Qantas first class: save your money and travel business instead
It costs $17k to go from Melbourne to LA in the Qantas first class cabin and we found out what it was like being at the pointy end of the plane.
It costs $17k to go from Melbourne to LA in the Qantas first class cabin and we found out what it was like being at the pointy end of the plane.
At the airport
First class is a chance for an airline to make a statement about its brand but my 14-hour flight to Los Angeles is off to an inglorious start. We are delayed after being told the plane needs cleaning then delayed even further once we board. As the champagne flows while we wait, the captain finally confesses: one of the ground crew members hit the wrong lever when disposing of an A380 load of long haul waste and now it’s all over the tarmac. From my first class seat, I fortunately cannot smell any of the effluent but maybe it’s the glasses of Pommery Louise 2005. The captain says the mess needs to be cleaned up before we can take off and the crew needs a piece of machinery that’s on the other side of the airport. It takes about an hour, so the total delay is two hours and 19 minutes.
Take a seat
Unlike rival airlines from the Middle East and Singapore, Qantas doesn’t offer first class suites with privacy doors on this 1-1-1 layout. The seat swivels on an angle after takeoff, however, so you are shielded from other passengers, with the back shell of the chair providing a cocoon. For complete privacy, choose a seat on the left side. A dividing wall is raised after takeoff, separating you from the middle and right-hand seats, meaning you don’t see anyone throughout the trip. The flat bed is 212cm when extended and comfortable enough to have a decent sleep (aided by some melatonin, in my case). Qantas’s famous slogan is “feels like home”, and so does its first class seat, making me feel like I’m nestling into my grandfather’s easy chair.
Tech talk
There is no wi-fi on this plane. Qantas says that is about to change with internet connection on Asian routes by the end of this year, followed by Trans-Tasman and Pacific flights and then Europe in the latter half of 2026. The noise cancelling headphones do a good job at shutting out the engine noise. There are USB-A ports and power access to charge my phone, smartwatch and laptop (just not all at once).
That’s entertainment
A 17-inch high-definition screen is fitted on hinges so it can swing out after takeoff. It can be controlled using the remote touch panel near my armrest. Qantas has more than 2500 hours of movies and TV shows, including recent releases such as Dune, One Love and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. If you’re feeling sociable, walk up the stairs to the lounge shared with business class passengers where you can watch movies on a bigger screen. It also has diner-style tables if you fancy coaxing another passenger into playing canasta. You can invite a companion into your first class pod, with the ottoman doubling as an extra seat.
On the menu
Neil Perry’s first class menu is extensive and I start with canapes of Italian Calvisius caviar with Australian Pepe Saya creme fraiche and parmesan crisp with peas, ricotta and lemon. I choose a steak sandwich with tomato and chilli relish for an entree and herb-crusted Marga lamb cutlets with potato gratin, peperonata and aioli for dinner. For those feeling less carnivorous, there are plant-based options, including stir-fried shiitake mushrooms with tofu, chrysanthemum and greens.
There are ample desserts but I’m full. When lights are out, I meet the on-board chef Chris, whom a flight attendant jokes merely presses buttons on heating equipment. Chris describes the challenges of replicating Perry’s “visual and taste sensation” in the sky. One of the chillers has stopped working, he says, which means he can’t offer smoked salmon on the breakfast bagels: “We have 15 hours, so it will go off.” Instead, he improvises, putting what he called “the lot” on the bagels: scrambled eggs, bacon and whipped cheese. It’s something you won’t find on the menu but the passengers love it. “You have to think outside the box sometimes,” he says.
Keep fresh
Qantas first class pyjamas are understated in black with red piping and subtle branding. The amenity kit has Australian skincare brand LaGaia lip balm, hand cream and hydration serum as well as a toothbrush. Deodorant, shaving cream and razors are available in the toilets, which also boast one of the best views on a plane, a porthole presenting a wide vista of the heavens.
At your service
One of the cabin crew offers to make up my bed, unlike in business class where on a previous flight I had to help an elderly passenger. Given there are only 14 seats in first class, the crew are friendly and eager to chat during the flight, which creates a personalised experience compared with the 70 business class seats upstairs.
In the bag
First class passengers are allowed 14kg carry-on and 50kg of checked-in luggage, which is increased to 66kg and 70kg for gold and platinum frequent flyers respectively.
Make your points
Qantas operates its own frequent-flyer program and is part of the Oneworld Alliance.
On the ground
Qantas no longer offers a free chauffeur-driven service but at Melbourne Airport it has a dedicated check-in counter wrapped in its own pod close to the airport entrance. There is also access to the first class lounge.
The bottom line
Direct flights from $17,073 one way based on an airline website search departing two months from publication.
The verdict
The Qantas slogan “feels like home” is a decade old, and like the airline’s first class offering, it is showing its age. Given the price of the ticket, you are better off saving your money and flying business instead. This is a reflection of the quality of the business product. If you do choose to fly business to LA, it’s better to go on a smaller Dreamliner aircraft as it offers a more personalised experience compared with the cavernous A380.
Jared Lynch was a guest of Atlassian and was upgraded by Qantas.
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