Qantas First Class menus

[kermatu]

The DXB-MEL menu appeals - I don't like breakfast menus so to have supper / refreshment / dinner is terrific. Still looks like a J menu though.

 

[blackcat20]

The DXB-MEL menu appeals - I don't like breakfast menus so to have supper / refreshment / dinner is terrific. Still looks like a J menu though.

I actually wouldve preferred a breakfast; its a bit strange to do lunch, dinner, supper, dinner....

 

[njba]

Still looks like a J menu though.

At this stage is the seat (and slightly better wine?) the only real distinguishing factor?

 

[kermatu]

At this stage is the seat (and slightly better wine?) the only real distinguishing factor?

In my view, pretty much, yes. The extra privacy and space of F is certainly a big step-up if traveling solo. Slightly better drink options and one or two extra dishes maybe. But in J I have been offered the F class scotch and been able to eat anything anytime (which some people have said is denied in F - it's not promised in F to be fair). The other consideration of course is a quieter cabin and better access to bathroom. But not something I will ever pay full fare for.

I have limited F experiences to be honest, but the food on EK and SQ is markedly better F > J. Will be sampling LH next month.

 

[DavidFlynn]

I'd agree there. As a rule when I fly QF J SYD-LHR, I apply for a points-based bump to F and it almost always comes through – but I really do it more for the 'comfort' than anything else.

I enjoy a superb meal at the F lounge so am not really in the mood for the 83-course degustation menu – which used to actually be a great menu but lately it seems to be a little more a sampler of the standard dishes. Of course they'll create a 'made to order' sampler for you if desired, but only once did I follow the F lounge breakfast + lunch experience with the extensive F degustation menu and truly, by the time we got to the chocolates I was feeling a little bit Mr Creosote!

So these days it's decent lunch at the F lounge, lighter dining (and a little later during the flight) in the F cabin and just enjoying the space, the privacy, an extra glass or two of the great wine (although I'm not much of a drinker, so that's not a factor in my upgrade decision either) and especially the chance for a much better sleep than I could get in J (as those trips are most often a 'hit the ground running' affair).

 

[kermatu]

I actually wouldve preferred a breakfast; its a bit strange to do lunch, dinner, supper, dinner....

I've always stopped in DXB or travelled via SIN or HKG so haven't done the full LHR-DXB-MEL flight. Guess not having specific breakfast would be odd. Look like a couple of breakfasty options on your menu though (waffles, fruit, baked egg, even the steak sandwich).

 

[blackcat20]

I've always stopped in DXB or travelled via SIN or HKG so haven't done the full LHR-DXB-MEL flight. Guess not having specific breakfast would be odd. Look like a couple of breakfasty options on your menu though (waffles, fruit, baked egg, even the steak sandwich).

I did have the steak sanga but a proper egg and (oops no bacon) breakfast would've been nice.

 

[katiebell]

At this stage is the seat (and slightly better wine?) the only real distinguishing factor?

This just about sums it up. There are also more cabin crew and more personal attention in F. Personally I prefer the aspar in J to the SK11 in F amenity kits. It really is not good enough to serve the same dishes in J & F

 

[MEL_Traveller]

At this stage is the seat (and slightly better wine?) the only real distinguishing factor?

For a while it used to be that F class cheese was 'hand selected' whereas J class cheese was merely 'selected'. That too seems to have gone

 

[katiebell]

Also, the first expereince is being degraded: eg no Flounge in the planned new LHR lounge or the BNE lounge once rebuilt (I assume that there are F services to LAX).

 

[DavidFlynn]

No F services out of BNE, and not sufficient space in the LHR lounge for separate F and J facilities (due to the overall footprint being split over two levels).

 

[Anna]

For a while it used to be that F class cheese was 'hand selected' whereas J class cheese was merely 'selected'. That too seems to have gone

Hand selected sounds a bit unhygienic to me

 

[katiebell]

No F services out of BNE, and not sufficient space in the LHR lounge for separate F and J facilities (due to the overall footprint being split over two levels).

Why not a different class lounge on each floor? MEL dom & the old HKG lounges have/had the higher class lounge accessed via the other lounge: works well.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Why not a different class lounge on each floor? MEL dom & the old HKG lounges have/had the higher class lounge accessed via the other lounge: works well.

My understanding is that it's due to the actual layout and physical space of each floor: as I understand it, any single floor would be too small to comfortably host business class and Gold and Qantas Club flyers, especially once you add f&b touches like the bar & buffet plus showers; the lower floor definitely looks to be a tight fit for J. By the same token an upper 'F' floor could also be a bit small for F and Platinum-grade travellers if they also have their own bar and dining area.

If there was one large and long contiguous space then a J/F split may have been doable but when your space is divided into floors it can actually reduce got ability to split it apart from on a per-floor basis.

Given that LHR has double-daily A380s with F and a decent number of WPs, if Qantas could have created separate F/J lounges I'm sure that'd have been done in order to match the standard and expectations set by SYD, MEL and LAX.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Also, the first expereince is being degraded: eg no Flounge in the planned new LHR lounge or the BNE lounge once rebuilt (I assume that there are F services to LAX).

Why is that degrading the first experience at either place ?
LHR doesn't have a QF Lounge, the new lounge will add to the choices for QF F pax not degrade anything.
The BNE F Lounge was cramped and underwhelming. There are no QF metal flights with F ex-BNE so no F experience to degrade.

 

[mviy]

The new lounge in LHR is scheduled for demolition a few years after it is finished anyway. Will be interesting to see what lounge space QANTAS gets wherever the QANTAS flights are moved to.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The new lounge in LHR is scheduled for demolition a few years after it is finished anyway. Will be interesting to see what lounge space QANTAS gets wherever the QANTAS flights are moved to.

Won't be on the cards for years (2024 at least) and is dependent on the third runway being approved.

 

[mviy]

Won't be on the cards for years (2024 at least) and is dependent on the third runway being approved.

I thought T3 was scheduled for demolition in 2019. Is this no longer the case?

 

[Princess Fiona]

I thought T3 was scheduled for demolition in 2019. Is this no longer the case?

It was the case but not anymore

 

[katiebell]

Why is that degrading the first experience at either place ?
LHR doesn't have a QF Lounge, the new lounge will add to the choices for QF F pax not degrade anything.
The BNE F Lounge was cramped and underwhelming. There are no QF metal flights with F ex-BNE so no F experience to degrade.

So you won't miss the SYD Flounge when QF decide on a single lounge for QFi?