For someone OZ based and travelling internationally at least once per month it is hard to avoid QANTAS, yet I had not been on a QF operated international flight since I was in my teens (a decade ago). I work for an American brand who stay very loyal to United Airlines so have always flown them on my monthly trips to our head office in California. Most of my international leisure travels were funded by miles I would earn for my UA biz bookings and were of course typically Star carriers. However, the firm I worked for had also picked up a contract with an Australian govt department and needed me to be in London. So, off I was on my first international flight on Qantas since adulthood.
I had already been working in our Singapore office the week before so would only be flying the SIN - LHR - SIN sectors. I was bummed when I was advised that Biz wasn't available on the SIN - LHR sector, only Premium Economy but eh ho.
Singapore - London Heathrow. QF1. Premium Economy
Check in/boarding
Check in was absolutely empty, I guess on account that most of the flight's passengers will be airside in transit from Australia. The e-gates took care of passport formalities very quickly. Security takes place at each gate instead of centrally so obviously with an A380 to board that took a fair while. Once through security and in the gate lounge there was a separate area set aside for First/Biz/Prem Eco passengers to wait. Boarding commenced on time, and I had to pass past row after row of flat beds
to get to my Premium Economy seat on the upper deck.
When I reached my seat however, I was impressed. It looked very comfy (and indeed it was) had a good amount of personal space, great recline and a leg rest. The friendly well turned-out crew welcomed me with a glass of sparkling wine and the menu and little washbag was already at the seat. The cabin filled up (the flight was completely full). And then departure time came - and went - and twenty minutes post STD we finally get an announcement from the Captain telling us what's going on (some issue with ground equipment) and assured us we would be on our way 'in a few minutes'. In fact, it was another half an hour later that we pushed back (again with no update) and we took off around an hour late. Something similar happened on the return and I feel it is an area QANTAS really needs to concentrate on - not avoiding delays but the way they communicate and update passengers. At United, as miserable as they can be' as soon as it is a couple minutes past departure time, they update you. And they will continue to update at regular intervals or if a previously announced 'estimate' isn't met. This costs nothing to provide.
Inflight
Once in the air things got moving pretty quick. Everyone was given a bottle of water and the meal service commenced. Due to the late departure time, there was no pre-flight drink service which makes complete sense. It is impressive that QF has 'dedicated' Prem Eco attendants and the pace and quality of service was really good. There was a choice of three main courses (all three were still available when the trolley reached me second row from the back) and the service style was very slick and impressive. The attendant offered to dress the side salad, presented full bottles of wine, bread served with silver service. Meals were served on proper crockery and glassware was provided. It all felt very premium.
Tea and coffee came around after the meal and then everything was cleared in. Just what you want on a night flight - a decent meal, a glass of wine and then relax with a movie before sleep.
I am not sure if the A380's lack mood lighting or whether QF decided to not use it but one thing I did notice (both outward and return flights) during boarding and the entire late night meal services is that the lighting is just awful. Just that bright white light which doesn't really give a relaxed vibe at all.
The lights were eventually turned off and during the night there were packaged snacks set up in the kitchen areas as well as two hot options available on request which is definitely not the norm for this cabin. Kudos to Qantas.
What isn't kudos to Qantas is the lack of wifi. HOW an airline in 2022 cannot offer it is beyond me. I cannot think of any of their competitors that do not offer it today. And in all honestly, my employer would never allow staff to fly QF to LAX from OZ for that very reason. They don't expect us to be contactable at all times but over the space of 15/16 hours they would definitely expect us to check in at some point.
Breakfast was served around two hours before landing and again was very impressive. There was a choice between continental (a very generous fruit plate and some museli) or cooked breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausage etc) with a side of fruit. Both were served with a warmed muffin. I had the cooked option, and it was delicious. The eggs weren't solid or green and the fruit was really fresh. Again, the friendly crew had this wrapped up in no time.
Unfortunately, we did not make up much time from the delay and landed in london around an hour late.
London - Singapore. QF2. Business Class
Check in/boarding.
Having read online about the mess that LHR is with lines around the block I arrived at the airport three and a half hours before departure. Security was actually really swift, and I was airside within thirty minutes. With plenty of time to spare I fully appreciated the LHR QF lounge. It is certainly one of the better business class lounges I have used.
The departure gate was a few minutes' walk from the lounge and again boarding started ontime. This time, I didn't have that sinking feeling as I walked past the Biz beds and settled into my own two rows from the back. Business Class is spread over two sections, and it is a very large business class cabin, not unusual for the A380.
Again, the cabin was bathed in that unwelcoming bright white light, but the aesthetics of the cabin and seat are very nice. At my seat were the menu, wash bag and a bottle of water. One of the (again very friendly) crew soon approached, introduced herself and offered me champagne. I was also presented with a pair of PJ's.
Just like the outbound flight our departure time came and went, and it wasn't until 25 minutes later that we were given an update (we were awaiting bags being loaded). Eventually we were closed up, pushed back and into the sky.
Inflight
OK. For me, Qantas does not offer a competitive product in Business Class in terms of catering. Having had a great experience in Prem Eco on the way over I had expected an elevated catering provision in Business. It was not. None of the mains on offer really appealed - a pasta, salmon 'koftas', chicken breast, polenta - and the whole pace of the service is just bad. I get it, it's a near thirteen-hour flight, it isn't a race. But by the time the meal orders had been taken it was an hour after take off before the meal trolley appeared at the front of the cabin. And another thirty minutes to reach me. And then, I was presented with a drink, some bread and a side 'salad'. I say 'salad' because I am using QF's menu description. 'Salad' it is not. It was just a few green leaves with some dressing. Anyway, IMHO waiting 1.5hr for the first element of catering is not great. The food just all felt very cheap. I understand no one wants a four-course drawn out affair on a night flight. That is no excuse not to offer a small appetizer or decent salad in place of that 'qantas salad'.
The service sequence really needs a re-think. At one point when I went to go to the loo, I counted 8 crew in the biz galley. Yet there only ever seemed four actually out in the cabin serving. The use of resources seemed very weird as I would imagine like most airlines, they were following a set of service standards. Suffice to say, again the cabin was bathed in bright white light the whole dinner service....why?
The lights were finally turned off and there were decent in between snacks similar to what was available in Prem Eco on the outbound.
Two hours before landing breakfast was delivered - in low light. YAY! I had completed a 'room service' card prior to departure and my ordered items were all very tasty.
In terms of the Cabin Attendants, I found them all super friendly and hard working. The British In Charge Crew was a little 'matronly' however. At one point I was passing through the galley and heard her bellow out loud 'whoooo cut the cheese' as if she was addressing some naughty 30/40-something year old school children. When I came out of the bathroom to head back to my seat, she was then picking at someone else about the glass they were about to serve a drink in. Was a little uncomfortable.
Pros:
- Great Premium Economy experience overall - seats, catering, the lot
- Really friendly and professional cabin attendants.
- great business class beds.
Could improve:
- business class catering and service flow/speed
- communication and timely updates from pilots during delays
- get WIFI!