QF F - First Impressions

[kelvedon]

If they have to dumb down the [food] menu to print it in English, I think we can use English pronunciations for our champagne.

I agree, but there can be variations even within the same language. Scones, and passports for instance, and twenty years later I can still remember the mirth of my colleagues as the newly imported Kelvedon pronounces Wagga Wagga like a dog does to his tail, or Albany as Al Bany.

 

[diningdecadence]

They do indeed View attachment 36921

it may have been the numerous glasses in the lounge but i found the tall champagne glass doesn't hold up well upon turbulence. managed to lose 2 full glasses up to HKG earlier this year. perhaps why some other airlines seem to use a 'stubbier' glass

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So I am standing in a shopping centre yesterday gawking at the world going by - I spot a bank of those massage chairs you slip a coupla bucks in - my mind wanders to our Sept exp on QF F MEL-LAX and how massage features on F seats not explained to us and how I discovered it by chance and then failed to pass on info to Cruserette as she is seated 1 out and 1 back so interaction between us is ZERO and hence she doesn't experience the thrill.

Then I get to thinking - what other carriers have F cabins where there are ZERO pairs of seats which allow even minimal interaction bw pax travelling together on 380 of any F cabin for that matter?

SQ have pairs / TG have pairs / EK have pairs / MH have pairs - don't tell me QF are the only major intl carrier whose F cabin consist solely of these single seats?

 

[bismarck]

SQ have pairs / TG have pairs / EK have pairs / MH have pairs - don't tell me QF are the only major intl carrier whose F cabin consist solely of these single seats?

When seated, the EY A380 seats don't seem to allow interaction. Apparently you can open the sliding door, but you'd only actually be able to see/talk to each other if getting up.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Then I get to thinking - what other carriers have F cabins where there are ZERO pairs of seats which allow even minimal interaction bw pax travelling together on 380 of any F cabin for that matter?

SQ have pairs / TG have pairs / EK have pairs / MH have pairs - don't tell me QF are the only major intl carrier whose F cabin consist solely of these single seats?

No pairs on CX on either the 747 or 77H

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No pairs on CX on either the 747 or 77H

OK but 1A/1K on CX 747 only have aisle separating them - you could at least communicate - looks like actual seats not much further apart than R seats on SQ.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK but 1A/1K on CX 747 only have aisle separating them - you could at least communicate - looks like actual seats not much further apart than R seats on SQ.

View attachment 38071

Nope, the design of the CX suite is such that communication between 1A/K is not that easy - nothing like QF's arrangement on the 747.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Nope, the design of the CX suite is such that communication between 1A/K is not that easy - nothing like QF's arrangement on the 747.

Agree, the seat map is a bit deceiving. CX and QF seats are definitely a solo affair and I'm actually quite glad they are.
I fly so often alone that I really value the privacy. On QF I love my own space with the option of dining with a companion but shooing them off afterwards (something I don't have the luxury of doing at home :mrgreen: )

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes PF I understand your position - personally I would do 40+ international sectors solo annually - Cruiserette does a lot of solo travel also - but for holidays together adjoining seats just a big plus - I just do not get the whole of F cabin needing to be 'island seats'.

We will be repeating the USA journey again next year and currently have 2 x SQ F/R booked - I have 1 x QF F booked and will grab another 1 if I can if it releases - but Cruiserette says 'bah humbug I don't wanna fly that cabin again - if we have to fly direct lets go VA in J - at least we can sit together'! Didn't help that crew looked after me reasonably well in QF F but totally ignored her almost entire journey.

And NO I am not one of those who think I know more about running an airline than QF management do - just seems a little weird to me.

 

[ashleyn]

Yes PF I understand your position - personally I would do 40+ international sectors solo annually - Cruiserette does a lot of solo travel also - but for holidays together adjoining seats just a big plus - I just do not get the whole of F cabin needing to be 'island seats'.

We will be repeating the USA journey again next year and currently have 2 x SQ F/R booked - I have 1 x QF F booked and will grab another 1 if I can if it releases - but Cruiserette says 'bah humbug I don't wanna fly that cabin again - if we have to fly direct lets go VA in J - at least we can sit together'! Didn't help that crew looked after me reasonably well in QF F but totally ignored her almost entire journey.

And NO I am not one of those who think I know more about running an airline than QF management do - just seems a little weird to me.

Interesting sideline, I used to have on my bucket list to fly International F. Then this year I flew to Europe return on Qatar J. That and reading all the reports of F, I have crossed that off my list. I'm good with J. Thanks everyone.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Interesting sideline, I used to have on my bucket list to fly International F. Then this year I flew to Europe return on Qatar J. That and reading all the reports of F, I have crossed that off my list. I'm good with J. Thanks everyone.

Oh no don't! It is worth doing once!

 

[ReLoad]

Yes PF I understand your position - personally I would do 40+ international sectors solo annually - Cruiserette does a lot of solo travel also - but for holidays together adjoining seats just a big plus - I just do not get the whole of F cabin needing to be 'island seats'.

We will be repeating the USA journey again next year and currently have 2 x SQ F/R booked - I have 1 x QF F booked and will grab another 1 if I can if it releases - but Cruiserette says 'bah humbug I don't wanna fly that cabin again - if we have to fly direct lets go VA in J - at least we can sit together'! Didn't help that crew looked after me reasonably well in QF F but totally ignored her almost entire journey.

And NO I am not one of those who think I know more about running an airline than QF management do - just seems a little weird to me.

An almost identical response in our family too Mrs Reload just wants us to be next o each other and was totally underwhelmed by F.

I've got quite a few QF F flights coming up as a solo and I'm certainly looking forward to them. But as cruiser suggests, couples etc. no thanks.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Interesting ReLoad - interesting. I might add I don't necessarily need to sit next to Cruiserette for the lovey dovey stuff - but any of you guys who have flown intl long haul with your partners just know about those interesting / entertaining / funny / enjoyable little incidents that always occur - pointless if you aren't sitting next to each other and get to enjoy together.

I do concede that QF no doubt know their F market and these 'island' suites are what their customers desire - but from where I sit I will have to shoe horn Cruiserette back into QF F - a scenario I never imagined until we actually tried it.

 

[pagingjoan]

Oh dear, I don't know whether to be sad about all these reports of people being less than impressed by F, particularly QF F, or to allow my spirits to soar at the prospect of more upgrade opportunities.

We've talked before about the solo/couples differences, so I won't cover that ground again, other than to say that my views are just about completely in line with PF's message above.

One of my favourite parts of international travel is sinking into 2A on the QF A380, no matter which flight. I've had many such indulgences (can't match the number crunching of those here who know exactly how many, alas), but the rest of my F A380 experience is confined to SQ and EK - perhaps four flights on the former and three or four on the latter. I've really enjoyed all of those but the QF style seems to suit my preferences better and I've never had less than excellent service from the QF F staff - in many cases, superb service.

So, on balance, I guess I'm pleased to hear that quite a few potential competitors for the seats I prize will be taking themselves out of the game and settling happily into their J seats. (I should add that my partner generally wouldn't bother paying the extra for F, either in dollars or in points, although he can be persuaded by a good fare offering - or a gift of my points. )

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An almost identical response in our family too Mrs Reload just wants us to be next o each other and was totally underwhelmed by F.

I've got quite a few QF F flights coming up as a solo and I'm certainly looking forward to them. But as cruiser suggests, couples etc. no thanks.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if F on board the aircraft is supposed to be overwhelming? It's supposed to be a travel experience tailored around the individual. Comfort, and your own timetable for eating, relaxing or sleeping. (And yes, 'own timetable' means not having to wait for WCs while business class passengers are in there to change into their PJs!)

If anywhere, on the ground is where there should be some 'wow' factor. Skipping 200 people in the check-in queue, skipping another 300 in the immigration and security queues. A nice lounge away from the crowds which might offer additional services such as a spa.

But once on the plane, what are people expecting? Many will say they don't want to fly first or business class for an overnight flight because they'll 'miss out on the experience'. But during the day what is 'that experience'? You get on, have something to eat, and then just like being in economy, you have another 8 or 10 or 12 hours sitting in a seat. The amenity kit and PJs don't make the time go faster! The cabin crew don't entertain you to make time go faster.

With the odd exception ('hi' Lufthansa!) the food is rarely anything to write home about. Champagne is the one difference. At home I wouldn't open a bottle just for a couple of glasses (waste of a bottle). On the plane that's not a problem.

 

[boomy]

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if F on board the aircraft is supposed to be overwhelming?

Private suites, showers, degustation menus, luxury amenities and personalised service are some of the overwhelming things that come to mind when thinking about F travel.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if F on board the aircraft is supposed to be overwhelming?

MEL I don't think ReLoad or I were indicating pax should be overwhelmed by a QF F experience - we both stated underwhelmed. Shouldn't an F exp on a top tier carrier have a WOW factor about it? SQ does - my only exp on TG 380 did - QF just did not when we sampled - maybe we got a bad day - maybe it was a once off - but I would think QF would really want all F pax - especially those sampling for first time to say WOW that was an experience. Remember it was MEL-LAX - 14+ hrs - not just a sleeping flt.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

MEL I don't think ReLoad or I were indicating pax should be overwhelmed by a QF F experience - we both stated underwhelmed. Shouldn't an F exp on a top tier carrier have a WOW factor about it? SQ does - my only exp on TG 380 did - QF just did not when we sampled - maybe we got a bad day - maybe it was a once off - but I would think QF would really want all F pax - especially those sampling for first time to say WOW that was an experience. Remember it was MEL-LAX - 14+ hrs - not just a sleeping flt.

Provided the QF crew weren't bad (bless 'em), what do you expect them to do? (btw I'm in the camp that 14+ hours = 10+ hours of sleeping!) Sure it's a great experience to be sitting at 30,000 feet looking out the window enjoying a drink and a meal. You can't do that on the ground. But in terms of service, you're still just getting food delivered to you, and your glass topped-up. In a seat. it's the same in economy. Just because the crew address you by name before topping up your glass doesn't make a 'wow' experience in my eyes.

I agree SQ has a certain 'x' factor that means you always know when you're on an SQ flight. But that's not down to the seat/bed. It's not the food. It's not the alcohol. They just seem to get everything 'just right'.

Someone recently wrote they had a bad flight on CX. Flying F for the first time they complained they had to go to the galley 10-12 times during the flight to ask for water, or a snack or whatever else they were after. Someone asked 'why didn't you press the call bell?' Their reply was 'i thought the call bell should only be used for emergencies'. While I guess CX could do more to introduce their services to first time flyers, really it was down to the passenger who was misled by their own assumptions.

What is it exactly that people are after for an F experience? If I go by the premise that F is distinguished because it runs to your timetable and your wishes, shouldn't it be up to the passenger to make their own 'wow' if they want it? i dunno what the crew can do (unless of course the passenger tells the crew this is their first time in F, or their first time in F on that airline, and they're looking for guidance on how to maximise their experience that day).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OK interesting response - so should pax tell crew 'Hey my first time in F - please explain what F has to offer?' Or should crew address each pax with a 'Welcome - is this your first in F with us?' - and if it is a YES then go on to explain F cabin / seat features etc - OR - no approach to F pax by cabin crew at all?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK interesting response - so should pax tell crew 'Hey my first time in F - please explain what F has to offer?' Or should crew address each pax with a 'Welcome - is this your first in F with us?' - and if it is a YES then go on to explain F cabin / seat features etc - OR - no approach to F pax by cabin crew at all?

BA does that for first-timers in F. Not exactly sure what prompted them to do it - maybe in response to customer feed-back? (they seem to have a note of it on their manifest when a pax first makes gold, or travels in a cabin for the first time).

I guess you work things out after a while. IIRC the same 'call-bell buy' also mentioned other passengers were having their beds made up, but he wasn't offered that service. I guess you work things like that out after a while. If I'm flying a new airline and they haven't proactively offered to make my bed, I know to ask on my way to the WC while I'm getting changed. But I wouldn't take the airline not offering me the turn-down as being part of an underwhelming experience. I'd put it down to that being their particular service offering (ie I have the flexibility to ask what I want when I need it).

As for the 'passenger making their own experience' there's a lovely story from CX. A passenger was flying with their young daughter, who seeing her father sampling the various wines on offer decided she too wanted to 'sample' all the [soft] drinks on the menu. At the end of the flight she'd worked through about half of what was available.

On their return journey, the crew commenced her service with 'Miss X, we know you're working your way through the drinks menu and your last flight finished with the sprite, would you like to continue with the coca cola today?' (substitute whatever the relevant drinks were in there!) The child was delighted.

Now that was the passenger making their own experience - their own 'wow' flight. Sure the crew were able to leverage on that, but it wasn't an 'experience' the crew would have proactively offered had the passenger not thought of it.