Domestic First Class

[harvyk]

Just wondering, when did Ansett \ Australian Airlines ( \ Qantas) get rid of domestic first class?

What was it like compared to todays domestic J offerings? Also what was the average price of a dom F flight between say SYD-MEL?

 

[NYCguy]

Just wondering, when did Ansett \ Australian Airlines ( \ Qantas) get rid of domestic first class?

What was it like compared to todays domestic J offerings? Also what was the average price of a dom F flight between say SYD-MEL?

If I recall correctly, the SYD/BNE fare in F was $420 in 1995.

It was pretty similar to today's Aussie domestic J, except that there was a tablecloth for meals. Lounge access was restricted to paid members and F pax.

 

[NM]

Domestic F was basically what is now domestic J. For most of the life of Domestic F the aircraft were operated as 2-class with First and Economy cabins. For a short while, after renaming domestic First to domestic Business Class, Australian Airlines operated a third "cabin" they called "Club". It was for full-fare economy passengers and was basically a 2x2 on narrow body aircraft by blocking out the middle seat. Service was otherwise the same as economy. This didn't last very long.

 

[coolumbla]

I can't remember ever being offered the choice of lobster or chicken in domestic business as i was on a Melbourne Launceston TAA flight (or was it Australian?) in 1985 in First class


Coolumbla

 

[serfty]

It was April 1997 when Qantas introduced "Business First".

Before that, after the introduction of Business class the first two rows of mainline craft were Designated First Class. The next few rows (4 in the 762's/763's and A300) were Business Class. The 737's had two rows of "First Class" and the next 5 rows were convertible.

It was supposedly a hybrid class, better than J, more like an F- . By the end of the year the "First" part had been quietly dropped and the service degenerated back to something like t J had been.

Both Qantas and Ansett did this over the same period.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It would be good to still have something like that around in Australia.

I would be doing SC runs to get to the next level of my membership if it was still around and was at a reasonable cost and decent SC's.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks for that, sadly I don't think that we'll ever see domestic F again , given that int F is becoming rare, and we are in general seeing the level of service from the "full service" airlines become more and more LCC everyday. (Ever flown in AA in domestic Y?)

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I have flown whY AA. But, it was some 8+ years ago. LHR to JFK.
At the time l didn't know anything about FFP's to be honest.
After reading info on this site, it has opened my eyes.

Yes, l also agree about dommestic carries becoming more and more LCC. Charging for Exit rows is one. Plat benefits are also slowly eroding too IMO. And Jet* taking on more and more routes because they are more profitable.

I read an article a few years ago that was comparing the cost per mile. Jetstar was in the order of something like 8 cents PM, Virgin was 11 cents PM and QF was a little bit more. so, l guess to the bean counters, it makes perferct sense to have more Jetstar routes as it makes more money, simple.
I just wish that there was a domestic *Alliance carrier in OZ. Would keep QF on the ball and we would have a choice of a global alliance. But, we are stuck with Oneworld.

 

[codash1099]

Thanks for that, sadly I don't think that we'll ever see domestic F again , given that int F is becoming rare, and we are in general seeing the level of service from the "full service" airlines become more and more LCC everyday. (Ever flown in AA in domestic Y?)

Last time I flew AA in domestic Y was some 40 years ago. Comparisons are not really valid but I recall that service in Y was probably about the current J levels, with the exception of alcohol, where there was a 2 drink restriction.

 

[harvyk]

Sorry should have phrased that recently flown AA domestic in Y???

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I haven't recently. give me details...
Is it that "bad"...???

What's the First product like on AA? Is it on par with QF J Dom or above, considering it's First?

 

[serfty]

IMHO AA domestic first is slightly better than QF Domestic J overall.

 

[straitman]

IMHO AA domestic first is slightly better than QF Domestic J overall.

Agreed and should become a little better (read newer and more comfortable) as the MD80's gradually disappear.

The approx 30 year old MD-80 we had from DFW-SEA a couple of weeks ago was still OK BUT V noisy:!:

 

[notzac]

IMHO AA domestic first is slightly better than QF Domestic J overall.

I would have to disagree - the seats are mostly OK but I'm yet to be served an edible meal on an AA domestic First service. QF can at least put together a relatively decent vego meal in domestic J, and the wine is usually pretty good.

 

[dajop]

I would have to disagree - .

+1. I am pretty sure, even flying at 10pm, you would be served more food than a bowl of cashew nuts on QF domestic J. On AA F that's all I got flying DFW-LAX at 10pm.

Also QF J gets u some decent food (of sorts) on on all sectors (even SYD-CBR?) at all times of the day as opposed to AA F ... "Enjoy chef-driven meals and specially-selected wines in First Class on all flights systemwide that have flying times over two hours and that operate within traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner times."

As for the food when you do manage to get some, I've found AA F food consistent with what passes for good food in the US (big serving sizes, lots of cheese ), vs QF which serves up food that is undoubtedly tries to be good Aussie "foody" food , after all it is "Neil Perry" inspired ........ say no more and YMMV.

 

[harvyk]

Disclaimer: The following is based on my own experiences with AA. I hereby invite AA to prove (preferrable by taking me on the best flight of my life at their expense ) that I simply had a very bad first and second impression of them.

OneWorldPlus2, yeah it's pretty bad... I've only been on three flights with them, SFO - LAX, connecting with LAX - MIA, and then MIA back to LAX.


SFO-LAX - MD80 was an average flight, plane was very dirty (needed a good clean, far beyond what QF's B734's need), I was given a can of coke, and apart from the missing muffin and IFE it was no worse than a short haul QF flight (eg CBR - MEL).

LAX - MIA - B777, for some reason they couldn't give me my boarding pass at SFO, and because we had to sit on the tarmac for 45 minutes when my flight from SFO arrived at LAX when i finally got off the plane in LAX my MIA flight was already boarding. I pushed my way past the standby's (given I had a confirmed ticket and my bag was tagged all the way through to MIA, there was no way I wasn't getting on that plane). During the flight itself I saw the FA twice, once to give me a can of coke, the second to try and sell me half a sandwich which I couldn't eat anyways as it had cheese on it (from what I heard from the other pax I wasn't missing out on much). Whilst I can't complain about legroom as I got a bulkhead seat the IFE was beyond ordinary, and that was with a PTV. (loop system which was meant to let you know when TV shows started over again - it didn't).

MIA - LAX - B757, which IMHO is just an oversized B737 (not really AA's fault, just stating my dislike for the b757), I've checked it out on the web and "apparently" AA has more seat pitch than QF in Y, but it certainly didn't feel like it, I had that true sardine feeling. Again a single can of coke in 5 hours was the limit of AA's in flight service, less than ordinary IFE (main screen and mainly showing ad's - so glad my phone has some movies on it).

 

[serfty]

Disclaimer: ...

You might have also mentioned that you were travelling in Coach (I garnered that from the descriptions of your flights).

My comment was purely in relation to AA F v. QF J in relation to this thread's topic (Domestic First Class).

Most of my AA flights have been over 2½ hours; personally I generally do not mind the food served in domestic First. I do not have any special dietary preferences/needs.

 

[harvyk]

I was specifically talking about Y...

 

[NM]

You might have also mentioned that you were travelling in Coach (I garnered that from the descriptions).

My comment was purely in relation to AA F v. QF J in retation to this thread's topic (Domestic First Class).

Most of my AA flights have been over 2½ hours; personally I generally do not mind the food served in domestic First. I do not have any special dietary preferences/needs.

I agree that AA domestic F is quite reasonable and I would also rate it slightly ahead of QF domestic J and maybe pretty closely aligned with QF Trans-Tasman J.

 

[codash1099]

I agree that AA domestic F is quite reasonable and I would also rate it slightly ahead of QF domestic J and maybe pretty closely aligned with QF Trans-Tasman J.

That's especially so if you get one of their refurbished 763's. The F seats leave QF domestic J for dead.