Singapore zing: Qantas business class from Sydney
Check out the Qantas A330 business class service to the Lion City.
Flight number: QF81
Route: Sydney-Singapore
Aircraft: A330-200
Seat number: Centre aisle 6F; Business
Flight time: 7 hours, 50 minutes
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All about the seat: Twenty-eight pods, all with direct aisle access, are configured 1-2-1 across forward and (smaller) rear cabins on this daytime flight to Singapore, departing at 11.25am; passengers aboard later departure QF1 fly on an A380, with a much larger business class offering, which is being progressively upgraded across the fleet. I like the wraparound snugness of the A330 seating option and the illustrated, easy-to-follow control panel for lights and recline. Big storage lockers above each pod are a breeze to access.
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And so to dine: Business class passengers can pre-order meals from the Manage My Booking menu on the Qantas site. I am upgraded at the last minute so dive into the printed lunch menu. It’s hard to go past a Neil Perry soup (on this service, it’s Moroccan spiced carrot with coriander and yoghurt) but arrival into Singapore early evening means dinner in the city so I graze on a green salad and cheese and crackers. Crisps, ice-cream sandwiches and Darrell Lea choc treats lend an informal Aussie flavour and there’s a light meal with two choices, including vegetarian, before landing.
That’s entertainment: A tie-up with streaming company Stan means loads of boxed sets, including The Spanish Princess, based on the story of Catherine of Aragon, which I continue watching on my overnight QF82 return flight to Sydney. The devilishly handsome Irish actor Ruairi O’Connor makes a fine fist of his role as the young Henry VIII.
Brickbats: The shoulder sash that must be used in addition to the waist belt for takeoffs and landings isn’t easy to fasten, resulting in muttered swearing from fellow passengers in my row.
Bouquets: Qantas surely has the chunkiest in-flight magazine of any airline; its heft and readability are reassuring to members, such as me, of the “print is not dead” brigade. Business class passengers are offered quilts and big pillows plus a well-stocked toiletries kit. The time to destination is clearly shown as a fixture on the TV screen. Call buttons are answered almost instantly and service is smiling and savvy.
Susan Kurosawa was a guest of Qantas.