My tree issue at home has prompted a lot of trip cancellations, but I was not about to let first class award space on Qantas go, even if that meant the briefest of trips to Australia.
Booked: A Round-Trip To Qantas On Australia On Airbus A380
For eight months, my wife Heidi and I planned an 11-day trip together to Australia. Back in February, Qantas released a cache of award seats, including in first class, and I managed to snag seats to get us from Sydney to Los Angeles.
The entire trip was built around that, with plans to go to Sydney, Perth (where Heidi has friends), and to Papua New Guinea (per Heidi’s request, not mine…).
We had arranged for Heidi’s mother to come to California and Heidi had taken the time off from work.
Then, of course, disaster struck. We did not cancel the trip immediately, but it became clear that this was not the time to take an extended holiday in Australia. Instead, we’re taking that holiday in Germany instead and will try Australia again next year.
However, I was not going to let the Qantas First Class space go. I’ve flown it before, twice actually, but it has been many years and I want to offer a fresh review of the first class experience on Qantas both on the ground in Sydney and in the air.
So I decided I would go…for one day.
Such a waste, I know, but over the years I have learned that I greatly regret not taking trips…I’m haunted by my decision to cancel my Korean Air 747-8 First Class award since these days it seems impossible to book one. There is no guarantee I’d ever be able to book another first class award seat on Qantas again on a longhaul route like SYD-LAX.
Anyway, that left the issue of getting to Australia, I booked a one-way United Airlines ticket for $1386, which was somewhat painful, but figured it would be far less painful once I cleared into Polaris business class.
Only my upgrade did not clear…
In fact, it did not even clear into Premium Plus, United’s premium economy class.
Faced with the prospect of slumming it in the rear (I’ve done it before, but I was a kid then…), I cancelled and booked a ticket on Qantas in premium economy. I still expect sleep to be elusive in premium economy, but this will be a bit more comfortable and at 55K American Airlines, it was an excellent deal.
Stay tuned. I’ll have first impressions of these flights shortly.
image: Qantas
Can’t wait. Have fun!
Hope it was fun! And best wishes on home repairs!
On Last month’s RTW 4 A380 First Class Flights I did LAX SYD in Qantas First – an award seat snagged during the Qantas award availability when you got your tickets 🙂
I am glad I had the opportunity but I was underwhelmed The seats was nice enough and more private than BA home but of course lacked the space and service of my two Singapore Suites flights. Biggest complaint – drum roll for First World issues – no hot towels!!
Having flown both AA & QF First LAX SYD this year, it’s a toss up IMO. <3 the AA swivel seat!
Still lots of fun! 🙂
Agreed about being underwhelmed. I did LAX-SYD right before the pandemic hit and was super stoked for it and for my trip to see family/friends. Overall, it was good. Just that: good. I found the need to swivel the seat to sleep or otherwise get comfy was awkward. Food and drink were good, but generally not particularly memorable. Service was okay: friendly and attentive but zero anticipation of needs. Oddly, the things I remember most about the trip were that I (think) I had steak and eggs pre-arrival, and the baby seated behind me with her mom was a total angel…not a peep. Otherwise, I think I had a better time in the QF lounge at LAX. If a great deal came my way for QF F again, I’d jump on it, but I’m unlikely to spend time hunting for it.
Also it would give is a premium economy review, which is always welcome for variety.
Qantas did a massive dump of space on Oct 23. My mother and I both coincidentally have travel planned to Australia in 2024. Was able to book 3 seats in F and 1 seat in J to and from LAX and syd
Wasn’t the dump in February? That’s when I booked.
They had a second one very recently. Oct 23. I was surprised none neither you or OMAAT picked up on it. Very similar to February dump though.
You’re correct that there was a dump last month, but from the sources I saw only Qantas’ own members could book it. Probably that’s why it didn’t make rounds in The Blogosphere
@Christopher: Did you book using Qantas points or other another currency? This was the first I’ve heard of it and (I thought) I am on the mailing list for QF Frequent Flyer.
Matt – I also found a ton of Qantas availability still bookable on Oct 30th. Booked 2 LAX-SYD tips in J using Alaska points.
Yes I transferred amex points to Qantas. That must be it.
Just got off QF93 from Melbourne in First! Incredible inflight dining & wines, my only gripe is that the food is too good in both the lounge and onboard so it’s tough to eat it all…
United actually has been releasing a fair bit of last minute space from LAX/SFO to Auckland in particular but also Australia… maybe check again?
I could have done business to BNE on UA, but by the time I reached SYD it would be midday with a turnaround less than 24 hours later. I would have done SFO-SYD if open, but it was also full.
“Faced with the prospect of slumming it in the rear ” … You’re such a entitled snob/