My first upgrade, terrible business class Bali to Melbourne

[Mr H]

Yeah but none of the FAs onboard knew how to make coughtails, so what was the point of the bar?

Again, flashy for the sake of flashy.

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

No, not really. I use them to get changed!

 

[antycbr]

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

Having done SQ21 SIN-EWR I would have definitely made use of a lounge space. 18h20m in your seat is frustrating

 

[RichardMEL]

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

The "lounge" on the QF 380 (the reconfigured one) are a bit useless imo. I mean maybe for a couple to sit together or something but yeah it's not the best space.

However the EK A380's bar area is quite nice, and much bigger (plus the actual bar itself is pretty impressive!). I've not used the QR bar so can't comment but have definitely used the EK one. Some flights yes it's a bit of an empty space but I've been on several flights where it was quite fun. One I recall had a bunch of cricketers (amateur) on and so it got a little bit pub like for a bit, but not over the top horrible. People in general were in good spirits (perhaps aided by the free spirits) and friendly and it was quite enjoyable for a time to hang out there, have a few drinks and snacks and chat a bit. I guess it depends on the crowd.

At the very least these spaces offer a bit of a break from one's seat area - heck on the EK A380 it offers a fair walk to go down from F (or front of J) to the bar area and hang out, take a seat down there or just stand and have a snack or drink and pass some time.

For mine this is one drawback of the QF (and many others) 787's - great aircraft but not really any easy space to just get up out of your seat, stretch a bit and just see a different part of the plane (yes, one can walk down to the rear and all, but it's not QUITE the same).

just my 2 cents.

 

[justinbrett]

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

If Qantas wanted to embrace the Australiana theme, it should call it the VIP lounge and fill it with pokies.

 

[Sprucegoose]

One I recall had a bunch of cricketers (amateur) on and so it got a little bit pub like for a bit, but not over the top horrible. People in general were in good spirits (perhaps aided by the free spirits) and friendly and it was quite enjoyable for a time to hang out there, have a few drinks and snacks and chat a bit. I guess it depends on the crowd.

Yes, it's all about the crowd. We did the same on a 744 SYD-HKG with around 10 in the galley, crew were great about the 'mob' No bar then.

 

[RooFlyer]

In terms of disappointing upgrades, I was *S with British Midland flying EDI-LHR on Christmas Eve. I was in the Diamond Club Lounge and the dragon came up with a new boarding pass, saying she was pleased to upgrade all the Diamond Club members on that flight. The J seating on the 320 (for D and F seats) was the same in J and Y, but with the E seat blocked. Since the flight was almost empty, I would have had a free row whichever class I had been in. The J catering was an omelette - take it or leave it. I do not like eggs, so I left it. Had I been in Y, my Diamond Club Silver membership would have got me a complimentary drink and snack from the paid catering menu. I asked whether I could get that but was told that it only applied to Y pax, not J. So net result of my upgrade was an identical seat and the loss of a sandwich. Not a biggie, but I did feel a bit chizzed.

Strewth! That’s all sounds a bit rough.

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

The Qantas style ‘lounges’ ( cubby holes) are useless. I’ve been disturbed a number of times when guys go there for a drinking session and noise comes out into Emerald City.

The Qatar style on-board Lounge on the other hand is great (although I appreciate you’re not a fan of QR ). I’m not a natural socialiser in such environments, but I usually manage to strike up a conversation with someone in those and it passes the time very well. The service by the people behind the bar is usually pretty chummy as well.

Been a long time now, but I think the Emirates bar/lounge was pretty good too.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Big issue with Bali, New Zealand and other regional destinations is you’ll get domestic service for what is in effect a domestic flight. If this was a flight to LA out London I can assure you things would be top notch. That being said I’m not here to defend QF other than to state a harsh reality.

 

[RichardMEL]

Big issue with Bali, New Zealand and other regional destinations is you’ll get domestic service for what is in effect a domestic flight. If this was a flight to LA out London I can assure you things would be top notch. That being said I’m not here to defend QF other than to state a harsh reality.

I know what you mean, but a long haul destination and equipment does not always equate to anything near "top notch"

sadly that can be a harsh reality!

If I want "top notch" I'd pick a SQ or QR way ahead of QF... Far more Consistently Consistent

just sayin'

 

[jase05]

Off topic, I know, but does anyone use the in flight bars and 'lounges'? Normally people go to great lengths to avoid talking to fellow pax, yet the adverts show merry strangers happily socialising.

Absolutely we use the bar and lounge on the EK A380’s. We normally head back there and have a chat to staff or other passengers. Mrs Jase doesn’t sleep well at the best of times so I will often go back to my seat and have a snooze and she will stay up chatting. A couple of flights we spent more time in the lounge than in our seats

 

[Mr H]

I know what you mean, but a long haul destination and equipment does not always equate to anything near "top notch"

sadly that can be a harsh reality!

If I want "top notch" I'd pick a SQ or QR way ahead of QF... Far more Consistently Consistent

just sayin'

I agree with the sentiment but different people will have different ideas of what constitutes top notch service. But I guess there’sa lot of common ground on some of the things that make for disappointing service.

 

[justinbrett]

Big issue with Bali, New Zealand and other regional destinations is you’ll get domestic service for what is in effect a domestic flight. If this was a flight to LA out London I can assure you things would be top notch. That being said I’m not here to defend QF other than to state a harsh reality.

Just plain wrong.

International flights on a 737 is not a domestic service. End of.

 

[Pvcmenace]

I know they are upgrading AKL as it is 'sub-optimal', as we shall politely say. You could try to sneak into the EK lounge, which is a lot better; not sure what that deal is like post covid as I haven't been back to the land of the long white cloud in a few years. Clearly, QF treated the service more domestically, IMHO.

No problems getting into EK lounge did so in October, but it did close about 30minutes before my QF flight so switched lounges for the little bit of time

 

[SpudOz]

They have done so at various times.

I would suggest not for the last 2 decades. I have been flying to Bali for over 30 years and have flown various airlines but not Qantas. The reason being is that Qantas do not fly Perth to Bali. Instead its that mongrel child Jetstar that Qantas thinks Perth pax deserve.

 

[jpp42]

I would suggest not for the last 2 decades. I have been flying to Bali for over 30 years and have flown various airlines but not Qantas. The reason being is that Qantas do not fly Perth to Bali. Instead its that mongrel child Jetstar that Qantas thinks Perth pax deserve.

Qantas does sell PER-SYD-DPS and PER-MEL-DPS. Yes, it costs around twice as much and takes 12-14h instead of 4h, but the option is there if you really hate Jetstar that much. Batik Air is available as a "full service" carrier too, maybe you can send your business there and enjoy Indonesian carriers' famed safety record.

 

[stm1sydney]

I travelled to central Asia in December

No surprises that QF was terrible, so I would be more interested in your trip report on central Asia!

 

[bPeteb]

My only comment - cabin crew haven't been called air hostesses for a very long time. They're flight attendants cabin crew

 

[Sprucegoose]

My only comment - cabin crew haven't been called air hostesses for a very long time. They're flight attendants

Or Crew for short, and pilots are referred to as tech crew, which also included Flight engineers

 

[justinbrett]

My only comment - cabin crew haven't been called air hostesses for a very long time. They're flight attendants

I think cabin crew is actually the correct term these days ("cabin crew arm slides").

 

[bPeteb]

I think cabin crew is actually the correct term these days ("cabin crew arm slides").

I was going to say that and for some reason wondered if it was correct