Melbourne-Sydney-Bangkok in Business Class

4 Questions regarding MEL/SYD/BKK v v in Business Class

Scenario: All 4 sectors in Business with QF code but MEL/SYD v v on QF metal and SYD/BKK v v on EK metal

Questions:

1) SYD/BKK on EK metal operated by EK 777-300ER. What is the Business Class seat like on this aircraft? Old-fashioned business, angled flat or 180 degrees flat?

2) Pax is OW Emerald but not with QFF and pax has no status with EK's programme. Can pax use the Qantas First Lounge in SYD during transit on the outbound leg? i.e. Will Qantas relax OW lounge rules seeing is EK is operating a service for them?

3) Assuming negative response for question no. 2 and pax wishes to fly on QF metal instead; is QF23 (SYD/BKK) always operated by an A330? If not, what other aircraft is used (B747?) and what are the schedules like?

4) What is the EK Business Class lounge like in SYD?

1. Angled-flat in a 2-3-2 layout.

2. I wouldn't expect it - get ready to be sent to either the EK lounge or the QF J lounge.. For OWE customers to access the F Lounge, the official policy is that they must be on an OW operated and marketed flight. However, given the SYD-BKK flight on EK leaves in the late evening (a quiet time for international departures), you may be lucky.

3. QF23 is operated by an A330 most of the time. Currently, it appears to be a daily A330-300.

4. Trawl through reviews - John Walton did a review of it here on AusBT a couple years back, which should give you an idea. I don't think it's been refurbished since.

Thank you watson!

No worries! If I might make a suggestion, you could send the passenger on QF metal on the way out and on EK on the way back.

I'd suggest this approach for two main reasons.

• The timing is significantly better. The QF flight departs SYD in the mid-morning, arriving BKK the late afternoon. The EK flight leaves SYD in the evening and gets into BKK past midnight.
• The lounge in Sydney. Given they're OWE, they will be able to use the F lounge on the way out to BKK. Perhaps they could shower in the MEL domestic J lounge, then really enjoy the morning in the SYD F lounge.

On the way back it doesn't matter as much, as the two flights have similar seats and similar timing, but I'd give EK a spin for the lolz.

Thanks Watson,

Yes I did consider that but really I was trying to find a way, if my schedule allows it, to use the First lounge in the afternoon. That way I get to try something else besides the breakfast (there is only so much you can do with eggs! - most QF operated flights leave in the morning!!!) and I wont waste the day flying. 

I was going to suggest QF 5 plus JQ, but that flight has been moving steadily later and later over the last year.

I suppose if you have OWE and want lunch in the F Lounge, I'd suggest a Trans-Tasman hop?

Good idea but I'm not that lame to fly just for a free lunch! LOL

There's always BA 16 or QF 5 if you're happy to stopover in SIN for a night of Lion City (or just a morning of Ya Kun toast and coffee!).