G'day! Welcome to the next report in this series of flights down under! After LAN's AKL-SYD 5th freedom flight on the previous leg, we connect to another 5th freedom flight–this time British Airways' Sydney to Singapore route.
We originally had over 7 hours in Sydney and were planning on going into the city for lunch, but with the 1.5 hour delay on the AKL-SYD flight, we decided to stay at the airport. Plus we had some friends that would be flying through SYD the same day, so we planned to meet up for a bit.
Coming off the LAN flight from Auckland, we headed towards the Qantas First Class lounge.
And here we are again, 10 days later, going past the cool living wall at the entrance to the QF F lounge.
Great views of the tarmac from the lounge.
It's an A380-palooza
I enjoyed a glass of Mumm Rosé as we were waiting for our friends' flight to arrive. That carpet is very trippy.
When our friends' flight got in, we went to meet them at the gate and on the way spotted our LAN 787-9 leaving the gate to head back to Auckland. A beautiful bird, especially in that livery. Speaking of liveries, also love the Fiji Airways livery in the background.
After hanging out for a bit, we headed back to the QF F lounge. I had reserved a facial with head and shoulder massage at the SPA. Free 30 minute spa treatments are a great perk of the Qantas First lounge, but be sure to reserve as soon as you check-in as open slots are hard to come by.
Feeling refreshed and revitalized, I then had a shower.
Having not eaten since the bland breakfast on board the LAN flight, it was time for a late lunch. We had a seat in one of the restaurant sections.
Nice view of a oneworld lineup from the table
AA 77W pushing back
More Mumm Brut Rosé to start
SQ A380 taxiing and the Domestic Terminal in the background.
Delicious Salmon Tartare and Salt & Pepper Squid appetizers
For the mains, we had the Thai spicy beef that we had enjoyed 10 days earlier and the Mirrool Creek lamb that was not available during our last visit.
The lamb was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. Glad they had it this time!
Cheese plate for dessert
Some shots around the Qantas First lounge. There are lots of seating areas, aside from the several restaurant sections. It wasn't crowded that day, which made for a very relaxing atmosphere.
A library area with a small children's play area.
Nice views of the tarmac from anywhere you sit.
MH A330 in oneworld livery.
We ran into the very nice Nepalese host we had met on our last visit and ended up sitting in his section to chat for a bit and had some sashimi.
It was then time to say goodbye to the wonderful Qantas F lounge and head to the gate.
It was a long walk to the gate and boarding had already begun when we arrived.
When our boarding passes were scanned, they beeped and we were asked to step to the side–Oooh, I like that sound!
In stringing together this complicated mileage-maxing itinerary, I had booked the BA flights in Premium Economy as a roundtrip from Singapore. Judging by how crowded it was in the gate area, I suspected that lovely beep was an operational upgrade. And sure enough, it was! Score! One of the nice perks of oneworld Emerald status.
I had already gotten a great deal on the flights in Premium Economy, so getting to fly the return in Business was awesome!
The Business cabin ended up being 100% full–I imagine some lucky people booked in J maybe have gotten op-ups to F.
The Club World seats, like the World Traveller Plus seats reviewed on the SIN-SYD flight, are a newer generation on the 77W.
My seat by the window towards the back of the Club World cabin. Note that all window seats in Club World are backwards facing.
The window seats are very private, although it can be difficult to access the aisle as you have to climb over someone else's legs if their footstool is down. This is why I normally try to select a window in the last row of Business when flying these seats, as they have direct aisle access: OpenSkies (by British Airways) Paris - New York in Business class
Legroom is great. I'm 5'10" and can't reach the seat in front of me when sitting up.
seat controls
The IFE screen is on the side wall. Notice when the partition is up, you are completely isolated–The BA J seat definitely offers a high level of privacy. With the partition down it is perfect for those travelling together as you face each other. If you are facing a stranger, however, it can be awkward.
View ouside the window.
A friendly flight attendant offers pre-departure drinks. Choice of water, orange juice, or Taittinger champagne
AirCalin A330 pulling in at the gate next door.
The seat doesn't have much storage except for this little drawer, which I find ideal for shoes.
We pushed back right on time and got a nice view of the AirCalin's nice livery.
Taxi time was short and we took off quickly
Blue skies above the clouds
Menus are distributed shortly after takeoff.
Very good selection of champagnes for Business class.
Nice wine list
Shortly after, Amenity kits containing Elemis products, as the bag announces, are distributed.
For the Apéritif, I enjoyed a glass of Castelnau Brut Rosé
Flying over the outback
Flight Attendants made a second pass to refill pre-dinner drinks, which was appreciated.
Starter course: Italian-style prosciutto with grilled artichokes and Kalamata olives. Roasted beetroot and Persian feta salad
Main course: Pan-fried barramundi filet in tomato caper sauce with fresh herb risotto
Cheese plate for dessert with some port
Coffee for afterwards
And a Cognac to finish.
Overall, it was a very satisfying meal and I was nice and full.
I got up to stretch a little after dinner. Flight attendants were making another round for after-dinner drinks. I have to say, service was very attentive for having such a full cabin.
Already missing New Zealand, I decide to dive into the world of Middle Earth and watch Hobbit movies.
I fell asleep during one of the movies and slept until I was awoken to prepare for landing.
Almost there.
PTV put away and footrest up for landing.
We landed in Singapore early, getting to the gate about 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Our 77W on arrival.
After some duty-free shopping we headed to the recently renovated Terminal 1 Transit Hotel for a few hours of rest before taking the next series of flights in the morning that would take us home to DC.
Thanks for reading!
See more
Verdict
British Airways
8.1/10
Cabin7.0
Cabin crew9.0
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Meal/catering8.0
Qantas First Class Lounge International - 1 - International
9.0/10
Comfort9.0
Meal/catering9.0
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Services9.0
Sydney - SYD
8.5/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.5
Services9.0
Cleanliness8.5
Singapore - SIN
10.0/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Conclusion
A very good flight with British Airways in Club World. Admittedly, BA's Business class seats are not in the same league as newer generations of full-flat seats offering full-aisle-access from every seat, such as the Zodiac Cirrus or B/E Aerospace Super Diamond. However, they are comfortable seats that offer a good amount of space and recline to a fully-flat 180 degrees. The window seats are very private, but can be difficult to climb in and out of when the person behind on the aisle has the seat in bed mode. The crew was lovely and very attentive. The Club World seats are awkward for service as FAs have to reach over partitions, so kudos to them for the great service on board.
The Qantas First Class lounge in Sydney was once again a wonderful experience. It was nice to be able to take advantage of the spa treatments this time. The long layover was perfect for getting the full lounge experience.
1 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
Great next part of your trip. Looks like you had a good flight with British Airways in Club, and the lounge in Sydney looks great, with some impressive views of the ramp!
Thanks Kévin for sharing this report with nice pictures!
Nice spotting of SYD even the weather was not good. The food in QF lounge was very appetizing! It is always nice to be upgraded to J, and even a window seat ^^ The J seat looks comfortable, but IMO only the windows seats will have such level of privacy (those middle 2 seat only OK for couples). BTW would the partition be lower for the meal delivery? The main course looks tasty. Only cheese plate for dessert? I would expect a cake or ice-cream would also be provided. I am very looking forward to your next JAL report!
Nice spotting of SYD even the weather was not good. - Thanks! Yeah, the weather was overcast, but sometimes it made for some interesting lighting.
The food in the lounge is amazing! Truly a First class experience!
It is always nice to be upgraded to J, and even a window seat ^^ - I know, it was perfect! Two seats together one of which was a window! Doesn't get better. I would have been a bit less excited had I gotten stuck in one of those middle seats.
Only cheese plate for dessert? I would expect a cake or ice-cream would also be provided - There was cake also, but I just got the cheese. After stuffing my face in the lounge, I couldn't bring myself to eat any more, haha
I am very looking forward to your next JAL report! - I'll try to post it this weekend! I'm gonna rough it in Economy on the next report :-)
Greetings Kevin and thanks for sharing this great report.
And here we are again, 10 days later, going past the cool living wall at the entrance to the QF F lounge. -Ahhh, if only this was an every 10 days experience...
Nice view of a oneworld lineup from the table. -Indeed, with a couple of Star tails sneaking in there too.
I commend you on your lounge menu selections. I must say those would all be my choices as well. Everything looks fantastic. Salmon sashimi and salmon tartare...nice to see light and healthy options but still decadent.
Ditto on the MH A330. It looks like you positioned lights and staged it!
When our boarding passes were scanned, they beeped and we were asked to step to the side--Oooh, I like that sound! Score! I have never had such an experience. What a treat.
Sounds like a nice service. Does everything taste a little better when you thought you were going to be sitting in the Premium Economy? ;)
I love the picture of the wine, coffee, cognac, and water. That signifies a successful meal.
Thanks again for the report, looking forward to the remainder. Happy flying.
Ahhh, if only this was an every 10 days experience... - Don't I wish! That would be the life
Indeed, with a couple of Star tails sneaking in there too. - Good eye! I knew that AC was in the mix, but I hadn't noticed that OZ tail until you said that!
Ditto on the MH A330. It looks like you positioned lights and staged it! - Thanks! Sometimes weather like this can make for some good lighting when the sun peaks through the dark clouds.
Score! I have never had such an experience. What a treat. - It's only happened to me a handful of times in my life, maybe 4 or 5. So it's definitely special when it happens
Does everything taste a little better when you thought you were going to be sitting in the Premium Economy? ;) - Haha, maybe. Though the catering in WTP is pretty decent. The good champagne and wines were the stars of the show, however.
I love the picture of the wine, coffee, cognac, and water. That signifies a successful meal. - I like to eat the proper French way with appropriate beverages for each course. Americans and Brits like to throw you a bunch of drinks at once. Fine with me! I'll still drink one at a time, haha.
It's an A380-palooza - I'm a little surprised to see the CZ A380 there, is there that much demand? I would have expected only B788 service.
I had reserved a facial with head and shoulder massage at the SPA. - You would ;)
Nice view of a oneworld lineup from the table - Plus two *A tails photobombing.
Oooh, I like that sound! - Consider it BA's wedding present ;)
Note that all window seats in Club World are backwards facing. - I really dislike these cabins. I've never flown them, but I can't imagine that I would like it since I'd feel weird sitting backwards on take-off/landing. I'm not an FA ;) Also, those honeymoon seats in the middle are extra close and extra private, better not get stuck with a stranger ;)
Menus are distributed shortly after takeoff. - I find the starters to be a little redundant to the salad they offer to all meals. The food on the menu sounded good, but then it didn't look fantastic (I guess BA is not known for its presentation... but still better than what you'd see on CX^^). No dessert is offered? You have to pick cheese or sweets? Or can you get both?
Flight Attendants made a second pass to refill pre-dinner drinks, which was appreciated. - A nice cover-up for slow service coming out of the galleys ;) A nice gesture none the less.
service was very attentive for having such a full cabin. - In my experiences, BA does have very attentive crews. They also seem to address passengers by name more than other carriers.
I was awoken to prepare for landing. - So no pictures of the pre-arrival snack?
I love how SYD has a nice array of pan-Pacific carriers like AirCalin, Air Vanuatu, Solomon Airlines, and more! I think it's what sets SYD apart from many other major airports around the world.
Frankly, I'm not impressed by neither British or Qantas' J products, but then again I'm quite rarely impressed by OneWorld carriers. I hear Qantas now has a new J layout on their A330s, but I'm curious as to why they didn't decide to have it on their A380s as well (similar to what MH is doing). Lord knows it's bound to save weight, especially on ultra long-haul flights like SYD-DFW or vice versa, or their flagship Australia-DXB-LHR. I think it would be a major step up for them and that passengers who purposefully booked on Emirates J for the sake of better privacy won't have to be disappointed if they had to be put on a Qantas J.
As for British it just irks me how they have a dysfunctional 2-4-2 J layout. Etihad's 2-4-2 I can very much appreciate because everyone still has direct aisle access, you can get 'honeymoon seats', and backwards facing seat as well if that's your thing. I read somewhere that they intend to have a new 1-2-1 layout installed on their 787-9s going from LHR to India. Though I must say their champagne list is quite impressive.
Flight-Report is a free website hosting more than 500 000 pictures and 17 000 reviews, without ads, this website can't exist. We understand that ads can be annoying, this is why we only display a maximum of 2 non-invasive ads per page.
To continue using Flight-Report, we invite you to add Flight-Report to your blocker's "white list".
#62 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
963 reviews
13 Comments
Thanks for sharing.
Qantas First lounge looks great
shots in Sydney are very nice specially MH A330
Traveling in such weather is awosme !
BA buisness class configuration would be better if it was 2-2-2 .
I like the MH A330 shot too, the lighting was good on the plane.
BA Business configuration is definitely dense at 2-4-2.
Nice spotting of SYD even the weather was not good. The food in QF lounge was very appetizing!
It is always nice to be upgraded to J, and even a window seat ^^ The J seat looks comfortable, but IMO only the windows seats will have such level of privacy (those middle 2 seat only OK for couples). BTW would the partition be lower for the meal delivery?
The main course looks tasty. Only cheese plate for dessert? I would expect a cake or ice-cream would also be provided.
I am very looking forward to your next JAL report!
Nice spotting of SYD even the weather was not good.
- Thanks! Yeah, the weather was overcast, but sometimes it made for some interesting lighting.
The food in the lounge is amazing! Truly a First class experience!
It is always nice to be upgraded to J, and even a window seat ^^
- I know, it was perfect! Two seats together one of which was a window! Doesn't get better. I would have been a bit less excited had I gotten stuck in one of those middle seats.
Only cheese plate for dessert? I would expect a cake or ice-cream would also be provided
- There was cake also, but I just got the cheese. After stuffing my face in the lounge, I couldn't bring myself to eat any more, haha
I am very looking forward to your next JAL report!
- I'll try to post it this weekend! I'm gonna rough it in Economy on the next report :-)
Wow, absolutely fantastic spotting shots at SYD!
The lounge looks great, interesting design, elegant, great food and lots of good views!
I love the colours BA use in their cabins, simple and elegant IMO.
Overall it looks like you had a good flight with BA, it's really nice you got upgraded :).
Have a good one, see you!
Wow, absolutely fantastic spotting shots at SYD!
- Why thank you :-)
The lounge looks great, interesting design, elegant, great food and lots of good views!
- Yep! That sums it up quite well.
Overall it looks like you had a good flight with BA, it's really nice you got upgraded :)
- Yes indeed!
Tack så mycket!
And here we are again, 10 days later, going past the cool living wall at the entrance to the QF F lounge.
-Ahhh, if only this was an every 10 days experience...
Nice view of a oneworld lineup from the table.
-Indeed, with a couple of Star tails sneaking in there too.
I commend you on your lounge menu selections. I must say those would all be my choices as well. Everything looks fantastic. Salmon sashimi and salmon tartare...nice to see light and healthy options but still decadent.
Ditto on the MH A330. It looks like you positioned lights and staged it!
When our boarding passes were scanned, they beeped and we were asked to step to the side--Oooh, I like that sound!
Score! I have never had such an experience. What a treat.
Sounds like a nice service. Does everything taste a little better when you thought you were going to be sitting in the Premium Economy? ;)
I love the picture of the wine, coffee, cognac, and water. That signifies a successful meal.
Thanks again for the report, looking forward to the remainder. Happy flying.
Ahhh, if only this was an every 10 days experience...
- Don't I wish! That would be the life
Indeed, with a couple of Star tails sneaking in there too.
- Good eye! I knew that AC was in the mix, but I hadn't noticed that OZ tail until you said that!
Ditto on the MH A330. It looks like you positioned lights and staged it!
- Thanks! Sometimes weather like this can make for some good lighting when the sun peaks through the dark clouds.
Score! I have never had such an experience. What a treat.
- It's only happened to me a handful of times in my life, maybe 4 or 5. So it's definitely special when it happens
Does everything taste a little better when you thought you were going to be sitting in the Premium Economy? ;)
- Haha, maybe. Though the catering in WTP is pretty decent. The good champagne and wines were the stars of the show, however.
I love the picture of the wine, coffee, cognac, and water. That signifies a successful meal.
- I like to eat the proper French way with appropriate beverages for each course. Americans and Brits like to throw you a bunch of drinks at once. Fine with me! I'll still drink one at a time, haha.
Thanks for stopping by!
It's an A380-palooza
- I'm a little surprised to see the CZ A380 there, is there that much demand? I would have expected only B788 service.
I had reserved a facial with head and shoulder massage at the SPA.
- You would ;)
Nice view of a oneworld lineup from the table
- Plus two *A tails photobombing.
Oooh, I like that sound!
- Consider it BA's wedding present ;)
Note that all window seats in Club World are backwards facing.
- I really dislike these cabins. I've never flown them, but I can't imagine that I would like it since I'd feel weird sitting backwards on take-off/landing. I'm not an FA ;) Also, those honeymoon seats in the middle are extra close and extra private, better not get stuck with a stranger ;)
Menus are distributed shortly after takeoff.
- I find the starters to be a little redundant to the salad they offer to all meals. The food on the menu sounded good, but then it didn't look fantastic (I guess BA is not known for its presentation... but still better than what you'd see on CX^^). No dessert is offered? You have to pick cheese or sweets? Or can you get both?
Flight Attendants made a second pass to refill pre-dinner drinks, which was appreciated.
- A nice cover-up for slow service coming out of the galleys ;) A nice gesture none the less.
service was very attentive for having such a full cabin.
- In my experiences, BA does have very attentive crews. They also seem to address passengers by name more than other carriers.
I was awoken to prepare for landing.
- So no pictures of the pre-arrival snack?
I love how SYD has a nice array of pan-Pacific carriers like AirCalin, Air Vanuatu, Solomon Airlines, and more! I think it's what sets SYD apart from many other major airports around the world.
Frankly, I'm not impressed by neither British or Qantas' J products, but then again I'm quite rarely impressed by OneWorld carriers. I hear Qantas now has a new J layout on their A330s, but I'm curious as to why they didn't decide to have it on their A380s as well (similar to what MH is doing). Lord knows it's bound to save weight, especially on ultra long-haul flights like SYD-DFW or vice versa, or their flagship Australia-DXB-LHR. I think it would be a major step up for them and that passengers who purposefully booked on Emirates J for the sake of better privacy won't have to be disappointed if they had to be put on a Qantas J.
As for British it just irks me how they have a dysfunctional 2-4-2 J layout. Etihad's 2-4-2 I can very much appreciate because everyone still has direct aisle access, you can get 'honeymoon seats', and backwards facing seat as well if that's your thing. I read somewhere that they intend to have a new 1-2-1 layout installed on their 787-9s going from LHR to India. Though I must say their champagne list is quite impressive.
QF lounge looks super great !
SYD is a amazing airport for spotting you have so many company from everywhere with beautiful livery ! :)
Look like you had a nice flight with BA :)
Thanks for this airport bonus haha ^^
Looking forward for your next report !
See ya
Login to post a comment.