Qantas' new Airbus A380 first class sleep service

Qantas..it's first class...the lavs and amenity kits, food don't cut it. Why spend on one area and not all....consistency is key!

From the photos, Qantas' A380 First Class resembles pleasant Business Class on other carriers. Not very private.

Qantas First is great for space,not that private,but food is very average compared to Emirates and Singapore

Qantas first class looks like Etihad business class. Not worth the extra $ when you can get the same for less elsewhere.

I think the new bedding looks fantastic. And pillow menus are very welcome... memory foam pillow? sign me up! And the sleepwear looks excellent. Sure, the amenity kit isn't the most decadent, and the food isn't "ultra hardcore caviar-and-foie-gras-with-truffles trying-to-be-French enema haute-cuisine" but the amenity kit is perfectly adequate and the food is still very nice. Sure, I'd like a bit of truffles-and-foie-gras on the menu (albeit I dislike caviar). But there's enough high-end champagne to more than drink your money's worth, great lounges, and lots of space (the ultimate luxury on an airplane). Emirates First is great but it can feel a touch cramped. I don't really like the amenity kits either. And sure the food is great but the only "super-luxe" item on the EK First menu is caviar, which as I said isn't something I really like. Also, the food in the EK first lounges in Dubai? Sorry, the a la carte food there is surprisingly bland. And I've eaten at least six plates of a la carte there... when their "Korean beef ribs" have no discernible taste of chilli or garlic they're doing something very wrong.

I have flown in QF First on a number of occasions and the main difference for me is the cabin crew. On every flight, the crew were exemplary and could not be faulted. I have also flown with both Emirates and Etihad which was great I still prefer QANTAS

As I have said on these pages before, I feel EK is all bling and no substance and I certainly do feel cramped in their 1st cabin, Qantas first always makes me feel special, there's no fussiness of the middle east and Asian carriers that annoys me an I like the QF first cabin very much. You can put the mini-bar in and the gold touches but if you don't feel special then its pointless in my view.

Deodorant is the most under-rated item in the amenity kit. So many airlines omit it these days.

A few months back, at the end of April, emirates ended their service SYD-AKL-SYD. That service was one I'd been using since 2007 every 3 to 4 weeks in business class. They were using their Emirates A380. Previously, I did the trip on QANTAS, mostly in their B747-300 and sometimes the 400. Then one day, the QANTAS plane I was due to travel on had a technical problem which cancelled the flight, so they put me on the Emirates A380. Emirates at that stage were not code-share partners, and had only just begun their Tasman services....AND HOW!!...a bar in the sky to meet people!....such a good business environment. I then realised I had become 'rusted on' to QANTAS. Now that it's all ended, QANTAS has stepped in to fill the gap. Here's a list of what has occurred: QANTAS increased the prices of these sectors immediately after the change. QANTAS’ in-flight service has becomes casual, somewhat arrogant. QANTAS’ business lounge is no match for Emirates lounge in the food and wifi departments…especially so when comparing the lounges available in Auckland. QANTAS’ ‘lay-flat’ beds aren’t lay-flat. QANTAS’ seating layout doesn’t offer aisle access in all business seats (something I run into on my QF7 and 8 flights). QANTAS aircraft are grey and dull..they are coloured a bit like the inside of a sub-marine. Why don’t they use colours reflective of our colourful land? QANTAS aircraft don’t fully darken their cabins during sleep times…they have a lit ‘no smoking’ sign that all other airlines I fly got rid of years ago. A330 planes are good, but not as roomy, comfortable or quiet as A380. QANTAS’ B737 business class surely must be an industry joke. ...and QANTAS doesn't allow the use of Emirates expiring miles, and won't give tier bonuses. I really wonder where the real benefit of code-sharing and frequent flyer points accumulation is. ...time to try a different tack.... Air New Zealand..?...tell me, someone!

I'm all with Tempus and Crosscourt, qantas service is exemplary. I'm not a bling guy but a crew member who remembers my name on the air bridge before she's seen my boarding pass is gold. Is that's what rusted on means, I'm ok with that.

private pilot you are so right well said i agree with your comments. Just like the opening line to the article While we won't see a mid-life refresh for Qantas' Airbus A380 until 2019" they are so far behind everyone else 2019 what they bring in as new will be outdated by then and as some of our fellow writers have said Qantas First is like the EK SIA new business class that is actually now 2017

QF First Class. Definitely not worth the money and is comparable to SQ J Class. if you want true First Class - Air France, Lufthansa and Qatar are the ways to go. We all have our preference I know, but given space, privacy , intimacy and service in the cabin setting, these three are hard to beat. QF would do better to scrub their F class and settle for their once again substandard business product. How they survive, I do not know!

What happens if your name isn't Martin Grant ? LOL :)

We mere mortals can only dream of flying in F frequently, happy for QF or anyone else for that matter to sit me up the front...!!! In reality the F product is actually good, where else can you have a steak sandwich and knock it back with a bottle of RWT, after the Tattinger '02 of course...with warmed olives etc. QANTAS - can you please make the PJs to fit 'short fat' people, we're not all male models anymore... :)

Very unhappy with the downgrading of QF First....the new amenities are awful. Very clear intent to cost cut. Food was poor, sleeper suits looked second hand and seats are well past prime condition. Won’t be buying a F ticket again, very disappointed.

Totally agree with those who are not fans of the Claustrophobia Box Suites as well as those who appreciate the excellent QF cabin crew. Naturally friendly and cheerfully friendly as opposed to the programmed robots on other carriers. Just hope the mid term A380 upgrades does not squeeze space in all classes.