Things will be different on the other side when an airline is grounded for 18 months. Qantas promises great cabins, service and food, just as it is renowned for, while still in its infancy. Qantas reached a pre- Covid highpoint with polished, refined service and the future was promising.
I was excited when I boarded QF12 in business class. The Premium Economy offering was very good. Business Class needed to deliver on such a competitive route. Is my expectations too high?
Australia is only open to fully-vaccinated citizens and permanent residents. The standard pre-departure testing window is 72 hours, a far cry from the 24 hours faced when traveling to the United States.
Two days before my flight, I was given a $150 nasal swab overlooking Beverly Hills, and it was a negative result, so the pre-departure process is surprisingly straightforward. The airport Covid testing in Melbourne, Australia, saw me endure a 6-hour queue along with most other passengers on my flight.
Qantas tried to make the check-in process as painless as possible. Qantas staff and Australian Border Force agents are at Los Angeles International to make sure everything is in order.
Qantas used to offer both a Business Class and a luxurious First Class lounge at Los Angeles, which is a major overseas hub. All eligible passengers used the Business lounge when the airline opened the First Class lounge.
The lounge was never crowded. There was never a queue as a bartender quickly prepared coffee and alcoholic beverages. Premium sparkling wine was on offer.
The food was good, but not as good as the First Class offerings. The buffet dishes included chicken, vegetable curry, and fresh salads.
Boarding offered another chance to conduct a document check, so that any last issues would be resolved prior to arriving in Australia. The social distance was maintained.
Qantas has always excelled in seating, and the Dreamliner is no exception. Even in the middle seats, the design gives ample privacy.
A simple control panel offers a wide range of seating positions, including a reasonable recline approved for takeoff and landing. The seat has an effective massage function and can recline to a number of different angles.
Although your feet extend into a footwell, your legs are never cramped. I was able to get around eight hours of sleep on this 14-hour flight, thanks to the large pillow, warm blanket, and mattress topper.
The inflight dining was the same as before. A separate breakfast menu card allows passengers to make their own meal.
After takeoff, dinner was served. The cabin crew was courteous and refined, a feature of the airline. Qantas used a single tray instead of the usual pre- Covid tablecloth service, initially containing a green salad and sourdough bread.
The Business cabin had an overwhelming choice of Morrocan carrot soup. The portion was small, but still sufficient.
I chose the beef fillet with garlic potato and jus for the main. Passengers were not offered a choice in the cooking temperature. Qantas steak was tender and well seasoned, and the portion was generous. The presentation could be improved by Qantas, perhaps serving the sauce on the side.
Many passengers ate a chocolate mousse cake or cheese plate, but I had a simple vanilla gelato. The crew were happy to offer wine tastings or explanations to passengers, and they offered a broad variety of wine and liquors.
In an era where airlines are performing poorly in onboard Catering, Qantas excelled.
A large variety of mid-flight refreshments were offered on this 14-hour flight. The sandwich I ordered was fresh and delicious. BBQ potato chips and chocolates were also offered in a small makeshift bar during crew visits to the cabin.
Breakfast was served on individualised trays two hours prior to arrival. Passengers were allowed to sleep until the top of descent because the cabin lights were never turned on. The pancakes were served with a fruit salad and a croissant.
I was disappointed with the pancakes that I tried before Covid. They were difficult to cut and made the dish sour. The meal was creative and delicious, and the crew were willing to refill drinks and offer other snacks.
Qantas invested in an IFE product after abolishing inflight entertainment. The Panasonic screen was very high quality.
Qantas was showing the new James Bond film, No Time to Die, in cinemas. The TV and film selection offered a broad selection.
It was my first Qantas flight in two years, and it was familiar.
Considering the current state of airline travel, it was great to be served good food, have access to extensive IFE, and experience the genuine service Qantas is known for. I appreciated the fact that Qantas tried to simplify the experience as much as possible, and that the paperwork was checked thoroughly at check-in, ensuring no issues when entering Australia.
I can conclude that the flight was comfortable and familiar, and that it was not more nerve-racking than a standard international flight experience.
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