• Reviews
    • Airlines
    • Trips
    • Hotels
  • Credit Cards
    • Personal Cards
    • Business Cards
  • About Miles/Contact
  • Disclosures/Privacy
  • Book

Monkey Miles

  • Reviews
    • Airlines
    • Trips
    • Hotels
  • Credit Cards
    • Personal Cards
    • Business Cards
  • About Miles/Contact
  • Disclosures/Privacy
  • Book
Home » Reviews » Airlines » Review: Qantas First Class A380 Los Angeles to Melbourne
AirlinesReviews

Review: Qantas First Class A380 Los Angeles to Melbourne

Miles November 8, 2018 Qantas 8 Comments

We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Monkey Miles and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Monkey Miles is also a Senior Advisor to Bilt Rewards Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


A unicorn redemption.

For so many of my travels I’m one of the lucky ones, but this was a very cool redemption. I was not only able to experience Qantas First Class using points, but I did it with a loved one. Scoring one Qantas First Class award ticket is rare, but locking down two is down right extraordinary. In fact, it’s sort of an award booking unicorn.  As you can imagine, when we locked down the seats we were unbelievably excited to experience the flight together.  In an economy of words: it was simply fantastic and highly under-rated.

Booking the tickets and finding the avail with Alaska Miles – 70k + $45.

Qantas doesn’t really have any pattern of releasing seats, even when a cabin is wide open they won’t release, so there isn’t a pattern you can rely upon.  We just got really lucky. If you want to read in greater detail how did it, and flew back in a combo of Cathay Biz/First with a stopover in Hong Kong, I’d recommend reading the following three articles where I go in far greater detail.

  • How I found and booked 2 Qantas First Class Tickets
  • How I landed Qantas + Cathay Biz/First to/from Australia – $40k in value
  • How I used Alaska Miles to bake in a stopover in a Hong Kong

The Deets:

  • When: April 2018
  • Where: Los Angeles to Melbourne
  • Flight: QF 94
  • Flight Time: 15h 30m
  • Seat: 1A
  • Loyalty: Alaska Miles
  • Cost: 70k Alaska + $45

Check-In

Qantas has a dedicated First Class check in desk that is accessible to One World Emerald members as well as those flying in First. Quick and easy as we were the only ones there

Qantas First Class lounge LAX

After security you’ll want to veer left and head up a level to the Qantas First Class lounge – a nice refuge for One World Emeralds and First Class passengers featuring sit down a la carte meals, great champagne, and full waitstaff service.

I’ve reviewed the lounge before so I won’t go into a ton of detail, but the food was too good to pass up.

Boarding and first Impression.

We were first to board the plane and I was immediately struck with how big it felt. The A380 is a wide plane, especially on the ground floor and Qantas places its first class right up front. Like other First Class cabins, it’s removed the overhead space in the center F-line which means at 6′ tall you could stand up and not hit your head. Something passengers in the A or K line don’t enjoy as they are fitted with overheads.

The cabin is 3 across in a 1-1-1 configuration with two aisles and serves 14 passengers.   While at first glance it appears the center F line is exposed, there is actually a screen that raises after meal service that acts as a privacy wall.

If you want maximum privacy pick the A – line as we did ( 1a and 2a). You’ll not only get a window seat, but the aisle is only utilized by passengers in that line whereas the other aisle serves both the F and K lines. Check out the details on seatguru:

The Seat:

Look at the square footage. There aren’t doors that close like you’d find on Etihad Apartments, Emirates First Class, Singapore Suites, etc…but Qantas suites are incredibly private and the sheer volume of space alotted to each passenger is incredible.

The seat pivots also pivots to watch tv and angle away for privacy.

The suite has its own control panel, and the IFE its own remote.

There are a couple of drawers for storage

The Amenity kit and Pajamas from Martin Grant.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Service

I couldn’t rave enough about the service that we received on board. Starting from pre-departure drinks, the entire crew was extremely attentive and playful. Traveling with Miles gets widely varied reactions. This crew was just plane amazing 😉

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

And Miles even got to experience the flight deck.

Food

Qantas is known for their food, both in the lounge and in flight. This did not disappoint. Once airborne the champagne also shifts from the Duval to Veuve Le Grande Dame. I hopped over to 2A and sat opposite my gf for dinner. I love the dine together feature as you can really enjoy the experience together.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Together we had

  • Tuna tartare with a creme fraiche and caviar tartlet
  • Sweetcorn and basil soup
  • I had the biryani and my gf had the salmon
    • of the two I’d go with the Salmon
  • We had both desserts
    • I preferred the cake to the crostada

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Upstairs to check out the “bar”

After dinner, full and PJ’d up, we ventured upstairs to peek in at business class and check out the upstairs bar. Not so much a bar, and quite dark, we spent but a few minutes there before hopping back downstairs to our luxurious suites.

You can see here how the divider raises between the A line and the F line.

Off to bed.

While we were upstairs our beds were made up. I found them to be extremely comfortable and only woke up because they were serving breakfast. I slept somewhere between 6.5 and 7 hours.

Breakfast

Kid you not..the smoked salmon and eggs were DELICIOUS and hands down, by far, the best I’ve ever had on a plane. I thought I was taking a big risk ordering it, but I was blown away. Very cool to enjoy breakfast together as well, although I was super stuffed. I mean I had a croissant, a bowl of granola, and then all those eggs and salmon.

We landed into Sydney with fast track.

Overall:

Qantas First Class should be in the conversation for top 5 best First Class products in the world. Granted, I haven’t flown all of them, but I have flown my fair share and it was outstanding, and the seat/cabin is nicer than you’ll get on Lufthansa.  I found the service to on point and far more accessible than say Etihad which I find to be cold and snooty. The entire crew was superb, the food was delicious, the seats/bedding and amenities were great, and I’d love to fly it again as soon as possible.

We ended this entire trip to Australia/Hong Kong with a flight back in Cathay First – and I would say it’s worth debating which was better ( I’d give probably give it to Cathay purely because of a smaller cabin and better champagne ), but I wasn’t prepared to think they’d be in the same league.

I loved Qantas First.

Australia 2018 – Qantas First, Cathay Biz/First, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Hong Kong

  • How I found and booked 2 Qantas First Class Tickets
  • How I landed Qantas + Cathay Biz/First to/from Australia – $40k in value
  • How I used Alaska Miles to bake in a stopover in a Hong Kong
  • Review: Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
  • Review: Qantas First Class LAX-MEL
  • Review: Qantas Business Class Lounge Melbourne
  • Review: Qantas Business Class A330 Melbourne to Sydney
  • Intercontinental Sydney
  • How to spend 2 awesome nights in Melbourne
  • Review: Qualia – Hamilton Island
  • Review: Palm Bungalows – Hamilton Island
  • Why you should add Hamilton Island to your Australia adventure
  • What it’s like taking a helicopter to the Great Barrier Reef
  • Review: Sofitel Gold Coast
  • Review: Qantas Business Class Lounge Brisbane
  • Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class A350 Brisbane to Hong Kong
  • Review: Cathay Pacific Arrivals Lounge Hong Kong
  • Review: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 1 bedroom Suite
  • What it’s like being a Hyatt VIP with Prive
  • Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier
  • Review: Cathay Pacific The Wing
  • Review: Cathay Pacific The Bridge
  • Review: Cathay Pacific First Class Hong Kong to Los Angeles

Affiliate Disclosure

Monkey Miles has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Monkey Miles and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

 


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A Monkey Miles favorite for beginners and point pros alike – a staple of our wallet that earns Premium transferrable Ultimate Rewards. $95 annual fee

♥ Earn 60k Bonus Points after $4k Spend in 3 months

♥Points are transferrable to over dozen partners, or redeemable for 1.25c in Chase travel

♥5x on travel purchased via Chase Travel and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.

♥3x on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out

♥3x on select streaming

♥ 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs 

♥ $50 Annual Credit on hotel stays purchased via Ultimate Rewards. *New cardmembers can get this credit immediately – existing cardmembers get it after anniversary

♥ 10% Anniversary Point Bonus. Spend $10k in a year, get 1k bonus points.

 Learn more


 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related

Previous Article Buy Alaska Miles with up to a 50% bonus – 1.97 cents per point
Next Article Review: Qantas Business Class Lounge Melbourne Terminal 1

About Author

Miles

This Monkey didn't get the name Miles for nothing. I might look like an innocent little furball, but I am a Points and Awards BEAST!! Follow me around the world to see how I fly in lie flat seats and sleep in 5* suites for pennies on the dollar.

Related Posts

  • The planning: A 10 day buddy trip to Athens, Istanbul, and Brussels with a side of Emirates A380 First and 777-300ER Game Changer First Class.

    January 10, 2023
  • Review: The stunning new Conrad Nashville with loads of Amex credits

    January 1, 2023
  • Best way to cancel an Iberia Avios booking

    December 27, 2022
  • If you got ITA Airways Status from a match – check your email, mine was extended through 2023

    December 24, 2022
  • Emirates releases official statement on middle of the night devaluation

    December 23, 2022

8 Comments

  1. ss Reply
    November 8, 2018 at 11:59 am

    awesome! Enjoyed the review.
    The crew looks like they had fun with miles – good sports! A good crew can really make the flight experience. Is Miles wearing Kangaroo slippers in the cockpit?

  2. Patrick Reply
    November 8, 2018 at 11:59 am

    A couple of questions for you Miles…
    Is the divider wall all or nothing? Who decides when it goes up or down?

    And I’m sure I’m not the only one think this but do you ever get any strange looks taking that stuffed monkey around with you? Setting it up for pictures and what not?

  3. Pingback: Wait...my flight is how long?! Qantas announces direct flights to London and JFK - Monkey Miles
  4. Pingback: Review: Emirates First Class 777-300ER Dubai to Riyadh - Monkey Miles
  5. Pingback: Review: United Business Class 777-200 São Paulo to Chicago ( Updated 3/2/2020 ) - Monkey Miles
  6. Pingback: Japan Airlines First Class 777-300ER Los Angeles to Tokyo Full Review with Video - Monkey Miles
  7. Pingback: Sale ends today: Buy Alaska miles with 40% bonus. - Monkey Miles
  8. Pingback: Last Chance - Buy Alaska Miles for 2.1c a piece - Monkey Miles

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Popular Posts

  • Complete guide to Chase refer a friend bonuses [Leave your links] January 30, 2023
  • Yes, the Capital One Venture X is the best Super Premium credit card for most people January 14, 2023
  • Buy Hilton Points with up to 100% bonus January 18, 2023

Recent Posts

  • Up to 100% bonus when you Buy Air France/KLM miles “Flying Blue” ( 1.53c per point ) February 8, 2023
  • Chase Southwest credit cards offer Companion Pass + 30k points February 7, 2023
  • New American Express Delta credit cards welcome offers including 15% off award flights February 6, 2023

Social Media

Archives

Editorial Disclosure The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.

Comments Disclosure Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered

Monkey Miles is owned by BABA BOY, INC. This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.
 

Loading Comments...