QF vs. EK - review of experience on SYD-BKK flights

[gypsyinabigtown]

As a QF Plat I'm flying SYD-BKK quite regularly on J using both QF and EK.
Below is a comparative review of both, based on my experiences - in case it helps anyone:

Check-in/boarding:
QF

Qantas beats hands down, with better/quicker service both in SYD and BKK.

In BKK, particularly, EK check-in is quite incompetent. Several times I've seen the First counter left empty, 1 Business counter open and already busy, while every other counter was busily checking in Economy passengers. Even when they noticed me, they made it clear that they couldn't care less.
Another EK hassle is that their planes let J passengers board the plane together with Y - only F gets priority. They may be announcing boarding for J a few seconds before Y, but by the time you've come to the gate from the lounge, you have an A380-full of Economy passengers ahead of you in the queue!! Many times I had to hunt down FAs in aerobridge to ask for *special permission* to board from F, rather than waiting for the 300 people in front of me to fill the A380.

Also, because EK flight operates more as a minibus shuttle (DXB-BKK-SYD-CHC), it is more prone to delays. On QF, if anything I've seen the QF24 arrive into SYD early, as early as 6:20, nicely allowing me to bypass the Sydney morning traffic rush

Lounges:
EK

In BKK, EK lounge is generally a bit better than QF lounge in terms of food/drink quality and things to read/space. Notably, EK lounge has easy-to-access electrical outlets throughout, and they take Aussie-style plugs as well; while in QF lounge plugs are only in a few corners and do not take Aussie pin plugs!

In SYD, QF F lounge is a bit better - but given the morning departure time of QF23, it is so overcrowded that it's impossible to find any place to eat. Many times I was told the restaurant is full and I would have to eat on one of the lounge sofas.

Even when entering lounges, you can still see the teething problems of the alliance. EK lounge does not announce the QF flights, even though it is EK codeshare! To enter the EK lounge when flying a QF-operated lounge, you need to give a lot of details, even including itinerary and ticket number. A simple boarding pass and Plat. card is not enough.

Planes:
EK

QF has an A330 with small AVOD screens, and an MKI bed. The AVOD programme is nice, but apart from movies, rarely updated (still the same episodes of Big Bang Theory!)
EK has an A380 with large screens, massive programme and a fully flat-bed.
It is almost an unfair comparison...

Food/service:
QF

QF recognises Plat better, with personal greetings. You are given priority passes and noise-cancelling headsets, even on Economy.
EK has no recognition that I could see. The personnel is a bit more hands-on in helping (they do your mattress for you) but sometimes strangely unhelpful, e.g. when I asked for immigration landing cards, I was firmly told by the FA that they would ONLY distribute them right before landing - not anytime before. I had to get the CSM involved to get an immigration card so I could fill it out before going to bed and not have to worry about it again. Strange!

QF also beats EK on wine, with a good selection of Aussie reds - EK usually has some over-promise under-delivery French red that is served way colder than it should be (almost white wine temparature!).


This is purely based on my comparisons on SYD-BKK route. Any other perspectives most welcome

 

[Inver]

Thanks for taking the time to write the comparison. Lots of useful info.

 

[Timsboot]

Thanks for this. I do a lot of BKK-SYD flights. Am about to take my first EK J class. I agree with you completely about the overcrowding in the F class lounge for QF 23. I have not got a table the last three times. Most recently the bar was full too and they began serving at lounge chairs.

 

[HarryB]

I will be flying this route in October and the flight over is on EK but its listed as a 777. Still, the info is helpful so thanks for posting

 

[boomy]

Thanks for the report, I really enjoyed reading it.
So far I done this route 3 times with QF and their J seats on the A330 are terrible.
Can't wait to try EK next time I fly to BKK.

 

[flying_double]

Can I ask how you've been flying the EK A380 on the SYD - BKK route? This route is operated by EK with the B777-300ER. So flying the route will be a choice between QF A330 vs EK B777.

The non-stops to DXB are operated with A380s.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

somehow the report is no longer credible!

The EK 777 seat and A380 seat are not the same either. OP - please explain yourself... you are not flying on EK A380s on syd-bkk that's for sure

 

[vitagen]

Maybe he got his planes mixed up.

If It's a a380, J and F should be boarding on the aerobridge going upstairs of the aircraft?

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

somehow the report is no longer credible!

The EK 777 seat and A380 seat are not the same either. OP - please explain yourself... you are not flying on EK A380s on syd-bkk that's for sure

I apologise, I must have gotten the planes mixed up indeed. Or it might be that EK's B777's look as nice and swanky as QF's A380. I have to admit I did not fly in J class in A380 with EK or QF so can't say much about seat difference but I don't think it changes the substance of my comparison: The EK plane/seats beat QF hands down, and when boarding EK, you have a B777-full economy passengers waiting to board in front of you...

 

[Kangol]

I agree with you completely about the overcrowding in the F class lounge for QF 23. I have not got a table the last three times. Most recently the bar was full too and they began serving at lounge chairs.

What time have you been arriving at the SYD F lounge?

 

[jono88888]

Thanks for this. I do a lot of BKK-SYD flights. Am about to take my first EK J class. I agree with you completely about the overcrowding in the F class lounge for QF 23. I have not got a table the last three times. Most recently the bar was full too and they began serving at lounge chairs.

I'd also be interested if anyone knows if it's equally as crowded on weekends. I'm not on QF23 but a QF SIN flight at the same time in a few weeks time on a Saturday morning. Normally eating at a lounge chair wouldn't bother me too much but as it's the first time I'll have the family in tow into the F lounge it would be much nicer to get ourselves a table.

Is it worth getting there a little early to try and ensure a table - what sort of time does it start to get crowded.

 

[markis10]

I'd also be interested if anyone knows if it's equally as crowded on weekends. I'm not on QF23 but a QF SIN flight at the same time in a few weeks time on a Saturday morning. Normally eating at a lounge chair wouldn't bother me too much but as it's the first time I'll have the family in tow into the F lounge it would be much nicer to get ourselves a table.

Is it worth getting there a little early to try and ensure a table - what sort of time does it start to get crowded.

The F lounge starts to get crowded around 8 until 1130.

 

[blackmamba69]

The F lounge starts to get crowded around 8 until 1130.

Is there a thread which gives tips on first visits to the 1st class lounge? I am flying on QF55 which departs at 9.30am. What would be the ideal time to arrive so that I can be seated at a table? I assume it's just like a restaurant where my order is taken at the table? If I arrive around 7.30 am I obliged to give up my table after I've finished my meal or can I stay seated until I'm ready to board?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Is there a thread which gives tips on first visits to the 1st class lounge? I am flying on QF55 which departs at 9.30am. What would be the ideal time to arrive so that I can be seated at a table? I assume it's just like a restaurant where my order is taken at the table? If I arrive around 7.30 am I obliged to give up my table after I've finished my meal or can I stay seated until I'm ready to board?

I don't think you are obliged to give it up but you would be more comfortable on a lounge chair and it might help someone else who might like to dine... in this instance I clear off once I'm done with the meal and head for a lounge chair with a view.

 

[markis10]

I don't think you are obliged to give it up but you would be more comfortable on a lounge chair and it might help someone else who might like to dine... in this instance I clear off once I'm done with the meal and head for a lounge chair with a view.

Agree, heading to the south part of the lounge offers nice views and tends to be quieter, while not being far away from the drinks etc as required, or the rest rooms.

 

[blackmamba69]

Thanks for your insight. So what would be an ideal time to arrive for a 9.30am flight? Also, do I just sit at an empty table when I want to dine or will a waiter/waitress tell me where to sit?

 

[flyingfan]

Is it worth getting there a little early to try and ensure a table - what sort of time does it start to get crowded.

It's worth getting there early for many reasons

Also, do I just sit at an empty table when I want to dine or will a waiter/waitress tell me where to sit?

Yes, take a seat and the waiter/waitress will provide you with drinks and the menu, you don't need to wait to be seated, although if they see you approaching they might lead you to a table too. Some tables might have a Reserved sign and this is usually to try to stop one person occupying a table set for four so just take any of the other tables.

 

[Isochronous]

One of the consequences of retiming all the Asia flights to the morning is the lounge now overcrowds. They ought expand it to cope.

 

[JohnPhelan]

One of the consequences of retiming all the Asia flights to the morning is the lounge now overcrowds. They ought expand it to cope.

In which direction would this expansion be, exactly? I suppose they could always utilise the downstairs area for lounge seating, though this would mean the main lounge reception would need to move down there as well.

 

[JohnPhelan]

To enter the EK lounge when flying a QF-operated lounge, you need to give a lot of details, even including itinerary and ticket number. A simple boarding pass and Plat. card is not enough.

That must be unique to BKK, then. No problem at SIN entering the EK Lounge - you just hand them your QF boarding pass and your WP card and they are most welcoming.