Domestic Business Class fares between Melbourne and Sydney are pretty hefty (about AU$700 roundtrip). Although the flight is only about 90 minutes, it’s always nice to have more space and a nicer experience. Enter BA Avios – a round trip runs 18,000 Avios and about £18 in taxes. Bargain. In addition, a few times a day Qantas runs their internationally configured A330 planes – a much nicer experience than the 737’s they run the rest of the time.
Over the weeks after my booking Qantas shunted around which flights were operated by the A330’s and so I had to change my flights, but was able to do this free of charge at ba.com. It’s worth keeping an eye on these plane changes if you want to fly the bigger planes. This is a 737:
Boarding started about 30 minutes before departure and there were two doors – one for Business Class / oneworld elites and the other for Economy passengers. Once onboard, the Business Class cabin is configure 1-2-1 with the window seats offset so that one is near the aisle and the one behind near the window. Overhead space is available above all the seats, although larger bags need to go over the centre seats.
I had picked a window seat in Row 2.
The seat controls allow a fully flat experience and even have a reclined position which can be used during take off and landing – the first airline I have seen that happen on. The seat had headphones ready and the inflight entertainment (movies and TV) was ready to use as soon as I sat down. There were power sockets and UDB charging in the seat.
There is a massage feature in the seat too!
Shortly after take off the crew came around with lunch served from a trolley as well as a wide range of drinks. On both flights (I flew down on Qantas too) they had several choices for the main course. Hot, tasty food and a choice – you have to love Qantas. British Airways could learn.
Warm bread and rolls were served too, and the staff came around with Tea and Coffee after the meal.
The views as we landed in to Sydney on the way down were pretty smart, as were the views on the way in to Melbourne on the return.
I watched almost a whole movie by the time we taxied to the gate which is pretty good for such a short flight.
I would recommend this as a good use of Avios, especially if you can get yourself on the A330.
Great review. I always use my Avios while in Australia as it is a terrific value. And you can always count on the Qantas Lounge for a good flat white.
@HenryK – totally agree – I will write about the Qantas lounge next week
18,000 avios for two 90 minute flights does not sound like a good deal to me. A 5 hour flight from LA to Honolulu seems like a better deal and costs less.
Nice that they’re rostering some A330s on that route now, they weren’t last year. Flight time more like an hour IME, schedule padding like EDI-LHR 😉
With BA Gold I only used business if no economy availability, but if you wouldn’t have lounge access otherwise then worth the extra. I love how low tax the QF redemptions are.