Qantas A380's LHR inaugural - will anything special be done to mark the service?

[Keith009]

Barring the not entirely remote chances of a delivery delay, I will be flying the QF A380 on its inaugural SYD-LHR service on QF31 16 Jan '09. Managed to find D inventory and promptly booked myself into it. Seat 12J allocated which is an aisle seat located in the 2nd row of the seemingly superior first J cabin containing only 3 rows of seats, with good proximity to the onboard lounge.

Apart from the obligatory water canon welcome at LHR, does anyone reckon QF will make a song and dance about its inaugural LHR service like SQ did? Maybe at least an ickle press conference at SYD?

It didn't look like they did much for the inaugural LAX other than Dixon's speech.

I'd try not to be bummed about getting a 744 if a delivery delay were to occur but prior to this I was booked on QF1 where I'm guaranteed some eye candy on the BKK-LHR portion of the flight.

 

[Alanslegal]

damn lucky guy!!!!!

yep from the seatmaps, only 18 pax in the first three rows. seems very cosy indeed. Then there's 54 pax in the main J cabin.

enjoy the trip!

 

[milehighclub]

I wouldn't expect a lot. Perhaps a small gift as they got on QF93/94. None of the A380 flights, not even the arrival into Australia from France, have had water cannons.

 

[moa999]

I did notice a Qantas bag tag on a bag arriving on QF12 on monday stading
Inaugural Qantas A380
MEL-LAX

or something similar.
Don't know what classes they were given out to

 

[Skyring]

Barring the not entirely remote chances of a delivery delay, I will be flying the QF A380 on its inaugural SYD-LHR service on QF31 16 Jan '09. Managed to find D inventory and promptly booked myself into it. Seat 12J allocated which is an aisle seat located in the 2nd row of the seemingly superior first J cabin containing only 3 rows of seats, with good proximity to the onboard lounge.

I hope Qantas is reading this and has ordered an extra crate of champagne...

If there had been any J on either of the first two return flights from the US, I would have delayed my flight back a few days. Sadly, no, but I'm looking forward to my next chance, which may be in July next year.

In the meantime, I have a bubbly TR to look forward to on 17 Jan 09...

 

[milehighclub]

I did notice a Qantas bag tag on a bag arriving on QF12 on monday stading
Inaugural Qantas A380
MEL-LAX

or something similar.
Don't know what classes they were given out to

They were made by passengers. Along with t-shirts they had as well.

On the way up to LAX F/J passengers received a Payot gift pack. On the way down a Qantas book about all the products, design, story etc.

 

[Dave Noble]

I can't see why they would have anything special. The 1st flight of a QF A380 has been and gone; this would just be another route changing aircraft

Dave

 

[Keith009]

I can't see why they would have anything special. The 1st flight of a QF A380 has been and gone; this would just be another route changing aircraft

I only ask because SQ has a mini celebration each time they inaugurated an A380 service on a route, so I was wondering whether QF would do the same.

From posts above it seems not, oh well...

 

[Harpoon]

I only ask because SQ has a mini celebration each time they inaugurated an A380 service on a route, so I was wondering whether QF would do the same.

From posts above it seems not, oh well...

Yeah but SQ was effectively landing the A380 at airports that had not had a commercial flight there yet..... the airports were recieving an A380 for the first time so they were a bit more significant with london....tokyo etc.

Have fun on you flight though!!! (jealous)

 

[High Horse]

On the LAX inaugural, all passengers received luggage tags (so I was told), then in J we each received a gift bag containing the Marc Newson Design in Flight Coffee Table book, a stick pin and commemorative stamps (only found this today when took the book out of the case!) plus the Payot gift bags. Friends in Y+ didn't even get the stick pin...

There still didn't seem to be a real occasion to the whole event, so would be surprised if QF did anything much for the LHR flight.

I promise to write a TR after my kids have gotten over the excitement of having mum back home! In a nutshell though, the trips were sensational, but a couple of hiccups that might be of relevance to busy business travellers like your kind selves.