Qantas has announced that it’s making some changes to its first class, representing “a new chapter” for the oneworld carrier’s most premium experience. However, when one of the things that you’re highlighting is the introduction of dine on demand (in international first class!), then you can’t help but scratch your head a bit…
Qantas unveils “a new chapter” of first class
Currently, Qantas exclusively offers first class on its small fleet of Airbus A380s. The airline has announced a series of changes to its first class product, which will progressively be rolled out between late 2025 and the middle of 2026.
For one, Qantas is introducing new Aesop amenity kits in first class, with three collectable designs. The new kits will include Aesop hand balm, Aesop hand wash, Aesop lip salve, Aesop toothpaste, eau de parfum, eyeshades, a toothbrush with reusable cap, and 3M earplugs.
The amenity kits will be accompanied by new navy Qantas-designed pajamas, and loafer-style slippers, for inflight comfort.
The airline is also updating its food and drinks, with new dishes from Qantas Creative Director of Food and Beverage, Neil Perry, serving up dishes from Margaret restaurant. New menu items will include the following:
- Margaret’s tartare of yellowfin tuna with gochujang, toasted sesame and baby cos
- Roasted Wollemi duck with orange caramel, crisp Chinese greens, golden sesame and jasmine rice
- Crumbed Margra lamb cutlets with shaved fennel, pine nuts, rocket, salsa verde and lemon
- Neil Perry’s Gran Torino Torta Di Verona with Amaretto and toasted almonds
The airline highlights how it will also offer dine on demand to allow for maximum rest, as if that’s not a standard in virtually every first class cabin in the world. The new dining experience will be paired with Bollinger La Grande Année 2015, alongside Pommery Cuvée Louise 2006.
Here’s how Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace describes these updates:
“Our customers fly First because they value the quality in every detail. On longer flights, a fine dining experience, premium amenities and complete comfort really matter, so we’ve focused on improving each of these areas. Our incredible Cabin Crew have been undergoing inflight trials and an intensive training program. It is great to welcome new premium partners onboard and we look forward to delivering this new experience for our First customers.”
My take on these Qantas first class updates
All of these changes to Qantas first class sound positive. I’m a big fan of Aesop, and at a minimum, the new Qantas first class slippers look super comfortable.
That being said, I can’t help but chuckle a bit at the way that Qantas is hyping this. A new design for the amenity kit and pajamas marks a “new chapter” for the product? And the airline is now promoting how it’s going to start offering dine on demand in first class, “as part of the Flying Kangaroo’s ongoing focus on jetlag mitigation and inflight wellness ahead of its groundbreaking ultra long-haul Project Sunrise flights?” Like, even American offers dine on demand in first class, which… that’s not exactly a high standard.
Qantas’ A380 first class is a perfectly nice product, and I find most Qantas flight attendants to be friendly, and the food and drinks to be reasonably good. That being said, I’d consider this product to be mid, as the kids say nowadays, and I don’t rank it among the world’s best first class products.
So I’m happy to see these improvements. When Qantas introduces its new Airbus A350-1000s for Project Sunrise flights, I hope the airline takes its first class soft product to the next level.
Bottom line
Qantas has announced some changes to its first class soft product. The airline is rolling out new amenity kits, new pajamas, and new slippers, and is also updating its food and drinks. This includes new dishes from Neil Perry, plus updates to the champagne that’s served.
I’d consider these all to be very minor updates, but I guess something is better than nothing.
What do you make of Qantas’ first class updates?