Qantas Sydney to San Francisco Economy Class Row 48 Review

Qantas' re-entry onto the Sydney-San Francisco route has broken a monopoly enjoyed by United Airlines for the past few years, and likewise made it more appealing for travellers to Fog Metropolis to fly direct rather than make a fourth dimension-consuming stopover at LAX.

But United hasn't taken annihilation for granted, with the US carrier and Star Brotherhood member rolling out its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to evangelize a superior ride on the 13-hour trans-Pacific trek.

With just 2 airlines on this route information technology's a clear-cut either/or conclusion: so how do the business class travel experiences of Qantas and United Airlines compare?

Frequency

Qantas flies Sydney-San Francisco (QF73/74) six days a week, skipping Tuesdays.

United Airlines has locked downwardly a daily slot for its UA870/863 service – providing the daily frequency which business travellers prefer in order to plan their schedule with maximum flexibility.

Flight times

Qantas QF73 leaves Sydney at ane.30pm to reach San Francisco effectually 9.30am.

United has opted for an earlier run, with UA870 wheels-up from at 10.30am for a 7am arrival into San Francisco which also dovetails into United's schedule for connecting flights out of its San Francisco hub to the rest of the USA.

Lounges

Qantas enjoys a natural advantage here, with Sydney being the Flying Kangaroo's home port – and where you'd await to observe its flagship lounges.

Information technology's true that after almost a decade of solid use, the Qantas International Business Lounge is in serious need of an upgrade.

Merely the variety and quality of meals, drinks and service are outstanding for a business course lounge, and flyers on QF73 out of Sydney tin can sample fresh juices as well as gelato made in the lounge's own kitchen.

Outset your day with a healthy juice at the Qantas Business Lounge...

(And of course, if yous hold Platinum status in the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme then you can head upstairs to the unbeatable Qantas First lounge.)

Read: Expert tips for making the almost of the Qantas showtime class lounge

United's business class passengers out of Sydney have a choice between the lounges of Star Alliance partners Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

United steers you to the crowded Air New Zealand lounge where in that location's barista-pulled coffee, an 'egg station' for poached or fried eggs cooked to order plus the usual scrambled eggs, baked beans and grilled tomatoes.

The AirNZ lounge: average breakfast spread just peachy coffee

AusBT review: Air New Zealand lounge, Sydney Airdrome

Yet your business class boarding pass also opens the doors at the neighbouring Singapore Airlines lounge which is less crowded and has a much broader range of dishes from the traditional Western breakfast to antipasto, smoked salmon, frittatas, chicken congee and lasagne.

Visit the Singapore Airlines lounge for a meliorate breakfast spread

Our tip: visit the AirNZ lounge for the java and the Singapore Airlines lounge for the rest of your breakfast.

The winner here, however, is clearly Qantas – at least for your outbound Sydney leg of the journey.

When you're flying back from San Francisco both airlines serve up a sadly sub-par lounge experience.

Qantas relegates all just its VIP frequent flyers to the decidedly average Air France Lounge instead of the excellent Cathay Pacific lounge, which turns abroad near Qantas travellers despite being office of the same Oneworld airline brotherhood.

Read: Flying Qantas from San Francisco? Here'due south your airport lounge strategy...

United'south SFO lounge conspicuously expects you to dine in the air, with but soup, salad and snacks on offer.

'Dinner' at United'southward San Francisco lounge...

Savvy flyers caput next door into the lounge of Star Alliance member EVA Air for a superior spread of Chinese dishes.

The aircraft

Qantas flies a Boeing 747-400 on the SYD-SFO route. She may be the venerable 'Queen of the Skies' simply despite an interior refresh she's showing her age.

Qantas flies the Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet to San Francisco
Aaron Bradford

United has upgraded all its Australian flights to the very latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which aces the jumbo in every way.

The Dreamliner is significantly quieter, has a modern spacious motel and even flies smoother.

United's Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes for a great flight

More than chiefly for passengers, higher humidity in the cabin, cleaner air filtration and a lower effective altitude than the 747 makes the flight more comfortable and reduces the result of flying fatigue and even jetlag.

You'll stride off your United flight at San Francisco feeling fresher, more awake and alert, and set to stride into your showtime meeting or presentation.

The seat

Both Qantas and United are out of step with the latest in business class seat design.

Forget the 1-2-1 layout, direct aisle access and personal storage spaces of the newest business organisation class seats from Virgin Australia, Red china Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways.

On the Sydney-San Francisco road Qantas and United fly seats arranged in pairs...

The Skybed Ii on Qantas' Boeing 747

... although United edges the Carmine Roo by providing a little more room to go along your deport-on kit shut at hand.

United's Boeing 787 business grade

At to the lowest degree both seats convert into a fully-flat bed for the 14-hour flight.

Sleeping

And speaking of slumber: although almost the same width, the Qantas' Skybed Ii feels noticeably wider in bed mode than its United counterpart.

Information technology's likewise a better snooze experience: Qantas dresses the seat with a mattress to flatten out the bumps, provides a quilted duvet comprehend and a pair of cotton pyjamas.

Qantas offers a more rounded sleep experience

With United you get only a pillow and a blanket. Merely if you're a light sleeper who can do without those creature comforts, then the quieter and less tiring ride of United'south Boeing 787 is a better choice.

Meals

American airlines in general don't exactly knock the brawl out of the park when it comes to in-flight meals. Even in business form the food is 'good' rather than 'great'.

United sticks to the basics with mains: choose between beefiness, craven, fish or pasta – while breakfast is cereal or an omelette.

Qantas' association with Neil Perry's Rockpool Grouping yields much improve fare, from small plates to mains bolstered by soups, salads and sandwiches, plus a more extensive wine list.

Work and play

The benefits of flying a modernistic jet like the Boeing 787 over again works in United'southward favour.

In that location's inflight Internet which runs at a useable clip and costs merely $US17 ($23) for the entire flight without whatsoever information limit.

You also get a much larger personal video screen, at 39cm against Qantas' 30cm panel (both airlines' libraries of movies and TV shows have more than than enough to please passengers on the trans-Pacific trek).

And the winner is…

Which airline makes the best play for your Sydney-San Francisco business travel upkeep?

All things considered, it's surprisingly shut and depends on which factors you prioritise: Qantas wins for lounges and inflight dining but United's mod Boeing 787 makes the 'core' feel of the flying a far amend proposition.

Too read: How to buy a San Francisco Clipper card

David Flynn travelled to San Francisco as a guest of Qantas and United Airlines.

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Master of Executive Traveller and a flake of a travel tragic with a weakness for good java, shopping and lychee martinis.

ahlapperned.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.executivetraveller.com/business-class-comparison-qantas-vs-united-airlines-sydney-to-san-francisco

Share this post