Making the most out of the whole glorious Qantas First Class Experience

[Duncan81]

I am fully aware that many people (for various reasons) are reluctant to talk about F class in general and Qantas A380 F in particular but.....

just hoping for some advice small pieces of advice to get the very best out of the F experience from sydney to LHR and return from chauffeur pick up to lounge to cabin ...

Check in advice, best use of lounge, best seats, Dubai lounge & duty free etc....

One specific question - we arrive at LHR and have a few hours waiting for BA flight out of T3 to CDG .... as we have just stepped off long haul F do we have access to the storied BA F lounge?

many thanks

Steve McQ

 

[Alanslegal]

Im always open to discuss my F class experiences even on redemption or mistake rates and have posted several trip reports too my one and only tip is if it's your first time is to 'pace yourself' - you will see a restaurant and order everything and before ordering your meal you would be enjoying a few drinks too. Remember then u get on board and there's more drink and food. And then at the next lounge during transit and so on

 

[RooFlyer]

Au contraire! Here on AFF we can't share enough about our F experiences :mrgreen:

Umpteen threads (with pics) really, so can search to get a wide spectrum of views, but:

* Day before your SYD departure First Host will call to see if you want spa treatment, discuss seating etc. Make sure your contact details (mobile #) are in order. If you don't hear from them by the afternoon, call them! (Ask for F host in the SYD F lounge);

* At SYD, If you will need assistance with bags alighting from cab etc, inform the First Host and some-one will meet you at the curb;

* Check in early and proceed to the F Lounge and let the enjoyment commence! Dining is highly recommended!

* Seating: I like column A, as the aisle only serves that column; the other aisle serves both middle and other window column seats (ie less traffic);

* I like rows 2,3 or 4, as I find row A is subject to traffic to toilet and FAs accessing the cupboard adjacent and row 5 has the galley behind, but there are no bad seats in F!

* DXB EK F lounge is sensational. The a la carte dining is as good as anywhere, in my experience. The Duty Free, on the other hand was very meh

* Boarding a QF flight into F is a bit odd from the DXB F lounge, as its set up to service EK F, which is on the upper deck of their A380s. But you'll survive!

 

[Steady]

Should one advise their clothing size when the first host calls? It would be disappointing to discover that there were no PJ's in your size onboard

 

[MEL_Traveller]

One specific question - we arrive at LHR and have a few hours waiting for BA flight out of T3 to CDG .... as we have just stepped off long haul F do we have access to the storied BA F lounge?

many thanks

by virtue of arriving QF F you will have access to the BA Galleries First Lounge at T3. Show your incoming QF F boarding pass along with the BA connecting boarding pass for access.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Im always open to discuss my F class experiences even on redemption or mistake rates and have posted several trip reports too my one and only tip is if it's your first time is to 'pace yourself' - you will see a restaurant and order everything and before ordering your meal you would be enjoying a few drinks too. Remember then u get on board and there's more drink and food. And then at the next lounge during transit and so on

Sorry to OP for jumping in but I we returning 1st class with QF from London in May and interested to know all this info too
have chosen the seats already and looking forward to F lounge at Heathrow and Dubai Also looking forward to the pj's if they are handed out on this route. On the way over we are in J with Emirates to Milan via KL and Dubai. As we are both WP do we get access to the first lounges at KL and Dubai? Any other tips ? Thanks

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Sorry to OP for jumping in but I we returning 1st class with QF from London in May and interested to know all this info too
have chosen the seats already and looking forward to F lounge at Heathrow and Dubai Also looking forward to the pj's if they are handed out on this route. On the way over we are in J with Emirates to Milan via KL and Dubai. As we are both WP do we get access to the first lounges at KL and Dubai? Any other tips ? Thanks

Yes to PJ's - should get a pair on the leg from LHR as well as DXB (as well as amenity kits on each flight!). The Galleries First lounge in T3 at Heathrow is reasonable and has a dining area strictly for F passengers though there is also the buffet.

On the way over we are in J with Emirates to Milan via KL and Dubai. As we are both WP do we get access to the first lounges at KL and Dubai? Any other tips ? Thanks

Others will need to answer these ones

 

[Duncan81]

One specific question - we arrive at LHR and have a few hours waiting for BA flight out of T3 to CDG .... as we have just stepped off long haul F do we have access to the storied BA F lounge?

Sorry I mean to say we fly in on QF1 to T3 but fly out on BA to CDG from T5 - can we access F lounge in T5?

 

[ChasingDaylight]

One specific question - we arrive at LHR and have a few hours waiting for BA flight out of T3 to CDG .... as we have just stepped off long haul F do we have access to the storied BA F lounge?

Sorry I mean to say we fly in on QF1 to T3 but fly out on BA to CDG from T5 - can we access F lounge in T5?

I believe so (others will correct me again here if I'm wrong) as the longhaul flight on QF was in F. You'll need your QF F boarding passes still as well as your one to CDG. Bear in mind that this would be Galleries First, not Concorde Room.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I believe so (others will correct me again here if I'm wrong) as the longhaul flight on QF was in F. You'll need your QF F boarding passes still as well as your one to CDG. Bear in mind that this would be Galleries First, not Concorde Room.

Correct and correct. Arriving F connecting to any class gets you F lounge access. Concorde Room is for BA F only (plus concorde room card holders)

 

[JohnM]

Correct and correct. Arriving F connecting to any class gets you F lounge access. Concorde Room is for BA F only (plus concorde room card holders)

Wouldn't worry about CCR - it's mightily underwhelming.

 

[RichardMEL]

Should one advise their clothing size when the first host calls? It would be disappointing to discover that there were no PJ's in your size onboard 

Erm OK I'll umm bite.

The lounge hosts have zero input/control over PJ's on board and what is catered.

My recent (over past few years with my last F flights 2 weeks ago) experiences have suggested a policy that used to have FA's asking for sice choice "S, L, XL" (IIRC) then for a time they didn't ask me at all, and on 2 recent trips again it was "Large or Extra Large" (I wonder if the year or so where size wasn't asjed was due to pyjamagate at LAX or just a one size fits all production run of PJ's). I am talking male here I don't know for the ladies, or if they are unisex in that sense.

Anyway no. I am sure the First Host doesn't need or want to know one's measurements

 

[kevrosmith]

My suggestion would be to pace yourself but enjoy. As others have said, you can drink a lot and eat a lot in the F Lounge, and then there's plenty more onboard too. It really is true: there's no bad seat in First.

I found landing into DXB after 14 hours on the plane and around midnight local time can be a bit disorienting, so you should have time to have a shower in the EK F Lounge in DXB during your transit as well if you want to refresh ready for your next leg to LHR. Rather than just sitting down in the Lounge, go for a walk (the Lounge covers the whole length of the Terminal) to get the blood flowing again. Plenty of staff will be around wanting to offer you food or drinks.

Arriving into T3, you also have access to the AA Arrivals Lounge also (Lounge Review: American Airlines Arrivals Lounge: Heathrow Terminal 3). There's a review of the T5 lounge here too: Lounge Review: BA Galleries lounge, T5 Heathrow

If you buy Duty Free in DXB on the return, they package it and take it away from you at the gate to put in the hold, and then it comes out separately in the baggage hall (as I understand it).

Don't be afraid to get changed into the PJs early onboard (if you haven't done F before, this may seem a bit strange). It helps to keep your own clothes fresh for the transit.

I found the F FAs the most pleasant I've come across and nothing was too much trouble to ask. Don't be afraid to push the call bell.

 

[medhead]

Erm OK I'll umm bite.

The lounge hosts have zero input/control over PJ's on board and what is catered.

My recent (over past few years with my last F flights 2 weeks ago) experiences have suggested a policy that used to have FA's asking for sice choice "S, L, XL" (IIRC) then for a time they didn't ask me at all, and on 2 recent trips again it was "Large or Extra Large" (I wonder if the year or so where size wasn't asjed was due to pyjamagate at LAX or just a one size fits all production run of PJ's). I am talking male here I don't know for the ladies, or if they are unisex in that sense.

Anyway no. I am sure the First Host doesn't need or want to know one's measurements

You'll probably find that was a reference to the bloke who got off a qf flight because they didn't have pj in his size.

As in pj - gate

 

[Steady]

Erm OK I'll umm bite.

The lounge hosts have zero input/control over PJ's on board and what is catered.

My recent (over past few years with my last F flights 2 weeks ago) experiences have suggested a policy that used to have FA's asking for sice choice "S, L, XL" (IIRC) then for a time they didn't ask me at all, and on 2 recent trips again it was "Large or Extra Large" (I wonder if the year or so where size wasn't asjed was due to pyjamagate at LAX or just a one size fits all production run of PJ's). I am talking male here I don't know for the ladies, or if they are unisex in that sense.

Anyway no. I am sure the First Host doesn't need or want to know one's measurements

I've edited my post to end with a few extra winks :shock:

You'll probably find that was a reference to the bloke who got off a qf flight because they didn't have pj in his size.

As in pj - gate

what medhead said

 

[RichardMEL]

You'll probably find that was a reference to the bloke who got off a qf flight because they didn't have pj in his size.

As in pj - gate

yep that's why I mentioned it. It was a couple actually who cried they had no XXL (noting as I posted now QF have offered just large or XL ) and refused same size in J pj's but demanded to be offloaded. Best part was that the husbnd, IIRC, was a psychologist..... *mind boggling*

 

[Flying mermaid]

Erm OK I'll umm bite.

The lounge hosts have zero input/control over PJ's on board and what is catered.

My recent (over past few years with my last F flights 2 weeks ago) experiences have suggested a policy that used to have FA's asking for sice choice "S, L, XL" (IIRC) then for a time they didn't ask me at all, and on 2 recent trips again it was "Large or Extra Large" (I wonder if the year or so where size wasn't asjed was due to pyjamagate at LAX or just a one size fits all production run of PJ's). I am talking male here I don't know for the ladies, or if they are unisex in that sense.

Anyway no. I am sure the First Host doesn't need or want to know one's measurements

I am pretty sure the pjs are unisex - I generally get offered M - size doesn't really worry me, they are not exactly a fashion item and are just there to save my clothes - I always leave them in the plane.

 

[RichardMEL]

If you buy Duty Free in DXB on the return, they package it and take it away from you at the gate to put in the hold, and then it comes out separately in the baggage hall (as I understand it).

Yes this is how it works. Also if in the F lounge at DXB then you board from the lounge directly, and they take the stuff up there before you get into the lift down to the boarding jetway (such a nice civilised feature of the EK lounge experience imhi).

I've found it usually doesn't take TOO long for the duty free items to show up at the bag counter - at least with experiences at SYD/MEL and nothing's been broken or had issues with it, though I do think the policy is silly and inconsistent with other ports, but the alcohol pricing in DXB is pretty good for some items, so is worth it, imho.

Don't be afraid to get changed into the PJs early onboard (if you haven't done F before, this may seem a bit strange). It helps to keep your own clothes fresh for the transit.

Very common specially for the "seasoned" F pax to change as soon as they are handed their PJ's (in time to come out and finish their PD champ of course )... specially on evening departures.

I found the F FAs the most pleasant I've come across and nothing was too much trouble to ask. Don't be afraid to push the call bell.

Agree. My last flight had Katrina from Adelaide - absolutely outstanding lovely lady - very friendly and thoughtful, and a bit of a romantic soul at heart (was having breakfast and she remarked to me "Oh there's a wonderful sunrise outside, should I open the shades for you to see?" she scoffed when I said I thought she must have a romantic soul lol). She also was VERY good with refills from boarding time when I saw she had the La Grande Dame bottle in her hand and I must have sounded like a giidy schoolboy with glee so excited they had my fave bubbles on board. She made sure I had more than enough

The one aspect to SOME F FA's service that I personally am not a fan of is the idea that if a passenger asks for something the automatic response is "Thank you" - like you want them to do more work "Thank you sir" just seems wrong to me. However this is only some of the FA's I've encountered and is probably just my own personal bugbear. Either way service has always been SO good

 

[Flying mermaid]

I found landing into DXB after 14 hours on the plane and around midnight local time can be a bit disorienting, so you should have time to have a shower in the EK F Lounge in DXB during your transit as well if you want to refresh ready for your next )..

. Also when they take your name for the shower make sure they recognise you are F so they prioritise you. I have only been through Dubai once, travelling back from Africa and desperate for a shower and found I had to wait nearly an hour. Eventually I queried whether there was any priority system and was told only for First. After they checked my boarding pass again I got the next shower.

I generally change into PJs before the plane has taken off .

 

[kevrosmith]

. Also when they take your name for the shower make sure they recognise you are F so they prioritise you. I have only been through Dubai once, travelling back from Africa and desperate for a shower and found I had to wait nearly an hour. Eventually I queried whether there was any priority system and was told only for First. After they checked my boarding pass again I got the next shower.

I generally change into PJs before the plane has taken off .

Ooh... I'll have to remember this for next time. When I was returning from LHR-DXB-SYD, I encountered full showers too and subsequently missed out due to the shorter connection time. Now that I know F are priority, I'll be sure to mention this.