Mrs duncan417 and I will be making our first trip to Australia and New Zealand shortly, (LHR-SYD-WLG-car-CHC-SYD-LHR). It will also be our first ever time we turn left after boarding, anybody care to offer advice so we dont stand out as Y escapees!

I guess the most obvious is not to play with the seats immediately on boarding!

If you are flying QF out of LHR, then you won't be turning left unless you have a First Class seat. Business Classes are held on the upper deck or zone B downstairs.

But you will get the new Skybeds, so make sure you enjoy them. I found the massage function was good.

The first thing I normally do upon boarding in J (appart from look for an FA with a tray of bubble stuff ) is to seek out the entertainment giude and plan which movies I am wanting to watch. Note that you don't get a message saying they are starting (bring on the AVOD!) so keep checking. If the movies have not yet started, the system drops you back to the main menu. Keep an eye on everyone else for when they are starting to watch a movie.

Breakfast will be via a pre-order card like a hotel roomservice breakfast. Fill it in before you eat the first meal, because after the meal you will be full and might under-order for breakfast 9 hours later . Hand it back to an FA as they walk past.

Don't be frightened to ask for something you want. If they are service coffee and you would prefer a port or Baileys or similar, just say so (even at breakfast time ). Don't be scared to wander into the galley and seek out the chockies on offer. And there is always water available in the galley.

Enjoy!

Welcome to FT duncan417

My tip is dont mistake the cockpit for a changing room (see here)

I second NM's sentiments. Remember you can have (pretty much) whatever you want so don't be afraid to ask for it! Just by the door they will have a little mini-bar area. I don't think it has alcoholic beverages anymore but they do have water, sodas, fruit, chocolates, cookies, other snacks... don't be afraid to saunter up and sample the goodies! Also if you do get hungry don't be afraid to order up a foccacia sandwich during the night (the options are listed on the menu card). I've found them to be quite yummy.

A handy tip on the Skybeds, there is a little light inside the top of the pod (when you sit there you will understand what I mean) that lights up by touching it - there are three levels of brightness, so keep touching it until it gets bright enough. I find this is a good light to use if the person next to you is sleeping and you want to read.

You will get a nice amenity kit with toothpaste, toothbrush, mints, earplugs, eye mask, socks, skin cremes, lip balm... (I think the men's has a razor/shaving cream as well). So you don't really need to bring that stuff in your carry on if you don't want to. They don't have a hairbrush though so remember to bring that along.

You can't leave anything in front of your feet at takeoff / landing. They make this announcement, but if you want to look like an old hand , you can be prepared.

Have a great trip!

Last month, both Trans Pacific and Kangaroo route, they have wine at the self-serve bar. Anything listed on the menu is available upon request, so request away.

Mrs og and I had 11JK ex LHR last week. I truthfully say that before take-off, one of the passengers from "down the back" (of the upper deck) wandered up front in search of the toilet and instead of turning right immediately after the curtain (where the toilet is), he kept walking forward and opened the front door (ie "changing room door"). He backed out quite quickly with a silly look on his face. Lucky it wasn't an American Airline coz he would have been shot on the spot - no questions asked.

Whilst you shouldn't be afraid to ask, don't expect service with a smile. QF is notorious for variable service even forward in the aircraft; it really depends on the crew.

Of course, you will get good seat - a lie flat seat but not a "skybed" - and plenty of space. The tucker will almost certainly be good, but don't expect service to match.

Is a massage at Molton Brown at LHR allowed?

The arrival lounge (at LHR) should be available too, if time permits?

I think the MB treatment and arrivals lounge at LHR is only available for BA J & F pax - they give out invitation cards in flight for both. In any case, the MB is high in demand and if elligible, should be booked as soon as you arrive (shower area on lower level) - no harm in trying. Likewise, for the showers, get in early. The evenings have high shower demand and you will wait at least 30 minutes (you get a beeper to tell you when your shower is free) - at least you can attack the bar whilst waiting. If lucky, you'll get the shower with full water jets and eucalyptus steam etc - no water conservation problems in this area!

The BA FT Board has many thread on the Arrivals Lounge and the MB.

I see a simple mistake that will forever be held against me.

My advice Duncan is to skip the business classes as it seems an awful lot of money for whatever they may be trying to teach and why wouuld you want to further yourself at the start of a holiday unless you were seeking out those even comfier seats up front. Sit back relax and enjoy the flight but whatever you do don't go into the WHY cabin, all sorts of distasteful sights, smells and possibly accidents may await you.

You've got that right

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips, hopefully we wont look too much out of our depths now!

We've allocated seats upstairs so will take extreme care when searching for the toilets!!

There are several options for "fitting in" in the premium cabin since there are several kinds of passengers you will most often see in these cabins - choose one that matches your mood and you'll be fine. Some that I have noticed:

* The road warrior look: late in boarding, plonks stuff down in a weary/knowing way and shows no interest in anyone except possibly their own work. A slight variation is the road warrior who tries to board first to snag the best carry on space for their stuff (not so relevant on long haul)

* The "junket" business traveller (or travel agent): The world's an oyster. Take whatever you can. Live it up. Possibly wear a suit to try and look important (hint: nobody cares).

* The once a year passenger/op upgrader: "Oh wow! look at these big seats! Oh look, special recline controls.. oh wow.. you mean the drinks are free up here?! OH WOW!" (imagine a teenager in an adult body...)

* The battler using hard earned miles/UC's from many hours of WHY travel fortunate enough to get that coveted U seat: Unassuming but secretly grinning from ear to ear on the inside. So happy to be there not wishing to make a scene by asking for ANYTHING. Lapping it up, but quietly. Sometimes a smug expression, specially during boarding when the WHY hoardes are passing through (valid only in Zone B or single deck aircraft).

* The "Prince(ss)": Daddy paid. I'm a snob. Go away you cretin. Wear sunglasses on the night flight and attempt to look glamourus (hint: you just look stupid)

* The downgrader (rare): angry expression, surly with a look that could melt one of those plastic knives. Envious look up the front where they should be sitting. Also possibly seen by airline staff who (shock horror) lost a seat in F to a revenue passenger.

* FT'er: fluro FT bag tag, plus at least one "elite" bag tag of a fancy colour hanging off their bag. Depending on fare paid they will either look bored or happy. Orders champ for pre-departure drink. Is usually interested in where everyone else is going. Wants to keep the menu card. Most likely with laptop reading cached FT threads composing witty responses to send once online....

* Deadheading crew: In uniform

* NRSA passengers: Most unassuming of the bunch *OR* the ones all the F/A's are paying attention to and gossiping with for the entire flight. Best to be avoided.

Hope that helps

Whats wrong with collecting menu cards?

I didn't order the champ for the pre departure drink, I selected it from the OJ and water options when offered - thankyou.

In any case, isn't it appropriate to have a lower status tag on your bag - and one that looks really scratched and old (eg Ansett GWC, Qantas Blue etc)?

FT'er sub category: The snobby elite kind..... twists bag around so as many people as possible can see the valuable bag tags (note: I keep a 2001 1K tag for the same reason! ).

Remember these are but general guides. Specific personalities may vary. Most likely your mileage WILL vary!