My first-class bucketlist trip

[Justinf]

So the short story is I grew up on a family farm two hours north of Melbourne. My Mum died suddendly and unexpectedly when I was travelling in the UK a few years ago. Then Dad developed bowel cancer and fought bravely for 12 months but lost his battle. It meant that myself and my two sisters were just unable to kep the farm and had to sell. It was heartbreaking, but it meant we did get a good price for the land. A few weeks before Dad died he asked me what I wanted to do. I told him the usual stuff - pay off the mortgage, upgrade my car etc and he scoffed. "What do you really want to do with some of the money?" he asked sternly. "I've always wanted to fly international first class," I said. "Then do it," he replied.
It took a year for the farm to sell and settlement to come through. So once it did, I started planning. since the journey was more important than the destination, I thought I'd try and do a long flight. Early options were Dubai (13 hours) and then spend a few days there and then home. But then I started looking at other options. I've travelled extensively throughout the US and love it there but had never been to Texas. Sydney to Dallas-Fort Worth is 16 hours so eventually I settled on that. My plan was to fly from MEL to SYD and then pick up the SYD-DFW leg. Spend three days in Dallas, fly down to Austin, hop over to San Antonio, fly back up to DFW and then home. So I booked it. First class going over and business class coming back.
Here's my journey. I booked with Qantas.
Since being a member on this wonderful forum, I received some incredible advice. Initially they had me booked on a 9.30am flight out of MEL which wouldn't leave a lot of time in SYD to experience the F lounge. So I rebooked to get the 6am flight to SYD out of MEL. Got a call the day before departure and booked the 'destress' back massage for 10.30am for a 1pm departure to DFW.
Up early at 2am and then a 75-minute drive to A1 Airport Parking which I always used. Checked in at MEL at 4.30am, but the J lounge wasn't open until 5am so I waited around with a tummy bug that was giving me the ****s (literally) and some pretty severe cramps. Oh well.
J lounge was OK. Couldn't really eat anything and I love my coffee but my regular strong flat white had to make way for a cup of tea as the milk in the coffee would not do my stomach any good at all. Watched the first half of my beloved Tottenham Hotspur against West Brom on my mobile and then it was time for boarding.
Seat 5A on an A330 for the short hop up to SYD. Seat was comfy and pre-flight cranberry juice seemed the safest option.


Breakfast service on this flight was terrific. French toast and eggs well presented and managed to eat half before my stomach told me to stop. Had a black coffee as well.

One of my OCD habits (as I like to call it) is to put my stopwatch on as soon as the aircraft leaves the ground and to stop it again when the back wheels touch the tarmac. Flight time was an hour and six minutes.

I was disappointed I couldn't eat all my the breakfast. It was really superb. But I was able to stretch out on the A330 J seat and it was a nice start to what was a truly amazing experience to follow.
More to come, including the entirety of my 10-day trip.
Next up, the F Lounge in SYD...my first time there.

 

[Hvr]

Thank you for sharing the back story. It makes your TR even more powerful.

My personal routine when flying via SYD is to forgo the meal on the flight from MEL. Makes the F lounge meal(s) even better. When I explain my reasoning to the FA they always understand.

Looking forward to reading the rest of this TR knowing that my next F flight is LHR-MEL on 18 May.

 

[Pushka]

For a newbie you've got the TR down pat. Looking forward to reading more. Love a newbie's experience at the wonderful F experience. I am just past being a first timer and only thanks to this forum.

 

[RooFlyer]

Looking forward to this one .

 

[love_the_life]

Looking forward to reading the rest of your TR. Hope the tummy settled down (perhaps it was just nerves :shock. Thanks for the background information as well. What wonderful advice from your father.

 

[mmchow]

Enjoy your F-flight and holiday. Looking forward to your trip report.

 

[JohnM]

BP scanned.

 

[snabbu]

What wonderful advice from your father.

Exactly my thoughts. Life is too short, if you really want to do something, do it.

Can't wait for the next installment Justinf!

 

[Justinf]

Thanks to those so far who have liked and commented. For some reason I can't 'like' any of your posts, but please be aware that I appreciate them.
Flight left MEL on time and we got to SYD 10 minutes ahead of schedule. I was dreading the international transfer, but it couldn't have gone more smoothly if I had dreamt it.
Was one of the first off the aircraft and straight to gate 15 where there was nobody else there. Was immiediately onto the bus and I reckon from the moment I left the door of the A330 to the moment I breezed through customs and security, it would have been no more than 15 minutes.
By now it was just before 8am so after a quick walk to find the F lounge, I grabbed my boarding pass proudly declaring seat 1A and took a deep breath, looked the heavens where I hoped Dad was looking back at me with a wink, and I walked through the doors to wonderland.


BP presented to the person on the door and then that fabled often-heard-about walk past the greenery adorning the walls. I resisted the urge to touch it. I mean, it's just vine and leaves and stuff, right? But this is the F Lounge in Sydney. Should I? Decorum got the better of me. I walked past but admired it in its glory and then reached the desk staff. BP (did I mention 1A?) presented again and then I walked into the splendour.
Not really knowing what to do next, I walked around for a while. Stomach still not feeling the best despite several Buscopan.
Took a seat at the window and before too long an attendant came over to ask whether I would like to eat in the restaurant. I wanted to. I really wanted to. But not just yet. Still had plenty of time and made myself a flat white with the coffee machine and settled down to watch the busy runway and plane parking bays in action.
I'll take this opportunity to let you know that although I love travelling and flying, I'm a nervous flyer. It all stemmed from an incident back in the mid-90s on a Garuda DC10 flying into Jakarta from Denpasar, but I digress. I get through these days with my wonderful GP who understands my situation and does prescribe me some Valium when I fly. So, still feeling the effects of 10mg of the stuff, and still with my intestines playing havoc, I sat and just let the whole thing sink in a bit.
I looked at the old-style departures board and completely fell in love with it.



I then moved to one of the reclining seats near the window and nodded off to sleep for half an hour or so.

After waking from dozing on and off, I was now looking forward to my massage and the time was nearing.

 

[stoneman]

Great stuff !

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Justin might be prudent to doctor your details on BP image or lose it altogether - posting that is just begging for trouble.

 

[Justinf]

Justin might be prudent to doctor your details on BP image or lose it altogether - posting that is just begging for trouble.

Good advice. didn't realise the implications. Deleted.

 

[Justinf]

AFFers, prepared to be surprised, shocked and perhaps even slightly disgusted.
But I'm not a fan of Champagne. I mean it's not like I don't enjoy it, but it's way down on my list of alcoholic beverages. I love a nice wine. I mean, really love. a nice buttery chardonnay and I'm a happy chappy. But Champagne? Not really my style. I know that completely flies in the face of a lot of people on this forum, but it's an honest appraisal of my tastes. But when in Rome, well, I'm happy to do what Romans do. So in this, my Rome was the F Lounge and who was I to not at least try some, right?
I walk up to the bar area and explain that it's my first time. I'm an F Lounge virgin and that I'd like to try a glass. The kind attendant gave me a taste of all three on offer and I settled for the very first one she poured for me. Now, this might be the disgust part I was talking about. I can't really remember what it was. Sacriledge? Yes, absolutely. I think it was Verve, but it was nice. I settled in and raised a toast to all those Champagne lovers on this forum who have given me such helpful advice over the past few years.
I also have another confession. I'm not a huge fan of massages either. It's not that I don't like them, it is just that I have never gained a great deal of satisfaction from them. But I was looking forward to this one, albeit for 20 minutes.
I rocked up to my appointment at 10.29am, one minute before my actual booking. Filled out a form and was told by the masseuse that I was to remove my clothes down my underwear and lay face down on the table and that she would be back in a few minutes. Phew! Lucky I wore my best boxers that day.

The massage itself was good. Relaxing and to be honest, I could have gone for another 20 minutes. It was over before it really began (I could make so many references to this that doesn't involve a back massage, but you probably already get the drift). The masseuse was skilled and professional and left me yearning for more.
By now it was 10.50am and with just over an hour until boarding, I was starting to feel a bit peckish even though the tummy was still playing tricks.
A sat near the window as the Lounge was no overly busy after what I think was a Bangkok flight had cleared the lounge out quite considerably. I was now ready for food, but not overly keen on a large meal.
I perused the wine list and I had already done the Champagne thing, I opted for a Strathbogie chardonanny and then looked at the menu. I love seafood and after hearing the recommendations on here about the calimari, I saw no harm in ordering it. I asked my unsettled stomach whether it was up for it, and it said it was.
So I ordered an entree serve and settled in for another glass of the Strathbogie chardy. The attendant was not sure where Strathbogie was, but growing up on a farm and playing many games of footy against the likes of Avenel and Yea, I explained that it was an area in central Victoria and actually felt like I'd provided my good useful information for the day by enlightening him about the area.

The calimari was superb and was complimented delightfully by the wine and the views.

By now the wine was kicking in and I was wondering whether I'd be able to enjoy it as much I wanted to on the aircraft. The entree serving of the calamari was the perfect size. Cooked to perfection with the right balance and salt and pepper to taste.
By now it was around noon and boarding would commence soon. What to do? Enjoy another glass of vino or throw down a few shots of espresso to take the taste away and perk me up? Of course there was only option A and I tried another glass of the superb Strathbogie Hills chardonnay all the while, counting down the minutes until boarding was called and I would be checking seat 1A on the QF7 A380.
Nest installment: my boarding experience and the experience of first class. I could almost feel my dad with me every step of the way. I think it was him to told me to go for the extra glass of vino over an espresso shot or two.

 

[love_the_life]

Enjoying this immensely Justinf. I have to skite that I know where Strathbogie is - my mother's family came from Alexandra.

 

[sausagefingers]

Great start to the report

 

[Shelf]

Enjoying this TR.

Couldn't agree more re Champagne

 

[Pushka]

Enjoying this TR.

Couldn't agree more re Champagne

Twice today I have said this. Sacre Bleu!
MrP kind of agrees though. Great. More for me.

 

[lakeman]

I lust want to add more encouragement to your report which is all the better for your backgrounding and I am sure your dad would approve of your sharing the experience with the community here who would appreciate thhe signifance !

 

[Justinf]

So I left the lounge, but took one last look and remember what great advice I received my fellow AFFers to get there early to enjoy it. It was certainly worth changing my flight out of MEL. A very pleasant way to spend a few hours.
I went out into the terminal and headed to the gate with a sense of absolute excitement about what was to follow.
Boarding was quick as I used the priority lane (as you do) and was escorted to seat 1A. I took my seat and looked around. Nice and roomy.

I looked through the movie options, and there were a few that I wanted to watch, but somehow I knew I wouldn't be doing much TV viewing.
Pre take-off champagne and hors dourves were delicious.

At this stage I took the opportunity to look at the menu and take some pics of it as I know, after reading many trip reports on here, that the menu is taking very seriously.

 

[Justinf]