What to Expect Flying Qantas to Paris on QF33

Just in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Qantas will launch the first ever direct flights between Australia and France on the 12th of July.

Qantas flight QF33 takes a total of 25 hours to cover the 17,548km from Sydney to Paris, including a layover in Perth on Australia’s west coast. The Perth-Paris portion of the flight is blocked at 17 hours and 20 minutes.

Paris becomes Qantas’ third European destination to be served with non-stop flights from Perth after London and Rome. Qantas uses Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for its Paris route.

Flying soon on QF33 from Sydney or Perth to Paris? This guide explains what to expect at the airport and on board!

The QF33/34 schedule between Sydney and Paris

QF33 will fly three times per week from Sydney to Paris via Perth, with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The return service QF34 departs from Paris on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

During the Olympic Games, Qantas will run a fourth weekly flight to Paris that leaves Australia on Sundays.

This is the full route:

The schedule for QF33 is as follows:

• Sydney (SYD) 13:55 – Perth (PER) 17:00
• Perth (PER) 19:35 – Paris (CDG) 06:55 (arrives next day)

You can book a seat on QF33 all the way from Sydney to Paris, or just on the Sydney-Perth or Perth-Paris sectors of the journey.

This is the schedule for the return flight QF34 from Paris to Perth and Sydney:

• Paris (CDG) 10:00 – Perth (PER) 08:30 (arrives next day)
• Perth (PER) 10:00 – Sydney (SYD) 16:05

Qantas is flying a Boeing 787-9 to Paris

The aircraft used for QF33 is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 166 Economy Class, 28 Premium Economy and 42 Business Class seats.

There is no First Class on this aircraft, but Qantas may introduce First Class to Paris once Project Sunrise flights begin.

Meals and on-board service

Unlike Qantas’ Perth-London flights which use UK-based cabin crew, Qantas’ Paris route is crewed by Australian-based flight attendants.

On the shorter sector from Sydney to Perth, all passengers receive a complimentary lunch with a choice of drinks including beer, wine and spirits.

After departing Perth, Qantas serves a hot dinner with drinks to all passengers. A light refreshment is served during the middle of the flight, and snacks are available at any time. Finally, a full breakfast is served before landing in Paris.

The menu varies by cabin class, with more premium meal and wine options available in the Premium Economy and Business cabins.

Qantas does not currently offer Wi-Fi on its international aircraft. This will be rolled out in the coming years.

In the meantime, every Qantas Boeing 787 seat is equipped with a personal in-flight entertainment screen. The Qantas Entertainment library includes new release and classic movies, TV shows, Paramount+ and HBO content, as well as kids’ programming. The Boeing 787s have a music library and games as well.

Economy Class

Qantas uses a standard 3-3-3 seating layout on its Boeing 787-9. The seats have reasonable legroom with a 32-inch seat pitch, and are well padded. Qantas also provides pillows and blankets for all passengers on the longer Perth-Paris sector.

That said, there’s no escaping the fact that these seats (as well as the aisles) are quite narrow for a 17-hour flight. If you’re sitting beside a larger passenger, there’s a good chance you’ll be rubbing shoulders during the flight.

Premium Economy

If you’d like a better experience than Economy but can’t afford to pay for Business Class, look no further than Premium Economy. Qantas offers a comfortable Premium Economy product on its Boeing 787s, with four rows of seats in a 2-3-2 layout. You’ll get more legroom, a wider seat and better meals compared to Economy.

Business Class

There aren’t many more comfortable ways to get from Australia to France than in Qantas Business Class, flying direct from Perth. Qantas offers fully lie-flat beds in Business on its Boeing 787s. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, meaning every passenger enjoys direct access to an aisle.

Qantas provides pyjamas and amenity kits in Business Class on all long-haul flights. In celebration of the Paris route launch, Martin Grant has even designed special, limited edition pyjamas and French-inspired amenity kits for Business Class passengers on QF33.

Qantas’ celebrity chef Neil Perry has also created a special French-inspired menu for Business Class passengers on the Perth-Paris route.

Transiting at Perth Airport

QF33 departs from the international terminal at Sydney Airport. Even if you’re just joining this flight between Sydney and Perth, you’ll need to clear immigration and international security in Sydney. (Domestic passengers will receive a “D” sticker on their boarding pass.)

On arrival into Perth, all passengers will need to leave the plane while it’s cleaned and refuelled. There will also be a crew change in Perth. If you’re continuing on to Paris, you’ll simply wait in the international departures area of Perth Airport Terminal 3.

If you’re starting your trip at Perth Airport or connecting from a different domestic flight, you’ll need to make your way to Terminal 3 and clear immigration in Perth.

In the other direction, if you’re arriving from Paris into Perth and continuing onwards to Sydney on QF34, you’ll clear immigration and customs in Sydney. If you’re transferring from Perth to a different domestic flight, you’ll clear immigration and customs in Perth.

Connections beyond Paris

Qantas has a partnership with Air France. If you have a connecting flight beyond Paris with Air France (or another airline), and this is booked on the same ticket as your Qantas flight into Paris, your bag should be checked through and boarding passes issued to your final destination.

On arrival into Paris, you’ll need to clear immigration if your connecting flight is to a destination in the Schengen Area. However, if your bag was tagged to its final destination, you won’t need to collect it in Paris. Simply head to your next departure gate.

Qantas lounges in Sydney, Perth and Paris

If you have Qantas Club, Qantas Gold or Oneworld Sapphire membership, or you’re flying in Business Class, you’ll be able to access the Qantas International Business Lounge prior to departure from Sydney on QF33.

Got Qantas Platinum, Qantas Platinum One or Oneworld Emerald status? You’re in for an even bigger treat! You’ll have access to the excellent Qantas International First Lounge at Sydney Airport.

You may also have access to some of the other international lounges at Sydney Airport through your credit card or any lounge memberships.

In Perth, all passengers who are eligible for lounge access can use the Qantas Perth International Lounge in Terminal 3 (formerly known as the Transit Lounge). This is a very pleasant lounge with good food and drink options, showers and a wellness area.

If you have a Qantas Lounge invitation, you can redeem this for a visit to the Qantas International Business Lounge at the airport where you first join QF33 (either Sydney or Perth).

Qantas has yet to announce which lounge it will use at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, but it will likely be one of the Air France Lounges in Terminal 2.

How to upgrade with Qantas Points on QF33

If you’ve bought an eligible ticket and have enough Qantas Points in your account, you can waitlist for a Classic Upgrade Reward on Qantas international flights.

Given the long journey time between Australia and France, upgrades on QF33 and QF34 are likely to be in very high demand. But, as they say, you have to be in it to win it!

If there are enough seats still available, Qantas starts approving upgrade requests up to 7 days before departure – starting with Platinum One members. The airline gives priority in the upgrade queue to frequent flyers with the highest status.

You can request an upgrade from any fare, except Economy Sale fares, as long as you’re booked on the Qantas “QF” flight number. You cannot upgrade with Qantas Points on codeshare flights sold by other airlines.

How many points you need to upgrade on QF33

The number of Qantas Points you’d need for a Classic Upgrade Reward request on QF33 depends on your original fare type, the cabin you upgrade into and which leg/s you’re flying.

The following table shows the number of points that would be deducted from your account if your upgrade request is successful:

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 80 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.