QF or EK First?

[MEL_Traveller]

I wholeheartedly agree with your summary above however if you've already tried EK why wouldn't you give QF a crack?

Because it's not worth a potential downgrade just to give it a try?

From the business class meal thread here on AFF - this is the QF F meal these days...

QF 9 F DXB-LHR

While not domestic QF, didn't want to start a new thread just for this.

This must have been the worst, most inedible steak I've ever been served on QF, and over 30 years, believe me, I've had some shockers. This was completely nuked, cooked for some 20 minutes so that there as little semblance that it used to be meat. Dry, grey, fibrous. Just appalling. And, when I pointed this out to the (English) flight attendant, he argued with me that they have to cook the meat like this for 20 minutes and it was fine. Sheesh. I really should have learned my lesson by now on QF. I've avoided steak for over 5 years on QF flights, but just thought I'd give it one last try. Surely Neil Perry (or any chef for that matter) must have seen and tasted this monstrosity the pass off as steak!

Why is it that other airlines can get this basic piece of cooking right and QF are just incapable?

View attachment 106797

 

[JohnPhelan]

QF has a better seat/bed and cabin layout (I'm not a fan of claustrophobic suites with doors) and better (more natural) service. EK has better bathrooms (shower) and food. Both have great wine. If you've already done EK, then give QF a try.

 

[TheRealTMA]

As others have said, definitely EK. Food, especially the wines, real F bathroom, no silly swivel seat, doors, TV that is out of the 21C not the old pixelated monitor you had last C, more IFE choices, better connections...

Definitely EK.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Champagne is better on QF, and the bed on QF is amazing. The English content on the IFE is about same same. Don't think QF do any of the other things MEL-SIN that you listed

Che? IMHO DOM is far superior. And let's not forget wines that average $2-400 a bottle many times on EK rather than $38 on QF, Hennessy Paradis, '72 Taylor's Port, 21 yo glenfiddich etc.

 

[TomVexille]

Che? IMHO DOM is far superior. And let's not forget wines that average $2-400 a bottle many times on EK rather than $38 on QF, Hennessy Paradis, '72 Taylor's Port, 21 yo glenfiddich etc.

I will not argue on any of your other points, but Dom is just overpriced Moët. The champagne rotation on QF is far superior.

 

[Chalkie]

QF has a better seat/bed and cabin layout (I'm not a fan of claustrophobic suites with doors) and better (more natural) service. EK has better bathrooms (shower) and food. Both have great wine. If you've already done EK, then give QF a try.

I just did a trip in QF F and EK F. This pretty much sums it up for me.

I prefer QF's bed - larger and more comfy. The QF F cabin is less blingy and claustrophobic. EK also overheats its cabins. Whenever I travel QF F the cabin is nice and cool.

The EK inflight entertainment system is better, although QF has a better choice of viewing materials (much of which is uncensored).

If you get the Sir Winston Churchill (often ex LHR; rarely anywhere else) or Tattinger (ex-MEL) champagne, both of those are better than Dom. I prefer Dom over VC Grande Dame. Otherwise I can't really comment on the difference between the EK and QF wine lists as I tend only to drink what I know and like (bone dry Australian riesling, or good Australian chardonnay for white; big Australian cab savs or shiraz for red (pinot noir is the devil's brew. Heresy I know)). I very rarely drink spirits nowadays, but the Hennessy Paradis cognac on EK is pretty special.

I think the QF food and EK food are on par, and generally decent quality. The only thing that EK has over QF which I particularly like is the caviar service.

The showers on EK are terrific. Having a pre-sleep or pre-landing shower is a very civilised way to fly!

Most of the long haul F flying I do is when I am travelling for business, and quality of sleep is important. I need a cool to cold, airy environment to sleep properly and QF F delivers that. My experiences in EK F have not delivered that - the suite and bed is cramped, and EK cabins are too overheated for my liking. But for sitting and watching IFE, eating and drinking and doing fun things liking showering in the sky, EK delivers on that score.

 

[tuapekastar]

Probably all covered already but (and mostly just my HO):

QF suites better - the sense of 'real estate' far outweighs the enclosed claustrophobic coffin-like nature of EK. And unless you are a serious 'bar fly' this is where you will spend the majority of your time. However the bar is a nice option, particularly on day/evening flights. EK IFE screen much better but QF content probably better.
EK probably more consistent with food, though both are a bit hit and miss. Champagne to QF, red wine to EK, though have had great ones on both.
Love the space in the EK bathroom though s shower is hardly required on a 7 hour sector (as a general rule) unless it is a 'bucket list' item.
Service on QF as we all know can vary greatly.
Chauffeur service currently a bonus with EK.
Toss-of-the-coin job for me, perhaps other issues (e.g. Schedule, surcharge costs) - or in your case curiosity - might decide it for me.

 

[boomy]

I will not argue on any of your other points, but Dom is just overpriced Moët. The champagne rotation on QF is far superior.

Hurts me to read that mate, Dom is definitely NOT overpriced Moët, take it back

For the record I also prefer QF's Sir Winston, Comets or LGD, which is not overpriced Veuve

 

[boomy]

As others said, QF bedding is better but that's about it. In my experience service on EK can be more hit and miss than on QF, mostly due to the fact they use foreign crews with not much commitment to the brand, but EK's overall product is more exciting and that's what flying F is all about IMO.

 

[Matt_01]

If you can not decide, why not consider both EK to SIN and QF back. If these are reward bookings you should be able to do it, was able to do dummy booking using multi city option. I have flown both carriers in F, most recently EK F MEL-SIN return last week. For sleeping QF wins

For my 2 cents worth I would go to SIN ex MEL on EK metal, 6pm departure. EK lounge in MEL, small bite to eat, refresh in the lounge. On board, better meal and wine, drinks at on board bar, shower before landing, midnight arrival.

Return to MEL on QF metal, from the dummy booking SIN departure is 7:30pm. Depending on your status you should be able to go to both lounges and other OW lounges. IMO the EK lounge is a better option in SIN as it is not as busy, refresh and eat at EK lounge then get some sleep on the flight. Downside is you will have a layover in SYD.

 

[BAM1748]

Please let’s not get into the ‘values’ type of discussion here. We each have our own set of guiding principles in life and none of us have the right to comment on the principles of others.

That's how I do business, choose suppliers based on the values behind them as well as quality and delivery. Others have a different rationale for making choices.

Matt

 

[Pushka]

That's how I do business, choose suppliers based on the values behind them as well as quality and delivery. Others have a different rationale for making choices.

Matt

Well, my psych profile says I’m very values driven. Go figure.

 

[TomVexille]

Hurts me to read that mate, Dom is definitely NOT overpriced Moët, take it back

For the record I also prefer QF's Sir Winston, Comets or LGD, which is not overpriced Veuve

No

To be clear, Dom is a nice champagne, just not in the same ballpark as the others (and overpriced IMO). But as always I maintain that tastes are subjective and if one prefers Dom that's their prerogative.

 

[ALH]

Emirates First if travelling with friends. More fun at the bar. Qantas First if travelling with my husband or on my own. Otherwise I’d be looking for the most convenient departure and arrival times. Qantas is more comfortable for sleeping.

 

[serfty]

Well, my psych profile says I’m very values driven. Go figure.

I guess there are Values and there are Values - people can differ, their values can differ - everyone is right in their own personal way.

 

[Pushka]

I guest there are Values and there are Values - people can differ, values can differ - everyone is right in their own personal way.

Yep. My point exactly.

 

[boomy]

No

To be clear, Dom is a nice champagne, just not in the same ballpark as the others (and overpriced IMO). But as always I maintain that tastes are subjective and if one prefers Dom that's their prerogative.

Fair enough. If talking about price I think they are all overpriced but that depends on how much one is willing to pay for champagne.

One thing I can say for sure, on EK the champagne will not run out mid flight while on QF there is a very good change the 7 bottles they load in F will evaporate sometime between serving WPs in J and dinner.

 

[TomVexille]

One thing I can say for sure, on EK the champagne will not run out mid flight while on QF there is a very good change the 7 bottles they load in F will evaporate sometime between serving WPs in J and dinner.

Which is certainly not an F experience

 

[clazman]

Aren't EK IFE screens larger?

 

[boomy]

Aren't EK IFE screens larger?

Not only larger but higher resolution as well and IFE content probably the best in the air.