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

[Flying mermaid]

QF F is most definitely heaps better than QF Y or even J, but to call it 'glorious' is probably overstating it. Yes you will be much more comfortable than other sections of the plane and the service will (should) be great, but it is still public transport and you still have to stay in a fairly confined space for hours on end.

Intellectually I know you are right, but I just love flying and I love First and I still enjoy it all - maybe not glorious but still something I look forward to. Probably don't fly enough!

 

[maninblack]

There is no "glorious" first class experience to be had on Qantas. There is a reasonable and servicable but very expensive experience to be had. If you want something a little more "glorious" I would look elsewhere.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There is no "glorious" first class experience to be had on Qantas.

To be fair... there is... if (note the 'big' if)... you get the right crew who are happy to be there and feel like giving you a good flight.

Qantas can be equal to the best. Unfortunately their inconsistency lets them down.

 

[RichardMEL]

Interesting tangental topic.

for mine I am in the camp that it depends HEAVILY on the crew (and for me, if the board La Grande Dame ). I can understand the feeling at the 10th hour in the QF suite feeling a bit "meh" - but I'd feel the same in EK or CX too. After all you're in a metal tube for hours.. be it last row of Y or 1A it's still not condusive to comfortable feelings in general.

I've experienced a fair bit (LUCKILY!) of QF F in recent times - to LHR and LAX and it's a very good product, but the crews make or break it. My last flight for example had some service stars that I almost didn't want to get off QF94... some other sectors I've felt "ugh" and that's sad.. but I think it shows with certain crews and their service standards and perhaps a very personal bias towards some aspects and against others.

I'd probably put EK or CX ahead in the "consistency" stakes of service and crews. I haven't flown SQ for years to know where they are at.

Either way back to the OP of this thead - don't let us cynics get you down. Everyone remembers their First Time (see what I did there? ) and it will be wonderful for YOU to experience it all no matter what we say I sure hope it's great!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I used to think like you do now until I read JB's opinion on this very matter.

Like it or not, he has more knowledge / experience with evacuation (slide) than you & me combined.

I'm sure but I'm not going to worry at all about remote possibilities of evacuation slides being deployed during take-off.
I wear heels almost all the time when travelling so I'm already falling foul of dress codes in emergencies

EDITED: I've just gone to Ask The Pilot and read JB747's take on it and I don't think it's so different from my own.
"That's my personal feeling on the practice. I note that many of my colleagues are amongst the first into their PJs when paxing. If the company felt strongly about it, then they could just give out the pyjamas later...plus many passengers wear clothes that provide little to no protection anyway. Thinking about it, the idea most likely comes from my early days, when I always wore nomex when flying....."

 

[Princess Fiona]

After flying QF 9 just last week, I can tell you that you get supper and full breakfast on the MEL-DXB sector and lunch only on the DXB-LHR sector. The Tasting Menu is not offered MEL-LHR.

I cannot comment on QF 10 as I took QF 2 back to Australia.

The tasting menu is on QF10 LHR-DXB
Caviar is on QF9 as the tartlet canapés

 

[Princess Fiona]

Intellectually I know you are right, but I just love flying and I love First and I still enjoy it all - maybe not glorious but still something I look forward to. Probably don't fly enough!

I'm firmly in your camp. Hope the shine will never leave me

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can understand the feeling at the 10th hour in the QF suite feeling a bit "meh" ...

that's what sleeping tablets are for On a typical flight to London I'd only be awake for 7 or 8 hours of the actual flying time. That's where First class comes into it's own... eat when you want, have trays cleared quickly, things operating on your time.

 

[maninblack]

... eat when you want

Not exactly.

 

[serfty]

Yes, thanks you are right, AA4 departs from T4 and arrives into T8 at JFK. Will I get into any lounge, or maybe I could go to another terminal at LAX to have a nicer experience.

I think it was Serfty who suggested that, but I cant find that reference.

Thanks MT. As I have around 6 hours btw flights I'll try to find the nicest lounge. Maybe the First host will have an idea.

You best bet IMHO is to head to T4 and the American Airlines Flagship lounge (which you have access to at the very least for being inbound to LAX in First Class on a oneworld flight of over five hours and connecting to another oneworld flight). You could go back though security at TBIT but IMHO, while the Qantas First lounge there is fine, the Flagship lounge is better (certainly in the mornings) and more convenient for your flight to JFK.

There you can relax, enjoy a shower and take it easy while waiting for your flight to New York.

Moreover, if you are in First on a three class AA flight to JFK (A321B aircraft) then you are entitled to use the T4 Flagship entry with porter assistance and expedited security. That entry is a small red velvet appointed door manned by staff wearing cap and coat tails. (Flagship Check-In)

 

[get me outta here]

Thank you for that, it makes the choice of the AA Flagship lounge the best and easiest, esp,in the morning.

You best bet IMHO is to head to T4 and the American Airlines Flagship lounge (which you have access to at the very least for being inbound to LAX in First Class on a oneworld flight of over five hours and connecting to another oneworld flight). You could go back though security at TBIT but IMHO, while the Qantas First lounge there is fine, the Flagship lounge is better (certainly in the mornings) and more convenient for your flight to JFK.

There you can relax, enjoy a shower and take it easy while waiting for your flight to New York.

Moreover, if you are in First on a three class AA flight to JFK (A321B aircraft) then you are entitled to use the T4 Flagship entry with porter assistance and expedited security. That entry is a small red velvet appointed door manned by staff wearing cap and coat tails. (Flagship Check-In)

 

[serfty]

Thank you for that, it makes the choice of the AA Flagship lounge the best and easiest, esp,in the morning.

The Flagship entrance is at the Eastern end of the T4 frontage; easiest way to ge there after exiting TBIT is to take the external escalators up to the departures lrvel, head right and walk around - go past most of T4 until you teach the red velvet door ...

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks. 'The Velvet Door', is either very exotic in a good way or maybe red light way.

The Flagship entrance is at the Eastern end of the T4 frontage; easiest way to ge there after exiting TBIT is to take the external escalators up to the departures lrvel, head right and walk around - go past most of T4 until you teach the red velvet door ...

 

[Austff]

The Flagship entrance is at the Eastern end of the T4 frontage; easiest way to ge there after exiting TBIT is to take the external escalators up to the departures lrvel, head right and walk around - go past most of T4 until you teach the red velvet door ...

Would my wife & I be able to use the "velvet door" if she is QF WP & we are travelling AA in F from LAX to LAS .
We would be coming off QF17 in PE .

 

[JohnK]

QF F is most definitely heaps better than QF Y or even J, but to call it 'glorious' is probably overstating it. Yes you will be much more comfortable than other sections of the plane and the service will (should) be great, but it is still public transport and you still have to stay in a fairly confined space for hours on end.

At the end of the day it's just a seat. I don't quite understand the hype. It's nice but it's not glorious.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would my wife & I be able to use the "velvet door" if she is QF WP & we are travelling AA in F from LAX to LAS .
We would be coming off QF17 in PE .

Unfortunately not unless you pay. The facility is available for First class (FOC) and VIP elite passengers only.

Let our Flagship® Check-In service help you start your journey on the right foot. This exclusive service offers customers a private check-in experience, including:

• Customer service representatives who can personally assist with your individual travel requirements - from check-in and baggage check to seat or itinerary changes as well as dedicated self-service kiosks
• An expedited security line, offering you premium access through security checkpoints

Who Can Benefit

You may benefit from our exclusive Flagship Check-In service at participating airports if you are:

• A ConciergeKeySM member
• A Five Star ServiceSM customer
• Traveling First Class onboard an American three-class transcontinental flight
• Traveling First Class onboard an international American or select oneworld® alliance carrier* anywhere in your outbound itinerary

*Eligible oneworld carriers include, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines and Qantas. These carriers offer an international First Class service, which is defined as First Class service onboard a three-class (i.e., First, Business and Main Cabin) or four-class (i.e., First, Business, Premium Economy and Main Cabin) aircraft.

Details: Flagship Check-In

 

[get me outta here]

Do they still give out slip on slippers, or is it BYOS?

 

[legroom]

Do they still give out slip on slippers, or is it BYOS?

QF F still gives out slippers but I find them unappealing for two reasons:

a) It's black (dark grey) so very difficult to find in the dark

b) The top is soft so it's harder to just 'slip in' especially if you're wearing socks

So, I now BYO (the hotel kind) a pair - white and slightly structured top to ease slipping in even with socks.

 

[Hvr]

Do they still give out slip on slippers, or is it BYOS?

They do but they're very small. Or maybe I've just got very big feet?

 

[get me outta here]

Someone asked me once as my feet are so small whether I have toppled over. Hvr I'd guess at your hieight ,yes.

They do but they're very small. Or maybe I've just got very big feet?