AFF Review: Qantas A380 First Class (SYD-JNB)

[downgraded]

. In recent times it has a minute steak option

You mean the CL/P1/F option that used to be on the standard F lounge menu available to everyone.

 

[serfty]

Everyone has different priorities of course but if it was me, I would never ever even consider cancelling the request, especially at old rates! ...
...

Great post.

We are all different.

... My favourite flying QF First out of Sydney is getting a guaranteed slot in the spa, and as an actual First passenger I have been lucky enough several times to kindly ask for a double treatment and got in granted. Sure- you can get a longer massage in any Thai Spa at the corner for a $100 but getting a hot stone massage followed by a foot massage at the airport is something very different
...

Enhanced spa access is not a consideration for me as I don't do 'em ... for whatever reason I find no relaxation at all. That is just me and I can understand others appreciating them. (Three times this year I have been proactively offered these at MEL; I have pleasantly declined.)

...
And on the long track to London, the better seat alone would make it be worthwhile for me. Plus the better champagne and usually much more personalised service which I always value and very much enjoy on QF. ...

As posted I have been there, done that with Qantas A380 first and understand those differences. For me it is not that much of an upgrade from Emerald City J.

...
It depends on what would one else do with those points- a couple of Domestic redemptions in J? A rewards booking trans Tasman or further? For me, while all those are also “sweet spots” of the Qantas FF program, all those options just don’t have the same ring to it as flying in First on an A380 all the way to London. And the A380s are slowly dying out, just as the 747s were so enjoy it while it lasts. Just my opinion!

In the last 18 months I have burned over 500K Qantas points, all have been for international travel, with half on classic oneworld awards. The upgrade cost would be roughly a fifth of another one in business or half of one in economy. My last booking reduced my points balance to under 5K and I have been working on rebuilding.

My considerations have boiled down to the value of Flagship QF1 experince with a better bed and special menu items in SYD.

 

[serfty]

You mean the CL/P1/F option that used to be on the standard F lounge menu available to everyone.

Yes ... I first experienced this as an Emerald in 2007.

 

[Berlin]

My considerations have boiled down to the value of Flagship QF1 experince with a better bed and special menu items in SYD.

That all makes sense from your perspective so yes, we all value different things indeed! I’m currently on a Classic Reward redemption flight SYD-NAN-LAX which I’ve only booked about a week ago (new job, old boss doesn’t want to see me any longer which is quite a mutual feeling so now I’ve got 3 weeks all of a sudden of getting paid but having spare time, what better opportunity to burn some points on a trip to the US for some shopping, roller coaster riding and some good ole Texan barbecue eating….) so I definitely understand the value of this as well!

Lucky for me, on the return I scored an F class seat on QF8 from Dallas and I did not hesitate for a second to book that in. Even at the new rates, that is

 

[RooFlyer]

The praise for the QF F bed is totally warranted. I was a regular F upgrader between Aust and LAX when I was doing a lot of work in Canada and USA and it was the bed that I spent the points on. The food & bev was better then though (tasting menu anyone).

The current food & bev seems on the whole pretty poor. As I've said before - First is First. Every aspect should be First Class from check-in to collect bags.

 

[SOPOOR]

that is a pretty horrible wine list and spirit list for first class,
its business class on other premium airlines,

 

[Port Power]

I really enjoyed the review, if only to see what I missed on my one and only First flight. The flight was PER-SIN, an upgrade from J using points. There was a NZ flight crew, none of whom had even worked in a business class cabin before! This was from the CM after I mentioned that service wasn't quite to the standard that I had experienced on J flights. Lovely FAs, but we F passengers were practically ignored! One day I might try again, particularly on much longer flight. Unfortunately, my experience was a total waste of points.

 

[ALH]

Last time we flew QF F, they ran out of the champagne before the first meal service

Yeah. Same

 

[kpc]

I haven't flown Qf F A380 post Covid..i did several times Lhr to Syd and once Hkg to Syd. All were points upgrade from paid J. I would never pay $$ for QF F.....the bed and mattress are generally very comfortable and service usually very good but the alcohol and food is subpar compared to other airlines's F class.

 

[TurboNator]

Hi Matt, my partner and I did QF63 in May this year and I have to say the wine list was much much better than what you had on offer. For example, the champagne was the Pommery Louise which is far superior to what you had and the red wine was Penfolds RWT which retails for much more than $30. So it looks as though QF have raised the number of points required for the flight and lowered the wine offerings.

I would absolutely agree with the comments about the special team that work onboard in 1st Class as they are exceptional. Perry was our crew member and she was fantastic.

I note that because you were not travelling with much luggage but we were so we utilised the kerbside porter which was wonderful except for the fact that our taxi had to drop us at the very end of the departure road and the porter meets passengers next to the traffic lights in the central part of the drop off zone. This meant manhandling our luggage to get to where we had to meet the porter which was a bit of a hassle. However, that said, the porter took care of our luggage and all we had to do was sit in a lovely comfortable seat in the First Class check in lounge whilst our check in was processed which took no more than 5 minutes. This was a great aspect of the service.

Finally, you didn’t mention that the massage is a shoulder massage which was a wonderful way of relaxing the body in readiness for the flight.

Hi,

FYI - you will find that most Champagne connoisseurs will tell you that Piper Heidsieck Rare is superior to Pommery Cuvee Louise. Piper Rare is a step above and accordingly (since you mentioned money) more expensive.

I also noticed someone else in the comments mentioning 2013 being bad vintage... Well, people here comment about things they don't know much about - 2013 is generally considered very good in Champagne... as per experts, not me...

The rest of the wines on the list are good examples of Australian wines, good quality - but arguably not quite at the level of wines other airlines serve in the first class - more like solid business class wines.

 

[Wing Nut]

Great review, thank you. Running out of champagne mid-flight is unforgivable!

A couple of years ago, a QF flight from SYD to DFW we were on ran out of meals in J! Two work mates down the back had a choice of tuna mornay or they could make something up for them. WTF, we're in J they politely enquired? Turned out well in the end. The crew said a couple of pax up the front didn't want their meals preferring to sleep and they got them instead. I did rub in that my steak was really good and it was!