Review: Qantas business class from Auckland to New York
We head to the Big Apple via New Zealand on this Qantas business class 15-hour flight from Auckland.
Even with the connecting trans-Tasman hop for Australian passengers, the inaugural direct hop to the Big Apple is relatively seamless without the Los Angeles stopover. Here’s our verdict of the 15 hours flight.
There are celebrations aplenty at Auckland airport with freshly baked pretzels and mini hot-dogs circulating, before this inaugural direct hop to New York. It’s a big deal, cutting out Los Angeles as a stopover, and including Sydney as the starting point. The service is the precursor of the innovative Project Sunrise debut aboard freshly fitted ultra long-haul A350-1000s, scheduled from late 2025 ex Sydney and Melbourne. Shortly into the flight comes the news that ours is the most tracked in the world in real time on Flightradar24.
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There are 42 business “suites” in the main cabin of this brand-new aircraft, configured in eight rows of 1-2-1 with a galley and one toilet upfront; an annexe behind the rear galley has three rows with the same layout. The suites are styled as pods, the control panel is easy to navigate with various positions from upright to angle-reclined or fully flat, and the footrest is extendable. A protective cover, duvet and decent-sized pillow are included. There’s a panel with press-button lighting (overhead and reading) and the TV controller tucks neatly away, as does the large tray table. A privacy screen between the two centre seats ensures neighbouring passengers don’t need to make eye contact, though it’s retractable for those travelling together. Pyjamas and amenity kits are available to business class passengers on international services but commemorative (and highly collectible) designs by Rebecca Vallance are being provided on NY flights for a limited period.
There’s no wi-fi aboard Qantas international flights but departing chief executive Alan Joyce promises “free and fast” connectivity is on the horizon.
Neil Perry, Qantas’s long-term creative director of food, beverage and service, is aboard. I note he orders pork and shiitake mushroom dumplings with pickled cucumber and sesame chilli dressing to start, followed by beef fillet with creamed spinach and baked potato with sour cream and chives. But when bound for the Big Apple, Perry’s destination menu inclusions of spaghetti and meatballs, baked cheesecake with blueberry compote and snacks such as a classic Reuben sandwich sound much more Sex and the City to me.
Qantas has one of the best systems of any airline on its international flights with dozens of classic and new-release movies, and boxed sets from HBO and other streamers, plus plenty to captivate junior jetsetters. The screen is a generous size, headphones are noise-cancelling, and a random sweep of my neighbours’ screens suggests multiple seasons of White Lotus and Succession are the top picks.
The Auckland-based crew are unfailingly polite and friendly (and, yes, Alan Joyce is seated two rows in front of me) but it feels completely genuine. The attention to detail and professionalism is replicated on my return leg from NY via Auckland to Sydney.
The special Manhattan Mary mix can be served virgin style, but mocktails or an innovative alcohol-free drinks list would be welcome.
Business passengers can check in two pieces of up to 32kg each; three pieces for Qantas Club members. Two carry-on bags are allowed to a total weight of 14kg and not exceeding 10kg for one.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer program partners with airlines such as Air France, British Airways and Air NZ plus a huge range of retailers.
The suites are designed for privacy but the configuration changes row by row and those with the shelf and facilities panel on the aisle are more cocooned than the reverse option, which have immediate aisle access. Study the Qantas online layout map to prebook; I score the more snug layout style in both directions in 4E and 7K, respectively.
Even with the connecting trans-Tasman hop for Australian passengers, this is a relatively seamless route to the Big Apple, operating three times a week. The aircraft feels spacious, configured with 236 seats, fewer than Dreamliners operated by most competitor airlines.
What it costs
From $12,753 return based on airline website search, departing one month from February 2024.
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Susan Kurosawa was a guest of Qantas.