Qantas First - is it worth it

[moa999]

As a teaser to my upcoming QF/CX trip report I thought I might create a separate thread on an issue I raised with Fanatic125 in the QF HKG lounge after my flight.

Now in my mind there are a few elements to First which is why we pay the premium - the seat and space, the service, the wine and the food.

Flight was a FASA on QF127 SYD-HKG - which interestingly does not have a degustation menu.
Midway through I asked for a snack and the purser also said he would get me the Business menu as it had some different options.

Anyhow compare/ contrast....

FIRST

Canapes
Corn and Manchego Fritters with Capsicum Relish; Spanner Crab and Ruby Grapefruit on Betel Leaves

Salad and other things
Roasted Tomato Soup with Thyme Croutons
Chinese Style Duck Salad with Pickled Cabbage
Salad of Jamon Iberico and Arbequina Olives Balsamic Vinaigrette

Light Meals
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing and Steamed Vegetables
Reuben Sandwich
Big bowl of Sweet Corn Congee with Toasted Sesame
Lamb, Pea and Mint Pot Pie
Our signature Steak Sandwich with Tomato and Chilli Relish

Main Courses
Potato Gnocchi with Braised Italian Vegetables, Pesto and Parmesan Cheese
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Spiced Eggplant, Gai Lan and Ginger Glaze
Chicken Kapi Kapitan with Fragrant Rice, Fried Eschalots and Snake Beans
Seared Rangers Valley Skirt Steak with Potato and Leek Gratin, Asparagus and Horseradish
Slow Cooked Spiced Kurobuta Pork with Fresh Salsa, Soft Tortillas and Sour Cream

Side Salad
Salad of Baby Cos, Radicchio and Frisee with your choice of dressing:
Aged Balsamic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Fresh Lemon Juice and Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Palm Sugar Vinaigrette


Cheese
Blue, soft and hard cheese, hand selected by Will Studd, Maitre Fromager, Calendar Cheese Company, served with accompaniements

Desserts
Date, Orange and Cinnamon Tart and Double Cream
Vanilla Panna Cotta with Fresh Strawberries and Sorbet
Nice Cream Chocolate Coated Raspberry Ice Cream

Whole or Sliced Seasonal Fruit

Petit Fours
A selection of Cacao hand made chocolates:
Blueberry and Polenta Cake
Roasted Almond and Cognac Biscuits

BUSINESS

Entree
Roasted Tomato Soup with Thyme Croutons
Chinese Style Duck Salad with Pickled Cabbage

Main Courses
Potato Gnocchi with Braised Italian Vegetables, Pesto and Parmesan Cheese
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Spiced Eggplant, Gai Lan and Ginger Glaze
Chicken Kapi Kapitan with Fragrant Rice, Fried Eschalots and Snake Beans
Rangers Valley Fed Skirt Steak with Potato and Leek Gratin, Asparagus and Ree Wine Sauce

Salad of Baby Cos, Radicchio and Frisee with Chardonnay Dressing

Dessert
Seasonal cheese hand-selected by Calendar Cheese Company, served with accompaniements
Nice Cream Strawberry and Mascarpone Ice Cream with Berry Compote
Sliced Fresh Fruit

Chocolates
Valrhona Chocolates

Refreshment
Reuben Sandwich
Lamb, Pea and Mint Pot Pie
Roast Capsicum, Confit Onion and Feta Tart with Green Leaf Salad
Whole Seasonal Fruit
Roasted Almond and Cognac Biscuits
Hand Cooked Potato Chips
Fine Fettle Dried Fruit
Nice Cream Ice Cream Tubs
Valrhona Chocolate Bars

 

[wingspan]

Mmmm I do like their Chicken Kapi Kapitan and their Duck Salad with Pickled Cabbage. Delicious!

Having flown Business internationally before, but never First, it does seem like there is a much bigger selection in First.

 

[medhead]

But heaps of cross overs.

 

[Robert K]

There is only so much space on a plane.

 

[Austman]

Did a file comparison.

Main difference:

Biz: Whole Seasonal Fruit
1st: Whole or Sliced Seasonal Fruit

(you pay for service)

 

[awilcockson]

What do the wine lists look like?



Honest question, first trip in QF F next Friday, just so happens to be QF127.

 

[Austman]

Have done both. While there's a fair bit of overlap on the food offerings, the wine list and the service levels are much better in F (as you'd expect).

 

[Fantic125]

Have done both. While there's a fair bit of overlap on the food offerings, the wine list and the service levels are much better in F (as you'd expect).

But is it worth double/triple the cost?

 

[moa999]

Good to cause some debate.
Whilst I was expecting more differentiation in the menus given the numbers in the cabin and the choices I can understand why...

Also as a snack the signature steak sandwich (i thought at one point this was in J as well) was awesome..

[QUOTE]
What do the wine lists look like?
Honest question, first trip in QF F next Friday, just so happens to be QF127.[/QUOTE]

OK...I'll give it to you.

Champagne - Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

White - Leeuwin Estate 'Art Series' Chardonnay 2008 (Margaret River WA); Tyrrels 'Vat 1' Hunter Semillon 2005 (Hunter Valley NSW); Gembrook Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Yarra Valley VIC)

Red - Clonakilla Shiraz Voigner 2009 (Canberra District NSW); The Wanderer Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2010 (Yarra Valley VIC); Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Margaret River WA)

Dessert - Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 2009 (Clare Valley SA)

The Leeuwin and the Clonakilla (despite its age) were my choices and most enjoyed.
The dessert wine was also very good.

 

[awilcockson]

the Clonakilla (despite its age) were my choices and most enjoyed.

Interesting, Canberra isn't normally the location I'd first associate with quality wines. Can't go past a nice Shiraz, so will definitely give it a try.

edit: The Clonakilla 2010 is front page on epiqure and $90 a bottle!

 

[cove]

I like the space,the service and the champagne.

 

[tuapekastar]

Keeping it 'apples with apples' I have one fairly recent F and one recent J experience on QF on the A380 (with a couple more of each upcoming ).

If someone said to me "you will always travel J" I would not complain one bit. It is excellent! Sufficient seat width and separation from your neighbour, flat bed, good food/bev, great IFE, and excellent pitch, and great service.

However F is a clear step up. More seat width, so much privacy (your own private area), flat bed with mattress etc., better food/bevs (the food menu crossovers notwithstanding), better pitch, bigger IFE screen, more little knobs and controls to play with, bigger dunnies etc.

Then there are the off-plane things to consider. F lounge where applicable, F checkin where applicable, Express passes where applicable.

Is F worth it? Well, is J worth it? They are both excellent and I don't think there is a definitive answer. In all cases I would go for the highest class I could justify in the situation - factors include who is paying (in my case, me), duration of flight, desperation level for SCs :shock: and how I can snag the seat - be it by points, discounted fare, whatever.

 

[JohnM]

Interesting, Canberra isn't normally the location I'd first associate with quality wines. Can't go past a nice Shiraz, so will definitely give it a try.

edit: The Clonakilla 2010 is front page on epiqure and $90 a bottle!

Clonakilla is generally recognised as Australia's benchmark shiraz viognier.

 

[dfcatch]

Just hopped off F SYD-LAX and thoroughly enjoyed the degustation. The menu above is accurate for this route too....the corn fritters were delicious.

Stayed up too late though enjoying the food, wine and service.

Now have to fly to SFO, drop a friend at SJC and then drive 3 hours.

Dammit - should have slept more (but to me, sleeping in A380 F is an opportunity cost ).

I did do the "Bossreggie walk through" as I call it, to walk off dinner. Up the stairs, through J and PE, down the stairs and up through Y. It certainly makes you appreciate the F suite, and just how cramped your average Y seat is.

I still have the question as to the trick to land 66DEFG in Y. 80A is just SO far back (but that's for a different thread).

On topic - the service in F compared to J is a big part of the differentiation.

 

[QF WP]

On my trips in F, I found the largest differentiation to be the service. In F, they have the opportunity to know and remember your name, given the staff to pax ratio is better...and they should be able to do this every time.

My wife and daughter raved about the bed service and the doona as well

 

[bossreggie]

For me, F is worth the extra cost.

My main priories are privacy, space and the ability to enter and exit the aircraft quickly.

The food and wine are a bonus, however not a major consideration for me.


Boss.

 

[simongr]

There is only so much space on a plane.

Got to leave room for the snakes.

I am really quite surprised by the amount of cross overs.

As people have pointed out the service is the stark difference for me.

I have yet to fly the A380 in F but I would put the space/comfort of the A380 J up there with the the space/comfort of the 744 F.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Having flown Qantas F back in January I was disappointed with the service. The food was ok, the wine choices were good, going for a walk around the plane was fun, although I did that 4 years ago.
One difference is the F lounge in either Sydney or Melbourne compared to that of the J lounge.
I didn't think the cabin crew did enough, maybe I was expecting something more from the staff.
For me who had never flown F before I would have liked the staff to have explained all the options either on the menus or all the adjustments around your seat.
I didn't hear from the crew on the last 3 hours on the flight.
If you want a bit of privacy and be left alone F is perfect.
Will I fly F again, I am sure I will but I am in no rush.

 

[cove]

I saw Red Roo reading this thread this morning so please be fair and constructive as we don't want First on Qantas getting dropped.
It is very nice to know your thoughts are being read by senior QF staff.
I actually like both 747 and A380 First.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have had one poor experience ( service) in F SYD-JFK when QF had F throughout the flight. The remainder of my F flights ( all 747) have been good/very good.
I live in hope of the A380 F experience and have my fingers crossed for 1st time lucky next week on points upgrade ( have been 0/4 for past requests).
If spending actual $'s then no my budget doesn't stretch to the J-F difference or the difference is not enough to justify the increased cost.
Y-J is a much bigger gap in terms of service, comfort and arriving productive at the end of a long-haul flight.