Airline review: Qantas’ superjumbo business class is king of comfort
By Ute Junker
The flight
QF2, from Singapore to Sydney, one of the daily direct flight by Qantas on this route. The aircraft is an Airbus A380 and flight time is 7 hours and 55 minutes. We depart an hour late. I’m in business class, seat 14k.
All seats have aisle access in the revamped A380 business cabin.
The loyalty scheme
With 12 million members, Qantas has the most popular frequent flyer program in Australia, although how many will continue to stick with them after the airline’s recent woes is unclear. Points can be redeemed with Qantas and other members of the oneworld alliance.
Carbon emissions
For a business class passenger, carbon emissions for this flight are estimated at 4.5 tonnes. Qantas will match paid offsets dollar for dollar, and also rewards customers with 10 Frequent Flyer points for every dollar spent on carbon offsetting.
Check-in
I do my check-in online the morning of my flight. As I’m travelling with hand luggage only, that allows me to skip the check-in counter entirely and head straight for security and on to the International First Lounge, which I have been given access to. This is an evening flight and I have spent a full day running around Singapore, so the showers in the lounge are my first stop. Feeling refreshed, I settle in at the restaurant and order some prawn dumplings. When we learn that the flight is an hour late, I order a few more small plates to snack on.
The seat
It’s easy to drift off in Qantas’ business class cabin on the Airbus A380.
This is my first experience of Qantas’ revamped A380 business suites, which are arranged in a 1:2:1 configuration that gives every passenger aisle access. Not that I’m getting out of my seat much – after catching up on a little work, I join most of the other passengers in reclining my seat and settling in for a little sleep. Seats are 23 inches (58¢m) wide with a pitch of 46 inches (116cm). They recline to a fully-flat 80-inch (203cm) bed, make it easy to drift off.
Baggage
Business class travellers get 40kg of checked baggage and a total carry-on allowance of 14kg, with a maximum of 10kg per item and a maximum size of 115cm.
Entertainment
If, like me, you like to use flights to catch up on what you have missed at the cinema and on streaming, you will love the new 16-inch screens in the business suites, which offer superb resolution. Much of the content comes from Paramount+ and HBO, including a strong selection of movies, so there is plenty to distract you even on much longer flights than this one.
Service
The Qantas business crew generally offer excellent service although they seem a little distracted on this flight. I have to ask twice for the drink I’ve ordered, which is unusual.
Food
One of the highlights of flying business class is always the food but, having feasted in the lounge, I find I’m not hungry. The crew are keen for me to at least try something; I sample the cheese platter, which proves to be just enough to tide me over until I land in Sydney.
One more thing
Flying business class includes access to the A380’s Upstairs Lounge.
The revamped A380s have an upper deck lounge, which is something I usually enjoy – it’s great to get out of your seat and stretch your legs a little. On a flight this short, however, I don’t get around to spending any time there.
Price
Business class fares on this route start from $2856 one way.*
The verdict
Qantas’ challenges continue but a flight doesn’t get much more comfortable than this.
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
The writer travelled as a guest of Qantas.
*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.
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