My first F experience - LAX-SYD

J

Josh

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Jun 7, 2006
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Hi all,

So, while I've done QF J across the pacific a few dozen times, I've never managed to score myself a seat in the F cabin. Finally managed to do that in a few weeks time - for LAX-SYD - and I'm wondering what I can expect. A few questions:
  1. I'm a WP, so I've had access to the F lounge for many years, but is there anything "special" available to those in the F cabin in LAX, such as a special drop of bubbly hidden under the counter?
  2. Onboard - does anyone have a copy of a recent LAX-SYD F menu?
  3. Is there anything onboard food/beverage-wise I should make sure I try?
  4. Anything else?
Thanks!
 
tbh the biggest difference for you will be the bedding/seat combo. It is FAR more comfortable and of course bigger place to relax and sleep in for the long night. There's nothing extra in the LAX F lounge for F pax that I'm aware of or have ever experienced alas, bar perhaps slightly preferential service in terms of getting a table if very busy (which I've never actually experienced there prior to QF12) but that's about it.

to be honest, the catering is basically very similar to J with just one or two extras, like the tiny canapes with caviar and a few extra options.

Of course the champagne is better and some upgraded wines and spirits.

Remember the QF12 is "supper" flight out of LAX, so while you can get a decent meal (if the lounge doesn't fill you) to be honest I'd not expect anything amazing. Brekky service is more personal of course, and well OK, but pretty much on par with J, except you can personally order (none of the prefill the menu card thing) and they tend to make a bit more of an effort with it imo.


So for mine, the big plus to F on this sector is the bedding/bed setup above all other aspects. Others views may differ of course :)

Congrats on getting the seat and enjoy the flight - it's definitely the best way to cross the pacific (from/to Oz anyway)
 
RichardMEL said:
tbh the biggest difference for you will be the bedding/seat combo. It is FAR more comfortable and of course bigger place to relax and sleep in for the long night. There's nothing extra in the LAX F lounge for F pax that I'm aware of or have ever experienced alas, bar perhaps slightly preferential service in terms of getting a table if very busy (which I've never actually experienced there prior to QF12) but that's about it.

to be honest, the catering is basically very similar to J with just one or two extras, like the tiny canapes with caviar and a few extra options.

Of course the champagne is better and some upgraded wines and spirits.

Remember the QF12 is "supper" flight out of LAX, so while you can get a decent meal (if the lounge doesn't fill you) to be honest I'd not expect anything amazing. Brekky service is more personal of course, and well OK, but pretty much on par with J, except you can personally order (none of the prefill the menu card thing) and they tend to make a bit more of an effort with it imo.


So for mine, the big plus to F on this sector is the bedding/bed setup above all other aspects. Others views may differ of course :)

Congrats on getting the seat and enjoy the flight - it's definitely the best way to cross the pacific (from/to Oz anyway)
Click to expand...

I'd say the above is pretty spot on! The bed alone makes it worth it to me. From that aspect, it is truly First Class. Enjoy the flight and let us know how it goes!
 
RichardMEL said:
tbh the biggest difference for you will be the bedding/seat combo. It is FAR more comfortable and of course bigger place to relax and sleep in for the long night. There's nothing extra in the LAX F lounge for F pax that I'm aware of or have ever experienced alas, bar perhaps slightly preferential service in terms of getting a table if very busy (which I've never actually experienced there prior to QF12) but that's about it.

to be honest, the catering is basically very similar to J with just one or two extras, like the tiny canapes with caviar and a few extra options.

Of course the champagne is better and some upgraded wines and spirits.

Remember the QF12 is "supper" flight out of LAX, so while you can get a decent meal (if the lounge doesn't fill you) to be honest I'd not expect anything amazing. Brekky service is more personal of course, and well OK, but pretty much on par with J, except you can personally order (none of the prefill the menu card thing) and they tend to make a bit more of an effort with it imo.


So for mine, the big plus to F on this sector is the bedding/bed setup above all other aspects. Others views may differ of course :)

Congrats on getting the seat and enjoy the flight - it's definitely the best way to cross the pacific (from/to Oz anyway)
Click to expand...
Awesome - thanks for such a detailed reply. Looks like there's nothing really "special" to look forward to that's much different from J, apart from the bed/bedding. Appreciate it!
 
MEL_Traveller said:
It’s a definite uplift from business class.
Click to expand...
exactly.

Sorry if I made it seem kind of grim. It's nicer, but it's just not like the huge difference from J->F on some carriers. It will be a great flight, very comfortable and definitely better than the J product and you will enjoy it :)
 
I’ve done it multiple times but just to Asia so not the proper F. On a ex LAX I feel the crew have really enjoyed themselves and mentally home and food offering is not as substantial as outbound so wouldn’t be the true F but happy to be corrected by those that have done it recently. Because I’m heading home I don’t value sleeping as much.

The opportunity cost is 49k toward an EK F.

If it was outbound I think I wouldn’t hesitate
 
wannabeinvestmentbanker said:
I’ve done it multiple times but just to Asia so not the proper F. On a ex LAX I feel the crew have really enjoyed themselves and mentally home and food offering is not as substantial as outbound so wouldn’t be the true F but happy to be corrected by those that have done it recently. Because I’m heading home I don’t value sleeping as much.

The opportunity cost is 49k toward an EK F.

If it was outbound I think I wouldn’t hesitate
Click to expand...
Flights to asia are ‘proper’ F. What you are describing is perhaps different service patterns based on flight departure or arrival times.

Ex USA it’s an evening flight, shortened meal service to allow pax to sleep. F gets you quicker service, more personalised, and off to sleep faster.

If you’ve done F and aren’t particularly fussed, J will be fine :)
 
Looking at the current Qantas' first class product, it is a "class" below SQ / QR and even EK.

I would have expected more from the seat, it just feels like a slightly larger business class product.

Same goes for EK's 777 business class product, it's horrible - how could they even market long haul business class in a 2-3-2 configuration?
 
MelbFlyer said:
Looking at the current Qantas' first class product, it is a "class" below SQ / QR and even EK.

I would have expected more from the seat, it just feels like a slightly larger business class product.

Same goes for EK's 777 business class product, it's horrible - how could they even market long haul business class in a 2-3-2 configuration?
Click to expand...
That’s why I flew to Melb on my Reward Tic back in Sept 2019.

The A380 EK experience was far away better

“Showered” with Paradis and
Water 🚿
 
You get the nicer dark PJ's rather than the light grey J ones. If they're still doing that.

I found QF F a bit underwhelming to be honest compared to J.
 
Having just done QF F SYD-LAX I found the bed worth the extra. Of course the timing out of SYD means a more substantial meal offering (and plenty of champers). Agree the meals are similar to J but the service is what sets it really apart. Especially on the A side of F. My recent flight had the best FAs and no-one on the A side missed out on anything.

I was booked to head home QF J from LAX-BNE direct next week... but found the bed so much better that I have just changed it to LAX-SYD(-BNE) in F just to get the good night sleep on the way home. I have always struggled to sleep on the QF J product (first world problem I know).

I think I'll do a full trip report when I get home, but I'll post the menu and maybe some pics here when I land.

Also, here is the current LAX QF F lounge menu.

IMG_5721 copy.jpg
 
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