Trip Reports - Qantas SFO-SYD nonstop in business 5/17

Hello this Friday afternoon from Sydney, Australia. It’s in the low 70’s today with bright blue skies. I arrived at 6 this morning on the new Qantas 747-400 nonstop flight from SFO, burning miles to fly in a sleeper cocoon in business class. I was in the second row, at a window seat, on the upper deck. We departed SFO at 10:30 Wednesday night, and it was a 14 hour flight. I slept about 8 hours, so these sleeper seats really did the job. I took some photos so you can see what they look like. All photos from this part of the trip will be in the 2006 SYDNEY folder.

I arrived at SFO and was able to use the British Airways Terraces Lounge in the international terminal. The lounge actually has a private entrance to the jetbridge, so when it was time to board we were quickly ushered to our seats. They did have a separate first class lounge, but it was quite small, and had the same food, so no real desire to go in there. I had plenty of space in the business class lounge.

While in the lounge, I tried some finger sandwiches (salmon and cream cheese, chicken and mayo), some chips, and 3 very good glasses of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Monkey Island was the bottler….have never heard of them before).

Once on board, I was greeted by the flight attendant offering champagne, and the purser came by and expressed his wishes that I would have an enjoyable flight.

Once in the air, I had some Liquid Asset Shiraz, and Dom Perignon champagne (2 glasses of each…they were both pretty good). Dinner was a beef filet with chimichurri sauce (it’s green), with sweet potato puree and green beans. For dessert I had both the cheese and fruit plate, as well as Mediterranean orange cake with orange slices. The other choices were sea bass, chicken, or a vegetable soup.

Only watched one movie (11 were available on demand), and it was with Queen Latifah and Timothy Hutton (can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him in a movie since Ordinary People and Taps many years ago), called Lost Holiday. After it, off to sleep I went. Was he in Falcon and Snowman, too?

When I was up at 4 in the morning Sydney time (12 hours into the flight now) I watched an episode of Prison Break on the laptop, and started on a second one. I finished watching it in an open courtyard at the airport after we landed. Train into Central was $A12.60 (about $US10) and went all of 4 stops before I got off. Left my bag in a locker at the new Central Railway YHA, located at Pitt and George Street right across from the Mercure Hotel. I’m paying $A80 a night for a single room, and fortunately booked this a month back when the dollar was stronger, making it about $56 a night for a single room here.

This morning I hiked down to Circular Quay, sat and watched the ferries come in and out, walked past the Opera House, and then into the Botanical Gardens (they have some huge fig trees that I took photos of).

I also spent an hour at the U.S. Consulate on Martin Place. I went through two different rounds of security screening to get up to the 59th floor to see them, but was successfully able to add 24 pages to my 5 year old passport with only 2 empty pages left. This was a lot easier than mailing it in and getting it back 6 weeks later in the U.S. (and it’s free).

That's all for now. Off to Brisbane on Monday as a continuation of this award ticket. I'll arrive early enough for breakfast in the Qantas lounge.

Enjoy your trip - I am envious. Currently commuting weekly: DFW-YVR for a project. No vaca. until September - :td:

Great trip report... I did not know that QF serves DOM in Biz for champagne choice.. Trip sounds great...

I believe you mean Last Holiday.

I don't think QF serves DOM on any flights:

http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/travelClasses/businessMenu.pdf

Dom has been served on a regular basis QF . Recently more sparodic in being served but still seems to be there on ex SYD flts. Recent ex LON has had Moet

Santa

Dom has been served on a regular basis QF . Recently more sparodic in being served but still seems to be there on ex SYD flts. Recent ex LON has had Moet

Santa


Not in J Class?

Also in F they only serve Moet? There is a difference between Moet and Dom/krug

The other choices were sea bass, chicken, or a vegetable soup.

Any thoughts on whether a vegetarian flying this route in business should order a special meal? Vegetable soup doesn't sound very satisfying, but perhaps there's something hidden on the menu? :p

Any thoughts on whether a vegetarian flying this route in business should order a special meal? Vegetable soup doesn't sound very satisfying, but perhaps there's something hidden on the menu? :pThe flight leaves at 10:30 pm, thus serves dinner at midnight. The soup is primarily for a light choice for those who had dinner pre-flight and don't want to eat much at midnight. There are also lots of mid-flight snacks available on request (as you might expect from a 14 hour flight). Including QF's fabulously steak sandwich (but that is only in F, not J). I guess QF is serving Dom on the SFO flight to differentiate it from the LAX service. Half the time Dom isn't available even in F, much less J.

I think the two things that differentiates this flight, compared to my experience in UA (11 trips here with them, with 8 in biz, 1 in F, 2 in Y), is the seat and IFE. It was nice having a choice of 11 different movies. I only looked at the music channels for a few minutes, and there seemed to be a lot of variety there, too. I actually printed the list from the QF website before coming over, and have also printed them for the flight back (I'll watch more on the way home due to an 1100 departure). I can't recall UA ever having that many movies to select from, let alone on demand. When sleeping, it was nice not to turn to the side and see your neighbor (instead you see the plastic wall of the seat that you sink down into when you put it in a sleeping position).

Sorry about mixing up the movie title. Hazard of not writing the title down in my notes.

I did see there were powerports, but didn't have the need to use them, as my laptop will go 5 hours. No problem recharging it upon arrival here, as I do have the plus for Australian outlets.

Lots of clouds out at 8 this morning, but hoping to see the sun break through so I can do some ferry trips today.

I've saved the menu and will scan it when I get home (though it does NOT have a wine list on it).

Enjoy your trip - I am envious. Currently commuting weekly: DFW-YVR for a project. No vaca. until September - :td:

Why not book the QF SFO-YVR flight and try it out? It only runs 3 days a week until Aug 13 (I have a seat on it in August).

The flight leaves at 10:30 pm, thus serves dinner at midnight. The soup is primarily for a light choice for those who had dinner pre-flight and don't want to eat much at midnight.

The menu did have the sandwiches at request option, but I didn't take them up on that. It seemed like half the cabin, in my section, passed on dinner. The person sitting next to me was sound asleep while we were on the tarmac at SFO (speaking of which...was our delay there due to the curfew at SYD?) We left the gate at 2235, but then sat until 2300 or so, with the 0600 arrival.

The menu did have the sandwiches at request option, but I didn't take them up on that. It seemed like half the cabin, in my section, passed on dinner. The person sitting next to me was sound asleep while we were on the tarmac at SFO (speaking of which...was our delay there due to the curfew at SYD?) We left the gate at 2235, but then sat until 2300 or so, with the 0600 arrival.

Most likely. I had a similar delay last year on the UA flight.

Sorry about mixing up the movie title. Hazard of not writing the title down in my notes.

It's okay - great report otherwise! :) ^

tom911 - I enjoyed your trip report and photos. The BA Terraces Lounge looks much more impressive than UA's SFO RCC, where I'll be spending some time this coming Wednesday evening. :) No Dom on UA SFO-SYD either. Glad to see you're having good weather in Australia.

Yesterday (Saturday here) it was overcast most of the day, and it actually rained a little when I was in Manly Beach, and later up in Parramatta (bought an all day pass for bus and ferries). Today (Sunday) the sun was out all day, and I hiked down through the Domain and Botanical Gardens, just as the Sydney half marathon started ( got to see thousands out running). In the afternoon I was in Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and lunch at the Star City Casino.

I hope to get some more photos uploaded when I get to Brisbane on Monday afternoon, and will post when I do.

The BA Terraces Lounge looks much more impressive than UA's SFO RCC, where I'll be spending some time this coming Wednesday evening.

You don't have to worry about drink tickets in the BA Lounge :) I had 3 glasses of the sauvignon blanc over there, poured by me. :D

Good to hear from your trip, tom911, and that QF J was good!

I also spent an hour at the U.S. Consulate on Martin Place. I went through two different rounds of security screening to get up to the 59th floor to see them, but was successfully able to add 24 pages to my 5 year old passport with only 2 empty pages left. This was a lot easier than mailing it in and getting it back 6 weeks later in the U.S. (and it’s free)...Glad to hear you got this done this time around ^

...I did the same in St. Peterburg, Russia a couple of weeks ago... took me about ~30 minutes.

I'm camped out in the QF SYD domestic lounge this a.m., just having finished some toast, granola, and juice. Nice to have FREE wireless access here! I'm trying to upload 150 photos right now, but the connection must be capped as my software is telling me it will take an hour, versus about 5 minutes when I do this at home. I have about 90 mins here, so I may very well get them all up this morning.

edited to add: photos have all been uploaded now and are in the 2006 Sydney folder

San Francisco to Sydney

Supper

Main Courses

Beef Fillet with Chimichurri Sauce, Sweet Potato puree and Green Beans

Honey Dijon Glazed Sea Bass with Crushed Peas and Buttered Baby Carrots

A large bowl of Zucchini, Cannellini Bean and Pancetta Soup

Toasted Chicken Mayonnaise, Cheddar Cheese, Mushroom and Bell Pepper Panini

Green Leaf Salad with Olives and Cucumber

Dessert

Selection of Seasonal Cheese and Dried Fruit

Mediterranean Orange Cake with Orange Compote

Sliced Fresh Fruit

Chocolates

Valrhona Chocolates

Refreshment

We invite you to enjoy a range of snacks and drinks from our inflight bar at any time throughout your flight. Your flight attendants will be pleased to assist you. Create your own toasted sandwich from the following selection

Panini or Baguette with :

Sliced Roast Beef
Marinated Mushrooms
Chicken Mayonnaise
Roasted Bell Pepper
Cheddar Cheese
Baby Rocket Leaves
Semi Dried Tomatoes
Horseradish Cream


Fresh Whole Fruit

Walnut and Cinnamon Biscuits

Cheese and Biscuits

Chocolate Bars

Breakfast

To assist in maximizing your rest, a pre-ordered Breakfast IS available. Simply complete the Breakfast order card for collection by your Flight Attendant.

Australia to Los Angeles

Lunch

Entree

Smoked Tarragon Chicken Salad with Rocket Capers and mayonnaise Dressing

Main Courses

Roast Beef Fillet with Ratatouille, Crushed White Beans and Lemon Zest

Red Braised Pork with Shiitake mushrooms,Fragrant Rice and Bok Choy

Seared Blue Eye with potatoes, Broad Beans, Asparagus and Black Olive Sauce

Green Leaf Salad with Herb Vinaigrette

Dessert
Selection of Seasonal Cheese and Dried Fruit

Nice Cream Strawberry and Vanilla Ice Cream with Spiced Strawberries

Sliced Fresh Fruit

Chocolates

Valrhona Chocolates

Paton's Macadamia Chocolates

OR

Express Lunch

These dishes will be delivered and cleared as a service priority to allow maximum time to work or relaxation

Lemongrass and Coconut Soup with Prawn and Coriander Salsa

Smoked Tarragon Chicken Salad with Rocket,Capers and Mayonnaise Dressing

Green Leaf Salad with Herb Vinaigrette

Refreshment

We invite you to enjoy a range of snacks and drinks from our inflight bar at any time throughout your flight. Your Flight Attendant will be pleased to assist you.

Toasted Turkey, Provolone, Roast Capsicum and Pesto Turkish bread

Toasted Sourdough Baguette with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Artichoke and Baby Spinach

Or

Create your own toasted sandwich from the following selection

Turkish Bread or Sourdough Baguette with:

Sliced Turkey
Roast Capsicum
Smoked Salmon
Marinated Artichokes
Provolone
Pesto
Cream Cheese
Baby Spinach

Fresh Whole Fruit

Mother Meg's Pecan Shortbread

Cheese and Biscuits

Chocolate and Muesli Bars

Breakfast
To assist in maximizing your rest, a pre-ordered Breakfast is available. Simply complete the breakfast order card for collection by your Flight Attendant.

(I had OJ, muesli, peppermint tea, a muffin, and fesh fruit, passing on the hot breakfast. One of the hot options was scrambed eggs atop an English muffin, which I had on the flight out. I had the seared blue eye fish for dinner which was very good.)