An article on flying QF First

[RichardMEL]

yep I would rate F on CX, SQ, EY far ahead of QF. EK too if only for the shower and bar on the 380.. 777 is more eh (except for the new new new F). QF is definitely 2nd tier F. It's good, the new bedding and pj's are comfy, the food is reasonable but not amazing and the wins have gone down hill but the bubbles are good and crews are usually good.. but really the catering is upscale J more than true F.

Certainly do not see it the same as a SQ or EY

but the F lounges MEL SYD and even LAX are a definite positive part of the experience too and make for starting the journey very well and on a good note. That part can't be underestimated IMHO. Just like CX ex HKG with Wing Cabanas or Pier F dining and bar or the day rooms.

but it beats BA or any of the US majors who still have F (ie: AA and UA)

still I'd rather fly ANY First product than sit in 72E I mean I write these coments and realise the level of priviledge I have being able to experience these things on a semi-regular basis.. many people just dream... #perspective

 

[RichardMEL]

Since there are so little QF F flights it should be relatively easy and low cost to upgrade ground services at least in MEL and SYD. For example, escort pax to the spa when it’s time for their appointment or gather all pax from the lounge when it’s time to board and escort them to the plane. It’s all minor things that frequent flyers don’t really care about but will go long way with others.

in MEL I have had a group escort for F pax to the lift next to the lounge and down to the holding area to board directly avoiding the scrum in the gate area a number of times. They do do thiis

 

[BettyB]

Never flown first class. It does sound good. But I'm not sure the author of the news story makes it sound like the 10 times price difference from the price of economy flight.

 

[Pleb Status]

Just read the last line of the article to determine the true value of the 'review' -

"This writer was a guest of Qantas"

 

[RichardMEL]

Just read the last line of the article to determine the true value of the 'review' -

"This writer was a guest of Qantas"

why do I sense another tangent forming that would probably lead to comments on a certain Ausiness Travel site ?

Please.. don't.

That's all I'm asking. no need to elaborate.

 

[kermatu]

He actually states it in the first few lines. Nothing hidden about it.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Enjoyed my first Qantas F flight earlier this month and was met kerbside at LHR by a First Host and escorted/assisted through check-in -- surprised me, in a good way. I did feel like a smug wanker.

Amusing original article.

Interesting on hosts. Never ever seen an F host on QF in half a dozen flights. Tried to get one for MrsTMA who was flying QF F alone out of LHR last June. Absolutely no. Rang QF and was told nope they don’t exist at LHR.

As for other comments about F luggage coming out first. Who are they kidding, especially at Australian airports. EK F luggage in OS ports comes out promptly, not so promptly in Australia. QF F luggage, no mate wait in the queue with the cattle.

 

[snabbu]

Agreed with other posters in that QF F is nice, but second rate compared to the others (JL/CX/EY/etc).

 

[BriarFlyer]

Interesting on hosts. <snip> Rang QF and was told nope they don’t exist at LHR.

There were at least 2 on duty the night I flew. Both kerbside when I arrived, utilising the chauffeur transfer. One stepped forward and introduced himself to me. The other arrived at check-in shortly afterward, escorting another passenger. Maybe luck of the draw? I was reasonably early as I'd allowed plenty of time in case of traffic which turned out to run smoothly.

Last year I flew EK and SQ first: both superior in many ways but I really liked the QF bedding and cabin temperature. Best sleep(s) ever on a plane.

As for priority luggage: definitely not first out but I was in the domestic lounge 50 mins after wheels-down, so not too shabby.

 

[RooFlyer]

I found the piece a nice puff-piece - clearly identified top and bottom as a freebie from Qantas, so readers can make of it what they will. I dare say Qantas staff were worded up to 'look after this one'.

I've had the First Host greeting at the curb, and was sought out once in the Lounge with a message, but never escorted (would decline anyway).

As for bags out 'first' - ho, ho, ho.

 

[TheRealTMA]

There were at least 2 on duty the night I flew. Both kerbside when I arrived, utilising the chauffeur transfer. One stepped forward and introduced himself to me. The other arrived at check-in shortly afterward, escorting another passenger. Maybe luck of the draw? I was reasonably early as I'd allowed plenty of time in case of traffic which turned out to run smoothly.

Last year I flew EK and SQ first: both superior in many ways but I really liked the QF bedding and cabin temperature. Best sleep(s) ever on a plane.

As for priority luggage: definitely not first out but I was in the domestic lounge 50 mins after wheels-down, so not too shabby.

Amazing!

I definitely tried hard through a number of channels to get MrsTMA assistance. Absolutely refused to acknowledge they existed. So I had to accompany her to LHR and act as an F host. Cost me $140+ to get a taxi back to the intercontinental! (She suggested the Tube but...)
Maybe my vociferous email complaint (which was never acknowledged) actually did some good!

My return to LHR two weeks later with QF chauffeur also did not attract a host.

Also pity about the IFE, food and particularly the poor wines on QF F. But then the person who got the free flights and wrote the article probably would not know any better.

Absolutely worst steak on any airline anywhere on trip over DXB LHR on QF F. Then the male FA argued with me that it was cooked properly. Completely nuked, dry, lifeless, sufficient for underpinning house construction. On the return LHR DXB I ate in Cathay lounge and didn’t bother with the plane food.

 

[kermatu]

Actually just watched the little video accompaniment which makes it even more obvious it's a promo piece. Perhaps that's where all the elusive F hosts are - servicing the freebie pax from kerb to seat?

 

[Pleb Status]

why do I sense another tangent forming that would probably lead to comments on a certain Ausiness Travel site ?

Please.. don't.

That's all I'm asking. no need to elaborate.

Why would I do that? This article has nothing to do with them.

The issue of (possible) 'advertorials' is not limited to any single publication...

 

[Flying mermaid]

I did once have the services of a F Host. QF 1 was very delayed and we were going to miss our connection to Venice. The F lounge in Sydney organised for the F host in London to meet us as we got off the plane, they had organised for our luggage to be extracted and we were loaded into a limousine to Gatwick where we had been rebooked on an early afternoon flight to Venice.

Really appreciated the service recovery. Normally I wouldn’t require an F Host and would find it a bit embarrassing to be escorted around. Last time we flew QF F our luggage came off just about last in Sydney.....

 

[Flying mermaid]

Last year I flew EK and SQ first: both superior in many ways but I really liked the QF bedding and cabin temperature. Best sleep(s) ever on a plane..

Have to agree Mr FM and I are big fans of the QF F bed. However taking it all into consideration, we have swapped to EK and SQ for F.

 

[RichardMEL]

Why would I do that? This article has nothing to do with them.

The issue of (possible) 'advertorials' is not limited to any single publication...

Sorry I just want to clarify what I was meaning but not make a big deal out of it...

I didn't mean YOU were I just worried that some posters (noting other threads on, for example, 787 reviews) would run off on tangents relating to perceived bias of such articles.

That's all I was trying to suggest... in that I didn't want to see that kind of "discussion" here

It wasn't intended towards anyone personally. I was trying to be a bit circumspect

 

[JohnK]

Going back to Y is hard which is why I'm trying to put off doing that for long haul as long as I can (hope my upgrades keep on coming through for those times I book Y and put in for an upgrade - only had the one failure so far).

Nah. Repeat after me. "My next long haul flight is in economy and I'm going to have a great holiday!"

 

[mviy]

Nah. Repeat after me. "My next long haul flight is in economy and I'm going to have a great holiday!"

Somehow that doesn't give me the feelings that you're probably expecting. I'm sure I'll go back to flying Y long haul sometime in the not too distant future, but whilst I can I'm enjoying flying at the pointy end for long haul flights. I know it's only a day or less, but it's a great way to start & end a trip.

I have no plans to fly F again unless I get a successful upgrade or I book a classic reward F seat or get an op-up (but as just a WP I don't think that'll happen).

I've currently got no flights at all booked.

 

[bosox76]

Mrs B and I have been lucky enough to fly QF F half a dozen times (all points upgrades) as recently as last month. We’ve never been offered (but like others would’ve declined) an F host except once on landing in LAX after a massive delay and missed connections there was one at the bagge carousel (at least that’s what the tag suggested) to tell us our bags missed the flight to LAX from SYD and then promptly left us to our own devices to figure out where we were staying and how to get there. On that trip we’d have been happy for them just to come out. As others have said they never come out first in Oz.

On our recent trip from MEL to LHR we were both impressed with the the comfort factor of the new mattress. The food does seem to have done downhill compared with our previous F flights and really was no better than the J meals we had on the way back. The lounges are a great way to begin the journey. Esp in Mel and Syd.

However, I have to say I was much more impressed with the overall experience of both EK and QR products (only ones I can compare it to).

 

[RichardMEL]

The new bedding is the biggest hilight for me of current QF F. I'm flying it in a few days and this is what I'm looking forward to the most (oh, and the bubbles selection).

It's truly amazing to me what a difference the bedding change makes to a tired old product. Simples!