Making the most out of the whole glorious Qantas First Class Experience

[PLANT]

I only had Virgin J 5X times.....
Work out before flight what you want to eat and drink.... Limit yourself or you will not enjoy (I have eaten everything on the menus in one flight) not a good idea. Pre request PJ size and get into as quick as possible.
Plan your sleeping and awake time. Water water water!

 

[Hvr]

Passing through DXB I was the first male at the showers so no problems but I noticed that the attendant did check I was in F before allocating a shower.

There was also a man who boarded the plane in his F pyjamas. I guess it saved time changing on board.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Plan your sleeping and awake time.

I'm the opposite to this! Sleep when you feel tired, and eat when you want to eat or feel hungry.

Nothing worse (for me) than being unable to sleep at the 'designated' sleep time... if I miss the sleep I can end up overtired.

 

[RichardMEL]

re sleep I think this can very much also depend on one's destination and requirements.. for example, heading home with hopefully a day or two to recover is different to heading to LA or London needing to be fresh for meetings (or holidaying !) first up.

For me, I usually plan with the aim of getting into the local timezone at destination ASAP. This makes it more difficult with QF1 for example, as you have the "short" DXB-LHR sector arriving 0600ish when you'd most likely want to maximise sleep prior to a day in UK/europe. On the other hand, QF10 is timed much better for an afternoon departure out of LHR, evening in DXB and when you leave DXB you can have your 6-7 hours sleep, then still have some awake time before evening arrival into MEL and hopefully be able to go to sleep at a reasonable hour local time. LA is a bit harder, but i do try to think of the other end and what I need to do. Sometimes I will plan a "lazy day" at desintation to get in and not need to do anything.

For the OP wanting to maximise the F experience, be aware that QF caters meal services around general local time meal services, eg: dinner out of SYD, then a meal (breakfast?) into DXB (a bit odd) then a supper or small meal headed to LHR (IIRC). Knowing when the tasting (full) service is included can be key to planning. For example on QF2 return, the full lunch service is set for DXB-SYD and that's the time to make the most of it vs the "supper" and very continental breakfast LHR-DXB for the short "overnight" service.

 

[Canny man]

Make sure you engage with and chat to the F cabin attendants. These are the cream of the Qantas crop and are at the top of their game. They will judge the type of experience you want with professional ease - but will do so even better if you are open and let them know you are a first timer and that the trip is a special experience for you.

 

[Pleb Status]

This thread has been very interesting. As someone who has flown QF F (388 and 744) on more than twenty occasions, I have never been contacted by anyone from QF prior to any F flight (except for chauffeur transfer). This includes my last F flight BNE-SYD-LHR on QF1 in December. One reason may be I generally always transit SYD/MEL rather than start my journey there.

My last QF F flights have been so underwhelming that I cancelled a FASA I had booked for this weekend LHR-MEL-PER as it was certainly not worth the cost.

 

[Hvr]

My recent F trip was MEL-SYD-LHR and I was called the day before to confirm my spa treatment and ask if I needed assistance at MEL or SYD.

The chauffeur's company also called to confirm the pick up time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This thread has been very interesting. As someone who has flown QF F (388 and 744) on more than twenty occasions, I have never been contacted by anyone from QF prior to any F flight (except for chauffeur transfer). This includes my last F flight BNE-SYD-LHR on QF1 in December. One reason may be I generally always transit SYD/MEL rather than start my journey there.

My last QF F flights have been so underwhelming that I cancelled a FASA I had booked for this weekend LHR-MEL-PER as it was certainly not worth the cost.

they should call you, provided you have a contact number in the reservation... connecting via SYD still gets the call (usually... sometimes they don't!)

Agree QF F has a problem with consistency. On a good day they are there with the best, on a bad day, you really wish you had chosen another carrier.

 

[Flying mermaid]

This thread has been very interesting. As someone who has flown QF F (388 and 744) on more than twenty occasions, I have never been contacted by anyone from QF prior to any F flight (except for chauffeur transfer). This includes my last F flight BNE-SYD-LHR on QF1 in December. One reason may be I generally always transit SYD/MEL rather than start my journey there.

My last QF F flights have been so underwhelming that I cancelled a FASA I had booked for this weekend LHR-MEL-PER as it was certainly not worth the cost.

We generally fly from Canberra and I have always been phoned prior to the flight. Only exception was for a Qantas code share where we were on EK metal - what I call F- as you don't get the F host with code shares. Sometimes it goes through to voice mail, but they always try and contact. I have always enjoyed my Qantas F flights, although I must admit EK have a bit of a convert in me - love their anytime menu and showers (and Godiva chocolates) - will definitely be doing more of that.

 

[amaroo]

This thread has been very interesting. As someone who has flown QF F (388 and 744) on more than twenty occasions, I have never been contacted by anyone from QF prior to any F flight (except for chauffeur transfer). This includes my last F flight BNE-SYD-LHR on QF1 in December. One reason may be I generally always transit SYD/MEL rather than start my journey there.

Total opposite here. Always a call for F, but nothing for CD for either F or J from a number of ports.

Will have an opportunity to test both again in a few days for our BNE-SYD-LHR and the return a few weeks later.

Edit - we didn't get a call for F or CD when the four of us won the upgrade lottery on QF11 a year or so ago For the record - on this occasion it didn't bother me.

 

[legroom]

Very common specially for the "seasoned" F pax to change as soon as they are handed their PJ's (in time to come out and finish their PD champ of course )... specially on evening departures....

I'd temper that advice with the potential need for an emergency evacuation where the flimsy PJs are considered undesirable ..... by none other than professional pilots such as JB.

I'd listen to JB's advice ... all day.

On SQ F FAs give out PJs with the specific advice 'put them on after takeoff'.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'd temper that advice with the potential need for an emergency evacuation where the flimsy PJs are considered undesirable ..... by none other than professional pilots such as JB.

I'd listen to JB's advice ... all day.

On SQ F FAs give out PJs with the specific advice 'put them on after takeoff'.

Fair point. I admit I hadn't considered that part of it. I've been 50/50 on changing pre/post take off myself. Either way I change before meal service.. would hate to drop food on my travelling clothes.. better the pj's

 

[Alanslegal]

I change into pj's after take off and straight after the seatbelt light goes off.

 

[eminere]

On SQ F FAs give out PJs with the specific advice 'put them on after takeoff'.

I've been invited to change into them and get comfortable right after boarding.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I've been invited to change into them and get comfortable right after boarding.

Me too and I am not planning to change my habits - how often is there an emergency evacuation - I have a fatalistic attitude that if it all goes horribly wrong I will die, so who cares......

 

[Flying mermaid]

We generally fly from Canberra and I have always been phoned prior to the flight.

Hubris is punished - no phone call from the First Host yet for QF1 tomorrow and no call for CD. I will leave it until 3 and then phone - I do hate making phone calls.

 

[eminere]

Me too and I am not planning to change my habits - how often is there an emergency evacuation - I have a fatalistic attitude that if it all goes horribly wrong I will die, so who cares......

Damn straight! :mrgreen:

 

[Glider_]

I'm watching this thread intently as I'm hoping to make my first first booking soon. I'm looking at an F award redemption through AA (PER-LHR via SYD or MEL); does this lead to a reduction in services offered?
Also, if I leave via Melb, is there as much to be excited about?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hubris is punished - no phone call from the First Host yet for QF1 tomorrow and no call for CD. I will leave it until 3 and then phone - I do hate making phone calls.

Hardly posted this and they phoned, so Spa is booked and they are checking on the CD

 

[eminere]

Also, if I leave via Melb, is there as much to be excited about?

This is what I'm keen to know as well as I'm toying with the idea of booking EK F (on QF code) to SIN...