Qatar or Emirates as QFF for Sydney - Europe Business Class?

[Pixiechick]

Hi Brains Trust. Choosing between Qatar and Emirates (booked as QF flight number) for business class to Europe this December/January (into FCO, out from BCN). Price is effectively the same for both.

Qatar is not using the Q Suites as it's on the A380, so it's their standard Business Class seat. I've never flown either airline, but I know whichever one will be a treat.

A few points I'm mulling over: the Emirates leaves Sydney at 0600 (yikes!) and gets in the same day at ~7pm, short layover (1hr 45m) in DBX. Qatar leaves mid-afternoon from Syd and arrives early afternoon the next day into FCO (5 hour layover in Doha). The return is a morning flight on Qatar with a 3hr 45m layover, or an afternoon with 1hr 20m layover for Emirates.

Thoughts on the product quality given no Q Suite and timings? Also, I'm hearing mixed answers to whether I will have chauffeur access if booking Emirates via QF flight number?

 

[RooFlyer]

Qatar every time. Without Qsuites is usually quite fine. Occasionaly there is a 2-2-2 layout which isn’t so great but I think they’re pretty rare these days. you could check the second figuration quite easily.

 

[SYD]

Hi Brains Trust. Choosing between Qatar and Emirates (booked as QF flight number) for business class to Europe this December/January (into FCO, out from BCN). Price is effectively the same for both.

Qatar is not using the Q Suites as it's on the A380, so it's their standard Business Class seat. I've never flown either airline, but I know whichever one will be a treat.

A few points I'm mulling over: the Emirates leaves Sydney at 0600 (yikes!) and gets in the same day at ~7pm, short layover (1hr 45m) in DBX. Qatar leaves mid-afternoon from Syd and arrives early afternoon the next day into FCO (5 hour layover in Doha). The return is a morning flight on Qatar with a 3hr 45m layover, or an afternoon with 1hr 20m layover for Emirates.

Thoughts on the product quality given no Q Suite and timings? Also, I'm hearing mixed answers to whether I will have chauffeur access if booking Emirates via QF flight number?

Personally I’d pass on the 06:00 start but at least the airport will be quiet! Although it does look like a quicker trip all up on EK.

If you are QF WP? FLounge time in SYD will be nicer before QR but arguably a better lounge in DXB if on EK. If not, J lounge access throughout the journey would be a coin toss.

I don’t mind the QR seat although they could have made them a bit more private.

F&B is probably better on QR and both have great bars to hangout in.

 

[Pixiechick]

Qatar every time. Without Qsuites is usually quite fine. Occasionaly there is a 2-2-2 layout which isn’t so great but I think they’re pretty rare these days. you could check the second figuration quite easily.

I should add that I’m trying to reach QFF Lifetime Gold (I’m 1200 status credits away) so the additional 300 SC from the Emirates flight is a bit of a temptation/plus in the Emirates column.

 

[Pixiechick]

Personally I’d pass on the 06:00 start but at least the airport will be quiet! Although it does look like a quicker trip all up on EK.

If you are QF WP? FLounge time in SYD will be nicer before QR but arguably a better lounge in DXB if on EK. If not, J lounge access throughout the journey would be a coin toss.

I don’t mind the QR seat although they could have made them a bit more private.

F&B is probably better on QR and both have great bars to hangout in.

Yes, it’s quicker all up on EK, and 6am is not a time I usually see! The big bonus of EK for me is the extra SC as I’m trying to reach Lifetime Gold (so with the loyalty bonus will get 360 more SC on EK than with QR).

Any knowledge about the chauffeur if EK is booked via QF?

 

[jase05]

I should add that I’m trying to reach QFF Lifetime Gold (I’m 1200 status credits away) so the additional 300 SC from the Emirates flight is a bit of a temptation/plus in the Emirates column.

If you are after the extra SC’s then yes go with EK. Both have great lounges and I like the EK A380 J product and have always had great service although I hear quite often from others that the product varies considerably. Depends on what you want really

 

[SYD]

I believe we no longer get chauffeur on QF codes. Others may have more recent experience.

 

[Pixiechick]

I believe we no longer get chauffeur on QF codes. Others may have more recent experience.

Yep, just saw that on the Qantas page. Given that I tend to take the train from FCO and BCN into town, the world won't come to an end. I'm just quite chuffed to be experiencing either QR or EK in J as the mideast carriers are the main ones I've never tried (and as they are paid tickets, I want to get the most bang for my buck!)

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

For the bonus SC and points, and the shorter connection times, I would lean towards EK (with the QF flight numbers...)

 

[eminere]

Also, I'm hearing mixed answers to whether I will have chauffeur access if booking Emirates via QF flight number?

Confirming no Chauffeur Drive offered when booked on a QF flight number.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Qatar every time. Without Qsuites is usually quite fine. Occasionaly there is a 2-2-2 layout which isn’t so great but I think they’re pretty rare these days. you could check the second figuration quite easily.

Agree QR over EK J absolutely no contest.
They aren’t even in the same league for J class on any aircraft.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I believe we no longer get chauffeur on QF codes. Others may have more recent experience.

No chauffeur on award tickets with emirates, for sure. Only fully paid ones.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I can recommend emirates, especially the a380 with the 1-2-1 layout if you're travelling alone. I haven't tried Qatar, but from what I've seen it may well be better, depending on the plane. That's possible to change however.

Emirates changed my long legs (au to UAE) to the a380, so I got my own seat. It's not that I don't like people, it just other people that I don't like! Just kidding, the fact is, I like to be able to not offend people with my behaviour or emissions, tbh.

 

[Pixiechick]

No chauffeur on award tickets with emirates, for sure. Only fully paid ones.

I can recommend emirates, especially the a380 with the 1-2-1 layout if you're travelling alone. I haven't tried Qatar, but from what I've seen it may well be better, depending on the plane. That's possible to change however.

Emirates changed my long legs (au to UAE) to the a380, so I got my own seat. It's not that I don't like people, it just other people that I don't like! Just kidding, the fact is, I like to be able to not offend people with my behaviour or emissions, tbh.

I’m with you when travelling solo! I always choose the 1-2-1 that way, and QR is 1-2-1 as well. This time I’m travelling with my partner… but we don’t even talk to each other on planes really!

 

[WeeGraeme]

Hi Brains Trust. Choosing between Qatar and Emirates (booked as QF flight number) for business class to Europe this December/January (into FCO, out from BCN). Price is effectively the same for both.

Qatar is not using the Q Suites as it's on the A380, so it's their standard Business Class seat. I've never flown either airline, but I know whichever one will be a treat.

A few points I'm mulling over: the Emirates leaves Sydney at 0600 (yikes!) and gets in the same day at ~7pm, short layover (1hr 45m) in DBX. Qatar leaves mid-afternoon from Syd and arrives early afternoon the next day into FCO (5 hour layover in Doha). The return is a morning flight on Qatar with a 3hr 45m layover, or an afternoon with 1hr 20m layover for Emirates.

Thoughts on the product quality given no Q Suite and timings? Also, I'm hearing mixed answers to whether I will have chauffeur access if booking Emirates via QF flight number?

I've flown EK J on the A380 and the 777. I've flown QR J on the A350, so not Q Suite either. I really liked EK J on the A380 and QR J on the A350. EK J on most 777s is a little less premium. It's certainly better than Y, but unless you get one with the new business class seats, you'll be in a seat that is almost lie flat and is in a 2-3-2 configuration. Given that you'd be arriving at 1900 hrs, I don't imagine you'd be wanting to sleep too much on the second flight anyway, so it wouldn't be a big deal. At least your long flights would be on the A380. (Only Aussies would consider a 6-7 hour flight a short flight!)

 

[Pixiechick]

I've flown EK J on the A380 and the 777. I've flown QR J on the A350, so not Q Suite either. I really liked EK J on the A380 and QR J on the A350. EK J on most 777s is a little less premium. It's certainly better than Y, but unless you get one with the new business class seats, you'll be in a seat that is almost lie flat and is in a 2-3-2 configuration. Given that you'd be arriving at 1900 hrs, I don't imagine you'd be wanting to sleep too much on the second flight anyway, so it wouldn't be a big deal. At least your long flights would be on the A380. (Only Aussies would consider a 6-7 hour flight a short flight!)

Apparently the flight DBX-FCO and BCN-DBX would both on the A380 as well, so 1-2-1 on all flights.

It may also come down to if we want a stopover in UAE, as Qatar isn’t allowing any tourists in between November and 23 January unless in conjunction with FIFA tickets

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I’m with you when travelling solo! I always choose the 1-2-1 that way, and QR is 1-2-1 as well. This time I’m travelling with my partner… but we don’t even talk to each other on planes really!

I had my first solo lie-flat (aka horizontal, at an angle is still 'flat'. Pet peeve) with Malaysia Airlines 'throne seat'. They do alternate 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 rows. Get a 1-2-1, and your single seat has the same room as two. Get a bulkhead, and you get extra room for feet.

My first solo was with Brunei Airlines. They had an odd 2-1-2 layout in business. I never understood why not 1-2-2 to maximise aisle access. I must say that with that airline I saw the most people who couldn't actually fit in a business class seat, though.

 

[WeeGraeme]

Apparently the flight DBX-FCO and BCN-DBX would both on the A380 as well, so 1-2-1 on all flights.

It may also come down to if we want a stopover in UAE, as Qatar isn’t allowing any tourists in between November and 23 January unless in conjunction with FIFA tickets

I had a 31 hour stopover in Doha. I planned to have a look around. But on the day we arrived, it was still 39 degrees and very humid at 7 pm, which was after dark. So I wimped out and stayed in the hotel until it was time to leave for the airport.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

EK has daily 0600 and 2145 flights SYD-DXB so any reason you can't take the night flight?

Both DXB and DOH are nice airports where I make sure I have at least a few hours to explore and relax (especially if you have access to F lounge options) so anything under a 3hr connection is too short for me!

Do you have any status?

 

[Pixiechick]

EK has daily 0600 and 2145 flights SYD-DXB so any reason you can't take the night flight?

Both DXB and DOH are nice airports where I make sure I have at least a few hours to explore and relax (especially if you have access to F lounge options) so anything under a 3hr connection is too short for me!

Do you have any status?

No status, so no F lounge access. Will check the 2145 departure but 0600 might have been suggested due to connection to FCO (or fare code… might not have had the availability without big price increase). not ticketed yet so I can have a look at it again.

With a stopover in DXB we’ll have time to check out the lounge on departure as currently booked for 0200 DXB-SYD.