Any one who travels regularly for work or pleasure knows that there is a lot more to Business Class than a great seat. I spend a lot of time on OneWorld and their Affiliates in the region, and I definitely have my favourites. I have a new favourite. My first trip of the year is done, and has been a great opportunity to compare three different products. This was a 5 day Sydney-Singapore-Tokyo-Sydney tour. With something like a day in the air between the cities. The last flight (Tokyo-Sydney) has been my favourite for many years. It was decent on the Qantas Airbus 330 that used to fly this route, and now better on the Boeing 747. A 9-10 hour overnight flight in a Qantas Skybed is a comfortable experience, and the constant innovation in cabin service has made this an easier and better trip. A tasty supper after takeoff, 6-7 hours of sleep, and a light hot breakfast is a winning combination. The 747 varies on this flight, mine this week was a refit with SkyBed II, so sleeping was easy in what used to be the First Class cabin. Taking the prize for worst flight of the week was the Wednesday night Red-Eye from Singapore to Tokyo. Leaving Singapore at 10 pm, arriving Tokyo at 5 am, with a one hour time zone change, there is little chance for good rest, and the old Neo Flat seat from JAL is a poor cousin to the original SkyBed. JAL do a dinner service after takeoff, and a breakfast before landing, so it is rare that you get more than 3 hours of darkness to nap in. The saving grace of this flight is that it lands at Haneda Airport, so Tokyo is only 30 minutes away. I was lucky enough to be able to change my Sydney-Singapore flight on Monday to route via Melbourne. This let me fly the first scheduled service of the newly refitted Airbus 330-300. I will tell you that I was eager to try the Qantas Business Suite. From the photos and reviews I had seen, this looked like it would push the Cathay Pacific New Business Seat out of my personal top spot as favourite business seat in the region. Melbourne to Singapore is a day flight, so not the fairest of comparisons, as I was less concerned with sleep, and more concerned with all the new features. First win is for the look and feel of the cabin. It is more spacious. The 'sea of grey eggs' that was SkyBed I has been replaces with lighter creams and timber veneer that has more in common with Qantas First in the Airbus 380. The seat design means the partitions between seats are lower than the SkyBed and this has opened up the cabin, making it feel larger. The staggered 1-2-1 configuration also ends the dilemma of 'step over' or 'be stepped over' for customer near the windows. There is plenty to like about this new suite. The large side table with storage rack above it is my favourite. The side table has a hinged compartment for the entertainment system hand controller, and the rack has room for books, magazines, tablet computer, phone, headphones, as well as a bottle of water. The option to be partially reclined for takeoff is great, it will be especially well used on the Red-Eye sectors around Asia, especially out of Singapore where the flight back to Sydney is 6-7 hours. I sit high in the seat, and so I would have preferred a little more head support, but I fixed that with the addition of the new larger pillow. The seatbelt sash holds you in place, and I find that makes a quick nap much more assured (this could be caused by my habit of napping in taxis). The new table is a slide-out affair, stored under the side table. It is one piece and solid, and slides back and forth to suit your needs. I found it to be great for both dining and working. A nice touch whilst you are sitting is the raised ramp-like footrest that forms the end of the bed. In combination with the leg rest, it is easy to find a really comfortable working, eating, or relaxing position. Whilst I was enjoying lunch, I had a quick play with the entertainment system. I don't usually spend much time with these as I eat, read, work, or sleep when I am flying. The new interface is slick, great graphics, easy to navigate, and the moving map is clear and easy to read with up to date information. I can see many passengers really enjoying a selection of movies on a good sized screen, highlighted by timber veneer behind. It feels classy and understated. The seat mechanism is quiet, and smooth. One tip for beginners. Don't let your seat belt fall down the side of the seat and then move the seat. Having the seat belt caught in the mechanism can easily end your business class experience. The best thing to do is leave you seat belt fastened all the time in any case. The flight crew aren't joking about this. I've seen passengers, luggage, crew, and drinks trolleys thrown around the cabin during turbulence, and it isn't a happy experience. After lunch I felt obliged to try a nap. It ended up being longer than I intended. This is a great seat to sleep in. When in the fully reclined, the leg rest fits against the foot rest and makes for a solid bed that doesn't bounce in mild chop. The bed is quite low in the suite, so there is a high degree of privacy, and you are well shielded from other passengers lights and screens. There is a roll out mattress available if you are inclined. This is a new generation to the ones that have been standard with SkyBed to date. I was pleased to find that they do not need to be stowed for takeoff and landing. Mark up a few more minutes of rest before landing. A couple of things I noticed during the flight. Seats that have the side table near the aisle will give you the most privacy during the flight. Seats with the side table away from the aisle have the advantage of additional storage space in an open compartment under the side table. What does that mean? My take is that if you are planning to sleep, grab a seat with the side table between you and the aisle. If you are planning to work, knit, read, or travel with a lot of loose items, take the other seat. Check out the seat maps on the Qantas web site when you are booking your flight. One other hing to love about the seat is the control panel. It is on the storage rack, out of the way, but always accessible. There is a reduced control in the wall beside the seat that is available when you are reclined. My favourite feature of the new control panel is 'Do Not Disturb'. Activating this changes your seat number to red, and ensures that crew and passengers know you prefer not to be disturbed. Makes it feel just like a hotel room. Niggles? Nothing major at all. The SkyBed shell has acoustic cloth on the inside, and I believe it does make a quieter zone to keep your head. This is not available in the Business Suite, but I would need to spend a few nights in the air to decide if it will an issue. The only other thing I missed was the Special Edition Oroton flight kit. Melbourne to Singapore is a day flight that doesn't get pyjamas, so I shouldn't be too disappointed. I can't wait to try this cabin overnight. Qantas wins the region in two areas already. In-flight food service is best in the world for my money. The care taken with preparation, and the restaurant style delivery makes a massive difference. (Ask me what a difference reheating different foods in separate containers makes to the flavour) Cabin management is another Qantas strength. When done right, especially on an overnight flight, this is the most valuable customer experience. Providing an environment that allows some passengers to go to sleep, whilst providing a world class meal service wins the night. Qantas manage this effortlessly. Meal service is handled professionally to minimise disruption, and to have it completed quickly, without making it feel rushed. I figure that I get roughly an extra hour of sleep on any red-eye in the region when I fly on Qantas. The Business Suite will easily take the Cathay New Business Seat in the comfort stakes. With upgraded Airbus 330's, the potential for Boeing 787, and a hoped for business cabin refresh on Boeing 747 and Airbus 380, Qantas could become the premier airline for business travellers.
izzy806
jbbartram-illu
andulkaphoto
snowghoul
2087
dededos
annaxmalina
discoholicmusic
