It’s mind-boggling to think that Qantas has been flying its A380s for almost two decades. These behemoth gentle giants almost saw an untimely end because of the turn of the 2020’s but thankfully airlines are bringing these flagship aircraft back on key routes across the globe. Qantas is one such carrier that is not only returning the aircraft, but investing in new interiors to keep them flying with a competitive passenger experience. We were recently invited to try the new A380 business class experience just months before the last of these aircraft is retrofit with the new interiors.
These new cabins which started renovation just before COVID struck include the airline’s latest business class seats, upgrades to the First Class cabin and a brand new upstairs lounge at the front of the upper deck.
On the Ground
I start the journey in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, which is host to a range of large international carriers. Qantas uses the check in area ‘B’ which is just one of the airport’s standard check-in areas, and as such, there’s no specially designed First Class wing or dedicated area for premium passengers. The business and First-Class check in desks were tucked away in the corner but there were enough to cater for the number of passengers aboard.
After a super speedy check in, it was time to whisk ourselves upstairs to enter the dreaded Fast Track. Yet again it took about 15-20 minutes to get through what is meant to be an expedited experience. Not because of the number of passengers though, simply because Heathrow keep messing around with the rotation of staff each time we go through where for 15 minutes the whole process draws to a standstill while crews try to work out which station they are meant to operate.
Finally, and passing through Duty Free, it was time to head to Qantas’s dedicated lounge. Which is at the entrance to the main gate area. It’s big and split across two floors. Up the grand staircase is the main lounge area, a mix of British and Qantas’s signature international style with white marble horseshoe bar and a wide range of seating. Sadly, it’s not the brightest lounge – with a lack of windows in comparison to other lounges – but we opted to start our stay downstairs to enjoy the lounge’s a la carte restaurant.
Starting with a glass of sparkling Australian wine, I took the chance to trial a few different plates including Salt and Pepper squid, a more refreshing zucchini and mushroom salad with poached egg and a side of roast pork with potatoes and greens. If that isn’t enough, there’s a limited buffet counter too. But what Qantas prides itself on is its gin bar that has a wide range of delicious serves which is a good way to pass the time before a flight.
However, as Qantas is part of oneworld, we opted to pop (literally) next door to Cathay’s lounge, which features better views and swathes more light, and an impressive cocktail bar. It’s great to pick’n’mix the lounges in Heathrow if you are travelling on oneworld, and it’s a common occurrence, with Cathay offering a good bar and views, and Qantas offering a good a la carte restaurant. Before too long we headed to Gate 1 where we caught a glimpse of the A380 that was going to take us all the way to Singapore.
The Cabin
Considering how big the aircraft is, boarding was on time approximately one hour before push back, and being part of the business class cabin, we headed up the ramp to the top deck where we entered through the first door which splits the business cabin into a smaller front cabin and the main section to the rear.
It had been almost a decade since I last entered a Qantas A380, and the feeling entering was completely different. The previous incarnation of the A380 featured 64 Marc Newson Skybeds which were configured 2 x 2 x 2 LOPA, with weird shell-like cocoons and legroom for days. It makes sense why the new configuration features 6 more seats, but that doesn’t mean things are more cramped. There is a larger sense of space and privacy thanks to the heavily customised Thompson vantage XL staggered seats and the side storage and table areas they provide.
The cabin feels calming, and the use of deep greys and wooden veneers on the seats creates a homely feel. It’s great to see the same product consistency across the fleet. That said when you compare this interior to many newer aircraft or even Etihad’s A380, it is sad to see the airline not doing much with the bulkheads, walls and lighting of the aircraft. Most of the design sits within the seat itself. Something that seems to be the case across all of Qantas’ fleet.
My seat was at the back of the cabin which meant less foot traffic, but it was a trade-off, as it did take a little longer to get served, not that that’s an issue on such a long flight.
The Seat
My seat, 26E was part of a centre pair. Unlike other airlines, Qantas hasn’t created honeymoon pairs, instead opting for solo privacy for every seat. That means there’s not really a best or worst seat.
The only question really is if you want to be near the aisle, or away from it, and that’s a question of wanting the sense of more space, or more privacy. I preferred the aisle seats in this configuration, finding those away from the aisle a little more confined.
The seat is kitted out with an intuitive seat control panel, mood lighting and an open storage unit which houses the headphones. On the centre pairs there’s also a privacy divider which does offer privacy if travelling alone.
There are also charging points, although no USB-C on these slightly older-designed seats. There’s also a handy vanity mirror in the arm rest which houses the seat controller, not that there’s a need for it. Seats storage vary depending on the seat you pick, but there’s a small footwell storage unit for shoes as well.
When it comes to entertainment, there’s a big high-def TV screen packed to the gills with TV shows and recent movie releases, paired with decent noise cancelling headsets. The TV system was intuitive, and the interface was well thought through.
The food and drink
So, as everyone settled into their seats, pre-departure champagne is served, meanwhile passengers were encouraged to fill out the breakfast menus which are collected prior to take off. A standard practice and allows passengers to maximise their sleep time.
Just before pushback it was also great to see the safety video celebrating Qantas’s long history, although it baffles me whether I’m meant to look at the video or the safety demo by the cabin crew.
Before long we had pushed back, headed along the runway, and taken off into the skies, sadly the tail cam wasn’t working for the take-off roll.
Unlike other airlines, Qantas really opts for clean, healthy food choices and the menu really reflects that. With there being 70 passengers in total, it took some time for the crew to come down the aisle to serve dinner. I found it interesting that on such a long flight there’s no aperitif service, especially as they took the time to come down and take the food order. That said there’s nothing bad to be said about the crew, they go above and beyond to make you feel at home.
When it came to the meal service, we were immediately served with a green salad and choice of breads. Interestingly this is considered the starter, our only real negative on an otherwise great flight. I opted for the seared cod, which was beautifully presented bistro style, albeit I felt the portions a little on the smaller size, but the flavours were superb. The beef dish also packed a punch on the flavour scale.
After the main meal service, I opted for the cheese plate, which was then paired with a beautiful dessert wine. It was at this point I realised that my cabin crew was also a sommelier, and he took great pleasure in giving me a tasting of all the wines at the end of the meal including a muscat to go with the desert.
Now close to midnight, it was time to get some shut eye, and the crew turned down my seat into a bed ready for some sleep. Just two hours before landing I was woken by a fresh espresso and chilled orange juice, before being served a hearty, fresh sausage, and egg breakfast, complete with toasty pastries and fresh fruits. Really the perfect way to start the day, even if we were landing late afternoon in Singapore.
The amenities
Qantas score quite highly on amenities. The amenity kits reference the nostalgia of Qantas’s 100 year past right now, and they’re packed with the usual amenities we come to expect, with the added bonus of Li Tya botanical face and hand creams.
Let’s not forget the awesome PJ’s that are given to every passenger, as well as the bedding including a sumptuous David Caon mattress topper made from recycled plastic bottles and thick warm duvet. Luckily the cabin temperature wasn’t too hot which made it perfect to snuggle up with.
The lounge
Mid-way through the flight, with about 6 hours left to run, I woke up and headed to the new lounge at the front of the plane, which was totally empty, which seems to be a common occurrence on these night flights. It is sad to see such a great space underutilised, and I can only presume it’s because there’s no focal point, such as Emirates fully tendered bar.
That said, it’s a perfect place to relax and unwind with someone during a long flight and the redesign certainly makes it more compelling a place to spend your time. There’s a pseudo-self-service approach here thanks to a help-yourself bar unit. If you do want something different, everywhere around the seating are call bells allowing you to get a cabin crew member to come and serve you if need be.
When I pressed one of them, a crew scurried from the galley and took my order for a midnight snack – a grilled cheese toasty and a ginger ale, which hit the spot before heading back to the seat.
My gut says the TV in the lounge should be a showcase of Australian vistas, a beautiful moving gallery which mirrors the subtle design cues used in the menus and amenity kits of times gone by. This at least will create and element of entertainment in the lounge area. This isn’t just a Qantas thing, Virgin and Emirates who also have TVs in their lounge areas still haven’t worked out really what to put on the screens beyond a moving map.
In conclusion
I always think it’s a great success when a long flight like this, passes in an instant. It’s the sign of a comfortable sleep, good food and great entertainment. Luckily the tail cam was working when I woke up, so I could see the giant beast descend into Singapore, where I would have to get off, while other passengers would get a couple of hours before heading on to Sydney.
So, all in all, what did I think? From a design standpoint I really like what Qantas have done with their new interiors. There’s a residential vibe across the entire passenger experience and the connection between ground product and aircraft is a masterclass in branded passenger experience. The new onboard lounge is a great upgrade, and sadly it’s just underutilised. But the seat, food and crew are what make this product a winning success.
TheDesignAir travelled as guests of Qantas, but the comments, views and opinions here are our own.
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