Inside economy class on Qantas QF9 Perth to London - non-stop on the Qantas 787 Dreamliner. Plenty of passengers have reported on what it's like to be in Business Class on one of the longest plane trips on the planet, but what is it like in economy. Specially, the middle seat at the back of the 787 Dreamliner? Lux-Traveller reports on what it's like to spend 18 hours in economy, flying from Perth to London with this QF9 trip report.
Australia is now connected to Europe with daily direct flights. The famous QF9 departs at 6.50pm from Perth, and lands in London at 5am the following morning. Almost 18 hours later.
Let's get the basics over with. Qantas has its 787-9s (known by Boeing as the Dreamliner) to 236 passengers, giving more room across all three classes vs the 300 passengers that most 787-9s carry. Qantas' Dreamliner has 42 seats in Business Class, 28 Premium Economy seats and Economy where we were with 166 seats, each with 32 inches of pitch. Mind you, many carriers fit fewer seats, with British Airways only fitting 216.
This flight for me started in Sydney, where I could have - for less money - chosen to have taken the A380 route via Singapore, which has better flight times, wider seats in economy, and much better chances of an upgrade using points. However, it doesn't quite have the cache of the world's longest flight. Except it isn't - there is a flight to Auckland which is just 20 miles longer, but generally shorter flight times.
One oddity about this flight is that you can't check in online: that can only be done at the counter or Qantasclub.
The Qantas flight from Sydney to Perth was an unremarkable 5 hour domestic hop, in a small 737, made better by wifi, but worse by no inflight screens.
Thankfully, I'd brought my ipad to watch some films. With takeoff at 1pm, and landing at 4pm, I had had both lunch and dinner before I even got to Western Australia. Lunch was a small pasta salad. Wine was equally free-flowing as we headed over the desert and the dessert course of cheese and biscuits was served.
Qantas Perth International Transit Lounge
Back on the ground in Perth, the flight preparation for the Qantas Dreamliner started in the new Qantas Transit lounge - reserved only for Business Class passengers on the Perth to London and return flights, and those holding Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer cards, which thank goodness I had.
Read more about the Qantas International Lounge at Perth Review from our sister site loungeindex.
Walking straight from the flight from Sydney, I followed signs to international departures, and I was presented with closed automatic doors, and literally tens of passengers looking confused. I went back to the 'old' Qantas club, and I was told the doors only open two hours before the flight, at 4pm, because customs staff only come over from the 'real' international terminal for the QF9 flight. There are however no signs for this, and no Tourist Refund Scheme office either.
The Perth Qantas Transit lounge opens sharp at 4.45pm. It is impossible to get to it before. I was pretty much the first customer through the door, having raced through customs and immigration control.
Qantas' new international lounge at Perth Airport for non-stop London flights has been designed by Australian Industrial designer David Caon and SUMU design and has a range of unique features including light therapy in the shower suites to help adjust the body clock, a well-being studio with stretching classes and a refresh area providing hydrating face products. Customers can dine in an open-air terrace with a BBQ serving dishes by celebrity chef Neil Perry from Rockpool. The Outdoor BBQ has chefs cooking sausages from local Perth butcher Princi Smallgoods, and vegetables such as grilled mushrooms and corn on the cob.
There is also a buffet serving light dishes including soups with homemade damper, healthy salad bowls, crudite and dips.
However, for me, very welcome before the longhaul is the full service bar with premium wine and beer from Australia, including the Margaret River region.
However, it's a race to get through all the facilities before the plane boards: there is a maximum of two hours in the lounge if like me you're first in the queue. Anyone else who has come in on the first leg of the QF9 from Melbourne has a maximum of 90 minutes, less 45 minutes of queuing to get back on board the plane, and that gives you at best 15 minutes before boarding starts. It's a ridiculous system.
Boarding was a scrum. I've never seen so many people so desperate to get on board a very long-haul flight. However, everyone had huge carry on bags, up to the size limit, and that heightened everyone's sense of urgency. Thankfully, there was enough overhead locker space for all.
I've had an upgrade on standby using no less than 100,000 Qantas miles for months, but it didn't clear, and when I checked again at the lounge they confirmed no upgrade for me, even to Premium Economy. "Oversold by 10" the crew said. Never mind. I pitied those on standby at the gate - for them, it would be another day in Australia.
The long walk to the back of the bus is also not the most entertaining. Business class on the Qantas 787 has the new seats.
After a tough day in the office, and having been up for 18 hours, I was looking forward to a quick dinner and some sleep. It was not to be.
The west coast of Australia can brew up some nasty storms, and the lightning was flashing away out of the window after takeoff. Thankfully in mid-winter, there were no cyclones nearby.
When you sit down there is a small amenity kit with a toothbrush and eyeshades, and handed out in the hope you will sleep.
So, if not sleep, what are customers to do for 18 hours straight? Others have suggested watching eight Star Wars films, but this might be tough to stomach.
Others with a fear of flying and sheer boredom might want a drink. The crew however kept a tight lid on that, and it was strictly one drink with dinner, and one drink afterwards.
Qantas 787 economy seat review
For this Qantas 787 Dreamliner review, let's start with the seat. Assembled in a 3-3-3 configuration, the Economy seats are slightly narrower with a better pitch than most at 32 inches- an extra inch of seat pitch compared with Qantas's A380. While an inch doesn't sound like much, it can make a significant difference to taller passengers. They also have small foot basket nets attached to the back of each seat, allowing passengers to slightly elevate their feet.
The Qantas 787 economy class seats are narrower than they used to be - the seat is actually marginally narrower (0.76 cm) than that found on board the airline's A380s and 747s.
Importantly, the enormous overhead luggage bins consume all carry-on baggage, freeing up the area under the seat in front.
Qantas 787 in-flight entertainment economy review
The Qantas 787 economy seat features a new personal device holder to keep your tablet and mobile, and powered USB ports for charging. There are more storage areas, a seat-back mood light designed to minimise disturbance for other passengers, and a high-definition entertainment touchscreen with AVOD that is five per cent larger than on the A380.
The tray table folds in half, so it's high on the seat back when retracted, keeping it away from your legs. There's also a small storage space just large enough to keep a bottle of water in. And water bottles were placed on each seat before boarding.
A big plus was virtually no announcements or interruptions during the flight, leaving people in peace to sleep. There are no window shades, just a photochromatic control that reduces the amount of light coming in. The lowest setting is like an ultra heavy window tint, but isn't really dark. And while the windows allow light to flow in, 14 LED lighting scenes set the mood in the cabin - simulating phases of the day, from dawn to sunset.
In total depressing darkness for the entire journey, the route is the world's (almost) longest, but also holds the dubious honour of being the longest flight without daylight.
The seatback TV screens thankfully tell you what's going to be happening in the flight, with meal times, and very very long gaps for 'resting'.
I'm probably the only journalist on the flight who has deliberately sat in economy for the 14,498km journey to try the back of the bus. Going against the wind, took around 17 hours and 15 minutes.
But between taxiing, boarding and disembarking, my time spent on board leapt to almost 18 hours. So, time to check out the IFE, or in-flight entertainment.
Qantas 787 in-flight entertainment content
Looking at the large high-definition Panasonic in-flight entertainment seatback screens, which are about 25 per cent bigger than existing offerings, it was time to explore the options.
Sadly, Qantas no longer publish, online or in the magazine, what is available on board, so you can't plan your trip ahead of time. This, to me, is a major downside. I just can't fathom why the airline axed the listings. Instead, online you get to see a short video with clips of some of the main films. Everyone else has to wait until they sit down.
There is quite a lot of content, but only two or three mainstream films, and it's quite American heavy. There are only a dozen or so boxed sets.
A real surprise is that Qantas does not offer Wi-Fi on the marathon flight. This is odd, and a major downside. Apparently, it's to do with the air resistance that an aerial on the plane causes. The drag means it can't quite make it to London with enough reserve fuel capacity.
Qantas 787 in-flight meals economy review
What are the Qantas 787 in-flight meals like? Well, pretty good in terms of quality, but not much in terms of quantity. Also, the timing is woeful.
Well, it has some odd timings. The problem again is the hour and length of the flight. With a typical 9 hour flight, you'd have dinner an hour after take off, and breakfast an hour before landing in economy.
However on the QF9 it can be two hours before you get your first meal. You are then left alone for 12 hours. There is then a small snack. Finally, just before landing, there is a hot breakfast.
Menus are displayed on the screens, and there are also cards handed around with the menu and wine and beer selections.
As soon as the flight gets into the cruise, drinks come around. However, with service front to back, you can wait up to two hours into the flight before there is the first drink. Spirits come from large bottles on the trolley, and come with a bag of crackers.
Salad of cumin beef with zucchini and citrus dressing
On the longhaul 787 from Perth, the food comes late, and it feels like a small snack.
This is the main course, the salad of cumin beef with zucchini and citrus dressing. It was icey cold, as you might expect.
There was also a mango and passion fruit panna cotta, and a small hard bread roll.
Cheese Ravioli with leek and mushroom sauce
I did ask if there were any hot meals left, and the crew were kind enough to give me one of theirs. The Cheese Ravioli with leek and mushroom sauce may look revolting, and it appears to have been congealing on the trolley for hours, but it was god, hot and with full of flavour.
Notably, passengers who ordered their food in advance were served first. You can only order your food seven days before takeoff, up to 24 hours before the flight: it is a small window.
Drinks came around with the meal again, and if you really wanted, there was a chance of a third drink when the trays were cleared, about four hours into the flight.
There is a small inflight snack bar on the Qantas 787 even for those passengers in economy. It has fruit, cheese and biscuits, muffins, and fruit bars.
There are also some cans of soft drink in the snack bar.
Mid way through the flight, there was the offer of a hot snack, with a bacon baguette. Only a few of these were loaded, I think with the assumption that most passengers would be asleep.
Cooked English breakfast
Qantas offer a full cooked English Breakfast before landing. This is the most substantial meal of the flight.
There is a sausage, omelette, fritter and beans.
Hot cup of tea, cake, and a bowl of yogurt and nuts.
Very good, very tasty, and just what was needed after 17 hours in the air.
Qantas 787 economy flight review
During the flight I found the Dreamliner aircraft type makes a huge difference. The aircraft circulates fresh air through the cabin, not bleed air that comes via the engines, so it is fresher. The higher cabin pressurisation means it feels like it is at a lower altitude and the increase in humidity from about 2 to 10 per cent is much easier on the body and so I felt far less dried out. The Dreamliner is also quieter than older A330s, but not quite as much as the A380 up the front.
It's these features rather than anything so revolutionary about the seat design or cabin layout that makes a huge difference.
However, the real downside of the flight is the 5am arrival time. I know most flights from Australia - and come to that to it - land in the incredibly early hours of the morning, but I find it's pointless.
The nine hours of wasted time before you can check into your hotel have no benefit. The old QF9 via Dubai landed early afternoon, which was far better for the body clock. This is one downside of the new flight. Another is that East coasters still have to get to Perth. Flight time from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane turns the 17.20 hour Perth-to-London direct flight into an extra long haul. At the end of the day, you're not really saving on time. The round trip Sydney-Perth-London is only about 15 minutes shorter than the traditional Sydney-Singapore-London flight path.
Taking Qantas 787 row 40, right at the front and bulkhead does make for a better flight on the aircraft. However, Qantas charge handsomely for these seats, and the one major advantage is ruled out by the several hundred dollars in extra costs.
On disembarking, I was groggy, aching and ready for bed, but that's exactly how I'd feel after any long haul journey over eight hours. At a certain point you just embrace the confinement and try to enjoy the ride.
Qantas London to Perth on QF10
A few days later, and it was time for the return journey.
Again, I was seated at the front of the economy class cabin, again, having failed to get an upgrade.
However, row 40 is decent enough, but be warned the middle seats are bassinette seats, and often babies are seated here.
Steak with potatoes
There were three main meals on QF10 from LHR to Perth: I took the Steak with potatoes and carrots, which was decent enough.
It came with the usual roll, and strawberry cheesecake.
About 12 hours, or half way though the flight, small packets of Galzone were offered. The crew were very decent with beer on this flight, and kept everyone topped up.
Finally, three hours before landing breakfast was served.
The Qantas flight to Australia from London on the QF10 was if anything more grueling than the flight out, as flights Eastwards always are.
See the full Qantas 787 economy trip report QF9 video:
And the flight back with the Qantas 787 economy trip report QF10 video:
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Lux-traveller paid its own way for this Trip Report on Qantas from Perth to London, and travelled incognito.
Read about the background to the new route:
Qantas Melbourne Business Class Lounge opens
Trip Report: Qantas A380 Premium Economy to Sydney
The long haul Down Under as Qantas goes direct London to Perth
Qantas 787 London to Perth menu revealed