Oh Lord, Not Another QF10 Trip Report (Yes)

[retired]

I've slept on both Skybed Mk II and the J Suite several times over the last years and with current under/over lays sleep better on the Skybed as it allows me more movement.

Storage is better on on A388/B747 if you have a side/personal locker, worse otherwise.

I agree - I sleep on my side and I found the 787 J bed hard with limited space for turning over. I only managed about four hours sleep in total in the 17 hours. I also agree about the much better storage and access on A388/B747.

 

[retired]

Hello. I concur with all Corianders comments and observations. I flew J in 10E returning from London mid August.

The seats were better laying down as a flat bed than upright.

It was an OK flight, maybe 7.5/10. Drink service was grudging about an hour into flight and we were offered 1 drink, no replenishments. The food was the precise menu Coriander shared, but it was not pleasant.

In terms of food, my dinner entree order never eventuated, my pappardelle main course was ho hum, cheese board dessert was very modest in that it was meager, even for a woman, and coffee and liquor had to be requested.

I was so hungry I asked for some bread and butter into the flight to reduce hunger/jetlag nausea (never experienced before).

Breakfast was not pleasant with over garlicky beans in a greasy rubbery concoction. Not the Perry standard the hype led me to look forward to.

Food aside, I made up my own bed up and generally was left with a sense that passengers were a necessary pest. Rarely saw cabin staff throughout the flight and water was not replenished.

The service is not the standard qantas aspire too, the crew aside from chief steward were all British and while efficient, lacked the grooming, service level or indeed friendliness, expected.

On the positive side we arrived safely and on time, though turbulent over the Indian Ocean. Would I fly the Dreamliner J again - probably not as I had to fly to Perth from Adelaide so no time savings. I peeped into PE and was very surprised at the lack of space when reclinded, passengers needing to exit from the window seat would need to get very personal with their neighbor as the space was so squishy.

Perth lounge was nice but only open a set time and I had to kill time in normal QC until lounge opened. Duty free at Perth non existent.

Only other comment I would make is that it was annoying that with limited toilets in J, the PE passengers continually used them and frequently disturbed J passengers with knocking and chatting, as well as trying up loos.

On the whole it may have been just my flight, but I was not impressed when compared to the cost. Qantas loyalty is wearing thin when other products offer greater value and passenger experience.

I totally agree with this. I love QF2 as it feels like "home" with happy crew who are part of the journey. My crew on QF10 on 22 July were unhappy, minimal service and almost grudging when asked for services/amenities. I too had to go and ask for food/snacks which is a fist after many similar flights.

 

[Mattg]

I think a couple of the crew may have been Australian but I wasn't listening really hard.

It used to be the case that 2 Australian-based FAs would work each sector to/from LHR (with the rest being UK-based crew). Not sure if this is still so. That said, some of the UK-based crew are also Australian expats.

 

[AnnieK9]

I believe the rear J toilets are the designated PE toilets.

Thanks Daver6, I wasn't aware of that, I was informed that PE were to use the economy facilities behind their cabin. Thanks for the clarification. All the best.

 

[Daver6]

Thanks Daver6, I wasn't aware of that, I was informed that PE were to use the economy facilities behind their cabin. Thanks for the clarification. All the best.

Actually, looks like I'm incorrect according to Qantas Boeing 787 premium economy (Melbourne-Los Angeles)

During the flight, the crew also advise premium economy passengers to head rearwards and use the economy class bathrooms instead of forwards for the business class lavatories, as there are none in premium economy itself – although allowances are made when trolleys are blocking the aisles between the premium economy cabin and the economy toilets.

Explains why I was confused about it.

 

[JohnM]

Actually, looks like I'm incorrect according to Qantas Boeing 787 premium economy (Melbourne-Los Angeles)
Explains why I was confused about it.

Phew!, that's a relief .

 

[serfty]

Explains why I was confused about it.

So are the FA's ... from such anecdotes it seems they are indeed confused or simply reluctant to police the use of J toilets by PE PAX.

 

[Daver6]

So are the FA's ... from such anecdotes it seems they are indeed confused or simply reluctant to police the use of J toilets by PE PAX.

At least it's not the regular Y "scum" using them like on the 737s

 

[JohnK]

Nice trip report @coriander.

 

[Melburnian1]

I totally agree with this. I love QF2 as it feels like "home" with happy crew who are part of the journey. My crew on QF10 on 22 July were unhappy, minimal service and almost grudging when asked for services/amenities. I too had to go and ask for food/snacks which is a fist after many similar flights.

I know a married couple who were on QF9 and then QF10 in July.

The male described the J class journeys as 'taxing' (I was surprised, as to date he'd declined an offer from VA domestically to switch from QF). He said the half Pommie/half Australian crews were not friendly and service was very, very average. I tried to ask why he found it 'taxing' but wasn't given much more detail.

He then stunned me by saying in the future he'd fly on an Asian airline to London, perhaps SQ but maybe others. He would only go there once every two or three years though.

 

[stm1sydney]

On the whole it may have been just my flight, but I was not impressed when compared to the cost. Qantas loyalty is wearing thin when other products offer greater value and passenger experience.

Just do it!