QF562 PER-SYD

Qantas were then very generous to switch me from the cheap (to them) seat on the 11am plane to the 8am (had booked a longish connection given D7’s record).

QF576 PER-SYD 26-Mar
Boeing 767-336 VH-ZXE (Apr-91) Seat 30D

Perth Qantas Club was packed early morning with the cleaning staff struggling to clean away the plates. My first QF domestic flights in months!! Rope and board out for Priority Boarding but the big banner was on the wrong side and effectively two lines formed.

Moderate 70% loads with most middle seats spare. On the ex-BA bird that at least doesnt have the project screens.

Breakfast choices were a muesli or a bacon frittata of some description. Anyhow non-eventful flight where I typed up most of the kl segment of this report.

Qantas were then very generous to switch me from the cheap (to them) seat on the 11am plane to the 8am (had booked a longish connection given D7’s record).

QF562 PER-SYD Boeing 767-336 VH-VXE Seat 30D

Perth Qantas Club was packed early morning with the cleaning staff struggling to clean away the plates. My first QF domestic flights in months!! Rope and board out for Priority Boarding but the big banner was on the wrong side and effectively two lines formed. Moderate 70% loads with most middle seats spare.

Breakfast choices were a muesli or a bacon frittata of some description. Anyhow non-eventful flight where I typed up most of the kl segment of this report.

QF128 HKG-SYD

Arriving back at HKG checked-in at Qantas on the far right of the terminal, then crossed back to the Cathay First Lounge where I got a cabana and had a relaxing shower. Half bite to eat in the Haven, a bit of shopping then across to the Qantas First Lounge.

Ran into a friends parents in the First Lounge, then another friends brother on board in Business – crazy small world!

Another great flight in Qantas Business. Watched a movie over dinner, then a doco in my private seat – that little red lounge with a lovely big screen tv – byo own headset!

QF128 HKG-SYD 25-Feb
Seat 17A, A380-800, VH-OQJ

Entrée
Sour and Spicy Vegetable Soup with Tofu and Coriander
Salad of King Prawns with White Beans and Serano Ham

Main Courses
Pumpkin and Mozzarella Aranchi with Braised Tomatoes and Salsa Verde
Seared Sea Bass with Ginger and Shallots, Fragrant Rice and Kan Kong
Red Braised Duck with Mushrooms, Egg Noodles and Asparagus Lettuce
Roast Rack of Lamb with Grilled Vegetables, Mojo Vegetables and Fondant Potatoes
Green Leaf Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dessert
Selection of Seasonal Cheese and accompaniements
Pear and Vanilla Cake with Cream Anglaise
Sliced Fresh Fruit

Chocolates
Valhorna Chocolates

Express
Your Flight Attendant will be pleased to assist you with today’s selection

Refreshment
Fresh Whole Fruit
Caramel Slice
Chocolate Bars

Breakfast
Pre-ordered per card form

Wines (names picked from the cart and looked up in the book)
Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Adelaide Hills, SA, Australia)
Toolangi Estate Chardonnay 2008 (Yarra Valley, VIC, Australia)
The Lane Vineyard Shiraz Voigner 2009 (Adelaide Hills, SA, Australia
Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005 (Margaret River, SA, Australia)

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Syd Customs and Immi were a breeze (for once)

Till the next travels!

QF127 SYD-HKG

QF127 SYD-HKG 17-Feb
Airbus A380-800 VH-OQF Seat 2A

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First Menu

Canapes
Corn and Manchego Fritters with Capsicum Relish; Spanner Crab and Ruby Grapefruit on Betel Leaves

Salad and other things
Roasted Tomato Soup with Thyme Croutons
Chinese Style Duck Salad with Pickled Cabbage
Salad of Jamon Iberico and Arbequina Olives Balsamic Vinaigrette

Light Meals
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing and Steamed Vegetables
Reuben Sandwich
Big bowl of Sweet Corn Congee with Toasted Sesame
Lamb, Pea and Mint Pot Pie
Our signature Steak Sandwich with Tomato and Chilli Relish

Main Courses
Potato Gnocchi with Braised Italian Vegetables, Pesto and Parmesan Cheese
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Spiced Eggplant, Gai Lan and Ginger Glaze
Chicken Kapi Kapitan with Fragrant Rice, Fried Eschalots and Snake Beans
Seared Rangers Valley Skirt Steak with Potato and Leek Gratin, Asparagus and Horseradish
Slow Cooked Spiced Kurobuta Pork with Fresh Salsa, Soft Tortillas and Sour Cream

Side Salad
Salad of Baby Cos, Radicchio and Frisee with your choice of dressing:
Aged Balsamic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Fresh Lemon Juice and Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Palm Sugar Vinaigrette

Cheese
Blue, soft and hard cheese, hand selected by Will Studd, Maitre Fromager, Calendar Cheese Company, served with accompaniements

Desserts
Date, Orange and Cinnamon Tart and Double Cream
Vanilla Panna Cotta with Fresh Strawberries and Sorbet
Nice Cream Chocolate Coated Raspberry Ice Cream
Whole or Sliced Seasonal Fruit

Petit Fours
A selection of Cacao hand made chocolates:
Blueberry and Polenta Cake
Roasted Almond and Cognac Biscuits

Wine
Champagne – Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
White – Leeuwin Estate ‘Art Series’ Chardonnay 2008 (Margaret River WA); Tyrrels ‘Vat 1’ Hunter Semillon 2005 (Hunter Valley NSW); Gembrook Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Yarra Valley VIC)
Red – Clonakilla Shiraz Voigner 2009 (Canberra District NSW); The Wanderer Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2010 (Yarra Valley VIC); Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Margaret River WA)
Dessert – Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 2009 (Clare Valley SA)

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Service was absolutely brilliant with no complaints. Midway through I asked for a snack and was also given the J Class menu as it had some different choices. While it does I was more interested in the lack of differentiation to the F menu as you can see below. I settled on the steak sandwich however! The Business wines were notably more modest.

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Business Menu

Entree
Roasted Tomato Soup with Thyme Croutons
Chinese Style Duck Salad with Pickled Cabbage

Main Courses
Potato Gnocchi with Braised Italian Vegetables, Pesto and Parmesan Cheese
Pan Fried Blue Eye with Spiced Eggplant, Gai Lan and Ginger Glaze
Chicken Kapi Kapitan with Fragrant Rice, Fried Eschalots and Snake Beans
Rangers Valley Fed Skirt Steak with Potato and Leek Gratin, Asparagus and Ree Wine Sauce

Salad of Baby Cos, Radicchio and Frisee with Chardonnay Dressing

Dessert
Seasonal cheese hand-selected by Calendar Cheese Company, served with accompaniements
Nice Cream Strawberry and Mascarpone Ice Cream with Berry Compote
Sliced Fresh Fruit

Chocolates
Valrhona Chocolates

Refreshment
Reuben Sandwich
Lamb, Pea and Mint Pot Pie
Roast Capsicum, Confit Onion and Feta Tart with Green Leaf Salad
Whole Seasonal Fruit
Roasted Almond and Cognac Biscuits
Hand Cooked Potato Chips
Fine Fettle Dried Fruit
Nice Cream Ice Cream Tubs
Valrhona Chocolate Bars

Off the plane and through transit security super quickly whence I struggled to find the Qantas First Lounge to meet with AFF Fanatic125 – its on the top level opposite CX Wing First. Actually fairly impressed with the overall openness of this lounge. Showed him the comparison between the QF First and Business menus which was interesting (and the subject of a separate post). We said our goodbyes and headed for the gate.

I should add a slight change of equipment for the trip report. Almost entirely typed on my BlackBerry PlayBook (with upgrade to the much better OS2 mid trip which includes an awesome predictive text app). Camera switched to a brand new Nikon S9100 including an 18x zoom – ordered from DSI in HK Mon night and delivered Thu morning.