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Sydney to Rome in business class: Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad or Qatar

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deangelj1

deangelj1

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deangelj1

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 11 Feb 2017

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Ok, in the same mode as a recent thread going from Sydney to Moscow, I'm requesting some feedback please on the Sydney to Rome route in business. I'm a newbie to J class flying and I've seen some nice seats in the A380 cabins of various airlines.

Some questions in particular:

- does anyone fly the 380 all the way to Rome?
- what would you rate as you most important feature in the trip?  (e.g. seat, service, food, amenities, etc)
- if price was not a determining factor which is best

thanks in advance..
ajstubbs

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ajstubbs

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

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QF/EK partnership will get you there on the A380 but they're the only ones that will. A good option at the right price. SQ fly their 777 to Rome which has the same or the upgraded version of their A380 seat. Qatar fly their 787 to Rome connecting from their A380 out of Syd which is consistent and excellent product the whole way and very comfortable planes in terms of atmosphere. Cathay are the other one i would consider as they fly their nice new A350 to FCO connecting with either an A330 or 777 out of Syd.

My preference would be QR or QF/EK as I'm fussy about the type of plane I'm flying on and love the service on QF and QR but thats just me :)

Last editedby ajstubbs at Feb 11, 2017, 11:23 AM.
TheRealBabushka

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TheRealBabushka

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Business class on those 4 airlines is much of a muchness. Emirates would be my last choice because I really hate the décor of EK cabins.

The determining factor for me would be frequent flyer accruals. 

btaus

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btaus

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If you prefer SQ, please note: SIN-FCO only operates 2x per week.

Yanni

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Yanni

Aegean Airlines - Miles & Bonus

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SQ for me. The updated 777 Business as on the A380 is a great product, and your connection at Changi will be short too. I'm also a big fan of the impeccable SQ service versus the up & down Emirates experience.

deangelj1

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deangelj1

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If you prefer SQ, please note: SIN-FCO only operates 2x per week.




I just checked their website. Looks like the quickest trips go via Frankfurt. The more direct SYD->SIN,SIN->FCO has at least a 28 hr layover in Singapore... I'm traveling in June 2017.

Last editedby deangelj1 at Feb 12, 2017, 11:58 AM.
deangelj1

deangelj1

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deangelj1

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 11 Feb 2017

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SQ for me. The updated 777 Business as on the A380 is a great product, and your connection at Changi will be short too. I'm also a big fan of the impeccable SQ service versus the up & down Emirates experience.

See my note above. Seems like the direct route has a long layover in SIN. Am I missing something?

thanks

ajstubbs

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ajstubbs

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What? There's an SQ A380 flight that arrives in SIN at 9.20pm or a 777 flight that gets in at 12.20am and the flight to FCO leaves at 2am. Where on earth did you get a 28hr stopover from?

Last editedby ajstubbs at Feb 12, 2017, 01:41 PM.
deangelj1

deangelj1

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deangelj1

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sorry - yes you're correct of course. I don't know what happened when I searched this morning - the Singapore Airlines site was only showing connecting flights from Changi at least a day later... thanks

flyingvisit

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flyingvisit

BA

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Hi,   For you, it may depend on frequent flyer affiliation, potentially in the AU market, either Qantas and One World or Star Alliance.    


For OW, I'd recommend Qatar if you fly before the northern summer schedule change.  This is because before, they fly 787s from Doha to Rome and after, they switch to A330/200 or 300s.   So check their website for aircraft type. Why? The 787 seat is excellent and the same as A380. So you get a consistent high quality product, pyjamas, amenity kit, dine on demand - importantly! On the A380, add the inflight lounge.  In Doha their J lounge is very good....hunt out the showers at the far end of lounge, through the dining area and quiet sleeping zone.  They're underused compared to those few in the middle of the lounge in the bathroom area.   Overall, with Qatar, it's a cut above.  The A330 seat is different and I'm unsure of their A330 retrofit programme, so it could be a risk, although the newly retrofitted seat (BAE parallel Diamond)  is still decent and fully lie flat.  Google this site for Thai Airways 787 Business class review in July 2014, for a look.

SQ Is the pick for Star Alliance or parking Virgin miles,  but their last flight from Sydney with the fastest connection, SQ242, is not the most current refreshed J product as you will see on their four class 77W fleet. It is still fully lie flat and the same as the A380 (not the regional business wedgie.) however still solid,  I think SQ is not as slick and warm as they used to be, and I've flown countless flights on them over the years.  Look on their website for book-the-cook meal selection.     Perhaps the key differentiator is that usually, SQ recovers well from any disruptions whereas the ME3 do not.   If you're starting out with Star, park your miles in TG, as once you hit Gold (50K in one year or 40 K per year over two years) you get two years, and an upgrade voucher, while with SQ (50k in one year) You get one year, no upgrade voucher.  However SQ Gold can use Virgin lounges in AU but TG cannot.

Emirates is also reasonable in business, but they tend to be more erratic in service quality. Never a bad flight, but plenty of mediocre.  If on the A380, be sure to select the window, window seats in A or K numbers as these have 7inches more leg room than the aisle seats.  Do your homework carefully on whether you book QF code flights or EK code,  if keen to earn QF Status.  

Let's us know your final choice. Have agreed trip. 

deangelj1

deangelj1

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deangelj1

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OK thanks. I'm currently tossing up between Qatar and SQ. I'm flying early June and it looks like Qatar do still operate the 380/787 combo to FCO then (at selected times).

Serg

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Serg

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OK thanks. I'm currently tossing up between Qatar and SQ. I'm flying early June and it looks like Qatar do still operate the 380/787 combo to FCO then (at selected times).


CX or AY. SQ is nice, but they not in OneWord and would be good choice if you have StarAlliance account as well.

Last editedby Serg at Feb 21, 2017, 10:48 AM.

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