Is the Bar on A 380 QF or EK for F Class only ?

[bertair]

Not having been on a A380 before and would like to go Business Class, & the idea of having place to "hang out" on a long haul where there is a bar sounds appealing.
Looking at promotional video of the A380,it shows a bar in an upstairs area (or so it seems).
Not wishing to be confined to a seat, even if it becomes a bed, it would be nice to know that there is somewhere away from the snoozers, for a little while.
What other amenities are in the A 380 or Qantas or Emirates make it worthwhile using these airlines to upgrade to Business Class ?

Finally with plenty of Qantas FF Points, can these have the same value using them with Emirates when I choose either airline as looking at schedules, they seem to code share on some legs?

 

[markis10]

PE passengers have been known to hang out in the "bar" area for quite a few hours on the odd QF1 flight

 

[QPProletarian]

PE passengers have been known to hang out in the "bar" area for quite a few hours on the odd QF1 flight

How does this work?

 

[mushez]

On EK A380, the top level is 100% F & J, with the lower deck all Y. The bar is situated at the rear of the upper deck and both F & J PAX and frequent it.

I did find the stairwells between the decks had a rather industrious looking kiddy gate on it, that was rather secured to not allow flow of PAX between the decks, but maybe I am wrong as to the reasons behind the gate. Have only flown J on EK A380 to date, but not too long to wait to see what Y is like.

 

[markis10]

How does this work?

As PE shares the J toilets, its a short walk....I might add its hardly an impressive area by comparison to the EK or even VS flavors

 

[Princess Fiona]

If the bar is your thing then the EK A380 wins hands down.
There is a lounge area with TV and small self serve bar at the front of QF A380 in J but it is chalk and cheese with what I've seen (but sadly not flown yet) on the EK A380.
You can use your points on both the EK and QF flights.

 

[markis10]

If the bar is your thing then the EK A380 wins hands down.
There is a lounge area with TV and small self serve bar at the front of QF A380 in J but it is chalk and cheese with what I've seen (but sadly not flown yet) on the EK A380.
You can use your points on both the EK and QF flights.

Unless you find the odd mod in residence

 

[MartinMemo]

PE passengers have been known to hang out in the "bar" area for quite a few hours on the odd QF1 flight

Yeah I got away with it on QF1 back in 2010 (I think it was QF31 back then) haha

 

[MartinMemo]

If the bar is your thing then the EK A380 wins hands down.
There is a lounge area with TV and small self serve bar at the front of QF A380 in J but it is chalk and cheese with what I've seen (but sadly not flown yet) on the EK A380.
You can use your points on both the EK and QF flights.

Parents did EK A380 2 weeks ago in J, where they usually do QF A380 in J at least once a year. Mum said the bar was beyond impressive on EK, not to mention the EK J lounge in SYD. They wont be changing back to QF anytime soon if they can help it.

 

[under the radar]

QF a380...a lounge area with max occupants re available seat belts on the lounge..to relax/maybe with the kids/chat/chill/maybe have a bevvy... away from the 'cabin area' available to FIRST/BUSINESS and occassional P/Y pax depending on availabilty... NOT A BAR FOR BOOZE BOGANS... EK. an area for FIRST/BUSINESS standing/seating around 'bar' with 'bartender ' when actually its set up and manned!!! catering mostly to western BOOZE BOGANS and DYKWIAs..with little regard to inflight safety or crew or pax re standing around involving pax drinking...many unsecured items/glass/food in the 'bar' area and dare i say limited RSA... ironically on a middle eastern carrier..looks fabulous on the website tho!! these are my observations...and experiences on both airlines

 

[Princess Fiona]

QF a380...a lounge area with max occupants re available seat belts on the lounge..to relax/maybe with the kids/chat/chill/maybe have a bevvy... away from the 'cabin area' available to FIRST/BUSINESS and occassional P/Y pax depending on availabilty... NOT A BAR FOR BOOZE BOGANS... EK. an area for FIRST/BUSINESS standing/seating around 'bar' with 'bartender ' when actually its set up and manned!!! catering mostly to western BOOZE BOGANS and DYKWIAs..with little regard to inflight safety or crew or pax re standing around involving pax drinking...many unsecured items/glass/food in the 'bar' area and dare i say limited RSA... ironically on a middle eastern carrier..looks fabulous on the website tho!! these are my observations...and experiences on both airlines

My experience on QF J is that the lounge is very variable in occupancy from mums and dads with toddlers, groups of loud drinking buddies and even sometimes/ often empty. The bar area is not always stocked or replenished inflight. It seats 5 guests.
If that's the inflight bar experience the OP is looking for then QF is ideal.

 

[QPProletarian]

The QF 'bar' looks pretty average from the shots I could see. I usually travel in Upper Deck Y, might have to try and sneak up though to escape my seat. Esp if they are cracking down on using the back stairs.

 

[Horatio]

I tried the bar on the EK A380 on the AKL-MEL leg on Saturday evening. It's a very nice setting, with curved couches on either side and some room to stand at the bar. There are snacks on display and it seems they will also rustle up some hot snacks on request.

However, while the fight was pretty quiet (it looked like maybe 50-60% loading) the bar was fairly crowded each time I was in that part of the plane. Some people appeared to have set up camp there and it was difficult to get through - one guy seemed really annoyed when I asked to get past him. I didn't see any children there, but I didn't stop very long, really just waited to have a drink made and went back to my seat (which suited me fine). It wouldn't have been especially relaxing staying down at the bar on my own.

Perhaps due to the not so busy flight, flight attendants chatting with passengers added somewhat to the numbers around the bar area.

 

[moa999]

I have sat in the QF bar area - put on the headphones that are hidden away, and watched a 1hr doco without being disturbed....
Other times I have seen 5 people on the couch and others standing around.

Just depends on the flight.

Agree however that for inflight bars, EK and VS do it best.

 

[Flying Fox]

On EK A380, the top level is 100% F & J, with the lower deck all Y. The bar is situated at the rear of the upper deck and both F & J PAX and frequent it.

I did find the stairwells between the decks had a rather industrious looking kiddy gate on it, that was rather secured to not allow flow of PAX between the decks, but maybe I am wrong as to the reasons behind the gate. Have only flown J on EK A380 to date, but not too long to wait to see what Y is like.

As I understand it, there is also a small bar at the front of F on EK that is for F only.

The J bar at the rear of the upper deck is for both F & J.

I read that the kiddy gate is primarily there to prevent any catering carts taking a tumble down the stairs.

 

[Travelqueen]

I have done a few flights on QF A380, in J, and have never seen anyone use the lounge. I must have been on the quiet passengers flights.....I was quite happy to enjoy a drink and a chat there early in the flight , but had to retreat to my seat and talk to my travel companions to get some conversation.
However, I must agree....it's not really that exciting

TQ

 

[RooFlyer]

QF a380...a lounge area with max occupants re available seat belts on the lounge..to relax/maybe with the kids/chat/chill/maybe have a bevvy... away from the 'cabin area' available to FIRST/BUSINESS and occassional P/Y pax depending on availabilty... NOT A BAR FOR BOOZE BOGANS... EK. an area for FIRST/BUSINESS standing/seating around 'bar' with 'bartender ' when actually its set up and manned!!! catering mostly to western BOOZE BOGANS and DYKWIAs..with little regard to inflight safety or crew or pax re standing around involving pax drinking...many unsecured items/glass/food in the 'bar' area and dare i say limited RSA... ironically on a middle eastern carrier..looks fabulous on the website tho!! these are my observations...and experiences on both airlines

You are shouting ... again.

"Limited RSA". Oh, the horror ... the horror!

What can we all do about it under the radar?

 

[RooFlyer]

As I understand it, there is also a small bar at the front of F on EK that is for F only.

.

Its a stand with drinks (with pretty high end spirits!) and snacks that is not 'manned', next to the 2 shower entrances. Its cleared away in the final couple of hours when the shower is active and replaced with a little water feature for the 'spa experience'.

Edit: Just remembered I took a pic:

 

[Flying Fox]

Its a stand with drinks (with pretty high end spirits!) and snacks that is not 'manned', next to the 2 shower entrances. Its cleared away in the final couple of hours when the shower is active and replaced with a little water feature for the 'spa experience'.

Yes I think that your description is more accurate compared with what I said.

 

[craven morehead]

I found the J "bar" very underwhelming on QF yet to do EK - Did find the J bar on VS very very good :mrgreen: