Bucket List Flight - SYD-LHR

[TheRealTMA]

Hey all.

Am looking at a 'bucket list' flight in first class between Sydney and London. My initial thoughts were either Emirates (have done a couple of trans-tasman flights on their A380) and Qantas.

Any other thoughts or recommendations based on experience?

Many thanks.

EK F is always our first choice on A380.

 

[waratahbay]

SQ, First Suites, A380 all the way. Service, food and wines excellent. Suites cabin wonderful, especially when set up as a double. Avoid Book the Cook - I have never had a top meal off this gimmick. But from the inflight menu (which you can check out online about 2-4 weeks in advance, the food is excellent. Wine cellar is stunning. The new Private Room at Changi is bland and soul-less, we now tend to slip into the new First Class lounge right next door (off a common walkway) for a delicous buffet (or a la carte) and more.

 

[stm1sydney]

So, in summary, any airline with an F cabin ex Australia except for QF!

 

[SYD]

So, in summary, any airline with an F cabin ex Australia except for QF!

There actually aren’t that many to chose from at the moment to get all the way from SYD to LHR.

QF1/2 (A380), EK, SQ, QR (A380 only) and BA.

Not sure if EY still has F on flights in/out of Oz (didn’t they get rid of their 777s? and A380 don‘t restart until sometime next year and only AUH-LHR).

Any others at the moment?

 

[BCons]

So, in summary, any airline with an F cabin ex Australia except for QF!

Yes its funny that ppl on this thread (or pretty much anywhere else) hv so little to say about QF F. For a spacious, extremely comfortable, understated way to travel, with an equally smooth & efficient crew, sophisticated food and drink etc, smart lounges in most places the A380 goes, it just doesnt seem to press many buttons..

 

[zbender]

If it were "bucket list", for my tastes I'd go SQ Suites to Singapore, then again to Tokyo, then JL First to London.

JAL First is such a nice experience, from end to end.

Thai First used to have amazing transit amenities and "VIP" treatment; Qatar First has been a let-down every time. Lufthansa First is truly awesome.

So, now that I have talked myself out of my original itinerary:

SQ to Singapore, and to Tokyo. Overnight free stopover, they will put you up.
JL to Frankfurt with a looooong transit in the First Terminal. As long as you can manage.
Thus LH to London!



(My last all-First run was TG, LH, LX, OZ and I snuck in an SQ due to IRROPs)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yes its funny that ppl on this thread (or pretty much anywhere else) hv so little to say about QF F. For a spacious, extremely comfortable, understated way to travel, with an equally smooth & efficient crew, sophisticated food and drink etc, smart lounges in most places the A380 goes, it just doesnt seem to press many buttons..

I don't believe anyone (in their right mind that is) "pays" for QF F unless employer or upgrades or using QFF points. Just mildly upgraded J with better (slightly wierd) seats, no doors and very very mediocre wines and food. F toilet (frequently populated by DYKWIAs from Emerald City upstairs) still to small to swing a cat.

Plus, usually, prices are actually higher than EK F.

QF F lounges in Australia are brilliant, but EK F in DXB is quite stuning.

 

[Happy Dude]

Yes its funny that ppl on this thread (or pretty much anywhere else) hv so little to say about QF F. For a spacious, extremely comfortable, understated way to travel, with an equally smooth & efficient crew, sophisticated food and drink etc, smart lounges in most places the A380 goes, it just doesnt seem to press many buttons..

Not near as funny as QF F availability. Perhaps if were as available as F on EK, QR, SQ etc etc it would be more sought after. I have plenty of points but no QF status so SFA chance of redeeming F or J travel on QF metal. Sadly I'm hit with big fees to use them pretty much anywhere now.

And if those attributes you've mentioned were better on QF than the competition, or even equal to it, then maybe it just might press more buttons. SYD FLounge is great, no question, but it is not near as good as The Private Room or the EK F Lounge.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that and also many thanks for the responses so far.

I'll be paying for this trip using cash (not enough QFF points) and not bound to QF status/points. I will be travelling solo also. Open to mix of F and/or J. I did like the LH option (saw a couple of YouTube reviews) and also potential 'round the world' but that would be in J due to budget.

The inflight food/service is probably my highest priority. Seat/bed comfort also - e.g. J on EK is rather snug width-wise and I tend to sleep on side so foot well needs to be larger. IFE (like EK) as I do tend to watch movies/TV quite abit.

Not really a wine-buff so that aspect doesn't really apply. A good vodka/scotch is fine with me. Lounge access/comfort also high on the list of 'wants'. Have done QF F lounge (when F across the ditch with EK) which was quite nice for 5am.

There is a huge step between Lufthansa FIrst and business. Business cabins can be huge on LH and while the service is fine and so is the food - actually the food is reasonably ‘ok’ - if this was a bucket list trip I’d do LH F without question.

Pre covid SQ and LH had fares around $11000 return to europe. The connections were available as through flights on the LH website.

 

[RooFlyer]

There is a huge step between Lufthansa FIrst and business. Business cabins can be huge on LH and while the service is fine and so is the food - actually the food is reasonably ‘ok’ - if this was a bucket list trip I’d do LH F without question.

Glad to hear that! Although I've recommended EK First here, for my own special trip next year I'm not doing EK, as I've done it a couple of times.

I'm doing SQ Suites to and from SIN, then Swiss First to Zurich and Lufthansa First from Frankfurt (in a B747 to boot ).

All for about the same price as Qantas SYD-LAX return in business at the same time

 

[Forg]

I reckon you would have a much better experience paying for J and then booking a really posh restaurant in London - Core by Claire Smith for example...

While I understand the desire for travel in F … and the food isn’t the entirety of the F experience … going to a 3-hat restaurant is going to totally slam the meal part of the F experience. They’re still stuck using microwaves to heat/cook the food onboard AFAIK, and you can only dance around that so much.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Glad to hear that! Although I've recommended EK First here, for my own special trip next year I'm not doing EK, as I've done it a couple of times.

I'm doing SQ Suites to and from SIN, then Swiss First to Zurich and Lufthansa First from Frankfurt (in a B747 to boot ).

All for about the same price as Qantas SYD-LAX return in business at the same time

The swiss first lounge at ZRH is excellent! Would recommend several hours there. LH’s 748 is amazing in F. I usually skip the first class terminal in FRA, I prefer one of the main lounges in the terminal… far better views over the apron

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While I understand the desire for travel in F … and the food isn’t the entirety of the F experience … going to a 3-hat restaurant is going to totally slam the meal part of the F experience. They’re still stuck using microwaves to heat/cook the food onboard AFAIK, and you can only dance around that so much.

Yes… but that’s where ‘true F’ stands out. some airlines manage to do this… Swiss, Lufthansa and Air France are the three prime examples. I’ve had dishes on Swiss and Lufthansa that would give a Michelin starred restaurant a run for their money!

 

[RooFlyer]

The swiss first lounge at ZRH is excellent!

Arrival access? I hear the chokkies are nice.

I usually skip the first class terminal in FRA, I prefer one of the main lounges in the terminal… far better views over the apron

I'll have to do the First terminal once!! Done FRA main terminal many times, incl Senator etc.

Just on LH J, I must say I like it very much. Sometimes seat storage not great, but the crews!!! One addressed me by name throughout the trip, on huge A380 cabin, with no paper cheat sheet. Tucker and wines pretty good IMHO.

 

[dajop]

But if there's one downside to SQ in F (or J, for that matter) its the short night flight back to Mel or Syd that usually begins with late eve/early morng departure from Sin.

This is not at all "usual" or necessary beginning in Europe. Most Europe flights on SQ originate at mid morning or lunchtime (local) and connect to the daytime flights from SIN to MEL and SYD, and flights from CDG, FRA, LHR and ZRH at these times all have F cabins (in addition to the late evening departures from LHR, FRA and CDG which do connect to the short night flight to MEL/SYD, but you can always do a stopover in SIN). By contrast taking QF or BA from SYD-LHR, 3 out of the 4 sectors that form the return journey are overnighters, what a waste ! (IMHO)

But the timing consideration is important. I don't regularly fly F at all, so it is more of a treat for me. I can't bring myself to "waste" a F ticket on an overnight flight that I will probably spend 65-75% of the time asleep (or trying to sleep). By contrast, during day flights you can really maximise the experience. For example, if going SQ, I'd aim for the departures to LHR, FRA or CDG that depart SIN between 9am and 2pm. In 2019 we indulged in a 4pm MEL-SIN, overnight in SIN (at home, as we live in SIN), 2pm SIN-FRA which gave plenty of time for TPR,, overnight in FRA then FRA-JFK at 9am. All day flights, with terrific service and plenty of champagne of course!

And why not continue around the world? Travel to US, then out of east or west coast on Japanese carrier, or LAX on SQ, once again "day" flights as travelling west, before taking a day flight back to Australia!

 

[scaredeycat]

While I understand the desire for travel in F … and the food isn’t the entirety of the F experience … going to a 3-hat restaurant is going to totally slam the meal part of the F experience. They’re still stuck using microwaves to heat/cook the food onboard AFAIK, and you can only dance around that so much.

A few examples that you won't find at 40,000 feet.

 

[Forg]

^ Yes I managed to luck-out with a booking at The Fat Duck on my wife’s birthday in 2018 … and it was an exciting experience. Fried rice on EK gets nowhere near it!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Arrival access? I hear the chokkies are nice.



I'll have to do the First terminal once!! Done FRA main terminal many times, incl Senator etc.

Just on LH J, I must say I like it very much. Sometimes seat storage not great, but the crews!!! One addressed me by name throughout the trip, on huge A380 cabin, with no paper cheat sheet. Tucker and wines pretty good IMHO.

If you are connecting onwards on LH, OS or LX you’ll get to use the lounge. Even if you’re starting in ZRH but connecting later that day to LH F you’ll get the F lounge.

The FCT is pretty much same same as the main terminal, except you’re guaranteed a car to your plane. But the views are awful… a brick wall and a car park The LH F lounges in the main terminal I find much more spacious. Like the difference between LH F and J… Senator lounges are like the QFi J dungeon in MEL by comparison!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

^ Yes I managed to luck-out with a booking at The Fat Duck on my wife’s birthday in 2018 … and it was an exciting experience. Fried rice on EK gets nowhere near it!

But that’s not comparing like for like! LH, LX and AF will give you meals presented almost the same as the pics above! Agree EK F is not renowned for its food. But their drink menu scores highly!

 

[RooFlyer]

While I understand the desire for travel in F … and the food isn’t the entirety of the F experience … going to a 3-hat restaurant is going to totally slam the meal part of the F experience. They’re still stuck using microwaves to heat/cook the food onboard AFAIK, and you can only dance around that so much.

A lot of the meal experience is down to plating, as well as having it cooked 'just so'. Airlines differ on the effort they put into plating - QR does magnificently, for the most part ... certain other airlines, not so much.

I'm pretty sure the on-board chef on Etihad 'The Apartments' I had, used more than a microwave. You could order dishes not on the menu and if he could do them, you'd get it!!