My first flight in FIRST by QANTAS was such a let-down, it certainly won't happen again!

[craven morehead]

Following for scientific purposes

 

[kermatu]

It’s really strange - when I have flown first on Qantas out of Australia, I have always been phoned by the F host, the day before to organise the Spa treatments and ask if there was anything else we needed.

On entering the lounge they took our boarding passes and when the flight was called, they came and told us and gave us back our boarding passes. Been awhile as we have moved to other carriers but seems strange if it has changed that much?

Yes to the phone calls for me every time (including in 2018). But I've never had my BP taken and then been found in the lounge (nor escorted to gate) - but I'd probably decline that anyway. Only times I've had my BP taken and then been found is when in a CL (domestic).

In my experience customers in the F lounge do not get a boarding call until boarding has well and truly started (and in fact, probably half-done). If the OP was at the gate by the time of the first call for boarding, I suspect they left the lounge well before any call would be made.

But that doesn't explain or excuse the other failings.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes to the phone calls for me every time (including in 2018). But I've never had my BP taken and then been found in the lounge (nor escorted to gate) - but I'd probably decline that anyway. Only times I've had my BP taken and then been found is when in a CL (domestic).

they didn’t do it if we were on Emirates metal, even if Qantas codeshare - you didn’t even get the phone call for the Spa, but anytime we were F on Qantas metal they did. I think the last time would have been 2015 though. Never had an offer of an escort either. The usual Qantas inconsistency I suppose.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Have travelled with QF J & Y, JQ J and EK J and EK F, definitely QF certainly has a lot to learn from EK!

 

[kermatu]

they didn’t do it if we were on Emirates metal, even if Qantas codeshare - you didn’t even get the phone call for the Spa, but anytime we were F on Qantas metal they did. I think the last time would have been 2015 though. Never had an offer of an escort either. The usual Qantas inconsistency I suppose.

Yes, I've flown EK F out of Oz more often than QF and never had the call - which is fair enough. Never failed to get a spa session though, or use the quiet rooms. So while the calls are nice, they haven't been that critical.

 

[JohnK]

Some of this doesn’t make sense seeing it’s F Lounge Sydney.

I’m pretty sure there were if at all occasional boarding calls for individuals and a sign saying no boarding calls will be made. Perhaps others can confirm it one way or the other

I've experienced boarding calls in the SYD F lounge in the past.

A whole lot of things went wrong for @Rick93 and that is disappointing to say the least and just because it doesn't happen to the majority doesn't mean these things don't happen as reported.

Most people would think SYD T3 check in staff are lovely but don't ever depend on them helping you out in anyway. Too many recent incidents and hope I never need their help.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes, I've flown EK F out of Oz more often than QF and never had the call - which is fair enough. Never failed to get a spa session though, or use the quiet rooms. So while the calls are nice, they haven't been that critical.

I have always believed if you fly on a Qantas codeshare, you should be viewed as flying Qantas F, not EK F, but Qantas don’t share that belief However as you get the better product, I guess you can’t have everything,

 

[sostopher]

After the hoard commenced the rush forward, I approached a staff member to point out my issue. Their attitude sparked my response.

This is the weird one. I flew QF1 in F last year out of Sydney and I could just walk right up to the First door without needing to wait with all the Y pax. I just strolled straight on, no waiting.

Then again, I didn't leave the F lounge until they called it. Boarding had been going for a bit of time.

 

[opusman]

In my experience;

- when booked in F am *always* called by F host the day before to see if I want a spa booking
- flights are always called in the F lounge in both SYD and MEL
- there is always priority boarding for J/F pax. Occasionally (can't remember the exact circumstances) I have ended up in the aerobridge in the main queue of Y pax, and yes in that case you just have to wait like a normal human. In that case I actually enjoy the reaction I get at the door when they see my F boarding pass.
- staff would *never* be as rude to an F pax as the OP claims

Not to say none of what the OP said happened, but it doesn't match with any experience I've ever had in QF F.

 

[Flying mermaid]

In my experience;

- when booked in F am *always* called by F host the day before to see if I want a spa booking
- flights are always called in the F lounge in both SYD and MEL
- there is always priority boarding for J/F pax. Occasionally (can't remember the exact circumstances) I have ended up in the aerobridge in the main queue of Y pax, and yes in that case you just have to wait like a normal human. In that case I actually enjoy the reaction I get at the door when they see my F boarding pass.
- staff would *never* be as rude to an F pax as the OP claims

Not to say none of what the OP said happened, but it doesn't match with any experience I've ever had in QF F.

yes I sometimes ended up in a bit of a scrum when boarding, but does it really matter......

I can sort of understand where the OP is coming from - you believed all the marketing about how wonderful F is. You’ve flown J a number of times, so now you want this experience to be twice as good and it is hard to match up to that.

As always with airlines, lower expectations are always better

The really bad fail was the no phone call the day before - that always happened for us, although sometimes it required a bit of telephone tag.

 

[AIRwin]

@Rick93 have you considered lodging a complaint with QF if you haven't already?

 

[mrsterryn]

If any of you consider that a $4,707. airfare passenger SHOULD be treated like that .... then you can have it all to yourselves. I won't be there again .....

Just wondering what fare you purchased? 1st class to London that is a great buy

 

[sostopher]

Just wondering what fare you purchased? 1st class to London that is a great buy

I'd say for that price it's just SYD-SIN.

 

[Rick93]

Correct ...

Price was quoted for SYD - SIN in F.

To be honest, my round trip was in points ..... but I still expected more as F pax.

Returning JAK - HK / HK - SYD.

Both in J.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've only travelled QF in First a few times, but I definitely did not get a call at least once . It was a points upgrade, so I just assumed the courtesy didn't apply to points hangers-on!

 

[opusman]

I've only travelled QF in First a few times, but I definitely did not get a call at least once . It was a points upgrade, so I just assumed the courtesy didn't apply to points hangers-on!

It depends when your upgrade comes through I guess. If it comes through on the day before the flight then I'd guess you wouldn't get a call because they would have already done the calls for that day. In the past I have had a call for an upgrade that came through 3 days before the flight.

 

[stm1sydney]

Well, QF is one of the worst airlines in the free world...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Where’s the chocolate (I don’t eat popcorn).

 

[sostopher]

Well, QF is one of the worst airlines in the free world...

Oh don't start this again

 

[mrsterryn]

Where’s the chocolate (I don’t eat popcorn).

Oh i have a stack.....