Gold-2K - 06/03/2011 19:16 GMT
Heading to Sydney in May. Love the new BA first but Syd only rarely has this. So the other option is Qantas A380? Like the service on BA but tempted by the new A380. Any thoughts?
First LHR / SYD
Posts
Binman62 - 06/03/2011 19:21 GMT
Personally I like the seat and the layout but it is not luxurious. It is very utilitarian but comfortable and I enjoyed the flight.
I am not keen on QF crew, they are far too familar for my liking.
If one world is a must then persoanlly I would take CX ex LHR. The product is simply the best and well worth the extra flight HKG SIN (imho).
Gold-2K - 06/03/2011 19:25 GMT
Actually I hadn't thought of CX. Do they have the same product hkg / syd?
alexlondon - 06/03/2011 21:25 GMT
I agree with Binman. The CX First product is simply unbeatable. First is NOT available on all HKG SIN connections so do check before you book. I flew recently on the 3.5 hour HKG SIN flight, 747 in First and my onlyt disappointment was that the flight was so short. I was in a working mood, but the charming crew gradually disarmed me with constant offers of champage, and an increadible six course meal, that I landed up giving up work, relaxed had too much wine and enjoyed a great movie. Why can't flying in Europe be like that...? I prefer to either BA or QF by a mile. If having to choose between BA or QF, the food is better on QF but BA feels more relaxed in all respects.
Gold-2K - 06/03/2011 21:29 GMT
Thanks - I am travelling LHR - Sydney, not SIngapore. Does CX have the same product on HKG / SYD as it does on LHR / HKG?
Binman62 - 06/03/2011 22:25 GMT
Yes I believe they do but have not flown with them to SYD ex HKG. If it were me however CX is the answer.Lounge in HKG simply fabulous.
nevereconomy - 06/03/2011 23:29 GMT
I am not keen on the QF A380 First - the seat privacy is poor and the whole cabin very sterile. CX First is unbeatable, unless you are a fan of the whole cubicle-with-doors deal . CX much better than BA New First in design, quality of build and food and service.
I_only_turn_left - 07/03/2011 11:00 GMT
I flew QFA380 from SIN to LHR in First and they have a real problem with the floor bouncing when anyone walks down the aisle. Flew out upstairs in business and it was even worse up there. You don't get that problem on A380 with Singapore air.
JohnPhelanAustralia - 07/03/2011 23:20 GMT
I avoid the QF A380s because I have had substantial delays on them - in my opinion, the RR Trent 900 engines on them are unreliable. I don't think they are unsafe (as per the QF 32 issue out of SIN) but I don't think you can rely on them to get you anywhere on time.
You could, of course, fly on a number of other QF services via SIN, BKK or HKG that utilise 747-400 aircraft. These are much more reliable, and quite pleasant in F.
Or you could do what I do, and fly BA's 747-400s. I'm a great fan of the BA jumbos, and if you get the new F, all the better.
A word of caution - if you fly BA or QF LHR-SIN-SYD or LHR-BKK-SYD, you will depart out of Terminal 3 at LHR. and you will not be able to use the wonderful BA Terminal 5 lounges (including the Concorde Room). CX flights also depart from T3.
My preferred routing is LHR-HKG on BA (meaning I depart from T5) and then QF from HKG to Australia. The downside is that the QF flights ex HKG don't offer F. You could though do LHR-HKG on BA, and then CX for HKG-SYD (which will also allow you to use the great Cathay First lounge in HKG).
In SYD, the QF First lounge is superb. It can be accessed by QF and BA F pax, and oneworld Emerald. Whilst CX does use the QF lounges in SYD, I'm not sure if flying F with CX gets you access to the F lounge, or if access is to the Business lounge.
Binman62 - 08/03/2011 00:36 GMT
JohnPhelanAustralia makes a very good point about the A380, notoriously bad punctuality. I could not agree that the QF product in First on the 747 is pleasant however. It is a barn and there is absolutely nothing about the interior that is welcoming or luxurious. Indeed row 2 is a nightmare due to the awful layout of the cabin. 4 rows with 2 in the middle. 4A and 4K have bassinet positions. It is simply awful. Service is generally good but crew, as I stated before, are (IMHO) overly familiar.
The option of using a combination of BA CX over HKG makes a lot of sense but on balance CX out performs them all. There are just 9 seats in F on a 747.
MartynSinclair - 08/03/2011 00:44 GMT
JohnPhelanAustralia - "A word of caution - if you fly BA or QF LHR-SIN-SYD or LHR-BKK-SYD, you will depart out of Terminal 3 at LHR. and you will not be able to use the wonderful BA Terminal 5 lounges (including the Concorde Room)."
Admittedly T3 does not have a Concorde Room, but I am interested in what in your opinion makes the T5 lounge experience better than the T3 lounge experience where BA is concerned. The T3 lounges offer their own uniqueness in terms of layout but the offerings are of equal standards, the only difference I see is the view from the window.
JohnPhelanAustralia - 08/03/2011 02:23 GMT
Martyn, for me, the spaciousness of the lounges in T5 makes them superior. The amenities available are certainly of the same standard in T3, but I just find T5 more light, airy and spacious (I think ceiling height also has something to do with it). And, as you mention - the view!
But if travelling F, the Concorde Room in T5 is the main difference and one many would not want to miss.
AndyInSweden - 08/03/2011 09:05 GMT
Gold-2K
Please note that CX offers F-class on LHR-HKG but NOT on HKG-SYD (or ADL/BNE/CNS/MEL/PER).
CX recently introduced their new business class on the HKG-SYD route, usually CX101 but subject to change.
MartynSinclair - 08/03/2011 10:25 GMT
Hi John
Thanks for your response. if you see somebody checking the ceiling height in the Galleries on your next visit, it could just be me!
The Concorde Room is indeed in a league of its own.
Martyn
nevereconomy - 08/03/2011 23:44 GMT
The Concorde Room is very nice, but not, in my opinion, in a league of its own. It can be crowded at peak times, the seating does not make best use of the considerable space, food is only average and service very spotty. Cabanas are getting tatty and are very noisy sometimes. There is often an air of total lack of enthusiasm to the whole affair. For WOW factor, QF Sydney First lounge is still tops, though service there also can be iffy. JAL First lounge in Narita I find extremely pleasant from the food and service point of view and for me this makes up for other shortcomings.
austline - 09/03/2011 00:50 GMT
I have literally just arrived back in Melbourne from London and travelled F on the QF A380.
The check in was uneventful the QF/BA F lounge at terminal 3 is certainly not up to the same standard as the Concorde Room in terminal 5 but in saying that it was very pleasant.
The A380 is a beautiful aircraft I really like the individual suites, the seats are very comfortable and the turndown service is excellent. I slept for a good 8 hours and certainly never noticed any noise from the crew or other pax walking past.
The cabin was full and the crew were very attentive throughout the flight, the food and wine offering on QF in F and J would have to be the best being served on any international airline.
All up a superb flight.
first_class_please - 09/03/2011 07:27 GMT
Unless you really want / need a oneworld airline, have you considered the Emirates A380 connections via Dubai?
All have the wonderful private suites and for me the entertainment system for such long flights is unbeatable.
I am a BA gold member but prefer EK on the very long flights.
macaulay - 10/03/2011 19:08 GMT
I flew A380 Quantas "first class" in the November ice and snow , and was not impressed.
Out of four cabin crews (to and from Sydney) only the first (from London,and mostly British) were good.
The problem is behind First and with only a curtains separation, the noise from children in tourist can ruin the peace (if the cabin staff are not loud enough).Decor , food, and seat nothing special. Think you should think again. My partners seat electrics were faulty too.
After several A380 flights, jet lag/comfort is not dramatically better so you could do better on smaller plane if you shop around.
crookie - 10/03/2011 19:48 GMT
I'm amazed nobody's mentioned ETIHAD. I've just flown with them from Heathrow to Sydney via Abu Dhabi and they were just superb. I've flown to Sydney using BA and Qantas and Etihad leaves them both standing. Complimentary chauffeur driven car to Heathrow from home, very personal service in the fabulous lounge and suites onboard. Excellent crew, champagne, wine and you can eat when you want to. Couldn't, in my opinion, be bettered. My first time with them, but it certainly won't be the last. Recommend 1D and 1G if travelling with a partner.
Inquisitive - 11/03/2011 14:57 GMT
I believe if money is no concern, the best F class between Lon-Syd is Singapore airlines A380. (the fare is at least 25% higher than other F). SQ calls this class as suite. I have not travelled in suite so far, but travelled many times in SQ A380 business class. The flight is fantastic (low noise) and having experienced SQ's F-class in B747 and in B777, which is excellent (service, food, privacy, entertainment), I can only assume it will be better than that in suits.
