Qantas' Airbus A380, and first class, returns to Sydney-Hong Kong

Qantas is once again scheduling its flagship Airbus A380 between Sydney and Hong Kong over the 2019-2020 summer season, with Qantas first class suites also up for sale – making Qantas the only airline offering first class on this busy route.
The 'summer superjumbo' has become something of a tradition for Qantas, with the double-decker jet well suited to handling the extra bookings buoyed by holidays as well as Chinese New Year, which in 2020 falls on January 25.
Qantas’ online schedule shows the A380 will replace the Boeing 787 on the daily QF127/QF128 service, beginning with QF127 on Wednesday December 4 2019 and winding up with QF128 on Saturday March 28.
The upside, of course, is the ability to book into one of the A380's first class suites (or snare a points-based upgrade from business class) so you can luxe it up on the 9½ hour journey.
The X-factor: it's not yet known if the HK-bound A380 will be one of the first ones to be upgraded with the same excellent Business Suites as the red-tailed Dreamliners...
... or will retain the original and less comfortable Skybed II berths.
If the summer superjumbo is among those to have received their million-dollar makeover, business class travellers will also have the opportunity to try out the two new lounges at the front of the upper deck.
Read more: Qantas' upgraded Airbus A380s will begin flying in August 2019
If you do book first class on Qantas' Airbus A380, 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, but on the overnight return leg, light sleepers should avoid 5F.
Read our expert guide to the best seats in first class on the Qantas Airbus A380
05 May 2016
Total posts 631
Nice.
19 Nov 2012
Total posts 45
The plan is to have 4 aircraft refurbished by the end of the year.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 183
Which I would expect would be assigned to the big routes such as London and Los Angeles. For Qantas, the A380 to HKG is all about capacity so it really doesn't need to be the latest and greatest. I would actually think HKG will be at the back of the queue.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2017
Total posts 38
Generally speaking, airline's place aircraft on routes as and where they fit into the tight schedulling. This is particularly true in a smaller fleet which are stretched to their availability limits.
E.g. if the aircraft lands from LAX before heading off to HKG on it's next trip, Qantas will just use whichever aircraft is available on that particular pairing. In order to place specific aircraft on specific routes, due to say differences in fitout or product, its very complex and costly, and affects scheduling greatly. But, ya never know!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 223
I will fly if refurbed only
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
02 Jul 2018
Total posts 42
That would be nice. I sort of fed up with "Longreach" old style business seats.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
25 Apr 2019
Total posts 1
We have flown in the A380 Skybed II twice this year - from Singapore and LAX. On both occasions I would estimate at least half of the seats were broken and would not go flat. By selling these seats as ‘flat beds’ Qantas is bordering on misleading and deceptive conduct. Food and service is equally average. With so much choice now, Qantas is no longer competitive. On the L.A. route, AA has a superior product (never thought I’d ever say that!).
05 Jan 2018
Total posts 47
Food on my last flight in Feb was bordering on criminal. Happily I had snacked in the lounge. Otherwise...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 368
I know that SkyBed MK2 is bound for sunset, and it's old hat now I get it....but....one thing I miss (and will continue to miss) is the physical space that you get in front of you. Yes the new seats are the future and they are great but what you gain in an individual seat I think you lose in space and room.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Feb 2014
Total posts 19
Those QANTAS cocoon business class seats are a shocker, no air circulates and they are like concrete to sleep on.
QF
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 5
Marc Newson has a lot to answer for. Everything he designs looks great, but suffers from design flaws. Including the Qantas crockery, which is fine if you cut something in the middle, but it flips up if you cut something towards the edge. Don't get me started!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Apr 2012
Total posts 57
The A side seats in F are better as the centre & right side share overhead areas. There is ~some ~ noise in 1A with the bathroom flush.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2018
Total posts 7
I just checked the price to fly. It costs $3000+ for a one way ticket. Last year it was only $2500.
03 May 2013
Total posts 664
What a joke. Qantas does NOT operate a true 1st rate carrier 'first' class per se. This is a deluxe business class at best. Food, amenity kit, lavs, crockery(new cutlery already looks shockingly old) and service standards are nowhere near where a first class service needs to be. Qantas $15000-$18000 prices set high expectations yet are mostly false and misleading. Just because Qantas calls it first, it's not. Bedding is just about the only aspect that warrants first class standards. Only ever buy A on sale if you fly up front on the A380. Anything else is robbery for what you get. Fly with SQ EK QR LH if you're going to pay that much.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 193
completely agree as I wrote about this product first hand expereince
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 223
100% Agree Joe
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2017
Total posts 108
Don't get too excited. In terms of F, QF is "one of the worst airlines in the free world."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 31
Agree with the above negative comments about QF ‘first’. Flew to London return last year. The forward flights were very disappointing - food and wine were very average, athough the crew tried hard. One return leg ex SIN was reasonable and that was it. Neil Perry’s catering has long past its use-by date - his menus look mean when they arrive at your seat and the food does not taste of anything much in the air. I was terribly disappointed and I paid in real money for this dubious pleasure. Never again.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 307
Darn, miss being able to select the F seats as J seats when they weren't selling the F class product....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Jun 2018
Total posts 4
Yep, Qantas First a shocker
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 193
I can see that anyone who dare to criticize this product all the QF freeloaders out to give them a minus-yet the truth you cannot deny!!!
04 Dec 2017
Total posts 72
Have to laugh at all the Qantas employees at QCC and apologists down scoring anything negative about Qantas First Class. News Flash QCC-: there is no denying any of the criticisms so heads out of the sand and fix it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 223
Comical is a word Sr Batrill
03 Nov 2015
Total posts 10
Maybe the downvoting is more a reaction to the way some people are just so negative about anything and will use any article to whinge about Qantas and QF first class. I certainly get sick of the endless knocking. My 2c on this is that Qantas first class isn't in the same league as most others such as SQ, Emirates, Etihad or even Cathay Pacific, it's actually not as much about the seat to me because I like the 'open suite' concept, but the Qantas first class f&b has really dropped off over the years. QF First used to have a fantastic menu all round plus an amazing degustation menu, these days several of the first class dishes are also in business class and the degustation is more a sampler of the standard dishes instead of something really special. The service is still great, I find QF F crew will go above and beyond, and I think that in the end people don't fly SYD-SIN or SYD-HKG in first class for the meals as much as for the privacy and exclusivity compared to business class, and the better seat of course. This won't be the case as much when the Business Suite comes onto the A380s but the smaller cabin and more space and 'intimacy' will still have strong appeal.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1393
On the menu MELflyer not much has changed. Comparing F and J menus from 10yrs ago there was significant overlap of dishes, maybe only 1 or 2 exclusively for F.
05 Jan 2018
Total posts 47
Bugbear for me... b grade wines in QF F, food served so poorly plated (sloppish), the scuffs and worn patches on the seats, poor quality carpet after all these yrs etc etc etc. Oh- the service is def on the downward trajectory. Unsure why but its happening.
03 May 2013
Total posts 664
The cabin "privacy" isn't a good enough reason to be gouged $15000 - $180000! "Intimacy" is debatable.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 193
obviously you didn't fly with any other airlines first class if you dare to compare this inferior product to them-try Emirates,Etihad or the best Singapore than you will be bleating a different tune!I flew all of them more than once and I know the difference which is light years away!!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 368
I’ve flown QF A380 F a few times to USA and I’d say it’s like staying at a decent Sheraton or Westin, crew have always been excellent and I love the seat and bedding. But a Four Seasons or Park Hyatt it definitely is not and I think this is probably where Singapore & Emirates are pegged at especially their F&B which are outstanding on both.
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 106
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
03 Jul 2017
Total posts 17
i just went first class to hong kong on the singapore A380 and it was the new first class suites up stairs.
11 Dec 2015
Total posts 88
Whatever the merits (or lack thereof) of the QF cabin product, changing from a 787 to an A380 is a large increase in seats - almost double. You would imagine that either some people are being turned away from Dreamliner flights just before the change takes place, or else there would be quite a few empty seats just after the transition.
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