Qantas First Class Suite: NOT Worth $22,000 rt!

[@kade150]

Surely if you are going First Class you would check out the various airlines and prices before booking. Middle East airlines and Singapore are generally known to have a better hard product than Qantas. So if you want a caviar service fly Emirates. The fact Qantas are charging $22,000 indicates that they have demand at that price, so why would they charge less. Travellers have the choice.

[@clearedfortravel]

Totally fair point. I am curious how many people they get to pay the sticker price vs bid for upgrades or use miles to upgrade. For what it’s worth on my flight first class was originally very empty - it seemed that most people used miles to upgrade or submitted a bid. Personally I bid for an upgrade from a paid business class ticket and was able to get upgraded to first with a low cash bid.

[@midwestlady4743]

OMG...I SO agree with you...I flew A380-Seat 1A several years ago.....my space had crumbs on the floor when I got to my seat; the overhead lamp was cracked and emitted a florescent light (ugh!)....IE screen was small and since it was so far from seat, I had to use my glasses to view; IE options were limited; I tried their Mac and Cheese and it was disgusting - took one bite and left it; staff was overall nice except for one flight attendant who felt that I had asked for her firstborn when I requested my seat to be made for sleeping. When I boarded the plane, I was pointed to my seat - not escorted. Such a bad experience that I wrote email to CEO and they responded by saying that their planes are in the process of being re-done....thanks.....not what I wanted/needed to hear after spending thousands for the experience. Next time I flew to Melbourne, I flew on Singapore Business Class which is MILES above-and-beyond Qantas First Class. Then I tried Qatar Q Suites another time and Qatar will have my business from now on.....luxury all the way!!!

[@clearedfortravel]

Yeah I think your experience seems very representative of the experience of others. I wonder how they get away with the prices they charge for this product?

[@drb1979]

@@clearedfortravel Its because they have a small fleet with First class, and those seats are mostly made up of upgrades from business from their top tier frequent flyers, along with a small number of senior corporate or Australian government travellers (and they have discounted rates and often get upgrades as well). Very few people pay the retail price of $22,000

[@clearedfortravel]

Very interesting insight. Yeah that makes more sense… I saw that on my flight as well that the cabin was virtually empty until the upgrade window started.

[@nicholasngo5428]

I wish I could fly this in 2039!

[@clearedfortravel]

Hehe. One option is to use miles! Several Oneworld airlines allow booking on Qantas, although this route / First Class is extremely hard to find

[@CH-xl5nh]

Would rather go on Emirates or Singapore business, than Qantas first class!

[@clearedfortravel]

@@CH-xl5nh The one part that’s better about Qantas first vs Emirates/Singapore business is the seat is roomier - I’ll give them that. You can stretch out your feet and they’re not cramped in a foot well. But I agree that in most other ways Singapore/Emirates biz has them beat-better food, amenities, and much less expensive than Qantas first. I’m not sure how Qantas gets away with charging so much for this product? Let me know if anyone has ideas?

[@OceanTomkins-f5y]

@@clearedfortravel who knows that little lepricorn ran QANTAS into the ground. The last time I flew with QANTAS to JAPAN it took us 22h because of delays. When we travel back to JAPAN, Business either ANA or JAL. Qantas flight attendants are rude and out of touch. Plus I think they could do with retiring the ancient staff, maybe that’s half the reason they don’t care.

[@yvr2002rtw]

Qantas is the only airline that has first class on their direct flight between Australia and North America.

[@clearedfortravel]

That’s mostly true except American also has first class. It’s similar to Qantas.

[@yvr2002rtw]

@@clearedfortravel Isn't American in the process of scrapping international first class?

[@clearedfortravel]

@@yvr2002rtwyes you’re right it’s planned. Still currently available though. Once they do that, you’re right, Qantas will be the only option with first.

[@halitosis75]

@yvr2002rtw yes but it's still hideous

[@jamessayers4046]

was there a hot towel offered?

[@clearedfortravel]

@@jamessayers4046 I assume so but honestly don’t remember. Do they usually do that?

[@johanrebel]

2:35 - That's a First Class amenity kit? What a joke! (That horrible muzak really sucks, by the way).

[@clearedfortravel]

yeah it is the first kit even though it looks like what you’d get in premium economy on another airline

[@OceanTomkins-f5y]

Agree QANTAS has gone down hill, terrible service and cranky flight attendants who should of retired years ago. That’s why I now fly Singapore Suites. Cheaper and a far far superior product.

[@clearedfortravel]

@ Totally. Maybe the new first class Qantas is launching on the A350-1000 for Project Sunrise will be better? The renderings look so nice. But I think that’s also still a long way off.

[@halitosis75]

The most overhyped business class product out there 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@clearedfortravel]

Yeah - are there better options from au/nz to North America?

[@halitosis75]

@clearedfortravel yes. The long way with EK. It's fabulous a380 all the way and always cheaper than Qf first class fare.

[@clearedfortravel]

@@halitosis75 wow yes that’s the very long way. But agree that spending all that time on emirates is not a hardship! Especially their new gamechanger plane.

[@bobbybostic7947]

I’d pay extra for the service differential. Qantas is genuine. Emirates crews reek of arrogance and SQ is just such a stale, almost artificial, experience. Once you’re laying flat and asleep, who really cares.. At the end of the day it’s the crew interaction that matters the most when pricing whether something is worth your money and time.

[@clearedfortravel]

For what it’s worth I found my crew very fun and friendly like you said. That said, that extra smile is not worth the price of a small car to me personally haha.

[@generalenquiries3487]

@ fair enough. I’ll actually be in 1A on QF1 this coming Saturday (SYD-LHR) so will hopefully upload a video with my own impressions a little later. : )

[@clearedfortravel]

Cool! Hope you enjoy. Fwiw I was originally assigned row 1 but I moved back because it’s right next to the bathroom. I liked row 3 because it’s both away from bathroom and galley.

[@davidforde9341]

Qantas first class is not competitive for a world class airline it is disgusting and overpriced I will sty with Singapore Airlines thank you.

[@clearedfortravel]

@@davidforde9341 Makes sense. Unless you’re flying a route where Qantas has much better routing (like Australia-USA.).