I’ve been flying Qantas first transpacific since the ‘70s. It’s astonishing how far we’ve come, from wide and soft seats with little recline to a comfortable bed. Last year, flying LAX-SYD, I actually slept - not dozed - for 9 hours, and followed that 10 days later with 10 hours flying SIN-LHR. One thing that hasn’t changed is the friendliness of the crew. While I can no longer ride in the jump seat for landings and takeoffs (yes, I used to do that in the ‘80s), they’re still the best in the air for long-haul flights.
I flew to LAX and from LAX last year 3 times. I can confirm both boarding in Sydney was a nightmare (people don’t listen and just rush forward) and at LAX it was a nightmare also. All flown on an A380 so the mass amount of people was crazy. P.s. surprised at the catering compared to most Middle East carriers and even the drink selection in first. Although I laughed very hard when you got seconds of the cake haha.
@@LeisureFlyer Had a great experience in the 1st class lounge. The food/service was very impressive. The spa treatments were a very nice touch. There was still a large hoard surging forward to board but we were escorted us to out seats on the plane by one of the friendly Qantas team members. We dined together which was nice but even though the bed was superior to Business i still didn't sleep much as it was still the afternoon in Sydney. The return flight from LAX we slept as it left just before midnight. :)
@@__PJ__ ah, the sleep on the way over is a critical part for me, that way I can hit the ground running once I land in LA (usually it's a morning arrival). Then try to power through the day and adjust to USA time as quickly as possible! Sounds like you had a good flight, cheers for reporting back :)
Really great review - looks like you had a great time in Qantas first. Would love to try it one day on the A380... and maybe even the A350! Thanks for sharing
Qantas needs to lift its game and stop ripping customers/Aussies off. Given a choice would you fly First with Emirates or Qantas ? I’ll take Emirates anyday. Both planes do or did fly direct to Dubai at one stage.
Both the EK hard and soft products are a level above QF. Qantas did fly to Dubai for a while, but moved the London route back via Singapore and dropped Dubai in the process I believe.
@@LeisureFlyer I can imagine that it isn't cookie cutter and it shouldn't be considering it's a first class product!! But it kind of feels like it's sitting in between other airlines' business and first.
Thank you for this Qantas first class review.Qantas first on the A380 are still WAY BEHIND Singapore and Emirates in their ambiance and features of the seat compartment ,the service and the food and beverages.
Cheers, thanks for watching! I think the issue stems from the fact the seat is still the same basic design from when they launched First on the A380 many moons ago. Keen to see how the new A350 compares!
That boarding procedure was a real abortion job of Qantas,enjoyed your up front & honest awesome flight review dude.,everything was well explained by you in this video.I still think that Singapore Airlines is one of my favourites though i couldn't fault them,was well worth the money spent.
Cheers, thanks for watching! It's an EWB Ghost (current gen). My mate has an HC company so usually I get a car to and from the airport, but this time I figured I'd go for something more special than the usual BMW 7 or similar.
I stumbled across this video thanks for sharing what happens at the pointy end of the aircraft, that many of us dream of occupying if we won the Lotto. Obviously you have the means and the money to travel first class, so good on you. Have you flown on the 787 dreamliner in Business class in row 3, 7 or 11 (window seats) that offer more privacy? All the best with you future travels. I'm off to LA in late June 2024 on the A380, its a great aircraft, so is the Boeing 787 Dreamliiner, will be catching that home from Honolulu mid July 2024, economy only for this jet-setter lol but have seat 71D on the A380, the best economy seat with extra legroom and an emergency exit row seat in economy on the dreamliner lol. I look forward to your future videos.
Hello! Thank you for the comment and support, much appreciated :) Yes, I have a video on the QF 787 in Business as well, you can find it on my channel if you want to have a look at how it was. On my flight, I had row 10K which was the bulkhead + proper window seat. I think this is the type of seat you want to see. How are you getting from LA to Honolulu? Just a domestic ticket? A380 can't be beaten in my opinion, and the ones running to LA are now updated as well with refreshed cabins for all classes so you should be sweet! I haven't flown the 787 in economy but apparently the foot nets are a good feature?
Hahah good spot ;) Splurged for the occasion, I get a car to/from the airport anyway as my mate has a transport/limo company but it's usually something like a BMW/Merc/Audi etc.
Thanks for watching! Singapore is always great as an overall product, but the Etihad Apartment was an amazing "wow" experience with the seat and shower.
I was considering Qatar First, Singapore Suites or Qantas for my next flight to Sydney. I know which one I wont be booking. Thanks for your video. Really helpful
Singapore Suites for sure!!! I have a video on the SQ A380 and 777 for both Suites and First so have a look at those as well if you want to get an idea of what I thought of those. Thank you for watching :)
First time I've watched your reviews and yeah, a good solid performance. You've a new subscriber. Wishing you well for your channel. 932 subs as of April 6 2023.
As a regular first class customer, I have sadly given up on Qantas. Their first class products isn’t up to par with Emirates or Singapore airlines. The cabin is always full, the seats aren’t private enough,the amenities kit is woeful compared to the Bvlgari one from emirates. Also the food isn’t what it used to be, it just doesn’t wow me anymore.
It's a shame they didn't properly update the F cabin during the refurb. However, I am keen to see how the A350 goes once it comes out. Will you give it a go?
@@LeisureFlyer when it arrives yes I will definitely give it a try but they have a lot of redemption before I become loyal again. Just booked Singapore First class today, so it’s definitely their loss and I’m a paying passenger not using points.
Nice, enjoy! I love Singapore First/Suites. Not the best bed but the service definitely feels more premium and personalised in my opinion. Where are you flying? 777 or A380?
ugh..very little about this flight looked appealing. the food reminded me of buffet food left out to long. I live in New York and when I fly back to Australia to see family it's Air NZ business premier or Cathay first class. the 3 times I have had a Qantas experience over the 20+ years left me always underwhelmed, they just don't seem to get it. Thanks for vid though!
Great review mate, tempted myself but i have Qatar A380 first class booked already. Appears won't be missing out on much then with the qantas side of things 😢. That Maggie Beer icecream was the same that I had on a 737 biz from Sydney to Perth 😮
Cheers! Thank you for watching. I haven't flown Qatar yet but from all accounts it's definitely a step above the QF offering in terms of service / food etc. Would love to hear your thoughts once you've flown!
Thanks for watching! I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I see your point, thanks for pointing it out.
I flew QF 380 F a few times pre pandemic. One thing is for sure the food still does not look good. You would think Qantas could serve an amazing meal like EK.
My personal favourite is Singapore Airlines, but in terms of Australia (east coast) to USA, anything via Middle East is a substantial extension of flying time, like 30hrs or something instead of 14. Thanks for watching!
@@ThePhilShow Don't worry, it's a great seat! Just hit/miss with the service which seems to be the general consensus with QF overall tbh. Enjoy the flight!
That catering looked aweful. I know you said it tasted ok, but seriously. Compare that to other first class videos. And not to have your first choice...in First Class???
I've definitely had better food in Business Class on other airlines (and I mean, the steak I had was literally the same as QF Business offering). Heck, even Air NZ Premium Economy has very good food in my opinion. Not having a meal available is a shame in First, but at least some effort was made in coming up with an alternative. I'll post the video eventually but I actually had my preferred meal not available on Singapore First as well. I was ok with it until I saw another passenger having that meal... so clearly they just didn't have enough despite only being a 4 person cabin. Thanks for watching too :)
It is now two minutes from your publication, and quality is only 360p. It takes time for RUclips to process your file to higher quality. Please set your file to "private" when you upload it so that it is not visible to audience while the file is being processed. Once higher quality is available, you could change it from private to public so that everyone else could watch it.
It's definitely better than other Business but not up to SQ F. I haven't flown EK F to compare but it looks night and day from what I've seen. Thanks for watching! :)
@@LeisureFlyerWhat car service did you use? I am flying out of Sydney soon in first and would like to use the same one you used as I see they also offer a Porter. Was the Porter part of the car service? The car look like a Rolls-Royce, was it? As I'd really like to use that service as it looked quite nice.
@@mikea79 The Porter is offered by Qantas First. The day before your trip you'll receive an email with details about arranging the curb side meet. If you're flying QF First, you'll get this service even if you get dropped off by friends or in an Uber. The car was from Astra Chauffeur Drive / Limousines, RR Ghost. Usually I just get a 'normal' car like a 7 series or Audi A8 etc. but I decided to splurge for this particular day. Enjoy your trip!
$19,000 for a first class return trip LAX/SYD and I may not even get good eggs? Hmmmmm... tough one. I love looking out the window so that seat wouldn't work for me. Thanks for the video
Informative review. Thank you. I now know I won't be booking with Qantas in first class. TBH, these videos confirm my assumptions about forking out money for products that prove to be poor value. Glad you had your cakes and ate them too.
In every port that QANTAS travels to, they have their own service engineers. They do not join the gang. They have their own services at each port of call.
This standard doesn't compare with Asian and middle-east carriers. Particularly the boarding and food. Even Lufthansa drive you to the gate from the dedicated fiirst terminal.
There's a bit of a wrap around shell but that's about it. Definitely open to the aisle which isn't so bad on the A side, but would be much worse if you sit In the middle or opposite side.
Very informative video - however, the first class cabin/service/food hardly seems worth the 5-figure airfare. (P.S., I agree with you about the seat placement being so far from the window(s).)
This is a good review. I noticed that all the seats in the a380 have been refurbished. The TV Screens are in HD. In the video (16:18) I also liked it when Qantas used an A330 to LAX from BNE.
Thank you for watching! As I'm sure you know, SQ have quite a few different Business offerings depending on aircraft but I definitely get your point. Remember this is quite an old product at its core, the new A350 cabins look promising.
The windows are so far away with a very thick side wall. Might be a bit claustrophobic for me. Might be nicer to have the seat reversed with the big console placed on the aisle.
Appreciate the video. Very informative. From what I’ve seen from other first class products out there, I feel Qantas could do much better with their product. The design of the seat looks so outdated with that grey upholstery. The food looked terrible. The presentation was so dull with no love. I’d fly Emirates, Singapore or even air New Zealand before I spent thousands on Qantas. It’s a shame that such an iconic brand is letting itself go. Perhaps that’s the issue, that the brand has been so loved for so long that the experience gets lost or diminished and it’s more about just dollars.
First of all, thank you for watching! I found it strange that when the A380 went through refurb, all cabins other than First received new seating. New Eco/Premium/Business, but First only got some new seat covers on the old seat. The new A350 First looks promising and hopefully it delivers at a new level. FWIW I highly rate Air NZ service. Again the existing seat isn't that great, but the food has been good across all flights I've had with them. I feel Qantas definitely rests on its laurels but without more local competition, that's all we have as our major national carrier!
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to watch :) Pricing for a return ticket at the moment is about $25kAUD or something like 330k Qantas points. Unfortunately (or fortunately.. depending on how you look at it) Qantas heavily favours their Platinum and Platinum One FF, so finding a reward seat for First Class on such a popular route is basically non existent as a non-status member.
this is a great review, ive always wondered what its like in first class as i'lll never be able to fly first, only premium, so this was very entertaining to watch thanks... ;)
Yeah, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
Yeah, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
No worries (and sorry for being a pedant)... Great review. I'm due to fly this in the opposite direction (LON - SYD via LAX) in a few months - looking forward to it. @@LeisureFlyer
It's all good lol. The video blew up more than I expected and a few people commented on the under/over bit. If anything, it's amazing that anyone watches that far 😂 Thanks for watching and enjoy the flight, it's definitely a comfortable way to travel@@mikosh08
Great video! I'm flying to the US in a few months and was going to fly Business (which I've done before), but after seeing this video I think I'll treat myself and fly First Class.
Great video, haven't seen anyone review QF F for ages. Really needs that upgrade ASAP, very tired and overpriced IMO. Find the service inconsistent - some gems and a lot of...not gems.
Great review of the flight. I have a question... with the amenities kit and pj's are you allowed to keep them or not? Seeing how much it cost to fly first class. Thanks for a great video. Happy travels.
@@fionacarroll8639 Yep same in Business. You can keep the PJs and amenity kit, but the business amenity kit isn't particularly exciting. The PJs are great to wear around home though!
@@LeisureFlyer awesome, thanks for answering my question. I have asked this on other You tube channels and you are the only one to answer me. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Can't believe they bothered to re-do that upstairs lounge. Never seen anyone use it. They should've put in Toilets or brought business class further forwards and used some of the space at the created at back for a better area (a la Qatar/EK)
I don't think anyone used the old version, but my flight was pretty busy with people in the lounge after the lunch meal service. I agree, the area at the back would be better as you can have some windows and natural light to make it feel nicer. Thanks for watching!
A good review young man BUT cattle boarding was an embarrassment. You didn't mention cost?? Qantas has never made it to a 5 Star Airline, l wonder why? First Class at Qantas should be more than a good lounge. Cheers
Thank you for watching! Indeed the boarding was chaos, and seems to be a recurring theme for Qantas flights I've taken. Personally I don't pay too much attention to "airline ratings" as they can be biased (and bought), but I definitely understand your point. From my experience, Qantas has never had that final polish or edge that someone like Singapore Airlines offers. Pricing for a return ticket at the moment is about $25kAUD or something like 330k Qantas points. Unfortunately Qantas heavily favours their Platinum and Platinum One FF, so finding a reward seat for First Class on such a popular route is basically non existent as a non-status member.
Thanks for sharing your experience. To me, Qantas may end up winning the worst first class ever passenger's award. Imagine what it is in coach ... I wonder when Qantas comes up with real first class services. My opinion is the best first class ever shall remain the Air France La Premiere suite.
I would argue First class passengers aren't treated particularly special on the ground. Look at Lufthansa for instance, where First class passengers have an entire terminal to themselves and are chauffeured to the plane instead of mixing with the plebs holding BusinessFirst or heaven forbid Economy tickets!
Whilst not the most personalised or luxurious ground experience, it IS something, which is good for QF (and definitely well ahead of QF Business experience). I haven't had the privilege of flying LH F out of FRA, but even flying LH F out of JFK was one of the best ground experiences I've had.
Cheers! Thank you for watching :) TBH the A350 looks promising. Keep in mind that this A380 seat has been around for a while, the recent updates were fairly superficial compared to the major updates in Business Class etc.
Did you mean to say the difference between business and first can't be understated? Or did you mean it cannot be overstated? It seems you think highly of first when compared to business and therefore, I think you meant to say the difference cannot be overstated.
Hi Colin, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video, and thank you for sharing. Overall, this product looks highly outdated. Outside of the spaciousness of your seat, the food looked arguably inedible and incomparable to even American Airlines international business class, which is also nothing to write home about, save for what looked like decent food offerings in the lounge. I'd rather fly Emirates through Dubai and onto Sydney. Even if Emirates disappoints, I'd rather be able to shower it off mid-flight. Thank you again for this informative post! I'll book my travel next month to Sydney not on Qantas.
Thank you for watching! Indeed, the seat is quite old and has only had a refresh with new materials. But I'd have to disagree with the food aspect. I flew AA out from LAX to SYD and the food was absolutely horrendous compared to QF out of SYD. But in general, catering out of LAX has never been amazing I've found. That being said, I don't think the QF First food is any better than the Business offering (as my mate got the same meal on a flight to DFW). EK is definitely a level above, but it's quite a scenic route to get from USA to Aus via the middle east 😂 Then again, in First.. who cares right? Let me know how you go :)
Great video showing me many reasons why not to fly Qantas A380 in first or any class. I have been lucky to fly Emirates first class in the A380 and there is absolutely no comparison. Starting with the lounge in Sydney. The view is good but the selection of drinks and food is way inferior to Emirates business lounge. Now the flight. Qantas seat looks bad. No window view. No privacy door. No shower. No bar to have a few drinks at. Very average food and drink selection. Emirates and Qantas are not in the same league. Why waste money on Qantas when you can have the real deal.
100% I wouldn't put Qantas First in the same league as Emirates First (especially on A380 vs A380). From what I've seen, the QF F lounge in Sydney is often packed with FF Status members. That's fair enough, they've worked for it. But when the airline only offers a handful of First Class seats on a few routes, you wouldn't expect a First lounge to be so busy. Like I said in the video though, I was happy with how QF First compared to QF Business. Definitely a step up. Thanks for watching!
Yep, I've had ice cream scoops in a bowl on Air NZ Business and it was softened enough to be edible without needing a knife to cut through as well. Handing out a tub is a bit meh. Qantas is not my first choice of airline and this First Class product is definitely not world leading, but it IS a step up from QF Business and my particular flight was enjoyable overall. Thank you for watching and commenting, I genuinely appreciate it :)
I was acting conceited, the joke/sarcasm may have been missed so don't take it seriously lol. FWIW they're like $30 eBay and I've seen them at Vinnies as well from people who have donated them. Thanks for watching btw :)
I’ve been flying Qantas first transpacific since the ‘70s. It’s astonishing how far we’ve come, from wide and soft seats with little recline to a comfortable bed. Last year, flying LAX-SYD, I actually slept - not dozed - for 9 hours, and followed that 10 days later with 10 hours flying SIN-LHR. One thing that hasn’t changed is the friendliness of the crew. While I can no longer ride in the jump seat for landings and takeoffs (yes, I used to do that in the ‘80s), they’re still the best in the air for long-haul flights.
Great review! I'm surprised how badly boarding was handled and the fact you were almost turned away at the lounge!
Thanks for watching! The boarding seems to be a standard issue across Qantas. I've seen the same thing happen for domestic flights as well.
I flew to LAX and from LAX last year 3 times. I can confirm both boarding in Sydney was a nightmare (people don’t listen and just rush forward) and at LAX it was a nightmare also. All flown on an A380 so the mass amount of people was crazy.
P.s. surprised at the catering compared to most Middle East carriers and even the drink selection in first. Although I laughed very hard when you got seconds of the cake haha.
@@korylp6219 lol it was by far the best thing I ate on the plane hahah
@@korylp6219 QF has never been known for world leading catering.
Why? It’s the Cuntus way to piss off their paying passengers.
We just got upgraded to first class for our trip tomorrow to LAX :) Awesome video thanks for the preview !
Enjoy! It's a great way to fly to the USA. Let me know what you think of it :)
@@LeisureFlyer Had a great experience in the 1st class lounge. The food/service was very impressive. The spa treatments were a very nice touch. There was still a large hoard surging forward to board but we were escorted us to out seats on the plane by one of the friendly Qantas team members. We dined together which was nice but even though the bed was superior to Business i still didn't sleep much as it was still the afternoon in Sydney. The return flight from LAX we slept as it left just before midnight. :)
@@__PJ__ ah, the sleep on the way over is a critical part for me, that way I can hit the ground running once I land in LA (usually it's a morning arrival). Then try to power through the day and adjust to USA time as quickly as possible!
Sounds like you had a good flight, cheers for reporting back :)
Its good to see the A380 stairs being used.
Really great review - looks like you had a great time in Qantas first. Would love to try it one day on the A380... and maybe even the A350! Thanks for sharing
Thank you! I really enjoyed this flight and making the video.
Emirates showers beats all else.
Really nicely done - some great photography. thank you making and sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching! :)
Great video! Love the 380, spacious and best way to fly long haul.
Thanks for watching!
I Have Not Try Out Qantas First Class Yet.Qantas I s a Great Airlines.Great WORK
This popped up in my suggestions, first time watching one of your videos, excellent 👍
Cheers, thank you for watching!
Quietest spooling of the engines I’ve ever heard!✈️
Barely noticeable in the A380s!
Enjoyed that video, so really glad you enjoyed the flight, think that flying Qantas 1st is now on my bucket list of flights to be completed.
Happy to hear! Thank you for watching :)
The mess at boarding was ridiculous! The curbside meet was nice, but they really should have sorted you out with boarding
Yep, a definite let down for First. Thanks for watching :)
Agreed, they ruin there curbside meet making you feel special then your flung into the economy hoard of Muppets on their way to Disneyland..
Qantas needs to lift its game and stop ripping customers/Aussies off. Given a choice would you fly First with Emirates or Qantas ? I’ll take Emirates anyday. Both planes do or did fly direct to Dubai at one stage.
Both the EK hard and soft products are a level above QF. Qantas did fly to Dubai for a while, but moved the London route back via Singapore and dropped Dubai in the process I believe.
Excellent review. Great job. 😃👍
Cheers! Thanks for watching :)
Thanks for a great video!!!
Thank you for watching! :)
I get a kick out of those window shades!
Looks like a solid enough product but not sure if it can compete with other top airlines’ firsts.
Yep, it's not quite "up there" up there, but it's less of a cookie cutter experience compared to Business. Thanks for watching!
@@LeisureFlyer I can imagine that it isn't cookie cutter and it shouldn't be considering it's a first class product!! But it kind of feels like it's sitting in between other airlines' business and first.
Wow that’s so cool I love ur videos!!
Thanks for sharing that interesting to see how much it has changed
I flew on the A380 when it first came out in 2009 in first from London to Sydney
Thank you for watching! The seat itself hasn't changed that much for First unfortunately, but Business is a definite upgrade from before.
I was so immersed in your very entertaining video, I was shocked when it was over. Great job.
I agree.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :)
Thank you for this Qantas first class review.Qantas first on the A380 are still WAY BEHIND Singapore and Emirates in their ambiance and features of the seat compartment ,the service and the food and beverages.
Cheers, thanks for watching! I think the issue stems from the fact the seat is still the same basic design from when they launched First on the A380 many moons ago. Keen to see how the new A350 compares!
Given neither fly to lax its not likely a issue
Nice look-in you provided
That boarding procedure was a real abortion job of Qantas,enjoyed your up front & honest awesome flight review dude.,everything was well explained by you in this video.I still think that Singapore Airlines is one of my favourites though i couldn't fault them,was well worth the money spent.
Cheers! Thank you for watching :) I'll have some SQ videos out soon(ish) too.
Qantas is way below par in many areas when compared to other airlines
Yeah.
Nice video sir, keep up the great content.
Much appreciated :)
Nice mate! Tell us more about the Roller you took to the airport, though! :)
Cheers, thanks for watching! It's an EWB Ghost (current gen). My mate has an HC company so usually I get a car to and from the airport, but this time I figured I'd go for something more special than the usual BMW 7 or similar.
@@LeisureFlyer nice!
Love the Airbus A380. Hope to see many such super jumbo continuing to service the future of civil aviation!
Let's hope so!
Thank you for the great video and review. 👍 I think you had the best seat in the plane on the "A" side.
A side is definitely better, in my opinion. Thank you for watching!
3:00 " newly refurbished cabin" ? seems still the old one....:(
Indeed, it's still the same seat design, but with new seat covers / colours and some minor changes to the screens I believe.
@@LeisureFlyer Clear and thanks for the added info. it is not a refurbishment :(
I stumbled across this video thanks for sharing what happens at the pointy end of the aircraft, that many of us dream of occupying if we won the Lotto.
Obviously you have the means and the money to travel first class, so good on you.
Have you flown on the 787 dreamliner in Business class in row 3, 7 or 11 (window seats) that offer more privacy?
All the best with you future travels.
I'm off to LA in late June 2024 on the A380, its a great aircraft, so is the Boeing 787 Dreamliiner, will be catching that home from Honolulu mid July 2024, economy only for this jet-setter lol but have seat 71D on the A380, the best economy seat with extra legroom and an emergency exit row seat in economy on the dreamliner lol.
I look forward to your future videos.
Hello! Thank you for the comment and support, much appreciated :)
Yes, I have a video on the QF 787 in Business as well, you can find it on my channel if you want to have a look at how it was. On my flight, I had row 10K which was the bulkhead + proper window seat. I think this is the type of seat you want to see.
How are you getting from LA to Honolulu? Just a domestic ticket? A380 can't be beaten in my opinion, and the ones running to LA are now updated as well with refreshed cabins for all classes so you should be sweet! I haven't flown the 787 in economy but apparently the foot nets are a good feature?
Casual Rolls-Royce Ghost limo dropping him to the airport :D
Hahah good spot ;) Splurged for the occasion, I get a car to/from the airport anyway as my mate has a transport/limo company but it's usually something like a BMW/Merc/Audi etc.
@@LeisureFlyer Hahah very nice, a "complete" experience! Excellent video btw, just discovered your channel today - subbed! Cheers
@@Aethelwulf91 Thank you! Appreciate it :)
Really enjoyed taking this flight with you! I'd be happy to take this trip anytime second only to Emirates first class on their 380.
Thank you for watching :)
Thank you for an excellent trip report. What is your favourite First Class product?
Thanks for watching! Singapore is always great as an overall product, but the Etihad Apartment was an amazing "wow" experience with the seat and shower.
I was considering Qatar First, Singapore Suites or Qantas for my next flight to Sydney. I know which one I wont be booking. Thanks for your video. Really helpful
Singapore Suites for sure!!! I have a video on the SQ A380 and 777 for both Suites and First so have a look at those as well if you want to get an idea of what I thought of those. Thank you for watching :)
First time I've watched your reviews and yeah, a good solid performance. You've a new subscriber. Wishing you well for your channel. 932 subs as of April 6 2023.
Thank you for your support and watching, I genuinely appreciate it :)
@@LeisureFlyer You're welcome. I'm looking forward to joining you on your other flights and adventures too.
As a regular first class customer, I have sadly given up on Qantas. Their first class products isn’t up to par with Emirates or Singapore airlines. The cabin is always full, the seats aren’t private enough,the amenities kit is woeful compared to the Bvlgari one from emirates. Also the food isn’t what it used to be, it just doesn’t wow me anymore.
It's a shame they didn't properly update the F cabin during the refurb. However, I am keen to see how the A350 goes once it comes out. Will you give it a go?
@@LeisureFlyer when it arrives yes I will definitely give it a try but they have a lot of redemption before I become loyal again. Just booked Singapore First class today, so it’s definitely their loss and I’m a paying passenger not using points.
Nice, enjoy! I love Singapore First/Suites. Not the best bed but the service definitely feels more premium and personalised in my opinion. Where are you flying? 777 or A380?
@@LeisureFlyer Flying to Tokyo, using both SYD-SIN A380. SIN-HDN 777 😁
@@gillianc2895 Awesome! Would love to hear your thoughts after you fly. I should have an SQ A380 video out soon too :)
ugh..very little about this flight looked appealing. the food reminded me of buffet food left out to long. I live in New York and when I fly back to Australia to see family it's Air NZ business premier or Cathay first class. the 3 times I have had a Qantas experience over the 20+ years left me always underwhelmed, they just don't seem to get it. Thanks for vid though!
Cheers, thank you for watching! Personally I love Air NZ, but their pricing nowadays is way off the mark compared to pre-2020.
Great review mate, tempted myself but i have Qatar A380 first class booked already.
Appears won't be missing out on much then with the qantas side of things 😢. That Maggie Beer icecream was the same that I had on a 737 biz from Sydney to Perth 😮
Cheers! Thank you for watching. I haven't flown Qatar yet but from all accounts it's definitely a step above the QF offering in terms of service / food etc. Would love to hear your thoughts once you've flown!
@@LeisureFlyer will keep you posted 🙂
Great video, thanks ,I think you mean overstated not understated .
Thanks for watching! I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I see your point, thanks for pointing it out.
I flew QF 380 F a few times pre pandemic. One thing is for sure the food still does not look good. You would think Qantas could serve an amazing meal like EK.
I'm flying it again soon mostly because I'm interested to see the consistency. Keep an eye out to see if it improves :)
Great video, thank you! Would you prefer this nonstop or Emirates, Qatar, Cathay etc. first with a layover?
My personal favourite is Singapore Airlines, but in terms of Australia (east coast) to USA, anything via Middle East is a substantial extension of flying time, like 30hrs or something instead of 14. Thanks for watching!
@@LeisureFlyerValid reasoning there. Against your better advice I'll be flying QF 787 biz in September. Safe travels!
@@ThePhilShow Don't worry, it's a great seat! Just hit/miss with the service which seems to be the general consensus with QF overall tbh. Enjoy the flight!
@@LeisureFlyer Thanks!
The middle east carriers wouldn't make sense for this route since you'd be going the wrong way. More than double the time with a connection.
Just want to say that I really like the video. Enjoy the first person + voice over. Sub.
Thank you very much! Appreciate it :)
That catering looked aweful. I know you said it tasted ok, but seriously. Compare that to other first class videos. And not to have your first choice...in First Class???
I've definitely had better food in Business Class on other airlines (and I mean, the steak I had was literally the same as QF Business offering). Heck, even Air NZ Premium Economy has very good food in my opinion. Not having a meal available is a shame in First, but at least some effort was made in coming up with an alternative.
I'll post the video eventually but I actually had my preferred meal not available on Singapore First as well. I was ok with it until I saw another passenger having that meal... so clearly they just didn't have enough despite only being a 4 person cabin. Thanks for watching too :)
It is now two minutes from your publication, and quality is only 360p. It takes time for RUclips to process your file to higher quality. Please set your file to "private" when you upload it so that it is not visible to audience while the file is being processed. Once higher quality is available, you could change it from private to public so that everyone else could watch it.
Apologies, I will wait for HD next time. I think it should be available as both now? It's showing SD and HD available on my end.
Yes, it is. Processing to higher quality by RUclips just takes a bit time depending on video size and resolution.
Judging by your video and review, I would fly Emirates or Singapore Suites any day over qantas first. Looks like any other’s business class.
It's definitely better than other Business but not up to SQ F. I haven't flown EK F to compare but it looks night and day from what I've seen. Thanks for watching! :)
Absolutely correct! Emirates is 500% superior on all levels.
Serving food in the packaging - in First Class?
Great review. I’m not sure if the chauffeur pick up was arranged by Qantas. Apparently they no longer provides it….
Thank you! The car to the airport was not from Qantas.
Emirates do a free pickup and delivery. Way superior.
@@LeisureFlyerWhat car service did you use? I am flying out of Sydney soon in first and would like to use the same one you used as I see they also offer a Porter. Was the Porter part of the car service? The car look like a Rolls-Royce, was it? As I'd really like to use that service as it looked quite nice.
@@mikea79 The Porter is offered by Qantas First. The day before your trip you'll receive an email with details about arranging the curb side meet. If you're flying QF First, you'll get this service even if you get dropped off by friends or in an Uber.
The car was from Astra Chauffeur Drive / Limousines, RR Ghost. Usually I just get a 'normal' car like a 7 series or Audi A8 etc. but I decided to splurge for this particular day.
Enjoy your trip!
great video, but you have convinced me that first class is not worth all the extra money. Though being able to lie down to sleep is definitely a plus.
Were you offered complimentary chauffeur service to the Airport at all?
No, not a service offered by QF as far as I'm aware.
@@LeisureFlyer thanks, that's disappointing to hear
Good video thanks for sharing. Highlight is the bed space. Boarding process needs to be improved.
Thx for the great vid. I’ve travelled these cabins about 5 times now and love it. So comfortable and of course the attendants are really welcoming. 👍
Thank you for watching. Definitely a comfortable way to fly!
$19,000 for a first class return trip LAX/SYD and I may not even get good eggs? Hmmmmm... tough one. I love looking out the window so that seat wouldn't work for me.
Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching! The windows are a big bummer IMO :(
Not a patch on Emirates. There is no class to the product.and it seems lack of privacy might be an issue for those her want it.
Informative review. Thank you. I now know I won't be booking with Qantas in first class. TBH, these videos confirm my assumptions about forking out money for products that prove to be poor value. Glad you had your cakes and ate them too.
Thank you for watching, I genuinely appreciate it :)
@@LeisureFlyer Enjoyed video. I don't like that there is no door or privacy curtain. That's a definite minus for me. Cheers!
@@rogers6168 Yep definitely a drawback, especially if you're in the busier second aisle. But hopefully QF has addressed this with the new A350!
In every port that QANTAS travels to, they have their own service engineers. They do not join the gang. They have their own services at each port of call.
I agree. I really don't like
how far the seat is from the window.
Yep! It sucks you can't see out or down easily :(
This standard doesn't compare with Asian and middle-east carriers. Particularly the boarding and food. Even Lufthansa drive you to the gate from the dedicated fiirst terminal.
Not even minimal privacy to the aisle? In 1st Class. Didn't look like it to me. If I'm correct, not worth the price.
There's a bit of a wrap around shell but that's about it. Definitely open to the aisle which isn't so bad on the A side, but would be much worse if you sit In the middle or opposite side.
The Steak is always the best part of Qantas business class
Very informative video - however, the first class cabin/service/food hardly seems worth the 5-figure airfare. (P.S., I agree with you about the seat placement being so far from the window(s).)
Thank you for watching!
This is a good review. I noticed that all the seats in the a380 have been refurbished. The TV Screens are in HD.
In the video (16:18) I also liked it when Qantas used an A330 to LAX from BNE.
Thanks for watching! Have they changed the aircraft to BNE? 787?
@@LeisureFlyer they still use a330 for La - brisbane flight.
Great video. I'm not impressed with Qantas First Suite. Looks like the equivalent of Singapore Airlines business class.
Thank you for watching! As I'm sure you know, SQ have quite a few different Business offerings depending on aircraft but I definitely get your point. Remember this is quite an old product at its core, the new A350 cabins look promising.
Not impressive at all. This Qantas First is on par with business class on Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines
The windows are so far away with a very thick side wall. Might be a bit claustrophobic for me. Might be nicer to have the seat reversed with the big console placed on the aisle.
Yep, there would be more privacy that way around too!
nice review!
Thanks, cheers!
Appreciate the video. Very informative. From what I’ve seen from other first class products out there, I feel Qantas could do much better with their product. The design of the seat looks so outdated with that grey upholstery. The food looked terrible. The presentation was so dull with no love. I’d fly Emirates, Singapore or even air New Zealand before I spent thousands on Qantas. It’s a shame that such an iconic brand is letting itself go. Perhaps that’s the issue, that the brand has been so loved for so long that the experience gets lost or diminished and it’s more about just dollars.
First of all, thank you for watching! I found it strange that when the A380 went through refurb, all cabins other than First received new seating. New Eco/Premium/Business, but First only got some new seat covers on the old seat. The new A350 First looks promising and hopefully it delivers at a new level.
FWIW I highly rate Air NZ service. Again the existing seat isn't that great, but the food has been good across all flights I've had with them. I feel Qantas definitely rests on its laurels but without more local competition, that's all we have as our major national carrier!
I agree, the food looked terrible for First Class. A real tumble down from the 10 course degustation menu they used to serve in Qantas First.
Thanks for a great vlog. Though would like to know what price you paid?
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to watch :)
Pricing for a return ticket at the moment is about $25kAUD or something like 330k Qantas points. Unfortunately (or fortunately.. depending on how you look at it) Qantas heavily favours their Platinum and Platinum One FF, so finding a reward seat for First Class on such a popular route is basically non existent as a non-status member.
this is a great review, ive always wondered what its like in first class as i'lll never be able to fly first, only premium, so this was very entertaining to watch thanks... ;)
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching! I honestly love watching all types of flight videos and travelling vicariously through others :)
There are many better First Class products than this, such as Emirates, Japan Airlines, or ANA.
I'm guessing you meant to say that the difference between QANTAS first and business class can not be overstated rather than understated.
Yeah, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
This would be my dream on a flight to Europe :D
Plenty of good options to Europe with competition from Asian and Middle Eastern carriers tbh.
I think you wanted to say "the difference cannot be OVERstated enough"...not UNDERstated.
Yeah, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
No worries (and sorry for being a pedant)... Great review. I'm due to fly this in the opposite direction (LON - SYD via LAX) in a few months - looking forward to it. @@LeisureFlyer
It's all good lol. The video blew up more than I expected and a few people commented on the under/over bit. If anything, it's amazing that anyone watches that far 😂 Thanks for watching and enjoy the flight, it's definitely a comfortable way to travel@@mikosh08
how was the Rolls Royce experience
Comfortable lol.
Great video! I'm flying to the US in a few months and was going to fly Business (which I've done before), but after seeing this video I think I'll treat myself and fly First Class.
Enjoy!! Thanks for watching :)
Great video, haven't seen anyone review QF F for ages. Really needs that upgrade ASAP, very tired and overpriced IMO. Find the service inconsistent - some gems and a lot of...not gems.
Cheers, thanks for watching. The new A350 cabins look promising!
Was the Rolls Royce supplied by Qantas too ?
nope lol
Is it possible to have a shared first class seat, for couples and so on?
You can share a seat for dining, one person sits on the foot stool area. However there is no way to sit next to your partner for the entire flight.
Great review of the flight. I have a question... with the amenities kit and pj's are you allowed to keep them or not? Seeing how much it cost to fly first class. Thanks for a great video. Happy travels.
Yes! The amenity kit, slippers and PJs are yours to keep :) Just not things like the headphones. Thanks for watching!
@@LeisureFlyer Thank you. Good to know. Is it the same or Business class
@@fionacarroll8639 Yep same in Business. You can keep the PJs and amenity kit, but the business amenity kit isn't particularly exciting. The PJs are great to wear around home though!
@@LeisureFlyer awesome, thanks for answering my question. I have asked this on other You tube channels and you are the only one to answer me. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
@@fionacarroll8639 No worries, thanks for watching, I really appreciate it :)
Can't believe they bothered to re-do that upstairs lounge. Never seen anyone use it. They should've put in Toilets or brought business class further forwards and used some of the space at the created at back for a better area (a la Qatar/EK)
I don't think anyone used the old version, but my flight was pretty busy with people in the lounge after the lunch meal service. I agree, the area at the back would be better as you can have some windows and natural light to make it feel nicer. Thanks for watching!
Damn, how did you manage to eat two full breakfasts? Sooo much food!
I am a small person but my stomach has quite the capacity for food :D
That’s the old configuration. Flew it last week. Good, but not SQ quality
Same as the original A380 config but refurbished with new seat covers etc.
A good review young man BUT cattle boarding was an embarrassment. You didn't mention cost?? Qantas has never made it to a 5 Star Airline, l wonder why?
First Class at Qantas should be more than a good lounge. Cheers
Thank you for watching! Indeed the boarding was chaos, and seems to be a recurring theme for Qantas flights I've taken.
Personally I don't pay too much attention to "airline ratings" as they can be biased (and bought), but I definitely understand your point. From my experience, Qantas has never had that final polish or edge that someone like Singapore Airlines offers.
Pricing for a return ticket at the moment is about $25kAUD or something like 330k Qantas points. Unfortunately Qantas heavily favours their Platinum and Platinum One FF, so finding a reward seat for First Class on such a popular route is basically non existent as a non-status member.
cost?
Return cash price approx. $25k AUD at the moment. Will probably come down as things get more "normal."
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Return fares are usually something like $25kAUD or 330k ish QFF points if you can even find a seat. Thanks for watching :)
What level were you on
Lower deck
Thanks for sharing your experience. To me, Qantas may end up winning the worst first class ever passenger's award. Imagine what it is in coach ... I wonder when Qantas comes up with real first class services. My opinion is the best first class ever shall remain the Air France La Premiere suite.
I would argue First class passengers aren't treated particularly special on the ground. Look at Lufthansa for instance, where First class passengers have an entire terminal to themselves and are chauffeured to the plane instead of mixing with the plebs holding BusinessFirst or heaven forbid Economy tickets!
Whilst not the most personalised or luxurious ground experience, it IS something, which is good for QF (and definitely well ahead of QF Business experience).
I haven't had the privilege of flying LH F out of FRA, but even flying LH F out of JFK was one of the best ground experiences I've had.
It is time QF makes First Class more exklusive..less pax the best.
I feel like they will do for the A350. Probably only a row or two I'm guessing.
@@LeisureFlyer it is better so for First. To many ppl. in the cabin makes it like a Zoo.
Qantas First was always going to be a 'No' from me and this just reinforced it. New Qantas CEO has a lot of work to do. I enjoyed the video though.
Cheers! Thank you for watching :) TBH the A350 looks promising. Keep in mind that this A380 seat has been around for a while, the recent updates were fairly superficial compared to the major updates in Business Class etc.
Did you mean to say the difference between business and first can't be understated? Or did you mean it cannot be overstated? It seems you think highly of first when compared to business and therefore, I think you meant to say the difference cannot be overstated.
Hi Colin, as I mentioned to someone else who pointed out the same thing, I meant it as in "the difference cannot be downplayed" if that makes sense? (Rather than, the praise cannot be too much). But I definitely see I could have worded it better. Thanks for watching!
Did you arrive at the airport in a Rolls Royce?
Yes, for maximum pretentiousness 😂
Victor Hotel - Oscar Quebec Bravo
You didn't tell us the cost?
Return trip is approx $20-25k AUD.
I agree that the seat layout is awful. Right smack up against the isle with people running back and forth.
Well.. not too many people running back and forth in First hopefully.. :)
what a shame of Qantas' boarding: its like a cheap holiday flight....
Must come from the Jetstar side of things :P
Fantastic video, and thank you for sharing. Overall, this product looks highly outdated. Outside of the spaciousness of your seat, the food looked arguably inedible and incomparable to even American Airlines international business class, which is also nothing to write home about, save for what looked like decent food offerings in the lounge. I'd rather fly Emirates through Dubai and onto Sydney. Even if Emirates disappoints, I'd rather be able to shower it off mid-flight. Thank you again for this informative post! I'll book my travel next month to Sydney not on Qantas.
Thank you for watching! Indeed, the seat is quite old and has only had a refresh with new materials. But I'd have to disagree with the food aspect. I flew AA out from LAX to SYD and the food was absolutely horrendous compared to QF out of SYD. But in general, catering out of LAX has never been amazing I've found.
That being said, I don't think the QF First food is any better than the Business offering (as my mate got the same meal on a flight to DFW).
EK is definitely a level above, but it's quite a scenic route to get from USA to Aus via the middle east 😂 Then again, in First.. who cares right? Let me know how you go :)
Great video showing me many reasons why not to fly Qantas A380 in first or any class. I have been lucky to fly Emirates first class in the A380 and there is absolutely no comparison. Starting with the lounge in Sydney. The view is good but the selection of drinks and food is way inferior to Emirates business lounge. Now the flight. Qantas seat looks bad. No window view. No privacy door. No shower. No bar to have a few drinks at. Very average food and drink selection. Emirates and Qantas are not in the same league. Why waste money on Qantas when you can have the real deal.
100% I wouldn't put Qantas First in the same league as Emirates First (especially on A380 vs A380). From what I've seen, the QF F lounge in Sydney is often packed with FF Status members. That's fair enough, they've worked for it. But when the airline only offers a handful of First Class seats on a few routes, you wouldn't expect a First lounge to be so busy.
Like I said in the video though, I was happy with how QF First compared to QF Business. Definitely a step up. Thanks for watching!
STILL no in-flight wifi is just appalling, wow.
Not for QF international, no. Doesn't bother me too much but it's definitely behind the competition, especially US carriers.
Configuration is not private, seat should be near window for more privacy. Wouldn't fly Qantas for that reason.
Hopefully the new A350 fixes that and brings the First product in line with competition!
😍😍😍😍😍
lol, just a business plus, cannot compare with Singapore Airlines at all😅
Nothing pre packaged should be served in First. Bloody Maggie beer ice cream tub, that is lazy and typical of this airline.
Yep, I've had ice cream scoops in a bowl on Air NZ Business and it was softened enough to be edible without needing a knife to cut through as well. Handing out a tub is a bit meh. Qantas is not my first choice of airline and this First Class product is definitely not world leading, but it IS a step up from QF Business and my particular flight was enjoyable overall. Thank you for watching and commenting, I genuinely appreciate it :)
Seriously dude - the difference between business and your holier than though “FIRST” pj’s is probably $1.20…..
I was acting conceited, the joke/sarcasm may have been missed so don't take it seriously lol. FWIW they're like $30 eBay and I've seen them at Vinnies as well from people who have donated them. Thanks for watching btw :)