Also EK does have a long tradition of offering different service on secondary cities vs. primary ones, both in hard and soft product. I've only flown EK ex-MEL and the service was great, perhaps BNE doesn't get the same standard of product? I've certainly found that to be true out of several European cities, and EK's old J was dreadful (closer to QF Y+ than to QF J ... not so long ago). The flagship routes have always gotten a great product, and SYD happens to be a flagship route for EK.