QF or SQ First?

[MelbFlyer]

SQ first vs QF first and for roughly the same price?

I haven't been on either, but with the amount of Youtube review videos, SQ trumps QF.

An entire suite with a separate bed vs a barely better than business class seat - no contest.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would stick with the QF booking.
Why, because this is your chance to see the MEL dom J lounge visit, before the flight to SYD.
Then you get the transfer bus included, and then you get to feel the SYD QF F lounge, its a very good one, if you get there for their lunch menu.
MEL and SYD SQ lounges are meh, on flights, of course SQ services are great, but you can always try the KF lounge another time.
Go QF, you will kick yourself up the bum if you miss it.
I have done the MEL and SYD F lounges, to die for, only for their breakfast mind you, but at the least, I know what both are like.
Flew them Au - NZ with EK, when EK used to fly MEL and SYD to AKL.

 

[sirchop]

Thanks Poochie. Should have said that I have done QF F before (and have a booking back from LAX in F later this year). And the F lounges I’ve seen often enough. So willing to give something different a go.

As a separate thought (and perhaps beyond the scope of this discussion(!!)) I am connecting to QR Qsuite with a day stopover in SIN. Half wondering whether I just bin it all and do QR the whole way from MEL to LHR but I may be overthinking…

 

[Mr H]

SQ first vs QF first and for roughly the same price?

I haven't been on either, but with the amount of Youtube review videos, SQ trumps QF.

An entire suite with a separate bed vs a barely better than business class seat - no contest.

The separate bed is not particularly useful for a daytime flight. I'd rather have a comfy seat that reclined. As for the entire suite, I find open cabins feel much more spacious than sitting in a cupboard - albeit I have only flown in smaller cupboards.

 

[RichardMEL]

I totally forgot to mention SQ Book The Cook which I think offers a major advantage of SQ over QF - not so much out of Oz as they only offer a limited number of choices iic, but out of SIN, there's boatloads of choices for BTC, and while one may prefer on the overnight sectors to make sleep a priority given the flight lengths of 7ish hours, if one is potentially using onboard catering as a way to differentiate the two carriers (one faces the same issue for QF F on QF2 SIN-SYD), then I reckon SQ definitely trumps in this department.

And yes, I did forget about the EK 77W's with the truly unappealing timings - though perhaps EK's 0200ish departure and early morning (0800ish) into SIN works in terms of gettin into SIN for a work day or something, if that's what is required. The 10am-ish departure of SIN-MEL does provide for a day flight option (SQ's 77W IIRC is a 0700 departure, vs midnight for the A380).

 

[Peasant]

Having done both many times, I'd say both products have their plus points, so it depends what you prioritise.

QF:
- Fantastic lounges in both MEL and SIN. I never get bored of them.
- You'll get a spa treatment in the MEL lounge which is always a highlight
- The F kerbside check-in in MEL is very convenient, especially as the rest of the airport is a zoo
- Greater choice of in-flight food - QF's international catering has stepped up and there's significantly more variety than SQ has onboard
- I rate the QF F bed as the most comfortable in the sky - it's a lot more plush than SQ's with better bedding

SQ:
- A far more reliable airline in every sense of the word - on-time performance, customer service, you name it, it feels competent
- Hard product is obviously much more spacious than QF's and has a wow factor that gives a real sense of occasion
- A supremely good wine list, especially if you like your champagne and Grand Cru Burgundies/Bordeaux
- Service is consistently better than QF and they really will do anything for you, with great finesse and pride in what they do
- Lalique amenities are very nice
- Arrival use of TPR in SIN which has some very nice champagne, though the reds and whites are less good than they were last year
- Priority baggage that works

 

[encryptededdy]

I would pick SQ simply because you've flown QF F before

 

[RichardMEL]

I would stick with the QF booking.
Why, because this is your chance to see the MEL dom J lounge visit, before the flight to SYD.

Even more MEH than the SQ lounges, and then there's the SYD connection....

Then you get the transfer bus included, and then you get to feel the SYD QF F lounge, its a very good one, if you get there for their lunch menu.

Yes, OP would prior to QF1, but we all know the SYD transfer experience is a PITA.

MEL and SYD SQ lounges are meh, on flights, of course SQ services are great, but you can always try the KF lounge another time.

Have you used the F side of SQ lounges. MEL is average yes, but SYD is quite pleasant imo with some decent, if not outstanding food available to order.. However the TPR in SIN is the equal of QF F - with probably slightly better beverage selection (except coffees - SQ have no barista coffee which is crazy bad - or they didn't last time I used TPR - which to be fair was before the refurb)

TPR is *NOT* the "KF" lounge - which is subpar for *G members in Y. You need to be aware of what you're talking about. TPR is *ONLY* for SQ F/Suites pax. No alliance partners, no nothing (they get the SQ First Lounge, which is separate).

Go QF, you will kick yourself up the bum if you miss it.

OP have done it. If they haven't done SQ (it's unclear to me) and status etc earning is not an issue (I suspect perhaps not ) then it's worthwhile doing. while there's disagreement re the 77W hard product, the 380 is head and shoulders, and then another head, over QF's now 15+ year old suite.

I suppose it comes down to what one values most for the trip in question - a mix of, no doubt:

- schedule (NEL-SIN direct, vs via SYD)
- onboard product
- ground handling (SQ SIN F private check in and dedicated passport control are brilliant - QF have nothing close)
- lounges (F&B/Ambience/other services eg spa - which QF wins over SQ for)
- loyalty considerations, if any.

And, for the flights - do things like in flight connectivity matter - specially for day flights - SQ has wifi, QF does not. Is priority relax/sleep or F&B? probably AU->SIN is more relaxing while SIN->AU more likely sleep, unless hopping SQ day flight).

Another potential factor which may or may not be important is OTP - Unfortunately QF's A380 fleet are stretched, and performance reliability is.... not the best from time to time. I'd think SQ would be, overall, more reliable to meet schedule than QF as a general comment. This may be more or less important for the specific trip in question. SQ also have more daily trip options (though no all with F) if things hit fans.

Personally I would still err for SQ over QF, but that's my subjective view. Many factors to consider.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks Poochie. Should have said that I have done QF F before (and have a booking back from LAX in F later this year). And the F lounges I’ve seen often enough. So willing to give something different a go.

As a separate thought (and perhaps beyond the scope of this discussion(!!)) I am connecting to QR Qsuite with a day stopover in SIN. Half wondering whether I just bin it all and do QR the whole way from MEL to LHR but I may be overthinking…

I'd definitely do SQ suites out of MEL then QR QSuites ex SIN. SQ Suites is an amazing experience and then you'll get the best business class in the sky and comparable to many airlines' F class. Yes, there will be an additional stop in DOH but it doesn't sound like you are in a hurry and if you haven't done the Al Mourjan lounge (and probably better, the new J lounge on concourse C out by the Garden) then there's another new nice experience. "Why fly direct when you can connect?"

In the recent AFF SIN lounge crawl, QR J lounge was voted the best (of non F lounges).

SQ and QR are my two main international carriers ATM.

 

[RooFlyer]

SYD SQ lounges are meh

Talking the SQ SYD F lounge? Hardly that (from recent personal experience).

Why, because this is your chance to see the MEL dom J lounge visit,

So you rate the QF Melbourne business lounge as a 'must see'? But the SQ F lounges are meh?