Review of Qantas flight from Sydney to Singapore in Business

The day started out early with a flight from CBR down to SYD. It is a regular short flight on a Dash-8 aircraft so i won't go into details nor write a report on it.
I was looking particular to this flight as it would be my First time in a QF International long haul service ever since achieving Platinum status.
For those who are unfamiliar to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Programme, Qantas Platinum confers the following benefits:
- First Class Lounge Access
- Priority Check in
- Priority Baggage
- Excess baggage allowance of 20kg
- Priority Boarding
- Priority Waitlisting
I have a checklist everytime i travel internationally. This will be checked the afternoon prior to the scheduled departure day.
- Online Check in
- Book First Lounge Suite
- If Suite not available, book table for restaurant
- Check Expertflyer for current availability, check for Platinum shadows and seat map
Fast forward to the day of departure at Sydney Airport. As a platinum, i am provided with express departure cards to help expedite the process through customs and border control. Being a seasoned international trailer, i have a stack of pre-filled arrival and departure cards which i whipped out of my bag.
With the formalities completed and through security, i am met with the mandatory duty free section that one has to walk through. A quick short cut through the cosmetic section brings me to the main shopping area of the terminal.
The Qantas International First Class lounge is 1 level up, and is not far away from the central shopping area. A quick escalator ride and i am at the frosted glass windows leading to the spacious walkway that one has to enter to access the First lounge. As usual, Nestor, the First host, is there to greet the travellers and he signals me to go through. (I felt bad as he instantly recognised me, signalling that I've had far too many international trips!)
The walkway is designed to incorporate an indoor garden which is on the wall. The walkway also boasts a panoramic view of the tarmac and its surroundings.
Upon ascension of the escalators, one gets elevated into a giant reception ares that wouldn't look out of place in a very modern hotel in central Milan. The Boarding pass and corresponding Platinum card is verified and i am made welcome into the lounge. The pre booked suite is confirmed by the lounge host. The spa allotment is enquired and i made sure i did get the Head massage as i was craving it after endless studying the week prior.
I am then escorted to a waiting area where i am presented with the Lunch menu that is made to order. A attendant is also not far away to make sure that i am well taken care of. I am asked my choice of water, and as usual i order a Sparkling water wit lemon slice without ice. That was promptly delivered whilst i was perusing the lunch menu. The suite is ready after 10 and i am promptly escorted into the readily prepared one.
A lounge attendant also promptly comes and asks me what i would like to have for the afternoon.
The Menu was very extensive, and it was a hard choice selecting the suitable dish.
My Favorite section - Yes I'm a raging alcoholic

In the end i settled for a Buffalo cheese appetiser with roasted capsicums, eggplant and drizzled with Olive oil

and a Salmon and Avocado Tartare.

This was accompanied with a glass of Taittinger brut champagne. I am trying to pace myself for the flight as it was in Premium Economy.
The lounge boasts a very spacious environment. The next few photos do not do it justice on its scale of proportion, but you get the idea.

A quick check of Expertflyer again yielded some unsurprising results. It showed that the seat as allocated on my boarding pass has become vacant! Frantically, i paced toward the reception area and got hold of a first host who did a quick key type in the system. She then printed out a different boarding pass and said the magical words everyone loves to hear: You've been upgraded today into Business! Thank you Qantas!
Excited i was very. The Boarding pass had me in seat 4K. I was stalking the flight the past week and it showed a non configured Boeing 744 that featured legacy First seats. Qantas does not sell First class to Singapore since the alliance with Emirates, so business passengers are alb to be seated there instead. I was one of the lucky few that day.
Flight was called for boarding and i promptly and eagerly waltzed down to the Gate. Today's gate was 24, a short walk away from the lounge. Upon arrival at the gate, boarding was still underway, but the priority queue was empty and i walked right through. I believed i got a few glares from the main queue by doing that being a considerably youthful flier.
Into the aircraft, found seat 4K and first impression was How very spacious this is!

Seat 4A and 4K are bassinet locations when the plane is used with F service, which makes the seat very spacious when the bassinet is not in use.
Legroom was ample and seat very comfortable. This seat featured an ottoman that cannot be used for companion dining surprisingly. Due to the location of the bassinets, 4A and 4K are situated very close to 4E and 4F. Champers were offered and the usual service items like the amenity kits were distributed.

We were scheduled for a non-ontime schedule which is pretty standard for a 744 service, and i have come to expect that as well.
After takeoff, an aperitif was offered and i selected a very delightful red wine from the Canberra District named Clonakilla. The aperitif was also accompanied with a snack pack for pre lunch nibbles.
Lets peruse the Menu together
QANTAS
BUSINESS CLASS
AUSTRALIA TO ASIA
JUNE 2014
MENU
Our Rockpool inspired menu, designed by Neil Perry, allows you to enjoy a completely personalised dining experience. You can choose from our extensive menu after take-off or from a selection of plates throughout your flight.
SMALL PLATES
Caramelised Fennel and Onion Soup with Croutons
Pastrami with Grilled Vegetable Salad
Gruyere and Jalapeño Quesadillas with Tomato Salsa
MAIN PLATES
Ricotta, Lentil and Eggplant Moussaka with Red Capsicum Sauce
Chicken Schnitzel and Swiss Cheese Toasted Sandwich with Coleslaw
Seared Gemfish with Lemon and Herb Butter, Potato Puree and Green Beans
Allow Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Pumpkin, Almond Couscous and Chimichurri Sauce
Salad of Garden Leaves with Balsamic Vinaigrette
DESSERT
Selection of Cheese served with Accompaniments
Baked Rhubarb and Apple Shortcake with Double Cream
Nice Cream Ice Cream
Seasonal Fruit
CHOCOLATES
Valrhona Chocolates
SNACKS
Enjoy a range of snacks and drinks at any time throughout your flight.
Whole Seasonal Fruit
Coconut and White Chocolate Cookie
Kettle Potato Chips
Valrhona Chocolates
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
Mushroom and Asparagus Stir Fried Rice
Lucky Duck Noodles with Sesame
Spiced Chicken Wings with Chilli
BEVERAGES
CHAMPAGNE
Today's menu features one of these sumptuous champagnes. Duval-Leroy Brut, Billecart-Salmon Brut, Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve or Tattinger Cuvee Prestige Brut.
AUSTRALIAN WINE
An awarded selection of premium Australian Wines
APERITIF
Bloody Mary
Campari and Soda
Gin and Tonic
Vodka and Ginger Beer
SPIRITS
Absolut Vodka, Sweden
Bacardi White Rum, Puerto Rico
Beefeater 24 London Dry Gin, England
Chivas Regal 12yo Scotch Whisky, Scotland
The Glenlivet 12yo Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland
Bundaberg Dark Rum, Australia
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, USA
Jameson Irish Whiskey, Ireland
COGNAC AND LIQUEURS
Martell VSOP Old Fine Cognac, France
Cointreau, France
Irish Cream Liqueur, Ireland
BEERS
A selection of premium and popular Australian Beer
DESSERT & FORTIFIED WINES
Australian dessert and fortified wine is available for your enjoyment
NON ALCOHOLIC
Juice
Soft Drink
Mineral Water
HOT DRINKS
Espresso* or plunger coffee
Selection of fine Dilmah Tea
Vittoria Chocochino Hot Chocolate
*Not Available on A330 or 767
J5_19_23_35_51_81_AUS-ASIA_JUN14

This seat features a very solid dining table that must be lifted off the side panel.

Tablecloth laid and the serviceware is placed.

1st course was empanadas. Paired with a delightful Grosset Polish hill riesling.

I fell asleep for the rest of the flight being too drunk from the lounge. The seat reclined into a flat bed which probably helped me to drift off to dreamland.
Arrival into SIN was a painless affair and being a citizen, i was off through the immigration in no time.
As a serial Hand Luggage Only (HLO) traveller, no bags were checked in and there was no need to wait along the carousel for the bags to appear with the quick immigration process.
To find out about more of my travels or to see some of the other Lounge Reviews i have made, please visit my dedicated blog.
DOSSIER | LUXUS http://dossierluxus.wordpress.com