Qantas Business Class Los Angeles To New York

If stopovers aren't allowed, it does make more sense on the amenity kits. Why weren't you in first? There should have been space from passengers not flying through to JFK.

Great TR Ben, congrats to your and your Dad.

Regarding OW lounge at LAX, any word when first class lounge will open? Have JAL F next March...

Thanks!

@ Christian -- There's no first class cabin on these refurbished Qantas 747s.

@ Dan -- Unfortunately haven't heard anything further on that front. Sorry!

My wife and I also flew upper deck business class on this flight from Sydney to JFK. LAX immigration is easy given the early arrival and well worth avoiding JFK crowds even with Global Entry. But the best part is the wonderful "massage" function that the Quantas seat offers.

You are correct that American may offer a better LAX to JFK product but with over 23 hours of flying, this is all about sleeping comfortably and adjusting time zones.

Years ago I did some work with BA in the US, and we were able to fly this between LAX and JFK a few times, as staff. At the time, it was way nicer than the 767s AA was flying. But I bet you're right that the A321s are now the things to beat.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when the LAX-JFK flight switches from being on the QF 107/8 to QF 15/6, the flight will depart from T4, and not the TBIT, so you would end up in the Admirals Club anyway.

You were impressed by the hard product? Really? Or did you mean to say you were impressed with the hard product, considering it was a domestic US flight?

Given how you constantly rate 1-2-1 direct-aisle access layouts in J as the gold standard (with CX having one of your favourite J seats), I struggle to understand how QF's J hard product can be considered impressive. Particularly when you consider this 2-2-2 configuration in J is currently used across all of QF's widebody fleet, most of which ply longer international routes, and some aircraft even have the older angled lie flat seats, making it worse.

@ Al -- As far as forward facing business class seats go, I was impressed. At least compared to my expectations. I'm not saying it's the best business class hard product out there -- it most definitely isn't -- but it exceeded my expectations for what it is.

@ RDP -- Hmmm, why is that? Are they moving those flights to T4 and I don't know about it yet?

@lucky My bad. I was at T4 in March and QF was still there. They moved out in May, so all of their operations are at the TBIT.

Lucky just found this which claims new F lounge around New Years 2015

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2014/11/04/qantas-set-to-open-new-first-class-lounge-at-lax/

The key here is that this is a tag/continuation flight. Even if people wanted to, those from LAX can't just bend over backwards to get onto this flight to JFK. It is only for connecting traffic from Australia, and in this case it's enough to tide someone over (either comfortably tag on to final destination New York, or for that one who was so tired on the entire flight from Australia then to have a light meal to touch off before landing).

You could have just booked an AA First flight to connect with any other QF flight arriving in LAX, but given the nature of the flight, the two are fairly incomparable.

Just being curious: Would it be possible to book JFK-LAX in this flight, if then you are going LAX-SYD?

@ Dan -- Let's hope that's the case!

@ Robertm6 -- Yes, you can book JFK-LAX-SYD on Qantas.

Ben - I would be curious to hear your assessment on the relative worth of QF J vs. QF F. Given the difficulty in getting QF F and based on your mediocre initial review, would it be better just to stick with QF J and save the miles for other flights?

@ Andy -- That's a good question. Let me put it this way -- it's definitely worth the additional 10,000 miles for Qantas first class over Qantas business class. That being said, Qantas first class typically simply isn't a choice on miles, given how tough it is to come by. So I don't think going with Qantas business class is a bad option at all.

is the flight nicely timed to connect from the SYD-LAX flight?
are the seats fully lie-flat?

I notice you saying that "most" passengers were connecting from Australia - is it possible to book this as part of a larger oneworld ticket, connecting in LAX from somewhere other than Australia (i.e. not on Qantas)? Could one fly HKG-LAX on Cathay and then continue to JFK on this Qantas flight?

@ brianna hoffer -- Yes, it leaves about two hours after the SYD-LAX flight arrives. The beds are fully flat.

@ James -- Legally I think that would be allowed, though if I'm not mistaken Qantas will only sell this to passengers connecting to/from Qantas nowadays.

Agree AA's new 321 F service beats this any day.
However, it's important to note that a large chunk of Aussies actually get off the SYD-LAX flight and spend a number of days in LA (or elsewhere) before continuing on, the majority don't just go direct to NYC and back... that said, I'm disappointed to hear that they've stopped amenity kits and more substantial meal service on that flight. I've been taking the new AA F service this year.
Something to note is that, at least directly through QF, it's very easy to find LAX-JFK-LAX J award space if you're on a connecting award ticket to/from Australia.

How were you able to book this as a domestic flight? Or did you end up continuing onto Sydney