetics of the female cabin crew kneeling to talk or serve. They do it with total elegance and aplomb.
I think it could be a combination of cultural practice and ingrained courtesy.
In only one case, with an unusually "hands on" male FA, did it make me feel at all uncomfortable.

BR:
Will bow (or kneel) to your greater experience, but is the on board shower really a substitute for the real thing, once back on earth?
I do like a l...o...n...g... hot shower after a long haul flight. The EK on board fleeting spray would be an interim measure, for me, I think, to keep me going until the Lounge and a real shower. However, in the interests of replacing conjecture with fact, will just have to suffer and try it out.

 

[MH_fan]

I have only experienced F on the MH A380 (and B744) and on UA. The experience on MH was wonderful but I gather it's not in the same league as SQ or EK. Hopefully, I'll get to compare it with F on QF soon. F on UA, on the other hand, was rubbish really. Not even on par with J on some airlines.

 

[legroom]

Help needed !

I had the ex Australia F upgrade and enjoyed it very much: F lounge, tasting menu and slept soundly.

Now, for the return leg (LAX SYD), I am not so sure if it's worth the points: no F lounge, no tasting menu, night flight, already got my row 12 window seat (with its storage bin) locked in.

I have spare points but I'm not so convinced it is worth upgrading for a night flight.

What am I missing ?

FWIW, I'm not a bubbles fan !

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[tuapekastar]

Help needed !

I had the ex Australia F upgrade and enjoyed it very much: F lounge, tasting menu and slept soundly.

Now, for the return leg (LAX SYD), I am not so sure if it's worth the points: no F lounge, no tasting menu, night flight, already got my row 12 window seat (with its storage bin) locked in.

I have spare points but I'm not so convinced it is worth upgrading for a night flight.

What am I missing ?

FWIW, I'm not a bubbles fan !

Thanks for your thoughts.

If I had enough points spare such that I did not have any pressing need to utilise them elsewhere, then I'd probably apply for an upgrade. While a night flight, it is still ~15 hours so you will likely be spending a reasonable amount of time awake. Are you WP? If not you would be in J lounge at LAX vs. F (obviously not like MEL/SYD F as you say) - not sure how much difference that makes.

But I say again, I would only do it if I had no real need to use the points for something else. In J you still get lounge access, a flat and comfortable bed, and the flight has a fair portion of 'lie-flat' time.

 

[legroom]

Thanks

(Row 12 preselected seat = WP)

I am uncertain of the 'yield' per se.

If the ex AUS F upgrade is the benchmark (for 45,000 pts), then one ought to expect similar 'values' out of the return points of identical proportion.

Sure, F is always better than J - no arguments there.

The arguments are whether it is worth the same amount of points given what the 'benchmark' is.

Maybe ex AUS the values are just 'off the chart' and the return should be the benchmark for a F upgrade.

Got my drift, I hope ?

If I had enough points spare such that I did not have any pressing need to utilise them elsewhere, then I'd probably apply for an upgrade. While a night flight, it is still ~15 hours so you will likely be spending a reasonable amount of time awake. Are you WP? If not you would be in J lounge at LAX vs. F (obviously not like MEL/SYD F as you say) - not sure how much difference that makes.

But I say again, I would only do it if I had no real need to use the points for something else. In J you still get lounge access, a flat and comfortable bed, and the flight has a fair portion of 'lie-flat' time.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks

(Row 12 preselected seat = WP)

I am uncertain of the 'yield' per se.

If the ex AUS F upgrade is the benchmark (for 45,000 pts), then one ought to expect similar 'values' out of the return points of identical proportion.

Sure, F is always better than J - no arguments there.

The arguments are whether it is worth the same amount of points given what the 'benchmark' is.

Maybe ex AUS the values are just 'off the chart' and the return should be the benchmark for a F upgrade.

Got my drift, I hope ?

I personally think it is worth 45K points to upgrade from LAX.
Long flight, much better hard product.
The "yield" for a comfortable flight and a great sleep is pretty high IMHO.
I generally keep around 250-250K in my QFF account and I wouldn't hesitate to put in an upgrade request for a flight of this length.

 

[legroom]

I thought about cancellation once or twice today as T-60 would be tomorrow locally here but in the end I decided not to ... until further consultation with fellow AFFers.

It showed I am already leaning towards keeping the upgrade request - just need some group think !

Still a fair number of empty F seats (F7 on EF).

The one thing in F favour is the (sleeping) seat itself.

I got better sleep there cf to J, I have to admit.

Maybe that's enough despite the absence of (SYD) F lounge and a night flight.

Thanks again

I personally think it is worth 45K points to upgrade from LAX.
Long flight, much better hard product.
The "yield" for a comfortable flight and a great sleep is pretty high IMHO.
I generally keep around 250-250K in my QFF account and I wouldn't hesitate to put in an upgrade request for a flight of this length.

 

[mickeyc747]

Help needed !

I had the ex Australia F upgrade and enjoyed it very much: F lounge, tasting menu and slept soundly.

Now, for the return leg (LAX SYD), I am not so sure if it's worth the points: no F lounge, no tasting menu, night flight, already got my row 12 window seat (with its storage bin) locked in.

I have spare points but I'm not so convinced it is worth upgrading for a night flight.

What am I missing ?

FWIW, I'm not a bubbles fan !

Thanks for your thoughts.

I did it last week take the upgrade it's fantastic and worth the 45 000 points.

 

[RooFlyer]

When I have upgraded to F from Australia to LAX and then thought about the return, I have always decided against. It's a night flight, as you observe, so there is less of a need for me for a F bed to help get some sleep. But mostly I think it's because I am flying home, with my own bed and home awaiting, so even if it's a coughpy J trip, everything is soon OK.