Qantas A380 First Class Review

On her flight home from Johannesburg to Sydney, our Marketing Coordinator Anjelica flew onboard the Qantas A380 First Class cabin.

This was actually on the new Superjumbo route connecting the two major cities. This is the first time Qantas has operated the Superjumbo flight to Africa and the first time an A380 has ever flown across the Southern Indian Ocean by any airline. Operating six times per week, it will almost double the seat capacity between Australia and Africa every year. 

For the first time since 2018, the First Class cabin has been brought back on this route. So, we decided to send Anjelica to Johannesburg to review the cabin! 

Qantas offers a popular Round the World fare for Australian travellers. With their ever-popular frequent flyer program the main benefits of their fare are the wide range of direct flights and ability to earn status credits and frequent flyer points. Their partnership with Emirates has significantly improved their European route network with many convenient connections via Dubai. This has reduced their Asian stopover options but Qantas have many options via North America as well as some options including South America and South Africa.

Please enquire with an airfare specialist in booking a Qantas First Class Round the World flight. Or, see our Qantas Business Class RTW deal here for another option.

Qantas First Class Boarding/Welcome

Boarding

After briefly visiting the British Airways Lounge, I was ready to head onboard Qantas A380 First Class for my flight home back to Sydney. I must admit, the boarding and welcome process was not what I expected at all, especially being a First Class passenger. 

It was a very chaotic process to board, even though First Class passengers were called to board first. I noticed that there were a lot of First Class passengers, and as we all made it to the aerobridge, we were actually told to wait. Qantas staff advised us that they needed to board the people in wheelchairs first, so it took about 10 minutes for us to actually get onto the plane.

I’m not sure why the staff called us to board when they knew there were other priority passengers. On a Qantas Round the World fare, Africa will be either your first stop or your last. Either way, a chaotic boarding process is the last thing you want when travelling round the world.

Furthermore, Qantas staff had also called Business Class and Priority One guests straight after First class. Since there were actually 2 laneways to get to the aerobridge, it meant everyone was mixed up in different classes. Since the Business Class cabin was on the top level of the plane, they were actually able to board through another door before us. This made it a very awkward, jumbled and chaotic start for boarding. 

Welcome

Once we finally boarded the plane, we were greeted by staff and pointed to the cabin. It is a 1-1-1 layout with 14 suites inside, making it a really spacious area. Unfortunately, the service didn’t get much better on initial arrival. There were only 2 staff members in the First Class cabin for the beginning for 11 passengers. 

Since it was pretty much a full cabin, it felt like I wasn’t given as much detailed service compared to other First Class cabins like with Emirates. There were also just small details that they really lacked at the beginning of the flight. This included not being shown to my seat, I had to put my own bag up in the overhead, there was no bottle of water, and when I asked for a bottle the staff had forgotten about it so I had to ask again.

Once I settled into my seat, it was nice to receive a glass of Moët champagne, offered more drinks, and were given olives and smoked almonds. 

Qantas A380 First Class Cabin Layout, Storage and Seat

Once we were actually in the air, things started to improve. As mentioned previously, the First Class cabin has 14 seats set out in a 1-1-1 layout. Interestingly, it is on the bottom floor of the plane, where Business Class is located in the top wing.   

On first arrival, the cabin felt really open, as the middle seats were fully exposed since the privacy walls were down. I was seated in 2A by the window and happy with the amount of privacy I had. Even with the privacy walls up, the middle seats still seemed really exposed compared to the window seats.

The seat suite itself is very spacious with lots of room to store your bags as well as stretch out. It had a clean and modern look, not as luxurious/glamorous/glitzy as the Emirates First Class cabin. The Emirates cabin had heaps of small detailing like gold lining, mirrors, ambient lighting, and floral decorations that made the suite feel much more First Class. 

However, I appreciated the modern clean look and feel. It felt like it was suited more to Australians travelling for work. One thing to note is that the TV felt a little small compared to the rest of the suite. I really liked that there was a nook/seat where another person could sit. Since the tray table can fold out, extend and also move up and down, it is a great product if you are travelling with another companion.

Qantas has definitely created a unique set up with the space utilised. There is also a little side table that folds out in front of your seat, which is great for drinks and snacks. It meant I could work on my laptop using the tray table and also have a separate space for my drinks and snacks. 

To the left of my seat was a suite control touchpad. There were presets available that were for take-off/landing, dining/working, lounging, watching TV, sleeping, and a raised bed. Then there were customisable adjustments for the leg rest, the bottom of the seat, and the back of the seat. 

Plus, there were also adjustments available for the armrests, the swivel of the chair, and the lumbar. On the touchscreen and removable control panel, I was able to control the lights (reading, dining and overhead), shades (open/closed as well as privacy divider), massage function (invigorate, rejuvenate, energise, relax, alongside all different areas of the body), the brightness of the screen, and watch maps. The screen would also default to the amount of time left on the flight- something I found really handy instead of having to check on the main entertainment screen. 

I felt like Qantas has done a fantastic job incorporating the massage function and technology to create a much more comfortable flight. It’s worth mentioning that on the Qantas A380 First Class was power access, charging and a USB port.

Qantas A380 First Class Flat Bed and Privacy

Fully Flat Bed

The fully flat bed on the Qantas A380 First Class spans 212cm long, making it a roomy and comfortable sleep for all. For a Round the World fare, this fully flat bed is excellent for flying long-haul. The stewardess makes up each customer’s bed which is a lovely bonus!

There was a mattress topper, a thick quilt, a blanket and a couple of pillows that she laid out. The bed is actually one of the longest on the market and also felt a little wider compared to other cabins. It was the perfect blend of plush cushioning and spacious- it was so comfortable that I slept for over 6 hours straight. In my personal opinion, this is probably the best flat bed going on the market as it resembles a normal, at-home sleeping experience. 

Privacy

In terms of privacy, each of the window seats had a small divider that was behind the TV. The seats were twistable, so initially during take-off and landing you would face the front, but for the rest of the flight, you would swivel yourself with the controls on a diagonal. This would face the TV and be the best angle to eat dinner. I liked this kind of set-up, as it really did feel private and like you were in your own suite.

The aisle seats had larger privacy dividers on the left-hand side which would make their wall from top to bottom about 1 metre. However in those seats, the minute someone on the left-hand window seat gets up, they can stare right down into your suite, essentially defeating the purpose of the dividers. 

Also if you were seated on the left like myself, the people in the middle seat (if they had their privacy dividers down) could stare into your suite when turned on the diagonal. Although, on the left, you have your own dedicated aisle, as middle-seat passengers can only access the aisle on one side. So my conclusion would be if you want the most privacy, book a seat by the window, or to the right if you can.

Qantas A380 First Class Dining and Beverages

Dinner

There was a great range of food on the menu, with canapés, bread, starters, mains and a dessert available to order. The canapés were poached lobster and a goat’s cheese crostini which were small and tasty, but nothing crazy. 

I ordered the Signature Steak Sandwich as a starter and I was super happy with it. The steak was cooked about medium-well done, which is exactly how I like it and had a chilli and tomato relish that accompanied it and made it top-notch. Overall, it was really fresh, tasted authentic and felt homemade which I actually really appreciated. 

For the main I ordered the Seared Beef Fillet with potato puree and asparagus. It was cooked about medium-rare and was accompanied with Bundaberg hot mustard and sea salt flakes. 

This was definitely one of my favourite meals! It was great to have a fantastic steak onboard a plane. It felt like a home-cooked meal which I really appreciated, and had a restaurant-like presentation and taste to it. The potato puree on the side was packed with flavour, salty, buttery and herby, despite it looking a little bleak. The side salad and asparagus were nothing special, but I appreciated the good amount of veggies. On the side, I was also given bread of my choice and either olive oil, balsamic or butter to go along with it. The meals exceeded my expectations and dinner was really delicious. 

On the downside, the whole dinner service lasted well over 2.5 hours. My order was taken at about 11 hours to go and dessert didn’t end till after 8.5 hours to go. In fact, I was so tired and restless from waiting for them to bring/take my meals away that I skipped out on dessert and just asked for my bed to be made. Personally, I really don’t like when meal services drag out as I feel like I can’t fully relax or get started on doing work, watching a movie or reading a book.

Since the evening meal service lasted 2-3 hours in total, the cabin lights stayed on the entire first 3 or so hours of the flight. Considering it was a night flight it bothered me, and there were definitely other people in the cabin waiting to sleep too. For passengers on a Round the World ticket, this could be even more frustrating as it’s even more important to stay relaxed and recharged before your destination. 

Breakfast

Fortunately, breakfast was another great meal service with plenty to choose from. I ordered the Fresh Green Juice with lemon, apple, lime, spinach and cucumber to begin with. It was not only fresh and sweet but tasted like one you’d get at a cafe. I also opted for seasonal fruit salad and a warm croissant with berry jam- both great additions. I had the Buttermilk Pancakes with strawberry compote, honey mascarpone cream and toasted hazelnuts for my main course. Although on the smaller side, these were fluffy, warm and really filling. I’m not usually a fan of mascarpone, but the creamy texture was perfect with the toasted hazelnuts and added a light and tart flavour to the dish. 

I was also really happy with the service time, it seemed to last only about an hour. Definitely a big improvement from the dinner service. 

Overall, dining onboard the Qantas A380 First Class cabin proved to be a delicious experience. However, I was slightly disappointed with the longer dinner service considering it was an overnight flight.

Qantas First Class Amenities, Extras and Entertainment

Amenity Kit

Onboard the Qantas A380 First Class cabin, you receive an amenity kit, soft-cotton sleepwear, and have access to the onboard lounge area also available for Business Class passengers.

The amenity kit provided was a little underwhelming as there was not a wide variety of products given. Although the skincare was of good quality, I would have loved to see things like body spray/perfume, a mirror or even a comb. Inside was a dental kit, earplugs, thin socks, an eye mask, and LaGaia products including Sodium Hyaluronate Hydration Serum, Peppermint Lip Balm, and Amethyst Cream. Of course, it also came with the toiletries bag itself. I was also given a pair of their iconic soft-cotton Qantas pyjamas and matching slippers. 

Onboard Lounge

This A380 features a new First Class and Business Class onboard lounge. It’s located on the upper deck, with booth seating for up to 10 passengers. The ambient lights and cushions create an inviting and comfortable space for relaxing or working. It’s a great change of scenery if you’re looking for a different atmosphere.

Up here, you’ll also find a self-serve minibar for drinks and snacks, plus a ‘Premium Lounge Menu’ with more choices of drinks and snacks. This is dependent on your flight time and destination. Being able to unwind in the onboard lounge is an incredible bonus when flying around the world. It means you’re able to chat to your friends or complete some work before your next stop!

Entertainment

The 18-inch high-definition seat back entertainment screen is great quality, with high resolution and really easy to use. All controls were efficient and simple and I thought it was a decent distance from the flat bed to the screen. It’s important to keep in mind that the screen is faced on an angle, just like the flat bed is. So in the take-off/landing position of the chair, you face forward towards the back of someone else’s seat. Then, to eat, sleep and watch movies you swivel your seat to be on a diagonal. This creates a more intimate feel and mimics that you’re in a private suite. 

There was a wide range of entertainment onboard, with new movies, box sets, audiobooks and the ability to view flight time and maps. I was really happy with the handheld controller to navigate the screen. 

Qantas A380 First Class Summary

Flying on the Qantas A380 First Class cabin was overall an impressive experience. Although a little bit of a chaotic process at the beginning, Qantas stepped up when it came to dining and the incredibly comfortable fully flat bed. 

I would have liked to see more staff available for First Class passengers since it was almost a full cabin. Passengers looking to fly on the Qantas A380 First Class cabin should expect an excellent dining experience and a remarkable sleep. It’s important to remember if you’re after more privacy, book a seat at either of the window seats. 

If you’re looking to fly on the Qantas A380 First Class cabin, please chat with an airfare specialist for more information. Or, view our Qantas Round the World deals here.