Qantas A380 returns to Sydney-Hong Kong
The superjumbo and its first class suites will once again be a regular visitor to the Asian metropolis.

Executive Traveller exclusive
Qantas will give its Sydney-Hong Kong travellers a superjumbo experience from late March through June, with an Airbus A380 moving onto the 9.5 hour route – and offering first class suites to selected business class passengers, along with free premium economy upgrades for some economy flyers.
Slotting in as QF127/QF128 across a slew of dates from Sunday March 26 to mid-June, the superjumbo brings not only a significant boost in the number of business class seats – from 28 on the current Airbus A330 to 64 stretched along the A380’s upper deck – but also a premium economy cabin, something that’s lacking entirely on the A330.
Qantas expects some of those extra seats will be filled by travellers from Melbourne, given its decision to push back the return of Melbourne-Hong Kong flights.
The airline resumed flights to Hong Kong on January 30, and as exclusively reported by Executive Traveller this week will also reopen the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge which was declared “permanently closed” in 2020.
Hong Kong’s superjumbo upgrade sees Qantas pressing into active duty an Airbus A380 which has recently been kept “on standby to assist with operational recovery.”
Unlike its siblings which have been steadily returning to the skies, this superjumbo remains in the ‘classic' configuration with the original Skybed business class berths (and their 2-2-2 layout).
But some of those business class passengers will find themselves enjoying the more spacious surrounds of the A380’s 14 first class suites, albeit without first class meals and drinks.
Your free Qantas A380 first class upgrade
Rather than set up a full first class service on the Sydney-Hong Kong route for the 12 weeks during which the A380 is flying, Qantas will continue to sell the flight as a two-cabin offering of business and economy – but will allow top-tier frequent flyers in business class to select a first class suite at the pointy end of the plane.
They'll have the same meals, wine and service as anyone else in business class, but it’s all done in a far more comfortable environment.
Executive Traveller understands that savvy Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, along with Chairman’s Lounge members, could be able to upgrade themselves from business class seat to a first class suite on their booking’s seat selection screen.
The A380’s first class cabin should appear when choosing their seat – by clicking anywhere between row 1 and row 5, they’ll land in one of the 14 first class suites.
However, that self-upgrade to first class might not be available until sometime next week: Qantas tells Executive Traveller that top priority will be given to accommodating Melbourne-Hong Kong passengers who are being rebooked via Sydney.
Any suites remaining unoccupied in the days prior to the flight can be assigned by Qantas to selected frequent flyers, or they may even appear on the business class seating chart if you use the Manage My Booking page to check or change your seat.
(You can even ask at the check-in desk or the lounge if there’s a vacant suite still up for grabs, or use the Qantas T-80 tactic as your departure date nears. On the day of the flight, Qantas plans to offer unallocated First seats to top-tier frequent flyers.)
We suggest suites 1A and 1K for that ‘private jet’ feeling; 2F if you want a cosy nest; and 5A and 5K for maximum privacy.
For the best view on the daytime flight to Hong Kong, opt for 4A and 4K, while on the overnight return leg, light sleepers should avoid 5F.
Your free Qantas A380 premium economy upgrade
Likewise, Qantas won’t be selling premium economy on the Hong Kong-bound A380s – but nor will it let those 35 recliners go empty.
Executive Traveller understands Platinum, Platinum One frequent flyers and Chairman’s Lounge members booked into economy can expect to see the premium economy cabin exposed on the seat selection map as rows 24-28.
Again, expect the same meals, drinks and service as your downstairs economy class compatriots, but at least you’ll be in more comfortable and spacious seat, as well as a quieter, more intimate cabin.
We suggest choosing seats 24A, 24B, 24J or 24K for the most legroom, as you can stretch out all the way to the bulkhead wall.
Low-status and no-status passengers stuck in economy can try the Qantas T-80 rule to snare their premium economy seat; on the day of the flight, Qantas plans to offer empty premium economy seats to top-tier frequent flyers in economy.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
26 Jul 2012
Total posts 37
Qantas never has or does service Melbourne very well, so hopefully CX or another HKG based airline picks up on this 'new delay'. QF is not my airline of choice. As population grows in Melbourne, let's hope that it is better served by airlines that take market share seriously, as QF misses that mark as they continually demonstrate!
07 Sep 2021
Total posts 8
We have 7 refurbished A380 and 3 non refurb (2 out of 12 "remain in the boneyard")
I would have thought Qantas would quickly refurb the remaining 3 aircraft instead of alienating business customers with a product that should not be 2-2-2 in 2023.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2023
Total posts 1
agree.
Already booked my next London trip on a QF codeshare via Emirates. Its the one thing i hope the current CEO of QF doesnt break.
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 4
We were affected by this. Originally on HK > Melb. 2 travelers in our party are Platinum and 1 gold. There is no seat selection for the upper deck Prem Econ, they are all blocked out. Our Upgrade Requests did retain through the schedule change, never got any notification from Qantas just saw the article on here and went to check our booking.
This is insanely frustrating. Int to Domestic connections at Sydney are a dumpster fire and Qantas is pushing hard on the "Syndey First" mentality since COVID resumption for every flight is so maddening. I have booked 4 trips Bus and 6 Econ with other airlines this year because of it; only booked this one with Qantas because of our larger group, the direct flight and we figured our chances of upgrade would be high. I spent $112k on flights with Qantas in 2019, this year will probably be $40k best case. They are throwing away business with these decisions.
14 Apr 2014
Total posts 47
To play devils advocate, GoldenPony, Qantas has been pretty transparent as to why MEL-HKG got canned until June. Their HK ground handler simply didn't have the capacity to handle more than one flight a day for them (https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-flight-delays-melbourne-hong-kong) - I think Qantas genuinely would otherwise prefer accommodating your party on a direct
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 4
This doesnt explain the decision to retain almost no direct flights from Melbourne to Asia.
Currently flying SYD > Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bali, Seoul.
Currently flying MEL > Singapore, Bali
And I have flown 4 times in the last 3 months MEL > Singapore on QF, 3 of the flights were 100% full, my flight last week was completely booked full 2 weeks out and I was forced to book connection through SYD and missed a 1.5hr connection because of the horrible INT>Domestic system in Sydney.
Demand is there yet Qantas refuse to add MEL services and always choose SYD as first priority. The smart decision would have been to replace the MEL > HK flights with MEL > Bangkok or reduce some of the destinations serviced by SYD by splitting them up alternating MEL/SYD.
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 4
A week on, still no upper deck all blocked, tried calling again today and they basically said I didnt know what I was talking about and couldn't help. I dont know where the people who wrote this article got their information from but its certainly not correct.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Oct 2019
Total posts 19
It amazes me that VH-OQL was sent to Abu Dhabi for three months and did not get refurbished. I know that VH-OQA is there being refurbished now but why send Phyllis home without refurbishment..
Seems like a way to make people unhappy.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 151
To be fair it may have been part of the next schedule, and they pulled it in to service early.
On the other hand various airlines, like Qantas, but also Cathay, JAL, Qatar (although their A350 situations complicates things) have been caught out by their COVID strategies, both metal and people. EK (who I don't really use) and SQ (my fave) seem to have managed it better
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 120
VH-OQL had been in Abu Dhabi only since 18/12/2022, compared to work underway on VH-OQA (since arriving in AUH 18/11/2022), and VH-OQC since 21/06/2021 and needing more work. OQL is also a 2+ year younger aircraft than the other 2 left in AUH, , so spreading flying hours across the fleet also a factor.
VH-OQL makes sense, and has done 3 test flights around SYD last week after arriving 04/02/2022.
VH-OQI was last out of the desert (other than the 2 being scrapped), having been ferried Victorville over to LAX 27/01/2023.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Oct 2019
Total posts 19
Why are you giving them an out?
I am as big a Qantas defender as anyone but this is rubbish from them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 May 2013
Total posts 23
Melbourne always is treated as the poor 2nd cousin by QF.
This week, My daughter & family wanted to book on their new direct flight MEL-DFW-MEL. The reservations system kept pushing taking a domestic flight to SYD and flying to DFW from there, or flying MEL-LAX and connecting to DFW from their on AA. Only with persistance could one even find the non-stop direct QF service. Are Qantas wanting it to fail?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 314
This old business product is definitely enough for me to stay clear and choose another carrier when their product is substandard and pricing is almost always more.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 151
I am so surprised...
22 Oct 2014
Total posts 15
Will QF only use the non refurbished aircraft on the SYD-HKG route or will it be sent to LAX and LHR?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 414
It's an operational spare that was kept aside for situations like this, so I don't think it would be sent to LAX or LHR unless one of the refurbished A380s had a major technical issue. This A380 will probably be the last one sent for a refurbishment, once the other nine are all back later this year.
23 Aug 2011
Total posts 67
Being a Victorian I can understand people's frustration. Unfortunately, Melbournians/Victorians have always been the poor cousins. The current schedule; 5 flights to Lax 4 to LHR! I was booked to fly to HKG in March transferred to QF127 via SYD, xxx and now going direct on CX. I am Plat and my wife Gold and we try our best to fly QF, but it is becoming difficult with their current schedules. Travelling to the UK in June au$24k for 2 x J seats! QF009 price was thousands more for J and going via SIN wasn't much cheaper, so booked to travel via SYD, QF001. The transfer situation in SYD is dreadful, and we try and avoid it at all costs. EK and QR doing well out of MEL and can understand why.
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 120
Fellow Victorian, and also fed up with the inconsistency with QF schedules and experiences post pandemic, especially when connecting MEL-SYD. Was looking at a paid F ticket MEL-LAX at end of this year, but the A380 schedules are still very patchy, which just doesn't give confidence to book QF based off recent experiences. Decided to book SQ via SIN instead, which I have also used last 2 flights to LHR. Worth the extra flying time to USA via SIN, just to avoid another bad QF experience, plus the better product on SQ. I gave QF plenty of chances, but they blew it each time - never again.
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 4
I think you made the right decision there. I have a few work trips this year I went through and booked this month. reactivating my Star Alliance membership through United. If you are flying to the US its a no-brainer, saving 5k+ per flight business on a better product/seat. I moved to Australia in 2017 and immediately moved my alliance over but wow they have really failed to serve the Melbourne customer base this past year and continue to.
28 Dec 2016
Total posts 71
The seat selection shows the plane in a 1-2-1 configuration though it's probably because the system's not updated
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