Continuing on from our flight from Canberra to Brisbane, we were excited to be doing our first ever long haul business class flight together.  I looked forward to being able to lie down and get some sleep on this Qantas’ 787-9 Dreamliner and turning up refreshed when we hit the ground.

Airline and Flight #

Qantas QF0015

Aircraft

Boeing 787-9 Jet

Airport and Terminal

Departure: Brisbane Airport, QLD. Australia| International Terminal

Arrival: LAX Airport, CA, USA | Tom Bradley International Terminal

Scheduled Departure Date and Time

Monday 22nd April 2019| 10:20am

Flying Time

12 hours 40 minutes

Luggage Allowance

Qantas being a full service carrier does not charge for checked luggage or carry-on as long as you stay within their restrictions which are pretty generous.  Luggage allowances vary depending on your destination, what class you’re flying and any Qantas frequent flyer status you may have.

International to the Americas

Carry-on: Adults and children travelling in business class with a final destination to the Americas are allowed the following carry on luggage up to 7kg per piece:

1. 1x115cm bag at 56cm + 36cm + 23cm or
2. 2x105cm bags at 48cm + 34cm + 23cm or
3. 1x105cm bag at 48cm + 34cm + 23cm plus 1x185cm non-rigid garment bag at 60cm + 114cm + 11cm

Infants are not allowed any carry-on bags but food and nappies can be carried on board.

Checked baggage: Adults flying business class to the Americas can have the same luggage allowances on domestic legs as international as long as both flights appear on the same ticket or the flights are on the same calendar day.  Allowances are:

• Three pieces  up to 32kg (70lb) each with dimensions not exceeding 270cm (106in) with no single piece exceeding 158cm.  Total dimensions must not exceed 405cm (158in).
• Children are allowed the same checked baggage allowance as adults in addition to two child items up to 32kg each.
• Infants can have one piece up to 10kg (22lb) with a total dimension of up to 115cm (45in) plus three infant items such as a car seat, collapsible stroller or baby capsule.
• Platinum and Platinum One Qantas Frequent Flyers are allowed four pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each.

Fun Facts

• Qantas is the third oldest airline in the world and Australia’s largest airline
• Qantas is an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
• Qantas is the founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance
• Qantas’ main hub is in Sydney, Australia
• The Dreamliner uses 20% less fuel than other similarly sized aircraft

Website

The Qantas website is easy to use and provides plenty of useful information to prospective passengers.  If you pay by BPay there are no extra costs incurred.  Once booked you can use Qantas’ Manage Booking to retrieve flight details and select any special dietary requirements, check luggage allowances and purchase additional luggage, select seats and check in and print off your boarding passes.  There is no charge to select Business class seats for domestic or international flights.

Check-in 

Check-in for Qantas flights opens from 24 hours up until 45 minutes prior to departure.  This can be done on-line or at the airport using the self-service kiosk or at the check-in counter.  You can check-in three ways:

1. Mobile check-in – by downloading the Qantas app you can check-in and access your digital boarding pass without the need to print it out.  Other benefits of this method include being alerted to when check-in first opens, access to real time flight data in case of delays and the ability to view any entertainment options prior to your flight.  You can also choose your seats.
2. Desktop check-in – by logging on to the Qantas website http://Qantas.com and clicking on Manage Booking.  Enter your booking reference and last name to bring up your booking.  Select the Checkin/Print Boarding Pass button and remember to take your boarding pass with you to the airport.
3. At the airport – via the self-service kiosks or at the desk in the Departures area prior to passing through security.  Here you can also select your seat, enter your frequent flyer number, upgrade your flight using Qantas points and print out your boarding pass and bag tags so you can drop off any bags at the bag drop.  Otherwise Business class passengers can check in at the counter at the Priority counter.

As we had checked in and been issued all our boarding passes in Canberra, there was no need to check in at the Brisbane airport. We followed the signs to International transfers which lead us outside the terminal to the bus stop where we had a short wait for our bus. We were waiting for the Transfer bus but the AIRPARK bus which arrived sooner also takes you to the International terminal so we caught that. We both got a seat but before long, there was not even standing room left after the bus stopped a few times to collect more people.

Business class lounge

The Brisbane Business lounge is located Airside, Level 4 at the Brisbane International Terminal.  Operated by Qantas, it was renovated in late 2016 and is a big improvement to the old one. The lounge was busy which I expect is typical for that time of day seeing as most Qantas flights leave Brisbane in the morning. So there was a small amount of congestion at times. As you first walk into the lounge, on your left you’ll find a fully staffed barista coffee counter and drinks bar where I grabbed a delicious glass of ready made vanilla iced coffee with coffee beans and ice. Just past that is a long dining table set up with placemats, serviettes, glasses and cutlery. Bowls of fresh fruit and Darrell Lea Easter eggs (it was Easter Monday) sat on the table top. Just past this was the food station. The lounge offered a modest selection of western style breakfast food. Having just eaten a hot breakfast on our previous flight, and knowing we were about to be fed again on our next one, I wasn’t all that hungry so unfortunately didn’t get to sample much of what was on offer. There was the typical breakfast fare including a hot western buffet and a selection of yoghurts, pastries, fruit and a pancake station.  A drinks station was located around the corner where you could find specialty teas with some lovely little cast iron teapots, infused water and bottles of flavoured syrups to add to your water as well as wine and champagne. Upstairs is a breakfast hatch which comes with a small menu of tasty options and a Quench station that includes a selection of fruit and vegetables for juicing and other beverages. The lounge also had a play room for the kids, magazines, charging stations, free WiFi and showers. On the ground floor there is another lounge. The food options aren’t as good here but the view of the planes and the runway is better.

Seating

Layout – The Qantas B787-9 is a wide bodied jet with 236 seats.  These are made up of 42 Business class seats, 28 Premium Economy class seats and 166 Economy class seats.  Business is set out in a 1-2-1 configuration meaning every seat has direct isle access. We were seated in row 5. The interiors and seating are shaped by Australian industrial designer David Caon in collaboration with Marc Newson who designed the Qantas A380 interiors.

Seats – The business class suites in Qantas’ 787-9 Dreamliner offer a good amount of privacy with each having direct aisle access.  As we were travelling as a couple we opted for the more friendly middle seats so we could sit together. The seats reclined into fully flat beds where 100% cotton mattresses and duvets are provided along with European pillows.  The seats are made from a navy blue cloth with a black leather adjustable headrest.  The seats are equipped with a sash belt for takeoff and landing. Footrests are built into the floor with loads of room to stretch out. At our seats was a set of noise cancelling head sets, an amenities kit, two menus, a Qantas pen and a bottle of water. Cabin crew handed out Pyjamas prior to take-off. Seat pitch is 117cm (46 inches) when upright extending to 203cm (80 inches) when reclined fully flat.  Seat width is  58-61cm (23-24 inches).

Tray tables – These are tucked into the armrest beside you and easily slide out with the press of a button. The solid tray is a good size and can slide forward and back to suit allowing you to move from your seat still with relative ease. It’s also easy to put away. As well as this tray table there is a large shared cocktail tray in the middle of the two seats for drinks and snacks.

Storage – There is plenty of storage in the large cabin bins above your head as well as around your seat. There’s an L-shaped shelf beside your seat that holds your bottle of water, headphones and amenity kit with room to store other small items like phones, passports etc. Underneath this is a surface for storing more items. Below this is a compartment at your feet ideal for placing your shoes. Documents can be placed in the pocket in front holding the inflight magazines and at your feet there is more room including a spot at the end for stowing a carry-on bag. The shared large cocktail tray in between the two seats can be used as a surface for more storage if needed.

Amenity Kit – Qantas has chosen 16 Australian artists to showcase their designs in the amenity kits on offer with two designs being offered each month up to April 2019 so we were lucky to just get in before the promotion finished. Inside the bags you will find ASPAR travel products which included a 5ml sweet orange and shea hand cream, a 5ml ultra hydrating face moisturiser and a 5ml sweet orange lip balm. As well as this is a pair of socks, an eye mask, a pair of earplugs and a mini toothbrush and toothpaste.  And to go with it was a set of grey pyjamas with Qantas’ kangaroo logo on the front.

Cabin Comfort

• The combination of a generous amount of legeoom, a large amount of stroage and the lie flat seats with comfortable bedding made this flight extremely comfortable.
• A massage function gives you the option of having your lower back gently massaged whilst sitting in your seat.
• Seated up the front of the cabin and further from the engines made this a very quiet flight.
• Pyjamas and amenity kits made for a more comfortable flight
• A selection of different lighting options meant you could have just the right amount of light where you wanted it and a Do Not Disturb light alerted cabin crew to the fact you didn’t want to be woken up.
• Nice food eaten with metal utensils and proper glasses and crockery made dining a more pleasurable experience.

• The air in the Dreamliner is taken from outside the aircraft and passes through two filtration systems before it enters the cabin allowing for fresher air inside the cabin. The air is also at a higher pressure (pressurised at 6000 feet rather than 8000) and due to the composite materials the air can be made more humid, reducing the effects of dehydration and jet lag.
• The Dreamliner is quieter than its predecessor due to quieter engines and better soundproofing making  the flight more comfortable.
• Ride dampening technology is used to detect and counteract turbulence.
• Meals are timed in such a way as to reduce jet lag.
• Big overhead bins make finding room to store your luggage easier.
• The tall ceilings give the feeling of spaciousness and alleviate any feelings of claustrophobia.
• Mood LED lighting provides an aesthetically pleasing ambience as well as having the ability to mimic natural sunrise and sunset, and hence reduce the effects of jet-lag.

In-flight Entertainment

Electronic devices

• Electronic devices can be used whilst boarding using the aerobridge but not if you’re using the tarmac to board.
• Once doors on the plane have closed you need to then switch your device to flight mode.

Communication

• No phone calls can be made on board this Qantas flight
• Seat chat allows you to communicate with other passengers on board your flight from your seat.

Power

All Business class passengers have access to a PC power port at 110V AC (60Hz) and a USB port beside each seat for charging devices such as phones and laptops as well as a headphone socket.

In the Seat Pocket

On the left of the screen is a storage section where you can find the following items:

• Qantas Spirit of Australia magazine
• Safety card
• Air sickness bag

WiFi

• WiFi is not available on this flight.  Qantas has decided not to offer inflight internet as a result of a trial it conducted back in 2012 where less than five percent of passengers took up the service.  The demand for internet on international flights is a lot lower than domestic flights given the majority of international flights are overnight and most passengers prefer to sleep or use the in-flight entertainment system.

Entertainment System

• Business class passengers have 16 inch (41 cm) high-definition fully interactive touchscreens which can rotate forward when you’re reclined.  When sitting upright you can use the remote tucked inside the arm of your chair if you find the screen too far away from you.
• There are over 100 on demand movies to watch and over 500 TV shows. Unfortunately there are at least three ads prior to each movie and the same ones play for every movie.  There is up 1500 audio CD’s as well as a selection of audio books, language tutorials, destination information, business education and radio channels.  The moving map has the option of displaying in full screen and in 3D.

Safety Demonstration

The safety demo is done by cabin crew whilst the safety video plays on your screen in front of you.  The video is quite long at seven minutes but I think they have done a really good job with it.  Some can be quite tacky and over the top but this isn’t one of them.  The video jumps to some of the various locations which Qantas flies to and someone there will relate something in that location to one of the safety do’s or don’ts on the aircraft .  For example a man in Kruger National park puts out his campfire before talking about smoking in the aircraft and a woman on safari drops her phone out of the jeep beside an elephant and the tour guide tells her not to  retrieve it as he will.  She then talks about not retrieving mobile phones if they fall between the seats in the aircraft and to call a crew member to retrieve it as there’s less chance of it getting damaged.  The video is quite clever and there’s even some humour too.  Throughout the video they sing parts of the song “I still call Australia Home” which would bring out the patriotism in any Aussie.

Catering

Menus

• Qantas’ menus contain new lighter and healthier options designed by Neil Perry.  This is to allow you to have a more comfortable flight and sleep better.
• Qantas allows passengers in all classes on select flights such as this to preselect their meal in order to ensure you get your first choice.  This service called Menu Select is open seven days to 12 hours prior to departure.  However, once onboard we were still asked what we would like which made we wonder about the effectiveness of this service.
• The menus looked attractive showcasing Australia’s beautiful and diverse environment through stunning aerial photographs. This one was of Tasmania’s Bay of Fires.
• As you open the main menu you’ll see the food options inside with the beverages on the back. A signature cocktail and canapé were first on the list followed by a choice of three starters and four mains. Each main came accompanied by a green leaf salad with Neil’s vinaigrette and bread and butter.
• Dessert was a choice of four dishes whilst there was a range of snacks and drinks throughout the flight available at the self-service snack bar or on request. The beverage menu on the back included a good range of hot and cold drinks including a decent range of alcoholic drinks.

The Breakfast menu consisted of:

• Brook farm macadamia toasted muesli with cranberries
• Croissant
• Toast
• Hand made sour dough crumpet with berry jam, marmalade, honey or vegemite
• Free range scrambled eggs with bacon, sautéed mushrooms and roast tomatoes
• Poached eggs with pearl barley, kale and spinach salad, toasted nuts, seeds, pomegranate and yoghurt dressing.
• Buttermilk hot cakes with baked rhubarb and cinnamon yoghurt

Food/Drinks

Qantas has a new range of Noritake crokery and cutlery designed by Australian David Caon in consultation with Rockpool’s Neil Perry.  The glasses, fine bone china and brush finished stainless steel cutlery weigh less than the previous product due to a reduction in the number of pieces and minimising the weight of each piece.

To begin the service, cabin crew came around with pre departure drinks of champagne and mineral water. Our lunch orders were then taken and we were asked to fill out the breakfast menu.

11:40 Canapés of cheese and spinach pastries were served after first covering our trays with a white tablecloth. Mine had large patches of what I’m assuming to be water all over it which the cabin crew member didn’t appear fussed by. The pastry was dry unfortunately so I left half of mine. Drinks were also served. I asked for a hot chocolate as I was feeling a little cold. It was slow to arrive but I think they needed to make it up in the galley area which meant having to wait until cabin crew had finished serving all the cold drinks first. I noticed afterwards there was a signature cocktail on the menu which I look forward to trying next time. I’m not sure what the cocktail was.

12:20 Green leaf salad with Neil’s vinaigrette, sourdough bread and butter was served. I expected to get the salad with the main so was surprised to see it turn up before the starter.

12:35 Pork and shiitake dumplings with pickled cucumber and spicy black vinegar and sesame dressing is what I chose for my starter. The flavour was good but the dumpling wrappers were a bit on the hard side. Hubby chose the Salad of prawns, tomato, corn, jalapeño cabbage with tomatillo, chilli and lime salsa which he said was good.

13:23 Seared beef fillet with roasted sweet potatoes, red onion, capsicum and chimichurri was both our choice of main and it was a real winner. The meal tasted great and the portion size was perfect. I would have preferred to have my fillet cooked for less time as it’s hard to make a well cooked beef fillet succulent and juicy.  But still a very enjoyable meal!

13:40 Chocolate mousse with sour cherries and toasted almonds was our choice of dessert. The jelly layer on the top had dried out a bit so was quite hard whilst the almonds got in the way of the smooth velvety consistency I think mousse should have. Despite this, the flavour was good and I ate it all. I also had the Maggie Beer ice cream which was vanilla bean flavour – my favourite.

Throughout the flight you could order Cornish pastie with tomato relish or Toasted meatball sandwich with tomato sugo and pickled cucumber. From the self-service bar there was a good selection of other snacks. I really liked the Buderim ginger and macadamia amaretti, the Darrell Lea nougat milk chocolate Easter bites and the Darrell Lea Rocklea Road with almonds.

05:45 (LA time) Free range scrambled eggs with bacon, sautéed mushrooms and roast tomatoes was my breakfast of choice whilst hubby had the Buttermilk hot cakes with baked rhubarb and cinnamon yoghurt, Brookfarm macadamia toasted muesli with cranberries and handmade sourdough crumpet. We both had Fruit salad and Botanical cold pressed green juice with kale, silverbeet, celery, apple, cucumber and lemon. The juice was delicious and we both enjoyed our meals too.

Restroom

This aircraft has a business class toilet at the front and two located just behind business class which premium economy passengers can use also.  The ones on the left contain baby change facilities.  There are other restrooms towards the middle and at the rear for Economy passengers. The restroom in Business class felt the same as the Economy restroom except for the three bottles containing cleaning spray and ASPAR hand soap and moisturiser . I did notice the hand towels were thicker too.

Service

The service on this flight was friendly and professional but not quite at the level I would expect for Business class.  When the cabin crew member pulled out my tablecloth to put over my tray and saw it was wet, I would have expected she pull out a dry one but this didn’t happen.  I had to wait quite a while for my hot chocolate drink and wasn’t offered any nuts (which my husband received) with my champagne. It was a nice touch the manager came around and introduced herself and it was also lovely that we had our own cabin crew staff and that they remembered our names throughout the course of the flight. Despite pre ordering our meals we were still asked what we would like and told they had run out of the roast chicken which thankfully wasn’t our preferred option. I think the biggest improvement the airline could make regarding its service is to hand out hot towels prior to meal times as they do on some airlines in Economy. It was not until the very end of the 12 hour flight that we were handed thin cotton face washers which I regretted taking as they smelled really bad.

Scheduling

Scheduled Departure 10:20 am | Actual Departure 10:18 am

Scheduled Arrival: 06:00 am (LA time) | Actual Departure 06:01 am

Pros

• Food for the most part was very nice, especially the main courses
• Portion sizes for meals was ideal – smaller entrée and main with larger dessert
• Lie flat seats with comfortable mattress topper, duvet and pillow
• Large entertainment system that was well positioned
• A good range of movies and TV shows to watch
• Plenty of leg room and storage space
• Pyjamas issued to all passengers which I think is a great idea
• New aircraft meant everything was in good condition still

Cons

• The tablecloth which was placed over my tray was wet
• No hot towels handed out prior to meals and the only one we received upon descent smelled bad.
• Amenity kits were fairly basic inside

Conclusion

I loved the seats on this flight and enjoyed most of the food too. There was tonnes of room and the good quality bed linen made for a very comfortable sleep in the lie flat beds. I also love how Qantas issue pyjamas to passengers in business class. I was a little disappointed in the level of some aspects of the service however and think hot face washers issued prior to meals is a must and these shouldn’t be cheap thin ones that smell bad. I would have liked to sit as a couple beside the window but with the 1-2-1 configuration on Qantas’ Dreamliners, this isn’t an option. It will be interesting comparing this with the Qantas A380 we will be flying home on and also another airline next time we fly Business class.