First Class on QF A 380

[taswegian77]

Hi,

On the 19th March I had the pleasure of flying on QF32 SIN-SYD in F class ansd let me tell you it is a 100% improvement on the 747 offering in F. The CSM could not do enough to look after me, personal intro that lasted at least 5 minutes, albiet after take off but spending that long it took time to get to all of us in F. How I am a valued client, appreciates how much I travel etc. it was awesome. The first suite is just fantastic and hard to fault. Sleeping in F is so much easier than the 747. Entertainment is awesome, the new AVOD and large screen is awesome. The food and drinks (esp. champagne is divine). I recommend sitting in row 3, i sat in 3K as this appeared to offer the best of everything, in the middle, away from front and back but all suites appeared to offer equal privacy except row1K appeared to be worst with the closet there. The carpet is awesome, the toilets are just huge. So cool having electronically adjusted windows with the dual shade closure. Plenty of room to dine with a second guest in your suite. The next step airlines need to invest in should be wireless headsets for convenience. I wandered upstairs to check out the lounge and it is quite small and did nto look liek it was even used, but woudl be OK if you needed to chat with say a J passenger. I wonder if they would allow a F or J passenger to bring a Y or W passenger there for a meeting etc as sometimes that could occur with certain business travel. Th emost amazing part of my travel was that the F upgrade was so unexpected. I had been checking loads (real QF loads) and F had been showing as 0 for at least 1 week prior and J load was showing as 5. My original booking was J so when I scored the F upgrade it was like wow. Now I will have to experience the J offering in 11K on my retunr back to SIN in June.
All I can say if the service and quality in F is all they advertise and on this trip extra and I will be personally writing a thank you letter to QF for the experience as they need to be recognised when exceptional product and service is provided.

I would recommend QF F for anyone who can afford it or afford a points upgrade op.

 

[samh004]

You paint a very cool picture, I’d love to try it, but I think I’m going to be a long way off.

 

[codash1099]

Hi,

On the 19th March I had the pleasure of flying on QF32 SIN-SYD in F class ansd let me tell you it is a 100% improvement on the 747 offering in F. The CSM could not do enough to look after me, personal intro that lasted at least 5 minutes, albiet after take off but spending that long it took time to get to all of us in F. How I am a valued client, appreciates how much I travel etc. it was awesome. The first suite is just fantastic and hard to fault. Sleeping in F is so much easier than the 747. Entertainment is awesome, the new AVOD and large screen is awesome. The food and drinks (esp. champagne is divine). I recommend sitting in row 3, i sat in 3K as this appeared to offer the best of everything, in the middle, away from front and back but all suites appeared to offer equal privacy except row1K appeared to be worst with the closet there. The carpet is awesome, the toilets are just huge. So cool having electronically adjusted windows with the dual shade closure. Plenty of room to dine with a second guest in your suite. The next step airlines need to invest in should be wireless headsets for convenience. I wandered upstairs to check out the lounge and it is quite small and did nto look liek it was even used, but woudl be OK if you needed to chat with say a J passenger. I wonder if they would allow a F or J passenger to bring a Y or W passenger there for a meeting etc as sometimes that could occur with certain business travel. Th emost amazing part of my travel was that the F upgrade was so unexpected. I had been checking loads (real QF loads) and F had been showing as 0 for at least 1 week prior and J load was showing as 5. My original booking was J so when I scored the F upgrade it was like wow. Now I will have to experience the J offering in 11K on my retunr back to SIN in June.
All I can say if the service and quality in F is all they advertise and on this trip extra and I will be personally writing a thank you letter to QF for the experience as they need to be recognised when exceptional product and service is provided.

I would recommend QF F for anyone who can afford it or afford a points upgrade op.

Couldn't agree more! Upgraded for 35000 points SIN-LHR on QF9 on March 14. If only all flying was like this.

BTW, flew AF from CDG to VIE on 20th. QF dom Y passengers have nothing to complain about.

 

[Hvr]

I certainly agree that flying first class in the A380 is a magnificent experience.

I had seat 5A on SYD-SIN 16 Jan, points upgrade on the first leg of my Circle Asia fare. Agree with the sentiment that it is a good use of points.

I liked the A side because I thought it offered more privacy and there were very few people in the aisle. Still as noted htere really isn't a bad seat in first class. Don't know about 1K.

 

[Alanslegal]

This is a newbie question but what's the points required (to enter the lottery) to upgrade from J to F on a SYD-SIN leg?

 

[taswegian77]

25,000 points and they are all worth spending!

 

[JetLagged]

I've had the opportunity twice now to upgrade on the SYD-LHR - and I can't agree any more than other commentators - it is luxury, indulgence, and well worth the points!

Have also flown SYD-SIN on J - and that too is a marked improvement on the 747 experience.

Hoping to be able to repeat the experience of F upgrades this year - have three more trips to the UK to do, and sure as hell makes landing at Terminal 3 and getting out and about that much easier!

 

[Dave Noble]

I've had the opportunity twice now to upgrade on the SYD-LHR - and I can't agree any more than other commentators - it is luxury, indulgence, and well worth the points!

I think that the new 1st class is better than the old 1st class but couldn't agree that it is that amazing and still think it is well behind some of other airlines and when paying for 1st am not likely to have QF as a 1st choice

 

[blueflamenco]

I'm curious as to what the personal intro that lasted five minutes was all about?

Everything else sounds great but that to me sounds painful!

 

[NYCguy]

The CSM could not do enough to look after me, personal intro that lasted at least 5 minutes... How I am a valued client, appreciates how much I travel etc.

Did this not make you cringe back into your seat with a look of distaste on your face? I personally find this sort of obsequious fawning to be painful. It's embarrassing to be witness to flagrant apple-polishing (and that's being very, very polite) from a seasoned customer-service professional, and even more embarrassing when they're directing their efforts at me. I bought a $22K ticket, I know I'm important to your company. Now just let me be.

 

[samh004]

I would liken the 5-minute intro to finding something to talk about and getting carried away, rather than 5 minutes of worship, but the op can correct me if I read that wrong?

 

[ejb]

I would liken the 5-minute intro to finding something to talk about and getting carried away, rather than 5 minutes of worship, but the op can correct me if I read that wrong?

I was thinking it could have been a personal "tour" of the seat and functions and available service on board as that could easily last 5 minutes.

IMO a 5 minute "we love you" chat would just be too long to deal with.

ejb

 

[taswegian77]

Did this not make you cringe back into your seat with a look of distaste on your face? I personally find this sort of obsequious fawning to be painful. It's embarrassing to be witness to flagrant apple-polishing (and that's being very, very polite) from a seasoned customer-service professional, and even more embarrassing when they're directing their efforts at me. I bought a $22K ticket, I know I'm important to your company. Now just let me be.

I guess each to their own opinion. I appreciated the effort he and the rest of the crew showed. Considering I never had to ring the bell to get a drink etc I was very impressed. The 5 min chat from the CSM to some might appear long but it appeared he did the same to all F passengers so I was no more important than the next F customer. He obviously realised I was a Platinum member from either my boarding pass when I entered or the passenger manifest but I am sure he has no idea whether I have been points upgraded/op-up'ed or a fully paid ticket (unless others knwo this not to be the case) so they treat all equally and I appreciate that. I would prefer a little extra love as opposed to a crew who ignore you. It can be embarrasing when they come chat to you when seated in 71K but I dtill take the op to ask for a J headset and blanket and usualyl get it for me and anyone sitting next to me, I am usually well liked on the flight by the person next to me on those occasion sbut I must admit have not flown in Y for quite some time.

 

[samh004]

I was thinking it could have been a personal "tour" of the seat and functions and available service on board as that could easily last 5 minutes.

IMO a 5 minute "we love you" chat would just be too long to deal with.

ejb

If I found myself in F these days, a 5 minute “we love you” would probably be going to the wrong person, as I wouldn’t be paying

Luckily my lack of eye contact with people probably would save me in such a case.

 

[anat0l]

Did this not make you cringe back into your seat with a look of distaste on your face? I personally find this sort of obsequious fawning to be painful. It's embarrassing to be witness to flagrant apple-polishing (and that's being very, very polite) from a seasoned customer-service professional, and even more embarrassing when they're directing their efforts at me. I bought a $22K ticket, I know I'm important to your company. Now just let me be.

I was thinking it could have been a personal "tour" of the seat and functions and available service on board as that could easily last 5 minutes.

IMO a 5 minute "we love you" chat would just be too long to deal with.

A literal 5 minute grovelling speech that obviously smacks of flattery-only is unquestionably unacceptable.

However, I like this kind of acknowledgment and time for a short chat.

Firstly, it doesn't have to be one-sided So for those of you sitting there thinking that this man is making a fool of themselves, at least give a reaction and perhaps use that to steer the conversation where you'd like it to go?

Secondly, if it were gone or done very briefly, most of you would complain. Don't be shy now - admit it.

Recognition is one of the key aspects of customer service that is valued a lot by pax, because it doesn't happen often and for no reason. It has to be done well, however. If the experience by the OP is - as I mentioned - just a whole lot of flattery stuffed into grovelling, then that's no good (in saying that, the heavily cynical amongst you here might view any form of praise as unnecessary flattery, so be it). However, take many cases where there is no recognition, or CX who simply tell you "Hi, anything you want, just call me" in a fleeting of 10 seconds - boring and ineffective. NZ had a good thing going when I flew BP with them over the Tasman. The CSM introduced herself, recognised me as an elite member and made small talk.

I assume no one here is a sociopath, or needs to rent social skills or a heart so that they could put up and/or appreciate a bit of friendly dialogue.

This is one reason why NZ consistently ranks better than QF in recognising their elites on board. QF you would be lucky most times (thankfully it does happen for most AU-inbound flights) to be recognised as an elite. NZ consistently recognises and converses with their elite fliers (in all classes) on all long haul flights.

When done right, those five minutes spent with a customer are valued and remembered and offer long term, lasting benefits for the employees, the company and the customer. And I'm not saying that it's dead easy to do, formulaic, automatic or that QF does it right all the time.

 

[samh004]

However, take many cases where there is no recognition, or CX who simply tell you "Hi, anything you want, just call me" in a fleeting of 10 seconds - boring and ineffective.

From what I’ve seen the CX CSM’s are very good with their short greeting and often can smuggle items down to Y elites, which is generally more of an embarrassment to them because of the special treatment.

However if you’re talking about the actual CX F cabin, I have no experiences there.

I assume no one here is a sociopath, or needs to rent social skills or a heart so that they could put up and/or appreciate a bit of friendly dialogue.

As I’m usually in the lounge first, I’m already liquored up for a chat

 

[anat0l]

From what I’ve seen the CX CSM’s are very good with their short greeting and often can smuggle items down to Y elites, which is generally more of an embarrassment to them because of the special treatment.

However if you’re talking about the actual CX F cabin, I have no experiences there.

I was in CX J (33B aircraft, no F). The crew kept a lot to themselves, and Stella really just wanted to thank me for being on board and offer any assistance I needed. It was rather quick and very, very formulaic (not robotic, though).

Perhaps this is a lapse in service....