Qantas A330 Biz or Emirates 777ER First SIN-MEL
 

EK 777 F is not that much different from the QF A330 J hard product now, a bit more room, a lot more bling in the decor, an inseat bar (non-alcoholic) and doors that close but dont provide privacy for your seat ... but no showers (those are A380 only). Food/wine are slightly better than QF J but not dramatically better. For AUD 1000 you can get a nice meal for 2 at one of the Rockpool restaurants in Melbourne (Rosetta is my favourite) with a great bottle of wine better than anything you will get on EK. In terms of seat comfort I have flown both in the past few months and much the same (unlike the QF A380 J product which is quite a bit worse). QF flies both A330 and A380 SIN-MEL so be sure to pick the right flight :)

EK 1st is a lot nicer than going business class, but I wouldnt pay $143 an hour extra for it

I think you may have saved me $2000 (two passengers). If it was the new Emirates 777, I would pull the trigger, no questions.
Yes I have noticed the Qantas A380 flights and I'm avoiding them. Doubt Qantas will refurbish them by my flight time in JAN 2020.

What are you eating a Rosetta for 2 at $1000 ? My last visit there cost about half that and we were stuffed :)

There will be some A380 refurbs flying by Jan 2020 but it will be a minor chance (maybe 3 or 4 out of 11)

How about @ $100 an hour?

Thanks for the update..

I wouldn't pay $1000 extra for 1st class on MEL-SIN - it isn't that long a flight and that is a large supplement - I do like Emirates's 1st class and have booked it when the fares are decent

It is scheduled as a 7:50 journey and looking at recent flights, have had a flying time of 7-7.5 hours; $1000 just seems a lot extra, even for what is a nice 1st class product

In the end, only you can really decide what is good value for you.

Well a couple of weeks ago, I booked QF business class flights ADL-MEL-SIN return with the SIN to MEL leg code share on the afternoon EK B773 departure ex-SIN.
It was I class discounted business class fare but towards the end of the booking and ticketing process on the QF website, I was offered a paid upgrade to F on the EK operated SIN to MEL for an additional AUD 130.
Of course I snapped it up. This leg was booked into A class and the tag-on domestic MEL-ADL was booked into flex J class, so opportunities for earning even more SCs.
But for AUD 1000, I probably wouldn't.

Price has dropped a bit now. $807 difference between QF A330 Business vs EK 777ER First.
Wonder what point I break lol.

EK F is a big step up from biz class on QF. There's also the chance that your QF 'suites' could be substituted for the old 2-2-2 angled lie flats (there's still one of those flying around).

Even with the new QF suites, your legs have to go into a small narrow tube. Not an issue with EK F.

Is it worth $800? Only you can answer that.

You obviously stay away from their wine list ... quite a few great Italian wines not often found but costing up to $3000 per bottle. Their house Amarone is a bargain at $125 per carafe.

I've noticed VH-EBG has been operating MEL-SIN-MEL fairly regularly over the last week or two. It's not necessarily bad in my opinion, but might not align with expectations.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c9caa4c978.jpg