Is it worth flying business class from Bali?
It’s a splurge to fly at the pointy end for such a short flight, and what happened to the seat I’d actually booked?
Qantas introduced A330 services on its Denpasar route late last year, replacing narrow-body Boeing 737 aircraft. This has been a boon for business-class flyers, with capacity in that zone increased almost three-fold.
The seat
In a 1-2-1 configuration, all seats are pod style and have direct aisle access; there are several easily navigable panel of press-button positions for the 23-inch (or 58cm) wide seat, from gentle recline with a neat ottoman to fully flat. The quilted cover mattress is simple to fit, plus a pillow, Qantas signature grey PJs (with slippers on this overnight flight) and large duvet are supplied. The storage area and side shelf are roomy and the reading light is adjustable. For maximum privacy, book a seat with the console on the aisle side as others (such as my 7E) feel less private; check the seat map online. The zippered amenities pack is from the Qantas 100th birthday series and contains socks, an eye mask, earplugs, a bamboo-handled toothbrush and paste, and miniatures of Australian botanical-scented Li’Tya hand and face cream plus lip balm.
Dining
There’s a suitably brief selection for this short overnight flight but I opt just for a cheese plate with relish and crackers. The menu’s mains cover a plant-based dish of turmeric and lemongrass rice with tofu, cashews, coconut and sambal; seared snapper with tomato-braised chickpeas, steamed green beans and aioli; or fettuccine with beef, anise and orange ragu, peas and gremolata. Dessert offerings are seasonal fruit, ice cream or lime madeleine with strawberries and Chantilly cream. The drinks selection is wide, including Australian wine, various aperitifs and beers, spirits and liqueurs, but I spy few passengers partaking. At such a late hour, it’s a cup of camomile tea (from a Dilmah list of seven choices) for me, lights off and into the land of nod. I ask to be woken for breakfast but the crew either forgets or, perhaps wisely, decides to let me doze until landing announcements are made.
Entertainment
The easy-to-navigate Qantas system across its fleet is one of the best. Paramount and HBO recent-release boxed sets, new movies and TV favourites are in abundance, and noise-cancelling headphones work very well. The Qantas entertainment app can be downloaded before travelling if passengers prefer to watch on their devices.
Service
Flight services director Peter and his team are genuinely friendly and helpful. The same can’t be said for the ground staff member who checked me in at Denpasar and changed my preselected seat, which I’d booked and confirmed online. Her reason was that I’d be “closer to my husband”, booked in 7A, and “someone else would like my window”. Oh, OK, but my original choice, 7K, remained vacant throughout the flight.
Luggage allowance
Checked-in baggage allowance in business class is two pieces up to 32kg each. Silver and gold frequent flyer tiers, three pieces; platinum, four pieces.
On the ground
Qantas business class passengers and eligible frequent flyer membership tiers have access to the Tujuwan Lounge on the first floor at Denpasar airport within the duty-free precinct; there’s a small bar, plenty of seating, work spaces, a kids’ play area, a buffet of basic snacks such as sandwiches and savouries, and well-maintained toilets and showers.
What it costs
Qantas and Oneworld members can clock up frequent flyer points; my Gold/Sapphire status earned 30,000 points one-way; $2971 one-way based on airline website search one month from publication.
The verdict
There’s no premium economy offering on this service and business class does seem a splurge on such a short flight but it’s a very comfortable experience. Row 7 is not ideal, however, as it seems to have been added as an afterthought in an odd annex behind the main business-class cabin and is quite removed from the one toilet at the front of the plane. Arrival procedures at Sydney airport have become speedier, thanks to more automated kiosks and better signage. Protocols around the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia are still in place so be prepared to declare if you’ve visited a farm or been in a rural setting and remove footwear for a biosecurity check.
Susan Kurosawa travelled at her own expense.
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