Just yesterday I published my review of business class in a Qantas A380, noting that I enjoyed the experience but there were some major issues with the seat. I finished by saying that “hopefully the Qantas A380 fleet will soon be refurbished”.
Well, wouldn’t you know it, AusBT is reporting today that Qantas may soon do just that. According to today’s article (which is probably well-sourced) Qantas is planning an extensive A380 refurbishment program beginning as early as 2018 to sharpen its competitive edge.
Several problems I pointed out in my post yesterday look like they’re being targeted, including the lack of personal storage space, mediocre entertainment screen and outdated 2-2-2 cabin layout.
It seems likely that the latest generation of Qantas’ highly-regarded ‘Business Suites’ will be fitted onto the superjumbos. I recently reviewed the business suite and concluded it was a great product – spacious and comfortable, with a 1-2-1 layout, lots of personal storage space and an excellent 16-inch entertainment screen.
The Qantas Business Suite, currently only on the A330s
The upgrade – if it happens – will be great news for loyal Qantas customers and those with no other options on some routes, like Dallas. It will also help Qantas compete with superior business class products currently offered by Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Australia and others.
It seems likely that Qantas will also upgrade first class and premium economy seats on the A380s. Hopefully we’ll get official confirmation and more details in the next few months!
Qantas flies the A380 to some of its most popular overseas destinations including Los Angeles, Dallas, Singapore and London – and naturally many customers want to know what to expect before they board.
When travelling in business class on a red-tailed superjumbo, passengers enjoy a very comfortable journey. It’s not quite at the standard set by some of Qantas’ competitors – largely because of the old seat design (something the airline will address with an A380 refurbishment program starting in 2019) – but there is still a great ‘soft’ product, ie. good drinks and dining, and usually friendly crews.
I would recommend flying Qantas A380 business class to travellers, though on some routes there will be higher quality options, so it’s worth researching before you book.
Here’s my review of a recent flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Sydney, which I booked for 112,000 Qantas Points plus US$436 in taxes and fees.
The Dallas airport experience – a disappointing start
Qantas operates from the modern and newish Terminal D at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport. The terminal was very quiet when I arrived three hours before the flight, which meant check-in and security clearance were a breeze. I was happy to be approaching the Qantas lounge within minutes of arriving at the airport.
Sadly, the Qantas lounge left a lot to be desired. Qantas doesn’t actually operate its lounge at DFW, instead relying on a third party, and it shows.
A modest selection of food and drinks was available (some hot food, salads, snacks and a limited range of wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages), but the lounge was dated and cramped, and the staff provided the bare minimum level of service.
What I really didn’t like, however, was the bathrooms. I was desperate for a shower after a whole day of driving and was shown to a grimy bathroom with a sink tap that didn’t work. I told the staff, who already knew about it, but didn’t seem to care. It was not a pleasant experience.
It’s a Qantas lounge, but not as you know it
Qantas lounge food and drinks
I decided to head over to the nearby American Airlines Admirals Club, which most Qantas passengers can also access (not that many seem to know). The Admirals Club is newer and much more spacious (and with much nicer showers!).
The nicer and more spacious American Airlines Admirals Club
Admirals Club bar area
The Admirals Club has its own limitations with food and drinks, however. Upon walking in, I was surprised to be handed a couple of drinks vouchers and then to see a price list (!) at the bar. The bar staff never asked for a voucher, though, despite going back for drinks several times, which was confusing.
There was some basic snack food available for free like soups, dips and crackers, with more substantial meals for purchase.
Comparing the two lounges, I would definitely recommend passengers choose the Admirals Club over the Qantas lounge. You should be able to get in if you’re flying in business or first class, or have Qantas Gold or oneworld sapphire status.
The customer service on board – excellent
At the end of an overseas trip, it’s always great to be welcomed by Aussie accents onto the plane home. A cheery Qantas crew can make you feel like you’re almost there, even though you’re half-way round the world and facing a daunting 17-hour flight (the world’s longest, at one point).
I find that Qantas customer service standards are consistently high. I especially like it when the crew mix professionalism with an easy-going, fun and attentive service, and so it was on this flight.
The crew were professional but relaxed, very quick to respond to requests and really pleasant to deal with. The cabin was around half full, making the job easier for the crew.
We were welcomed on board with a greeting and a drink, and were given pyjamas (see the image at the top of the post) and amenity kits (pictured below).
The seat – comfortable, but lacking in storage
There are 11 rows of business class seats on the Qantas A380, with the first 3 rows in a ‘mini cabin’ up front (usually reserved for elite frequent flyers) followed by a galley and toilets, and then the other 8 rows.
A380 business class seat map
I sat in one of the centre seats in row 17 and found there were both positives and negatives with the seat.
On the positive side, the seats are fully lie-flat and very comfortable, with lots of leg room (78-inch pitch) and a decent 21-inch width. The seat controls were simple to operate, with a massage and lumbar support option.
Qantas A380 business class seat
The seat was very comfortable for sleeping on this long, overnight flight, with good padding and an extra mattress the crew attached soon after take-off. A cotton doona and multiple pillows provided additional comfort.
When fully flat, the headrest is inside the shell of the seat, which provides decent privacy, and there are also dividers between the seats.
Great for sleeping (that’s not me!)
I thought the seat was more comfortable for sleeping in than the business class seats I recently experienced in an Emirates A380 and Cathay Pacific B777 (though both those business class products were better than Qantas overall).
On the negative side, the 2-2-2 layout doesn’t match the standard set by other premium airlines now offering a 1-2-1 layout. It’s definitely not ideal for a solo passenger stuck in a window seat while the person next to them is reclined.
The storage space was also very limited in the centre seats. I struggled to comfortably store within reach the ‘basics’ like a water bottle, headphones, iPhone and a few small personal items, which was annoying.
I noticed that the window seats had extra storage next to the cabin wall, which would have come in handy.
The food and drinks – enjoyable, especially the breakfast
Upon boarding, the crew offered passengers a welcome drink of water, juice or champagne. I had a glass of champagne, which was the Duval-Leroy Brut NV – not a bad drop.
After take-off, it took more than an hour for the drinks service to begin, which is a bit too long. I’m not sure if this is usual for Qantas International but based on my experiences with other airlines it shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes – especially with a half-empty plane.
There was a decent selection of drinks on offer including several champagnes, two red and two white wines, as well as spirits and various non-alcoholic beverages. I stupidly didn’t take a photo of the wine list, but I know I had a glass of the Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir over dinner. Here is the rest of the beverage menu.
Qantas business class drinks menu
The Neil Perry ‘Rockpool inspired’ food menu featured a selection of “supper plates” allowing passengers to design their own meal, with some plates also available throughout the flight. This makes sense as many passengers will prefer to have a light meal and go to sleep, and have some food upon waking.
Qantas business class food menu
I chose the spice roasted lamb with sweet potato and kim chi pancakes, which tasted great.
Tasty supper
To follow, I had some cheese and weird-looking crackers.
Cheese, crackers and wine
The crew requested all passengers to pre-order breakfast before going to sleep, with options including a continental and/or cooked breakfast.
Breakfast menu
The cooked breakfast was delicious and the highlight of the food and drink service. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon was crisp and the “pink guava energiser” juice a real winner.
The delicious breakfast as we approached Sydney
I should add there was a small breakout area at the very front of the upper deck with self-serve wine and snacks available throughout the flight, though I didn’t make use of it. It looked pretty cramped and I didn’t notice anyone else there during the flight, so I don’t think it’s used very much.
The entertainment – a great selection, but on outdated screens
There was an extensive selection of films, TV shows, radio channels, music albums and games available on the flight – enough to meet anyone’s needs on such a long journey. In terms of films and TV shows, there were both recent releases and older classics.
Passengers who want to bring their own entertainment can also make use of the PC power and two USB ports at each seat.
The 12.1-inch touchscreen worked fine, though the size and quality are disappointing – probably the worst I’ve seen long-haul on a premium carrier.
The screen popped out of the console and could be swivelled into position.
12.1-inch entertainment screen
Conclusion
I enjoyed this flight, which was comfortable and featured great service by the crew – but as as I’ve pointed out, there is a lot of room for improvement in the seat design.
From 20 February 2017, Qantas will be charging customers a lot more to upgrade their flights using Qantas Points. The increase was announced late last year but Qantas gave passengers a few months’ reprieve before the changes took effect.
The cost is going up for both international and domestic upgrades across most routes and cabins. This affects ‘Classic Upgrade Rewards’ – i.e. using points to upgrade a paid fare to a higher class of service.
The cost is rising by as much as 25%. I won’t list all the changes but you can see a good summary of them in this article at AusBT.
I do want to point out that some passengers can lock in the current, lower price. Basically, you can lock in the current price if Qantas confirms your upgrade before 20 February.
Unfortunately, that will exclude most international flights after 20 February, as upgrade requests for international flights are usually processed very close to the flight date. If you’re flying overseas after 20 February, you’ll probably have to pay the higher rate.
However, for domestic flights, you can confirm an upgrade from economy to business class right nowif there is an award seat available on your flight. It’s simple to check if there’s one available – just do a new fare search on the day and route you’re flying and if it shows that a “Business Classic Reward” is available on your flight, you can upgrade immediately (just go to “Manage Booking”).
In this example of flights from Sydney to Perth on 3 May, a business class reward seat is available for the top two flights but not the bottom two.
If there are no award seats available, then you can still request an upgrade, but it’ll probably be confirmed after 20 February and be subject to the new prices.
It’s a shame Qantas is increasing prices across so many routes, but perhaps it’s not surprising given the rise in demand for award seats and upgrades. There’s been a huge increase in the number of people earning points, not to mention all the new ways to earn points – from banking to shopping to insurance.
I still think upgrades represent good value in many cases. For example, I love to upgrade from economy to business class on A330 flights from the east coast to Perth. These planes feature the awesome ‘business suites’, which I’ve reviewed here. The cost of this upgrade is rising from 20,000 points to 25,000 points but I think it’s still worth it for a great experience on a 4+ hour flight.
Qantas partner Qatar Airways is back with great business class fares from Asia to Europe as part of its ‘Travel Festival’. This is a great opportunity for travellers who can position themselves in cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Phuket and want to arrive in Europe in style.
Qatar Airways is one of the world’s best airlines and has a highly regarded business class product. As it’s a Qantas partner, Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn a stack status credits and Qantas points for these flights (use the calculator here to find out how many).
I did a search for various routes and here are the best deals I found:
Qantas partner Qatar Airways has a fantastic business class fare from Bangkok to Los Angeles for around $2000 return. This is an incredible price and a great opportunity for travellers who can position themselves in Bangkok and don’t mind flying the “long way round” to LA.
One of the most attractive parts of this deal is that Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn 520 status credits for these flights – which could qualify them for gold or higher status. Passengers will also earn 27,000 Qantas Points.
Seats are available throughout 2017 but are filling up fast – so you need to be quick to book. I doubt this fare will be available for longer than a day or two.
To book, use Google Flights to search for availability and then click through to the Qatar Airways website to complete the booking.
You can stay in LA for up to 30 days, and not less than 7 days to get the cheapest fare (if you stay less than 7 days the fare is just over $3000).
To position yourself in Bangkok, you’ll require a separate booking from Australia – use points or pay for a ticket (even if it’s in economy!). Bangkok is a great city to stop over if you have time.
Qatar Airways’ business class products are among the best in the world. On the Bangkok-Doha route, you can fly in its flagship A380s – so try to snag one of these flights if you can.
Qatar A380 Business Class Cabin
The Boeing 777s that also fly between Bangkok and Doha and Doha and LA are also very good. While the layout is 2-2-2 (unlike the 1-2-1 on the A380s) the seats are very comfortable and the dining is superb.
Singapore Airlines is increasing capacity on its Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane routes in 2017. With this change, extra award seats have been released in both business and first class. This is a great opportunity for travellers with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles or Virgin Australia Velocity points.
Melbourne – new SQ247/248 flights on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 17 July 2017. This is on top of the announcement a few weeks ago that SQ217/218 is now going to be a year-round A380 service.
Brisbane – the current SQ265/266 flights are moving to a daily service from 22 August 2017 (up from four times a week)
Sydney – the current SQ251/252 flights are moving from three times weekly to five times weekly from 4 June 2017.
Get in quick to secure the new award seats, especially if you want to fly to Europe during the peak northern summer period.
Right now, there’s an excellent opportunity to secure first class award seats with Qantas partner Qatar Airways – one of the world’s premier airlines – on its Melbourne to Doha route.
Earlier this week, Qatar Airways announced an upgrade of this flight to an Airbus A380 from 30 June 2017. With this change, new award seats have been released – mainly for first class – which Qantas Frequent Flyers can access.
Qatar’s A380s feature its flagship first class product – one of the best in the air. Passengers travel in luxurious suites with an award-winning food and dining service.
The A380s also feature a fantastic on-board bar and lounge area for cocktails and socialising.
There are quite a few dates from September 2017 onwards when two first class award seats are available. I took screenshots for September and October to illustrate. There are some (but not many) business class seats available as well.
September award availability
October award availability
From Doha you can connect to flights to Europe and elsewhere.
Qantas Frequent Flyers can book these seats quite easily through the Qantas website. It’s not cheap – you’ll need 152,000 points plus $373 in fees per person each way – but given a return fare would cost around $12,000, it’s excellent value!
Make sure you get in quick as these seats could be snapped up fast.
I’m pretty excited: for the first time in my life I’ve purchased a first class plane ticket – and it only cost a fraction of the usual price.
Next August I’ll be travelling to New York City in style in Japan Airlines’ highly-regarded first class product.
This amazing fare is actually being marketed by American Airlines on its Korean website. It’s a roundtrip between Seoul and New York, transiting in Tokyo. Because American Airlines codeshares with Japan Airlines on this route, you can choose to fly Japan Airlines’ superior product the whole way.
I paid $3,800 for the return trip – which I admit is a lot of money – but Japan Airlines is charging more than $12,000 on its own website, and just flying from Tokyo to New York roundtrip with Japan Airlines can cost up to $20,000 – so I’m really happy with the price!
As these airlines are members of the oneworld alliance with Qantas, I’ll earn almost 40,000 Qantas Points and 660 Qantas Status Credits, plus 5,700 points for paying for the fare with my AMEX card.
The fare is fully refundable, which is a bonus if something comes up.
There’s lots of availability throughout 2017.
I’m positioning myself in Seoul using Qantas Points, flying in business class with Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
However, it also illustrates another important point – that you need to be careful when booking tickets and always make sure you pay attention to the details.
For example, I was presented with flight options operated by both American Airlines (the first two rows below) and Japan Airlines (the bottom four rows).
In addition, some of the Japan Airlines flights were operated by a Boeing 787, which doesn’t have first class. Once you click on a flight, this becomes visible (see below where it states the fare and “cabin” type). It’s important to always check these details so you get exactly what you want.
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