tng11

I made full use of the Qantas lounge, and I'm going to have to break up this section of the report into two sections.

Qantas offers a complimentary chauffeur service, which I arranged 4 hours in advance, giving about 3 hours to enjoy a full-course lunch and a massage. As my cell wasn't work in Australia, I gave the Melbourne First co-ordinator a ring the day before as instructed to book a massage. I booked a 2pm slot, which would have me finished just in time for the first boarding call.

Right on time, the chauffeured Chrysler 300M came to pick me up right at the front door. He helped me with my bags and we were quickly on our way. For the entire trip, we talked about our travels, favourite destinations, families and ambitions. We had a good laugh the entire way, and even though it was totally unnecessary, I left him a tenner for being so friendly. The smile on his face made it totally worth it.


2014-04-28 11.27.40 by jurastudent, on Flickr

He dropped me off at the Qantas First curbside check-in lounge. Except that when I approached the door, the automated doors didn't open! The lights were turned off and no one was inside - what was going on?


2014-04-28 11.42.50 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 11.44.42 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I went into the terminal and waited around for about 10 minutes. 2 agents then opened up the check-in lounge. Weird that they close the First check-in for parts of the day.


2014-04-28 11.53.52 by jurastudent, on Flickr

My boarding passes, fast track passes were already neatly arranged in a Qantas First folder on the desk behind the counter. My bags were tagged to Moscow and wheeled out as I took a seat on the side and filled out the departure card. I was also asked if I needed an escort to the lounge, and I told the agent I would be fine by myself (she gave me some detailed instructions on how to get there.) Kudos for a seamless check-in experience, except for that earlier hiccup. ^


2014-04-28 11.55.33 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I was dreading going through security today. Out of principle, I am opposed to NOS scanners and I heard there was no opt-out of this nonsense available. Security was empty today, so no need for fast track. I followed behind a couple, and I saw them lining up towards the NOS scanner, I quickly emptied out my pockets, belt and electronic devices and bolted towards the WTMD scanner as they were directed towards the NOS scanners. Whew, no NOS for me today. ^

After immigration, came the labyrinth of a duty-free shop. I hate airports that make you walk through a maze of shops before getting to the gates/lounges.


2014-04-28 12.05.01 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The QF F lounge was conveniently located by Gate 9, where QF9 was departing today. As I made my way towards the escalator, I watched as the massive A380 was being taxied to the gate in preparation for todays flight to Dubai and London.


2014-04-28 12.13.32 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Up the escalator to the entrance, where the dragon gave me a friendly welcome and reminded me of my Spa booking later on.

2014-04-28 12.14.25 by jurastudent, on Flickr

First order of business was to seat myself in the dining room for lunch (I didn't eat breakfast in anticipation of dining in the lounge.) I was the first one in the entire dining room and got a great seat with a full view of the QF A380 (along with an SQ A380 further back.) The waiter came over with a menu and took my drink order almost immediately.


2014-04-28 12.19.00 by jurastudent, on Flickr

A glass of Tattinger Brut Reserve to toast an awesome trip to Australia.


2014-04-28 12.24.40 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The menu was very impressive. Most of the dishes made my mouth water as I read them, emphasizing fresh produce. I had a hard time deciding between the slow roast lamb or the duck confit for my main (I went with the latter.) I ordered both of the appetizers from the market selections, the soup of the day and two desserts. I fully intended on having the entire tasting menu on board later too.


2014-04-28 12.22.24 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The dining lounge began to fill up pretty quickly, with a CX flight departing to HKG. The dining room was pretty much full the entire time I was there, as passengers from QF9 also started to trickle in.


2014-04-28 12.19.27 by jurastudent, on Flickr

First appetizer, the ocean trout sashimi with white soy, sesame and finger lime. Sublime it was. ^


2014-04-28 12.37.30 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Second appetizer, a salad of roasted baby vegetables with quinoa & lemon oil. Nicely dressed and fresh tasting!


2014-04-28 12.40.08 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Tomato and roasted red pepper soup IIRC. The waiter also brought over a bread basket, from which I selected a few fresh baguette slices to accompany the soup. It was good and hearty, but nothing special.


2014-04-28 12.45.53 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Main of duck leg confit with roasted onions, apples & green lentils. The duck leg fell apart when picked apart with my fork. It was rich and full of flavour. Great comfort food. ^


2014-04-28 13.00.12 by jurastudent, on Flickr

A glass of Shiraz to go with the duck, as recommended. Not a oenophile by any stretch of the imagination, but it was drinkable.


2014-04-28 13.00.45 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Dessert of black chocolate creme with white chocolate gelato. Amazing. ^


2014-04-28 13.27.27 by jurastudent, on Flickr

And last, but not least, a side of strawberry ice cream. Not nearly as yummy as the chocolate dessert (I wish I had ordered another dessert as there was still room!)


2014-04-28 13.27.30 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Lunch was a very relaxed one-hour affair. Still plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely shower and sit around for a bit before my massage.

Overall, I was very impressed with the dining experience. It wasn't Michelin-star quality, but definitely that of a smart restaurant that has inspired, tasty food. The menu choices were all great and I loved the emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce reflected through the menu. The service was very good, despite the dining area being very full and I loved the backdrop of the gates.

I am more impressed they maintain such a high level of food quality even though the lounge is available to all OW Emeralds (unlike Lufthansa, which controls capacity in some ways by limiting their FCLs to F passengers and HON.)

It has the LH FCT food beat hands down. A resounding two thumbs up to Qantas, and a great prelude to the onboard dining. ^

tng11

Qantas' First lounge is a pretty stark contrast to some of the other F lounges I've visited. SQ's TPR and LH's FCT both have dark, deep brown undertones which evoke a sense of sophistication and old-style class. QF is almost a complete opposite, where bright, airy and avantgarde tones are reflected through the layout, carpeting, chairs and lighting. It was definitely a lot more relaxed and chilled out, which was definitely my typical self. I can appreciate both types - but I definitely felt more at home here. ^

Seating: (it never got too crowded)


2014-04-28 12.36.31 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 12.36.49 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 13.32.09 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 14.04.16 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Library (not as elaborate as the SYD from what I've seen in pictures)


2014-04-28 14.02.21 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Self-service drink area. Even with such an awesome dining area, it would be nice if they had some more nibbles out to choose from for those who don't want a full blown meal. Notably, I had quite a few waiters ask if I wanted anything to drink while I was seated on the chairs. ^


2014-04-28 13.44.41 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I love analog display boards.


2014-04-28 13.36.17 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Shower room. The shower door didn't quite seal properly, so the entire floor was swamped.


2014-04-28 13.45.31 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 13.45.43 by jurastudent, on Flickr

At around 2pm, I went to the Spa area to check-in for my back massage.


2014-04-28 14.06.16 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 14.07.56 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 14.07.59 by jurastudent, on Flickr

After a few minutes of waiting, my masseuse greeted me (a young lady in her 20s), where she told me to take off my shirt and make myself comfortable in the room below. She put on some very relaxing music (something you might hear in a yoga class, for instance.)


2014-04-28 14.10.00 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The massage was 20 minutes of bliss. It was sensual and had enough "oomph" to really ease some of the stress in my back. ^


2014-04-28 14.10.45 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Just as the massage was finished, the boarding call for QF9 was made. I missed the first boarding call, and even though I could have cut in front of line (as I found out at the escalator), I queued up with all the economy passengers anyways. After all, we're getting to Dubai in the same time anyways?


2014-04-28 14.45.59 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Summary:

I was very impressed with QF's ground service. Everything from the chauffeur, to the dining and spa experience blew my expectations totally out of the water. There were a few minor hiccups, but nothing to materially detract from the whole experience. I loved the atmosphere and service in the lounge, and there was nothing really I could think of that I could demand in addition to QF's offering.

I hope I'll have the chance to use the SYD QF F lounge one day, for the higher ceilings and better views. That is, if QF survives by the time I visit Australia again (meaning, the F lounge hasn't been "enhanced" away yet.)

tng11

Qantas Flight 9
Melbourne to Dubai
Airbus A380-800
April 28, 2014
Scheduled: 15:15-23:25
Actual: 16:03-23:10
Seat: 2A (First Class)
Load: 14/14

(I took a bunch of pictures on both sectors - the pictures here are a combination of both)

To my surprise, I was one of the last few First passengers to board. I failed at my attempt of being first to board on all my flights this trip.

A cool thing I noticed: see the honeycomb pattern on the suite walls? It's the same pattern reflected through the lounge. Gotta love that continuity in design! ^


2014-04-29 06.01.17 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The swivel chair is somewhat of an odd concept. It's basically a much wider reverse herringbone seat (which isn't inherently bad - just different.) I approve of the very subtle beige colours.


2014-04-28 14.49.48 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-29 07.14.12 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The 1-1-1 layout ensures that the seats are plenty wide.


2014-04-29 07.14.06 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The A row is very private and quiet, once the privacy screens are raised.


2014-04-28 14.52.06 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 17.17.30 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The TV was also decently sized (and of very good quality too.)


2014-04-28 15.29.14 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The seat and entertainment controls were pretty responsive and easy to use via the touchscreen (contrary to some reviews.) I like the "time to destination" display when the screen is in passive mode. ^


2014-04-28 15.11.59 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-28 16.08.44 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I had fun with the electric window shades


2014-04-28 16.12.44 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Look at all the space!


2014-04-29 07.14.45 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-29 07.14.25 by jurastudent, on Flickr

While I was exploring the cabin and happily snapping away, one of the differences between the likes of CX/SQ and QF started sticking out like a sore thumb. Unlike the first two where I was escorted to my seat, I was merely told to turn left.

I went by for about 10 minutes without anyone stopping by my seat to introduce themselves or ask if I wanted a drink. I ended up having to flag down an attendant to ask about my drink options. I opted for a glass of champagne (surprise, surprise ), which was the Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Cuvee 2000 which I had tried on OZ back in December. That came with a side of olives and almonds.


2014-04-28 14.59.37 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The amenity kit and pyjamas were distributed a short while after. The pyjamas were just perfect - soft and thin. I liked the Qantas emblem. Though the quality was a bit questionable (some of the threads were coming apart already?)


2014-04-28 16.14.00 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The amenity kit, SK-II branded. The bag was cheap and not worth keeping, but the contents were what I needed.


2014-04-28 16.15.03 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Captain announced our routing in great detail, and told us that despite a slight delay in departing from MEL, we should arrive into DXB on time even with some holding on their side due to the runway works in progress.

During this time, my glass was never refilled and it took ages to get my empty plates cleared and a glass of water. One of the attendants (who would be the only attendant who I interacted with through the flight) greeted me, as well as the purser, who handed me a fast track security card for DXB.

After a slow taxi, we were off. One of my gripes about the seat is that it's hard to see anything outside with the chair so far away from the windows (though the tailcam made up for it.) Stupidly, I thought I was recording the takeoff on the tailcam, but somehow I didn't set my iPhone to video mode. Silly me.

Another issue I had with the seat was that the carpet was coming loose where I would put my feet down in the takeoff position. If I pressed my right foot into the carpet, it would lift up. A relatively minor quibble, but unacceptable for such a new cabin

Finally, since we had a full load, the 2 lavatories proved to be inadequate. Every visit to the lavatory meant a 5-10 minute wait. Sorry to sound like an entitled brat, but a consistently long wait for toilets in F (especially with all the champagne on board) shouldn't happen, due to too few toilets being installed.

Next part: Tasting Menu

tng11

Qantas is rather well known for the Neil Perry Rockpool menu onboard, and particularly, the tasting menu. No caviar, which I didn't mind at all. In fact, I wished some carriers would just drop the mediocre caviar they serve, which still costs a substantial amount of money and used that towards improving the overall catering on board. This is a concept that Qantas clearly understands. ^


2014-04-28 16.53.01 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Lots of choice beyond the tasting menu. ^


2014-04-28 16.53.09 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The wine list (again I know jack about wines, I'm only learning the ropes now - but I'd reckon any of these would beat the goon fellow backpackers were getting me to drink. That stuff was truly swill!)


2014-04-28 16.57.59 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I was disappointed that the list of champagnes didn't match what was onboard (only Pol Roger and no Tattinger Comtes de Champagne or La Grande Dame, which I had hoped to try. Boo )


2014-04-28 16.57.53 by jurastudent, on Flickr

It was a good hour before service started. No drinks offered or an update on when the meal would start until then. Again, I had to flag down the attendant to ask if I could make my meal selections (I ordered the full tasting menu, fish as my main course, plus another appetizer.) Though I was thankful for that long wait in the end, to give myself some extra time to finish digesting that extravagant lunch I had in the lounge.

Potato Blini with Salmon Roe and Tartlet of Gorgonzola Cream with Walnuts. Not bad!


2014-04-28 16.53.49 by jurastudent, on Flickr

It was another good hour until tablecloths and the table were set out. Again, I didn't mind the shockingly slow service, as I was slowly developing an appetite - but would it have hurt them to provide us an update? The table was very large and plenty spacious for 2 people to dine.


2014-04-28 17.57.13 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I opted for the wine pairings with was a nice complement to the tasting menu (though after doing some Googling most of these wines were pretty cheap.) This was the first white wine, the Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semilla 2012.


2014-04-28 17.59.19 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Butter and sea salt:


2014-04-28 17.57.39 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Bread:


2014-04-28 18.21.15 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Roasted Carrot and Thyme Soup with Dill Creme Fraiche. Very similar to the soup in the lounge. It was hearty and flavourful with nicely crispy croutons on top.


2014-04-28 18.32.45 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Salad of Seared Yellowfin Tuna, Cucumber, Black Fungi, Sesame and Hot Chilli Bean Dressing. This was excellent. The sauce had some real kick to it, to my surprise!


2014-04-28 18.41.46 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Second appetizer of Smoked Ocean Trout, Avocado Salad and Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette. Tasty, but not as good as the ocean trout appetizer in the lounge.


2014-04-28 18.54.17 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Second wine of the Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2011, Yarra Valley. This was noticeably better than the first and I just stuck with this one for the rest of the meal. ^


2014-04-28 18.52.12 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Main of Herb Crusted "Glacier 51" Patagonian Toothfish with Pan Fried Polenta, Marinated Mushrooms and Tomato Sauce. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I never thought a fish dish could be this good in a plane, and it was among my top fish dishes I've ever eaten. The toothfish was wonderfully rich and flavourful and seasoned just right. I only ate half the polenta (which was too soggy for my liking.) I'd fly QF F again just for this dish.


2014-04-28 19.11.58 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Side salad (sure looks a bit sad compared to the last two salads!)


2014-04-28 19.12.00 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Baked Quince and Almond Pudding with Double Cream. It was served piping hot and was excellent, though I only ate half of it as I swore the waist of my pyjamas were going to tear.


2014-04-28 19.24.04 by jurastudent, on Flickr

A beautiful sunset to signal the end of a great meal:


2014-04-28 19.33.42 by jurastudent, on Flickr

But I had to be greedy and get the cheese plate too, along with the dessert wine (Lillypilly Noble Blend 2008) I only liked the cheese in the middle. This confirmed to me again, that I cannot stand cheese with any kind of mold on it.


2014-04-28 19.37.23 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Last but not least, peppermint tea and chocolates. The chocolates were definitely interesting (one was tahini flavoured, for instance)


2014-04-28 20.01.13 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I have to note that service during the meal did improve substantially. My plates were cleared quickly and the meal service was timed perfectly without being rushed (it took 1.5 hours in total.) Refills were also offered just at the right time. The attendants in the cabin were clearly working quite hard - having only two attendants work the meal service was a pretty tall order for 14 passengers, so I still applaud their effort.

Next part: Bedtime and Snacktime

echa2949

.....

tng11

Feeling absolutely lethargic after my second full-course meal in 8 hours, it was time for bed, which was promptly attended to.


2014-04-28 20.32.16 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I love having two pillows. The main one was large and puffy enough to remind me of home, while the second one was good for hugging (I have a strange habit of hugging a toy or pillow while sleeping - guess I never really grew up! )


2014-04-28 20.32.33 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Before falling asleep, I decided to do some catching up on movies and watched "The Wolf of Wall Street." Many of my close friends are investment bankers, so I got a good kick out of it (and probably laughed out too loud a few times.) In general, I liked the entertainment selection of QF a lot. The English selections were extensive and approaching those of CX or SQ.

But of course, I had to watch another episode of the drivel known as TAAHM


2014-04-29 04.11.24 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I conked out for a good 6 hours before waking up, somewhat peckish again.

The bedding was very comfortable - the mattress was soft and well padded, the pillows nice and fluffy and the duvet not too thick. The bed was also wide and long enough for me to move around comfortably. In terms of comfort, this beat every other F product I've tried up to date (it would probably beat SQ R if I only had a single bed!) I also normally have problems sleeping on planes as I just can't stand the excessive background noise - hence my affection for the A380. It was just the right amount of noise for my to comfortably fall asleep consistently.

2014-04-29 04.40.03 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Supper (really, an on-demand menu for mid-flight snacks.) Good selection!


2014-04-28 16.53.13 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The attendant, on seeing that I woke up, asked if I needed anything. He read my mind correctly, and I ordered the steak sandwich and seasonal fruit platter. The table was set and the sandwich was brought to me rather quickly.

The steak sandwich was awesome! The bread was soft and moist and the steak was also done just right (not chewy at all,) with a good kick from the chilli relish. It was so good I was tempted to order another one! ^


2014-04-29 04.11.38 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Seasonal fruit plate. Meh.


2014-04-29 04.18.58 by jurastudent, on Flickr

About 30 minutes from DXB, I had my bed turned back into a seat. Eventually, we were caught in a holding pattern in the approach to Dubai. The cabin crew gave us a warning about buying liquids in Dubai if we were continuing to London, etc etc etc (the announcements were at times, too long and too loud!)

On approach into DXB:


2014-04-29 05.45.47 by jurastudent, on Flickr

All in all, this was a good flight. Definitely not flawless like my flight in SQ Suites. The service was a mixed bag, but the hard product was very good. The seat was comfortable for lounging and sitting upright and the bed was top notch. The food was also excellent. For those two reasons, I still think Qantas has an amazing First product overall, especially when you consider the lounges.

echa2949

What an interesting trip!

Haha, in addition to me being in two of your photos, I also see my Dad in your photo of the first class check-in!

deovrat

Brilliant photos, hoping for more soon

phat-dave

exceptional trip review, love it - such a shame to see the red roo continually disappoint on service aspects.

tng11

This was my first time transiting Dubai, which was rather exciting for me. I've read plenty about Dubai airport and heard lots from other frequent flyers about how crazy it is in terms of size and shopping. I had also read great things about the EK FCL in the A380 terminal and how ridiculous it is to occupy an entire floor of the terminal with its own boarding gates so EK's precious passengers don't have to interact with the unwashed masses.

Transit security was a breeze and completely empty. The person monitoring the screen had his head turned away the whole time. Okay, not sure what the point of that was.

Signs were very clear in pointing out where the lounges were. Up an escalator, I found myself at the FCL entrance. It was big and very lavish. Everything was seemingly a long distance away. But is bigger really better?


2014-04-29 06.17.11 by jurastudent, on Flickr

First impressions are wow - this is basically an entire airport terminal just for F passengers. Except there were no other passengers in sight. Creepy.


2014-04-29 06.18.29 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Lots of areas to sit.


2014-04-29 06.20.05 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-29 06.19.41 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Shower time. The only thing notable about the shower here was that it was poorly ventilated, and I was sweating when I finished.


2014-04-29 06.23.44 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-29 06.23.55 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Some lie-down chairs.


2014-04-29 06.34.19 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The dining area was gigantic. Except there was no one there. What was going on?


2014-04-29 06.34.08 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The a-la-carte menu was massive and impressive. Too bad I was full, so I didn't pursue anything from it. I asked for water and it was poured to me in a glass (I noticed they were serving Voss, expensive stuff from what I've heard. Water is water to me though. )

The buffets were extensive and barely touched (from what I saw, they were replenished frequently, often times when the dishes were 3/4s full. The food waste here seems unconscionable. )


2014-04-29 06.46.49 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Out of the corner of my eye, one thing caught me attention.


2014-04-29 06.47.10 by jurastudent, on Flickr

It was the Balik Salmon. I love smoked salmon and this looked and tasted like the actual "Balik" branded salmon. I recall having a few slices in Hong Kong a few years back and it not being cheap. A single fillet can retail for more than $150, and here it was free for me to take. If you think all I had were these 5 slices - you don't know me very well. It was like crack, and I had second and third servings.


2014-04-29 06.37.32 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The other dining room.


2014-04-29 06.48.30 by jurastudent, on Flickr

2014-04-29 06.49.23 by jurastudent, on Flickr

More seating areas. They didn't look that plush or extravagant as I was expecting (like the chairs in the SQ TPR, for instance.)


2014-04-29 07.06.06 by jurastudent, on Flickr


2014-04-29 07.04.09 by jurastudent, on Flickr

One could watch the hustle and bustle of the terminal underneath from here. The noise was filtered out quite nicely.


2014-04-29 07.05.24 by jurastudent, on Flickr

And the boarding gate directly from the lounge. Very convenient. We were a bit late in commencing boarding, apparently to meet LHR curfew (our departure time was 1:10am and boarding started only then.)


2014-04-29 07.10.43 by jurastudent, on Flickr

As you might have already noticed by my writing, I was very underwhelmed by Emirates' lounge. Yes, it was big. Very big. Yes, the menu was extravagant and there was Balik Salmon. But what did it lack?

Atmosphere. Something that's really hard to define, but a really crucial aspect of a high-end lounge IMO. Piece by piece, the Emirates lounge was indeed very luxurious and had all the amenities one could demand from a lounge (I understand there's a Spa, but I didn't have time to use it), but when it was all put together it just felt empty and disjointed. It felt more like a really nice, but empty airline terminal with lots of seating and free food/booze, instead of a luxurious first class lounge which generally have a very distinct, high-class members club feeling.

It definitely beats the hell out of having to spend time in the regular terminal without lounge access. I am still desperately looking for a way to fly EK F one day. But in terms of the lounge, I definitely preferred SQ's TPR, LH's FCT and QF's FCL way more.

Ready to be tarred and feathered for this review.

steveman518

What a coincidence-I remember reading your SQ review as well.
You two sure that wasn't planned?

Moomba

Wonderful report. Makes me want to fly SQ first again soon.

Amelorn

And I thought I spoiled myself in school.

Now I have a standard of decadence to aspire to as a doctoral student.

tng11

Qantas Flight 9
Dubai to London Heathrow
Airbus A380-800
April 29, 2014
Scheduled: 01:10-05:40
Actual: 01:43-05:52
Seat: 2A (First Class)
Load: 12/14

This time, I was the first to board in the First cabin (though I had a few passengers immediately behind me in the 1L door.) The boarding process here was a lot more civilized than MEL.

As I stepped on board, both the crew members who were working the F cabin gave me a very warm and cheerful greeting and escorted me to my seat this time. From that moment, I knew this crew was leaps and bounds above the crew on the last sector, exuding warmth, professionalism and true enthusiasm which the last crew lacked.

Turns out that this crew was London based, and consisted of an older, cheery chap and a younger lady named Chi (who would be my main attendant for the rest of the flight.)

I was immediately offered my choice of a PDB, which I asked for water. Chi had a slight look of disappointment on her face. "Are you sure you don't want champagne?", to which I politely declined. As she was bringing the bottle around the cabin, I changed my mind, to which she grinned and happily obliged.


2014-04-29 07.22.42 by jurastudent, on Flickr

She also offered me an amenity kit and pyjamas, both of which I declined as I still had both from the sector from Melbourne. She also presented me with the menu and asked whether I would be dining, or would I prefer turndown service. I opted to have my seat turned down immediately after take off, and to be woken 2 hours before arriving at LHR for breakfast.

Here's the supper menu for reference anyways. It was more like the mid-flight snack menu from the last flight than the full-course dinner offered departing Melbourne, which made sense as it seemed only 2 people in the entire cabin were eating after takeoff.


2014-04-29 03.47.44 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The purser came by and introduced himself, noting my connection to DME and the need to transfer from T3 to T5, asking if I needed any assistance on arrival (which I declined.) He also handed me a fast track pass for use at LHR.

Our flight time to London was just going to be under 7 hours, so it was the time to catch some sleep to avoid jet lag. IMO, the timing and routing through Dubai is not the most conducive to adjusting one's clock on the Melbourne-London route. The first flight at 14 hours long, and the second one being shorter at 7 hours makes it impossible to have a longer uninterrupted sleep before arriving in London. I'd much rather have a 7/8 hour flight to Singapore/Hong Kong and have a leisurely lunch/dinner onboard, get on the second flight, watch a movie or two and sleep for a longer time before arriving.

In under 20 minutes, the entire A380 was boarded and we were quickly on our way.

F departed 12/14. To my surprise, there were only 2 other familiar faces from the Melbourne to Dubai flight. 9 of the passengers had either originated in Dubai, or connected from another EK flight. J and Y were completely full (we had a slight delay from a passenger who had a malfunctioning seat in J - and I overheard they were considering moving him to F as there were no free seats in J. Eventually the problem was solved and that passenger stayed in J.)

Takeoff at DXB

Once the seatbelt signs were turned off, Chi wasted no time in having my bed made. Once that was done, she handed me a bottle of water and wished me a good night.

4 hours or so later, I started tossing a bit and got up to use the washroom. When I came back, my bed was made up again. It feels as if I had changed airlines even though the seat was the same! ^

The other attendant came by to check up on me when I returned and asked if I wanted anything. I went for the drinking chocolate which was promptly brought to my seat (which wasn't very good - it was definitely powdered.)


2014-04-29 03.28.36 by jurastudent, on Flickr

About 45 minutes later, Chi came by and took my breakfast order from the following menu:


2014-04-29 03.47.32 by jurastudent, on Flickr

I started off with the bircher muesli and some orange juice. The muesli hit the spot - and notably, the honey was heated up to make it easier to pour on the cereal and yogurt. Loved that little attention to detail. ^


2014-04-29 03.49.30 by jurastudent, on Flickr

Main of French Toast with Apple and Cinnamon Compote and Vanilla Yoghurt. It was a small portion, but it hit the spot perfectly after all the food in the last 24 hours. Very tasty - the best breakfast item I've had on a plane so far. ^

2014-04-29 03.59.47 by jurastudent, on Flickr

And to finish off, some fresh fruit (not very fresh and a stingy portion compared to the one offered on MEL-DXB.)

2014-04-29 04.00.40 by jurastudent, on Flickr

About half an hour out of London, the window shades were raised to a beautiful sunrise.


2014-04-29 05.02.53 by jurastudent, on Flickr

The purser came back and asked for my thoughts on the flight, and to wish me a safe journey to Moscow. Chi had also come by to make some small talk and to wish me a pleasant journey. Soon after, we were touching ground at LHR.

Touchdown at LHR

All 3 airbridges were attached, but Door 1L was opened first to give F passengers a slight advantage. With that, I began the trek over to T5, blissfully unaware of what a PITA that would turn out to be.

Final Thoughts:

Qantas had redeemed itself service-wise with the service on this particular segment. Both segments were full, and I had chalked up the perfunctory service on the last flight to the full cabin. This crew was able to handle the full cabin like clockwork, and did it with a smile. Typically, I don't need to be doted over and like a passive, but responsive and efficient crew that delivers, which was seriously lacking on the last flight. The little touches do really make all the difference and what make flying First so special (I've learned not to take that for granted.)

If I ever had to do the kangaroo route again, although SQ would be my first choice, I'd still gladly do it with QF again as even though the service was inconsistent, the cabin comfort and dining were above CX and just about equivalent to that of SQ.

tng11

Haha, you never know when you'e on camera!

A decadent trip it was! I would have never dreamed something like this would be possible at the tender age of 24.

Thanks everyone else for the kind comments.

I do hope that none of what I write is interpreted as snobbery. On my last trip report, I was happy just to fly First for the first time and was very rah-rah about everything. I'm still exceptionally grateful to sit in First for next to nothing or fractions of rack prices, but I just decided to take a more critical eye this time around to actually make this report useful (after all, what good is there in 100 trip reports that say the same thing over and over again?)