QF business not what it used to be?

[Mattg]

I'm in Brisbane and looking at travelling to USA/Mexico next summer (June/July 2018). I'm hoping to score J reward seats there and back. I was looking at the 747 service for its convenience however I'm thinking the new 787 overnight flight from Melbourne might be a better choice. It will certainly increase the flying time by adding the additional sector but I'm starting to think it might be worth it. It would be great if they upgraded the existing BNE-LAX-JFK service to the 787 sooner rather than later, but think it's unlikely to occur before 2018 mid-year. Do you think it's worth going via MEL to pickup the 787 or should I just be happy with the 747?

I don't think there's any doubt that the 787 J is the better product. But I also think you'll be more likely to find a J award seat on the direct BNE-LAX service, and it will also cost you fewer points than going via MEL.

FWIW, I would expect BNE-LAX (or possibly a new BNE-DFW flight) to become a 787 service when the second lot of 787s arrive - but this is unlikely to be before your trip.

 

[RichardMEL]

thread veering off target a bit but remember QF have only 8 shells ordered at this point which means the actual number of routes, specially long haul and ULH(eg: PER-LHR) will be rather limited. I wouldn't expect too many new ones come up unless QF orders more (I believe there are still options, but not yet firm)

 

[Happy Trails]

But (desperately grasping for something positive), the droopy seats do now provide direct aisle access for all, sort of.

 

[Franky]

I know recently, I took eight 737 J flights in a row over a weekend, and by the end of it I was pretty sick of what was on offer. The following two flights in Y sure cured that sickness though.

Good grief, that's deserving of a SAAB award any day..

 

[anabolism]

My own experience has been that QF is a mixed experience. The seats are very outdated, lacking direct aisle access or adequate cubby/storage pockets and spaces. The PJs are nice, but the lack of lavatories means long lines when everyone changes into them after the meal and changes out after breakfast. The food is generally good, but the rigid and inflexible meal service cuts into sleep time. I've stopped flying JNB-SYD (choosing CX to HKG or QR to DOH instead) because I had to either forgo supper or wait until five hours after take-off before I could go to sleep.

Most other comparable airlines have deployed all-aisle access seats (JL's is an especially innovative design that I like better than the typical 1-2-1 reverse herringbone) and are moving towards a dine-on-demand service. Even AA lets you request your meal all-at-once or earlier or later. While AA's food quality is dreadful, they deserve kudos for the way they do the meal service: take orders before take-off, put mains in oven, so drinks and starters are within an hour of take-off, followed by sides and mains, the dessert, with frequent beverage refills. In contrast, QF do one or two drink runs after take-off before even taking orders, and drag everything out (possibly they are understaffed).

I've tried asking for my PJs during boarding, but am usually told it's not possible. Similarly, I've tried asking for my meal to be all-at-once or sooner after take-off, but again, simply not possible.

 

[Mattg]

My own experience has been that QF is a mixed experience. The seats are very outdated, lacking direct aisle access or adequate cubby/storage pockets and spaces. The PJs are nice, but the lack of lavatories means long lines when everyone changes into them after the meal and changes out after breakfast. The food is generally good, but the rigid and inflexible meal service cuts into sleep time. I've stopped flying JNB-SYD (choosing CX to HKG or QR to DOH instead) because I had to either forgo supper or wait until five hours after take-off before I could go to sleep.

Most other comparable airlines have deployed all-aisle access seats (JL's is an especially innovative design that I like better than the typical 1-2-1 reverse herringbone) and are moving towards a dine-on-demand service. Even AA lets you request your meal all-at-once or earlier or later. While AA's food quality is dreadful, they deserve kudos for the way they do the meal service: take orders before take-off, put mains in oven, so drinks and starters are within an hour of take-off, followed by sides and mains, the dessert, with frequent beverage refills. In contrast, QF do one or two drink runs after take-off before even taking orders, and drag everything out (possibly they are understaffed).

I've tried asking for my PJs during boarding, but am usually told it's not possible. Similarly, I've tried asking for my meal to be all-at-once or sooner after take-off, but again, simply not possible.

This may depend on the route. I flew SIN-BNE a few weeks ago and pyjamas/amenity kits were handed out with the pre-takeoff drinks. Meal orders were also taken before take-off. Meals were served right after take-off and the lights were switched off within 80 minutes or so. I suppose this was a relatively short redeye though.

 

[ftm]

I had an excellent VA experience this week from LAX to SYD. Intuitive delivery of service and my meal ran at my pace rather than the pace of the cabin. No empty plates sitting in front of me for ages, like what can happen on QF.

 

[anabolism]

This may depend on the route. I flew SIN-BNE a few weeks ago and pyjamas/amenity kits were handed out with the pre-takeoff drinks. Meal orders were also taken before take-off. Meals were served right after take-off and the lights were switched off within 80 minutes or so. I suppose this was a relatively short redeye though.

Might be route-specific. I've flown JNB-SYD a lot, which is ~11 hours in the air. It might seem like a long enough flight, but subtracting five hours for supper service to end and then with brekkies served two hours or more before landing, there's not even five hours for sleeping.

It might also be crew dependent. One flight, after I politely asked if I might get PJs before take-off, the FA serving us referred to me as "his majesty" for the rest of the flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

QF business 'not what it used to be'? I don't know if it ever 'was'?

QF business has almost always been behind the eight-ball. While it lays claim to inventing business class (there is some controversy over that), it has never seized the opportunity to innovate after that.

When it had good food, its seats were still of the cradle variety. Other airlines leap-frogged and started offering some sort of bed (either full, angled or z-position). When QF went angled lie-flat others were completely full flat. Now they have sort of caught up with full flat, but their food, provision of WCs, and service patterns (dine on demand, express meals etc) have not caught up. QF is running about 5-7 years behind their competitors.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Might be route-specific. I've flown JNB-SYD a lot, which is ~11 hours in the air. It might seem like a long enough flight, but subtracting five hours for supper service to end and then with brekkies served two hours or more before landing, there's not even five hours for sleeping.

It might also be crew dependent. One flight, after I politely asked if I might get PJs before take-off, the FA serving us referred to me as "his majesty" for the rest of the flight.

the last time I flew jnb-syd, everyone in the nose was helping themselves to pjs from the cupboard at the front of the plane, before takeoff, so we did too.

Anyone who is being sarcastic like that to a customer should be reported and retrained.

i have had great service on the JNB run and bad - very crew dependent. Probably more good than bad. Probably won't fly to JNB again, but if I did would look at another carrier such SQ or EK and take the long way round.

 

[mviy]

QF not providing PJs on day flights and providing a supper menu at the start of flights from the US may save them money but it does look cheap. When I flew out of SFO I was glad that I had eaten in the CX Lounge.

 

[snooze]

I agree with the majority of you. What gets me is the A330-200. Why would they reconfigure a cabin with 28 seats and only one toilet? Even on the shortest int route to and from Jakarta, there are still lines. Sharing with the whole cabin, crew and flight crew. Its even worse when iv lucked out with it from HKG to SYD. 9 Hours with one toilet and a small snack before landing.
I try and avoid these aircraft now, however it seems most of the SIN flights have been changed.

I just hope they don't take anymore toilets out of the 380 when that gets refurbished.

I find it hard to be loyal to QF when they constantly take away the most basic things.

 

[kpc]

Agree with a lot of what is said above. I fly QF A380 J a fair bit (about to change though)...the best bit is the QF F lounge in Syd as it is downhill from there

 

[JohnK]

QF business 'not what it used to be'? I don't know if it ever 'was'?

QF business has almost always been behind the eight-ball. While it lays claim to inventing business class (there is some controversy over that), it has never seized the opportunity to innovate after that.

I've stayed out of this thread as I don't travel business that often but I've travelled some business with QF since 2 op-ups in 2004. I've had some really good flights and a few acceptable flights. I don't have an issue with the product. Yes it's not cutting edge but it's still ok.

I understand there is inconsistency. That happens on every airline.

 

[cove]

We are testing QF business tonight. It has been pretty good with the A330 Suite seats.
Mrscove is surveyed but I don't think the onboard staff know this.
I am usually onboard too and I get the same good treatment.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I've stayed out of this thread as I don't travel business that often but I've travelled some business with QF since 2 op-ups in 2004. I've had some really good flights and a few acceptable flights. I don't have an issue with the product. Yes it's not cutting edge but it's still ok.

I understand there is inconsistency. That happens on every airline.

My flying patterns have seen me do a lot of A330s from to and from Asia recently. I've always found the outbound (usually from SYD) to be be very good. I've noticed a slight degradation of the food, maybe it's just the same menu, but good quality wine. On the inbounds I get a quick meal and then sleep (the 'do no disturb works well') and the only indifferent crew I've experienced was on the quick QF52 BNE-SIN.

I've learnt to live with the box, the second meal, on the outbounds by ignoring it and just having another cheese course. I ask for it to be kept aside at the start of the flight.

To get back to your quote, QF food is not cutting edge and I could do better.

 

[JohnK]

To get back to your quote, QF food is not cutting edge and I could do better.

Cutting edge?

In the past 15 years QF food is on par with CX, SQ, OZ, MH, RJ, UL, BA, EK in any cabin I have travelled. In fact the best ever economy meal I've had was a pork dish on a QF flight MNL-SYD last year. Each airline can be inconsistent. Some of "Asian" food intra-Asia on SQ, CX is cold and bland and inedible. Some of the variety of food is not suitable to an aircraft cabin. Each airline can be inconsistent.

I can understand the criticism but in my opinion is not warranted. Just like old age argument regarding the food in the HKG CX Pier F Lounge. I find the quality of the food in the Wing F lounge just as good and the buffet food on offer is very good and suitable to my tastes.

This one is a huge YMMV.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

In fact the best ever economy meal I've had was a pork dish on a QF flight MNL-SYD last year. Each airline can be inconsistent.

Relevance in a thread specifically about business class?

 

[JohnK]

Relevance in a thread specifically about business class?

QF food in any class is up there with all the airlines I have flown.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF is not the only carrier to not offer/provide PJ's on day flights. SQ does the same (in F) on day trips like MEL-SIN.

oh and some other carriers make PJ's a "secret" service.

I flew UA recently MEL-LAX.. A 15 hour flight(as we all know). PJ's were *not* offered to anyone,but I knew they had them as part of their revamped "Polaris" product(still rubbish, btw... but I digress ).. Anyway so I finally gave up waiting and I asked... and I was told sure and that PJ's were only provided "on request" - ie you had to KNOW to ASK for them - they were not offered to pax. I enquired further with sources within the airline and was told this was because they never load enough for the whole cabin. Ridiculous.

Once I got them, they were actually really comfy and better to me than the old QF F (the grey and brown ones before those) ones. Quite nice surprisingly but to have to know to ask??

So yeah....,