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Qantas review: London to Perth (non-stop)

A firsthand account of what it's like flying one of the longest flights in the world.

When I impulse-booked a trip to London, I made sure I was getting between Australia and the UK in the fastest time possible.

But, as someone who hates flying long distances, you can imagine my surprise when I realised that for my trip home, I was destined to board one of the longest flights in the world – London to Perth non-stop.

I have to admit that anything that gets me home from my trip faster is something I’m willing to try, so I girded my loins and braced myself for the journey.

London-Perth details

  • Route: London Heathrow to Perth
  • Duration: 16h 45m
  • Flight Number(s): QF10
  • Aircraft Type: Qantas Dreamliner
  • Dates Travelled: 6 to 7 July 2018
  • Class: Economy
  • Frequent Flyer Program: Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Points earned: 4,700 QFF points, 60 status credits

My verdict (in short)

  • Check-in was quick and easy due to electronic booths
  • Entertainment screens were sizable
  • Service was attentive and food service frequent
  • The air-condition was Arctic-cold - bring a blanket!
  • Flight was delayed, though the pilot did make up for lost time
  • One of the bathrooms broke, which while unfortunate, was inconvenient for a 17 hour flight

London-Perth review, in full

What did I like?

  • The check-in process was easy. Qantas has done a good job of ensuring check-in is seamless at Heathrow Airport. There were only booths (although I can see that this could be problematic if the computer didn’t register your flight), which increase efficiency and are designed to decrease lines. A couple of Qantas representatives were there to handle baggage too, which was also helpful.
  • The screens. My first impression of how large the screens were, even in economy, brought me immediate delight. They took up the entire headrest of the seat in front of me and were extremely responsive to light touches. This means that, unlike on older planes with less sensitive touch screens, you don't wind up stabbing the passenger in front of you with the pressure of your finger when working the screen. The in-flight entertainment system was extensive and extremely easy to use and navigate. You can tell Qantas has spent a lot of time and resources trying to make the experience as seamless as possible.
  • The food service. I was very impressed by how attentive the flight attendants were and the frequency at which food was served. Snacks were brought around more than I’ve ever experienced on other international flights and were different sizes and portions each time. For example, between one meal we were brought Kit Kats, while two hours later it was a warm calzone.

What didn’t I like?

  • The air conditioning. While I understand that it can be hard for airlines to strike a temperature balance when you’re trying to lull passengers to sleep, it was absolutely freezing throughout the whole flight. No amount of blankets could have warmed me up, even when I closed the vent above me.
  • My flight delay. While this can’t always be helped, it’s still frustrating to sit on the tarmac for an extended amount of time. Luckily, the pilot ended up making up for lost time in the air, even though we took off far later than expected.
  • One of the bathrooms broke. Again, this can’t really be helped, but for an extremely long flight it’s very inconvenient to be relying on one working bathroom per section. Not a norm for this flight, I’m sure, but still not ideal.

Would I use Qantas again?

Definitely. It got me home far quicker than if I were to go via Dubai or somewhere else. It was a surprisingly easy flight made easier by good entertainment.

All images are for illustrative purposes only and were not taken during the flight.

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