Airline review: On board Qantas’ new non-stop route to Europe

The airline: Qantas

• Route Paris to Perth, flight QF34, non-stop
• Frequency Four departures weekly during the peak European summer season, then three weekly.
• Aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• Class Business, seat 2F
• Flight time Scheduled flight time is 16 hours and 30 minutes (compared to the listed 17 hours and 20 minute), with the service actually completed in under 16 hours.

Non-stop Paris to Perth.

Checking in

In the era of ultra-long-haul flying there appear to be two types of airline passengers. Those who like to go all the way and those who’d rather take things a little more slowly. Your reviewer belongs to the latter group, preferring to break up a journey rather than tackle it in one go. But here he is, a week or so after Qantas launched this Paris non-stop service from Australia, with a chance to assess how the service is performing.

This is the third direct route from Perth to Europe, with services to London and Rome introduced in 2018 and 2022 respectively (though London is temporarily suspended due to issues in the Middle East). Qantas now boasts four of the world’s longest airline sectors. These new Qantas flights arrive and depart from Paris Charles de Gaulle’s retro, if not a little tired, Terminal 2A. Devoid of its own lounge, Qantas business class passengers access the rather petite, non-affiliated Paul Maxence airside lounge.

Baggage

For business class, a total of 40 kilograms – no restriction on the number of pieces within the weight allowance for international travel. One carry-on piece at no more than 10 kilograms or two under 14 kilograms.

The loyalty scheme

Qantas Frequent Flyer, part of the oneworld alliance.

The seat

Need some sleep? The workhorse business class flatbed seat assists perfectly.

Seat 2F, in the middle section of a 1-2-1 cabin configuration. Despite all of the requisite business class diversions, the best way to approach such an extended flight is to sleep through as much of it as possible, setting your watch and devices on boarding to Perth time.

Fortunately Qantas’s workhorse business class flatbed seat still assists perfectly – with a 46-inch (117cm) pitch, the seat comes with a slip-over mattress (but you may not miss it if, like this passenger, you fail to attach it).

Slumber is also aided by Qantas’ beloved Martin Grant-designed pyjamas (and matching amenity kits), which on this flight come in the form of commemorative French navy and red versions commemorating the new route. Get into ’em while stocks last.

Entertainment + tech

Sure, there are those passengers who are more than content to be removed from the outside world for nearly a day, but then there are others who value onboard Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, Qantas won’t complete its Wi-Fi rollout until next year, placing the carrier well behind most, if not all, its major competitors. Oh well – there’s still 2500 hours of in-flight entertainment in the form of movies and TV shows to keep the sleepless and restless amused.

Service

Caring, unpretentious and efficient throughout, with flight attendants by this point having ditched the commemorative blue berets for this service’s launch.

Food

Fresh tuna Nicoise salad – part of a French-inspired menu created by Neil Perry.

Neil Perry, Qantas’ high-flying chef, has created special French-style dishes, such as tuna Nicoise salad, for this route. However, my lunch (or dinner, if you’ve switched to Perth time) version of the dish, prepared by Paris in-flight catering, looks and tastes like a disappointing replica of the superior Perry version (previously sampled). A main of beef fillet with potato puree, snow peas and Cafe de Paris butter doesn’t fare much better.

Carbon emissions

Five tonnes in business. Qantas’s Fly Carbon Neutral (FCN) offsetting program allows passengers to offset a portion of their flight emissions.

One more thing

Perth Airport recently announced a multi-billion redevelopment project to be completed by 2031 and not a moment too soon as it’s surely one of the least passenger-friendly and most difficult to navigate of all major Australian airports.

The price

From about $8700, non-stop Perth to Paris return in business class.*

The verdict

Such an extended, non-stop flight can be daunting, especially for those who favour stopovers. But it’s amazing – should you be able to achieve extended shut-eye in this admittedly privileged class – how the time almost flies.

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer flew as a guest of Qantas. See qantas.com

*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.