After a morning swim at the Marina Bay Sands’ amazing infinity pool, it was off to Changi Airport for my first Airbus 380 flight. Previously the Airbus 380 hadn’t excited me all that much, though that was quickly changing.
Continue reading: Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Qantas First Class Lounge Singapore, Qantas A380 First Class Singapore to Sydney
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Was this part of the trip an award redemption? Just wondering because I read that no airlines offer reward redemption on A380 F class. Thanks and loving this whole report!
@ Mike -- It was indeed. The one way ticket cost only 45,000 American miles. While Qantas releases virtually no award space in A380 first class between the US and Australia, they release a fair amount between Europe/Asia and Australia.
You truly were excited because you even took photos of the used hot towel! Loved the report. I felt like I was flying right along with you.
Great stuff, Ben...never been on one of these birds but it makes me want to go!
Great report! I'm so envious. What's the AA redemption possibilities for an A380?
Nice report. I have flown this route about 4 times myself in First and never get tired of it. Even on their 747's the servcie is topnotch and I agree, whilst no caviar and Dom, their food and beverage offerings are outstanding and their turn down service is heavenly (even compared to Thai, Lufthansa, maybe Turkish in first class is a match ;))
Looking forward to the next installment!
@ brian @ Peter -- Thanks!
@ Sam -- I'm doing my best to keep you out of rehab, buddy! 😀
@ Michael -- The only OneWorld airline with the A380 is Qantas, so your best chances at getting it at MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR.
@ Ken -- Happy to hear Qantas is equally good on the 747.
Nice trip report, Gate 23 must be the A380 gate in Singapore.
A stack of photos, wow, and I thought I took a few photos.
I can't wait for your report on the Melbourne First Class lounge.
@lucky- Thanks the A 380 F experience, I'll have to look into the Asia to Australia route one day soon. - I thought Oz e-visa is free for US passport holders when done online? no?
Wow! Great trip report as usual! IMHO The A380 is one of the ugliest planes I've ever seen, but the interior seems so futuristic, almost like something from science fiction.
Lucky, this was a let down. You should have sampled more of the extensive menu 😉
Mr. lucky (coins),
You really outdid yourself this time with the report. Hmmm. One way for 45,000 AA miles? I think I can manage that! Now to work on the details.
I do love the A380 I flew AF from CDG-NRT and back before crossing the pond back to NY just to experience the thrill of the A380
Best line of the report " I found myself outside the terminal, trying to find the shuttle for the Holiday Inn. Talk about a buzz kill…"
😀
I've sat through Airbus salesmen pitching the A380, but I must say that your enthusiasm does a better job!
Very nice report and flight.
Now, was this a free comped flight or did you leverage some nice mileage/$$ for this flight? What would it be?
@ Bundy Bear -- Hah, now I remember what I have to mention.
@ Imm2b -- Hmmm, I thought the cost was something like $20 or so.
@ Ryan -- Totally agree. Notice I call it a "beast" from the outside. It's impressive, though far from attractive, unlike the 747.
@ Andy -- Hah! I'm surprised my good pal "mark" hasn't shown up to ask me how much I weigh (as he seems to like to do every time I post pictures of airline food).
@ Nycflyer75 @ Dan @ Sean -- Thanks!
@ tivoboy -- I used 45,000 American miles for the one-way ticket. Anything that's comped will clearly be stated as such at the very beginning of the post.
Nice report! I've been waiting to read this report for a long time! I was able to score two first class tickets from MEL to LAX using AA miles few weeks ago. My partner and I have already assigned seats to 2A and 3A. Can't wait to experience our first A380 flight!
p.s. for those who are trying to get first class redemption on Quantas through AA, the availability is indeed non to existance but there are few class seats on A380 when I looked few weeks ago (5 months ahead). The key is to be super flexible.
You couldn't get a lime for your Diet Coke, but the first thing on the brunch menu is "Fresh Tropical Fruit with Lime Wedges"!!!
Wonderful trip report, Lucky.
I flew the A380 LHR-SIN-SYD yesterday in 2A and it really is an amazing experience. I loved it so much I've been considering blowing 70k AA miles to fly BKK-BCN to visit a friend in the middle of this trip. Difficult to decide between QF via SIN or CX via HKG however.
I thought it interesting that QF is still offering the same wines over a month later (albeit on the same flight).
The bed setup is amazing, but on my second segment I saw a number of people sleeping with only the thin blanket. Maybe it would be too difficult, but if possible the crew should have proactively watched for people putting the seats flat and offered. I had to ask that my bed be made on both segments.
@Imm2b It was AUD20 when I purchased mine in March.
Lucky, You should have been able to get your Diet Coke with a lime - see item #2 on the brunch part of the menu. Must have been those tough Aussie accents - lost in translation. 😉
I have to disagree about what you said the meal was well presented. From your photos, I actually find the food presentation as well as the chinaware they choose for F are all very bland, very UA like. There is nothing stand out at all unlike the asia counterpart SQ, NH, CX, and OZ.
Oh, not to mention why would they serve ice-cream in its original container instead of scope it out to place in a bowl in F ?