Qantas is buying 12 new ultra-long range Airbus A350-1000 aircraft that will be used for the new world’s longest flights, including Sydney and Melbourne – London. We can also expect non-stop service from Australia to New York, Frankfurt and Paris.
The plane will feature 6 first class suites, 52 business class suites (which are expected to offer doors), 40 premium economy seats with 40 inches of pitch and 140 coach seats with 33 inches of pitch. That’s generous spacing even in coach (a couple extra inches compared to other airlines) and overall just 238 seats in an aircraft designed for over 350 seats.
Day-long trips – up to 1000 miles longer than the current world’s longest New York to Singapore – will be made more comfortable with a “Wellbeing Zone” for stretching during the flight. Business class will have a walkup bar, though I’ve never found these as pleasant as the separate bar spaces on Emirates and Qatar Airways A380s.
As part of the announcement of the new aircraft, Qantas has released details of its new first class product. Perhaps most exciting it that there will still be first class, and of course 20 hour flights between capitals and major financial centers are where first class remains financially strong<.
With just six seats, first class will be arranged in two rows of 3 seats (1-1-1). The suite will feature a separate seat and bed (as we’ve seen from Etihad and Singapore on the Airbus A380, and Lufthansa had at one point on its Boeing 747s). With an aisle between seats there’s no divider to bring down to share space with a traveling partner, however.
The new Qantas first class seat will feature a 32 inch HD screen, a wardrobe to store clothes after you’ve changed into pajamas and a mirror on the door. The seat will be controlled via iPad, and most innovative will be individual temperature and humidity controls.
This new Qantas first class has the potential to be a top 5 product, but probably not as good as the new first class offerings from Emirates, ANA or Singapore Airlines and probably not better than Air France first class overall. If the Etihad A380 were to return I’d guess the new Qantas first class won’t break the top 5. However it will be leaps and bounds ahead of the Australian flag carriers’ current first class.
At just six seats, expect first class awards to be difficult to get even relative to Qantas’ relative stinginess on saver awards for premium cabins on other products.
It reminds me of a sleeping compartment on an overnight train.
Good luck trying to book one of these 1st class seats. Qantas will probably go full on Delta and charge 600K one way.
So no chance to sit by the window then…
I would love to spend 20 hours in that suite, but my guess is that the only people doing that will be those who spend (or whose company spends) $20k to put them there. I’d be shocked if more than a handful of people per year get there on points.
With the bed & seat it looks as if there’s not much room to move in this suite you can only stand up in. Without being in it, it looks tight.
Should’ve donated more and gotten millions of points with SimplyMiles.
I’m an ex-pat Australian but after the horrendous service we had in biz on LAX-SYD and multiple domestic flights plus the absolute worst biz class lounges of any airline in the world we will never fly Qantas again.
Agree Qantas has gone to the dogs sadly
If you aren’t in the first class lounge the business class lounge is jam packed and rubbish
Their pricing is absurd and cancellation fees insane like there was never a covid concern
Good look finding space with 6 seats
Curious what class of service Peter V was in I’ll assume business class?
Yes Biz Class. Flew return international and then six domestic legs all in biz and every single flight was late, service was terrible, cabin crew had attitude, food was mediocre except in lounge where it was downright terrible, even wine selection was poor especially given how fabulous Aussie wines are. Qantas is a disgrace to Australia.
I agree that the most exciting part of this new product is Qantas’ commitment to international first class in the future. The product is a lot like the Etihad First Class Apartment (FCA) but with a slightly smaller seat and bed. It appears that the seat does not recline as with the FCA. Some dislike that feature. The ancient AA international first class seat offers a better workstation. Good storage (including a personal closet) and the door will make this seat fun to experience, any service issues notwithstanding.