Flight test: London to Singapore on Qantas’ A380

The airline                             Qantas

The Route                              From London Heathrow to Singapore Changi

The Ticket                              Purchased via the Qantas website

The Flight                               QF10

Check-in
 
 Easily checked-in at one of many self-service machines available at Heathrow Airport.

Luggage
 I only had my hand luggage, and I was allowed of 10kg, instead of the ordinary 7 kg, thanks to my silver status in the Qantas frequent flyer programme.

The Plane                              Airbus A380-800

Class                                         Economy, layout 3-4-3, seat 62K,

Duration                                  12 hours, 50 minutes. Departed 20 minutes late, landed 10 minutes late

The Seat  
 79 cm. Ok, there is not as much space as you get on a Singaporean Airlines A380, whose pitch is 3 cm longer, yet is quite comfortable, provided your aren’t taller than 180 cm.

Cleanliness
 Some remains of the previous passengers such as food packaging in the pocket and crumbles all around the floor could rise questions about the cleaning service.

Entertainment
 On board its A380 fleet, Qantas boasts one of the best on-demand inflight entertainments. There are good reasons for that. Tens of movies, Tv series, documentaries and games are available through each 11 inches size touch screen. In addition, a huge music library, a large selection of radio channels and a kids zone can satisfy even the most demanding passenger. More, the external camera provides a thrilling view of the aircraft from the tail. The only stain was the touch screen on this seat wasn’t working. By the way, the best entertainment system is that of Cathay Pacific, but only because of the wider screen.

Service
 Friendly, warm and competent as usual.

Food & Drink
 I choose the kosher meal upon booking and I was served among the first on board, but it was nothing really impressing. Anyway, quality is good for an economy class. Yoghurt and orange juice served for breakfast are certified organic. As of drinks, there is a large selection of Australian wines, soft drinks, spirits and beers, but only one type of black tea and only one type of coffee.

Extras
 A refreshment bag that goes beyond the need of the most sophisticated passenger, with a moisturizing cream, sockets, eye mask, 50 cl of water, tooth paste and teeth brush.

Frequency
 From London Heathrow to Singapore Changi, Qantas offers three flight each working day, two on Saturdays and Sundays. Price for a return ticket starts at 522 pounds.

Tested by

Stefano Campolo on 31 August 2012.