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

[maninblack]

I can never recall seeing Comtes (vintage by definition), for example, in the QF F lounge. IME, it's usually been four - all NV, with the main ones being Taittinger, Bollinger, Veuve Clicqot and another NV.

Similarly, BA F lounge at LHR has only NVs. It's a while since I was in the Concorde Room but IIRC, even that did not offer vintage Champagne.

Dang - did I go on the wrong days?

The discussion is not about lounges. About on the ground, on the plane.

Btw if QF are too stingy now to pay the duty on a bottle or two of Champagne for their F passengers then things are getting desperate!

 

[TheRealTMA]

The discussion is not about lounges. About on the ground, on the plane.

Btw if QF are too stingy now to pay the duty on a bottle or two of Champagne for their F passengers then things are getting desperate!

Every little bit helps to pay executive bonus' you know!

 

[RichardMEL]

Every departure ex-LAX on QF I have had in F, including just a month ago the "good stuff" be it Taittinger or LGD was served on the ground.

I wouldn't know about US carriers given they don't tend to serve decent bubbles at all do they? (flying UA tomorrow transpac...)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wouldn't know about US carriers given they don't tend to serve decent bubbles at all do they? (flying UA tomorrow transpac...)

Last time I flew United GlobalFirst they were serving Lanson Gold Label... 'cheap' but got a good score at Dan Murphys: https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_911000/lanson-gold-label-vintage-brut

I'd gone off Lanson but after that flight I was impressed!

 

[vantage03]

Every departure ex-LAX on QF I have had in F, including just a month ago the "good stuff" be it Taittinger or LGD was served on the ground.

QF12 in F last week; Duval-Leroy Brut on the ground at LAX, Veuve LGD after takeoff. So stingy...

Also fwiw it was my first visit to the new F lounge.. Packed like a zoo and felt chaotic and like the staff didn't have it under control. Unfortunate as I was excited to see how they'd done!

 

[JohnM]

The discussion is not about lounges. About on the ground, on the plane.

Aahhh - gotcha. Sorry, my bad.

 

[anna2103]

Is the Winston Churchill off the menu - no ones is mentioning it

 

[maninblack]

QF12 in F last week; Duval-Leroy Brut on the ground at LAX, Veuve LGD after takeoff. So stingy...

Also fwiw it was my first visit to the new F lounge.. Packed like a zoo and felt chaotic and like the staff didn't have it under control. Unfortunate as I was excited to see how they'd done!

And then after your visit I'm guessing that you weren't feeling so excited. Sounds like we have had similar experiences lately.

 

[RichardMEL]

Is the Winston Churchill off the menu - no ones is mentioning it

Seems more rare than the others, but did have it on QF93 in March. Admit I was quite surprised to see it.

in my (abeit pretty limited) experience I'd say it's Taittinger as more likely to be offered, followed by LGD, then the Pol Roger Sir Winston. I'm sure others' experiences will vary.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF12 in F last week; Duval-Leroy Brut on the ground at LAX, Veuve LGD after takeoff. So stingy...

Perhaps a policy change?

Also fwiw it was my first visit to the new F lounge.. Packed like a zoo and felt chaotic and like the staff didn't have it under control. Unfortunate as I was excited to see how they'd done!

I had seen various reports about the crowding with that in mind I had an earlier flight into LAX and got to the lounge around 1930. It was, I'd say, about 1/3 full and I got a table to eat dinner easily (as opposed to later when there was a small queue). I found the staff to be very good and proactive. Example when I was ordering dishes, the waiter reminded me of the Salt & pepper squid, which Id forgotten all about (it was done in a very appropriate way) and so of course I jumped on board with that one. The service was at a decent temp (tables did fill up as I spent maybe 30-45 minutes seated). I found them well co-ordinated.. I would order from one, someone else might deliver and item etc. All very appropriate in manner.

After I finished a coffee with the divine Lammington tart (I think it was) I moved to one of the side red chairs overlooking the main area downstairs and surfed the net etc. Several times staff came around asking for drink orders and at one point delivering food to a group of guys near me. Someone else also came around with a plate of the S&P squid for people to try (maybe they had overprepared that day?! ) and many were partaking.

I would say arriving after 2030-2100 yes, it fills up with the BA departure, the multiple QF 380's and 747's to BNE/SYD/MEL (after the earlier bank has cleared out) and so on. When I left for QF94 just after 2200 it was pretty full and more of a zoo and as I noted earlier I did see a line for table seating in the restaurant area, and a line at the loos (they need more IMHO).

I still very much enjoyed the lounge but definitely would always plan to arrive prior to 8pm if possible.

 

[get me outta here]

Am I supposed to order my food before boarding on QF 11 and 12? What's the meal structure on QF11 given the 0950 departure?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Seems more rare than the others, but did have it on QF93 in March. Admit I was quite surprised to see it.

in my (abeit pretty limited) experience I'd say it's Taittinger as more likely to be offered, followed by LGD, then the Pol Roger Sir Winston. I'm sure others' experiences will vary.

Lol was just going to say the opposite
Agree about the Winston Churchill, it's rare. Went through a phase of having LGD on a lot of my flights. Welcome return to Taittinger on my last flight.
My experience is a lot less than some on here though I should say.

 

[amaroo]

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.

First time for everything ... CD has called and confirmed booking for Tuesday

Well played QF!

Update.

Around 10 hours until our booked CD "should" turn up to collect us for our QF2 F ride home .... No call yet.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Lol was just going to say the opposite
Agree about the Winston Churchill, it's rare. Went through a phase of having LGD on a lot of my flights. Welcome return to Taittinger on my last flight.
My experience is a lot less than some on here though I should say.

Yes although it's promoted, I've never actually seen it available in QF F.

 

[Dmac6345]

Yes although it's promoted, I've never actually seen it available in QF F.

Strange really.
I have had the Pol Roger the last 2 times on 93 and 94.
Still undecided which I would prefer. After 2 or 3 in the lounge before boarding, I'm not sure on anything really.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Strange really.
I have had the Pol Roger the last 2 times on 93 and 94.
Still undecided which I would prefer. After 2 or 3 in the lounge before boarding, I'm not sure on anything really.

On EK, MrsTheRealTMA doesn't like DOM 2004. Aren't I lucky! She's taken a liking to Hennessy Paradis though... Maybe a problem...

 

[The Flying Brick]

Is the Winston Churchill off the menu - no ones is mentioning it

It was been served on QF 10 on the 27th of March - I had to have several glasses to be sure though!

 

[maninblack]

On EK, MrsTheRealTMA doesn't like DOM 2004. Aren't I lucky! She's taken a liking to Hennessy Paradis though... Maybe a problem...

Mrs maninblack says there is no way we are flying Qantas F anymore so I guess it's all pretty academic for me now anyway. She prefers Bordeaux or a Brunello, very rare things on Qantas.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Mrs maninblack says there is no way we are flying Qantas F anymore so I guess it's all pretty academic for me now anyway. She prefers Bordeaux or a Brunello, very rare things on Qantas.

Try EK Bordeaux features at least as one on the wines in F.

Personally, I'd prefer Brunello every time ( well maybe most, possibly...).

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes although it's promoted, I've never actually seen it available in QF F.

Had it last year - think it was coming back from Dubai. LGD more recently, but the Tattinger is my favourite....