So you can’t afford a business class Qantas flight from Sydney to Singapore. But there are ways to make an economy experience better and turn the long-haul trip into something to be enjoyed rather than endured.
Karryon’s MARK HARADA jumps aboard the first leg of Qantas’ flagship (Sydney to London) QF1 route to arrive refreshed and ready to hit the streets of Singapore.
Check-in & boarding
If you can check in online, do it. It only takes a couple of minutes and saves you time later, so when you arrive at the airport, you just need to grab a bag tag from the kiosk and load your luggage into the self-service bag drop machine using the barcode from the tag. The whole process only takes a few minutes and sure beats standing in a check-in queue.
At the gate, the long line that snakes its way into the food court area also moves quickly, so boarding is quicker than I first think it’ll be.
Tip: No lounge access? Find a comfy cafe or bar (of which there are several now at SYD), treat yourself to a beverage or two and a bite, and with the free airport wifi, you’ll enjoy the next best thing – all for $20-$30 or less.
Cabin & comfort
I’m in an exit row for the roughly seven-hour flight, so with the ample legroom, it doesn’t matter that I’m in a middle seat.
At 17.5 inches, the seat is wide enough and with its adjustable leather headrest (though no footrest) and comfortable upholstery, it’s an altogether cosy ride – even without utilising the seat’s recline (though maybe just a little).
It’s a little strange not having a window to even glance sideways at, but if you don’t mind that, you’ll be fine with this seat. And I don’t find the nearby lavatories bothersome at all.
Aside from being a little cold, I doubt I could be much more comfortable flying economy.
Amenity kits are also available upon request.
Tip: For as much legroom as you’d want, pay the surcharge for an exit row seat at the front of the cabin. Because what’s more important than legroom?
Food & service
I’ve always been a fan of Qantas catering. And I’m not let down on this flight.
Shortly after takeoff, I’m given a bottle of Yaru water, followed by an offer of an aperitif to enjoy with some cheese and crackers.
Beverages range from the Qantas Aviation Spritz (which is only available on some QF flights, so lucky us!) made up of 4 Pillars gin with lemon and violet, Aussie wine and premium beer like Coopers pale ale and Stone & Wood ale, to standard non-alcoholic drinks.
For my vegetarian dinner, I’m served a wholesome and tasty lemon herb couscous with roasted carrots, baby beans and toasted almonds. The rich tomato sauce goes well with the crunchy veggies and delicate pearls, and a super soft herb and garlic focaccia bread mops up the remaining sauce nicely.
Also on the menu is a kung pao chicken with fried rice, and a beef and bacon burgundy with mashed potatoes.
For dessert, I’m offered a Bulla caramel maple macadamia ice cream popsicle AND a Tim Tam, which goes down well with a peppermint tea (or a hot chocolate).
Not long before touching down at Changi, I’m offered arancini balls with Italian cheese, pumpkin feta and thyme. Pork kimchee dumplings are also available.
And it’s all served by some friendly and professional Qantas cabin crew.
Between meals, flyers can help themselves to soy crisps or Byron Bay brand Triple Chocolate cookies.
Tip: If you like the idea of being served first (and why wouldn’t you?), pre-order a special meal. That way, you can sate your hunger and sleep/relax afterwards more quickly.
Audio & visual
A benefit of being in the front row is the fold-out touchscreen, which allows you to adjust the position of a monitor more than a regular back-of-seat display, which only goes up and down slightly. A drawback is that you need to comply with safety when taking off and landing, which means your entertainment starts later and finishes earlier than those behind you. But the trade-off is worth it.
The screen is responsive enough, but there’s also a handheld remote for those who’d prefer that.
As far as programming goes, there’s predictably a lot more than anyone could need, with film categories including Premiere (recent releases like Beetlejuice and Twisters), Award Winners (old and newer blockbusters) and Australian.
There are also special channels devoted to Marvel Icons, Harry Potter and Tim Burton. In addition, there’s a wide range of Asian cinema.
Meanwhile, there’s a good selection of TV ranging from Paramount+ and Box Sets (like True Detective and Tulsa King) to comedies, documentaries and kids’ shows. There’s even a wellness channel that promotes exercises (to do on the plane) and meditation. I ruminate on some Succession and Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO.
Elsewhere, there’s plenty of audio entertainment with pop and rock ranging from Tame Impala, Bastille and MGMT to classics like The Byrds and INXS. Other categories include classical, opera and mindfulness, among others. One of my favourite selections is the jazz and blues channel.
There are also lots of audiobooks. And as is pretty standard these days, plenty of ways to observe your flight through interactive maps and cameras etc.
Tip: No noise-cancelling headphones? If you don’t mind earplugs, pop a pair in (your crew should have some), put the plane’s standard headphones on and turn up the volume… loud. That way, you’ll hear almost everything without going deaf.
Details
- Route: Sydney-Singapore
- Flight number: QF1
- Frequency: Daily
- Aircraft: A380-800
- Class: Economy
- Configuration: 3-4-3
- Seat: 66E (Exit row, middle)
- Luggage allowance: 30kg (unlimited items)
- On-time performance: 8.55pm arrival (9.05pm scheduled)
Qantas did not sponsor this flight. All images by Mark Harada.
Last week, Qantas revealed significant Frequent Flyer updates over the next 12 months. Read more on Karryon on here.
