Qantas Business Class Review – Perth to Paris Direct (QF33)
We recently flew Qantas Business Class on the direct Perth to Paris service, departing Perth Airport on Monday 15 December 2025 at 8.20pm.
Travelling with two young children – a six-month-old and a four-and-a-half-year-old – adds an extra layer of complexity to any long-haul flight, so comfort, service, and practical design really mattered on this journey.
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⚡ Quick take
A convenient direct service, particularly for families, with strong in-flight entertainment and practical bassinet setup.
However, dated and firm seating, underwhelming food service, and inconsistent premium touches mean Qantas’ Perth–Paris Business Class falls short of the world’s best long-haul Business Class offerings.
Check-in and Airport Experience
We departed from Terminal 4 at Perth Airport and used the dedicated Business Class check-in counters. The staff member who assisted us was friendly and efficient, and the check-in process itself was smooth.
All of our checked luggage, along with our travel pram, was handled without issue, with the pram directed to oversized baggage. Clear instructions were given about where to head next for security and the lounge.
One downside of departing internationally from Terminal 4 is the double security process we experienced. We passed through domestic security, then passport control, followed by international security. While there has been considerable publicity about no longer needing to remove laptops and devices at security, this only applied to the domestic checkpoint in this terminal.
At the international security check, laptops and devices still had to be removed, which made the process feel inconsistent and unnecessarily cumbersome.
Adding to this, my wife and our four-and-a-half-year-old daughter were subjected to explosive residue testing – twice. While security is obviously important, the overall experience raised questions about the logic and efficiency of the process, particularly for families.
Combined with the double security screening in this terminal, it made this part of the journey feel drawn-out and not particularly pleasant.
Qantas Lounge – Perth
We arrived at the Qantas Lounge with just under an hour before boarding. The lounge was busy, but not overcrowded, and we were able to find a comfortable seating area near a large Christmas tree, which added a nice festive touch.
Food offerings were acceptable but fairly unremarkable. There were salads, fruit, a cheese platter, homemade lamingtons, and a small selection of hot food, including rice and a beef dish. Everything was fine, but nothing stood out as particularly premium.
For Business Class, the lounge felt adequate rather than impressive.
Boarding and Seating
Boarding was scheduled for 7.30pm and, to Qantas’ credit, began on time. We positioned ourselves early and were among the first to board, which is especially helpful when travelling with children.
Our seating arrangement was virtually ideal as we sat in the very front row of the Business Class section. I sat next to our four-and-a-half-year-old daughter in the centre section, while my wife had the window seat on the right. As per common airline policy, our six-month-old wasn’t assigned a seat even though we paid just over $500 for her ticket.
Being positioned in the front row meant that the bassinet was directly in front of me. This setup worked extremely well, and credit goes to our amazing travel agent, Megan Matrakis, for securing these seats.
One odd design issue was the lack of an overhead compartment above my seat. This meant I had no choice but to use a nearby locker, which caused some mild confusion with another passenger who assumed it was theirs. Not a major problem, but a strange oversight in cabin design.
We were offered a pre-departure drink and nuts. I chose sparkling water and my wife opted for champagne, though we were told shortly after our first drinks that champagne had run out. For a long-haul Business Class service, this was disappointing and didn’t set the best first impression.
Cabin Comfort
The Perth–Paris service is operated on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an aircraft designed for long-haul travel with features such as larger windows, improved cabin humidity, and soft mood lighting.
While these characteristics are welcome on an ultra-long-haul route, the cabin still felt a little compact for a 17-hour flight, particularly when compared with larger wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380 or A350 used by some other long-haul carriers.
That relatively smaller cabin footprint also seemed to make periods of turbulence feel more noticeable at times, something that became more apparent over the length of the flight.
Pillows and a blanket were already present at each seat on boarding, while pyjamas were offered shortly after take-off.
The Business Class seats offered a wide range of adjustments, including multiple recline angles, seat height and leg positions, a reading light, a “do not disturb” sign, and even a massage function – which worked on my seat, though my wife’s did not. Each seat also came with a protective hygiene cover, which we all used.
However, despite the extensive adjustability, the seats themselves felt dated and, over the duration of the flight, not particularly comfortable. The cushioning felt hard and leathery rather than soft or supportive, and there was no meaningful ergonomic shaping, particularly in the lumbar or lower-back area. As a result, it was difficult to find a position that felt genuinely comfortable, even when alternating between upright and reclined settings. Compared with newer Business Class products, the overall seat comfort felt tired rather than refined.
The seatbelt system was slightly awkward, using a lap-sash style belt that threaded through the seat cover. It wasn’t particularly user-friendly, but it wasn’t a major issue.
There was a handy storage area to the left of the seat, which included a water bottle, a small boxed drink of coconut water, and space for personal items.
Cabin temperature throughout the flight felt comfortable, and there was an adjustable air vent directly above the seat that allowed cool air to be directed where needed, which was a welcome touch on such a long flight.
Bassinet and Travelling with an Infant
The bassinet itself was well designed and very useful. It featured two safety belt structures, was set up efficiently by the cabin crew, and felt secure once in place.
Beyond sleep, the bassinet also doubled as a small play area where we could sit our six-month-old upright with toys and keep her entertained. The cabin crew were obliging and helpful whenever we needed assistance, which was appreciated throughout the flight.
As we touched on earlier, periods of turbulence during the flight made it difficult for our six-month-old to remain settled in the bassinet for extended periods. While take-off and landing were smooth, the in-flight movement disrupted her sleep, and we often had to alternate between having her rest on us instead. This wasn’t ideal and had a noticeable impact on our own rest.
Our four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, on the other hand, slept well for much of the flight, which was a welcome relief.
In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity
The in-flight entertainment system was a strong point. The screen was a good size, clear, and easy to use, with adjustable brightness and volume. There was a solid selection of new release movies – I watched Jurassic World: Rebirth – and there was a wide range of other options.
One particularly positive aspect was how adjustable the seating position was in relation to the screen. Because of the number of fine seat adjustments available, it was easy to position yourself at a desired viewing distance whether sitting upright, reclined, or lying flatter.
The children’s entertainment experience was also well executed. The system allows access to a dedicated kids’ zone with a simplified interface, making it easy for children to independently navigate and select what they want to watch without constantly needing help from their parents.
There was a good range of age-appropriate content, with Bluey being the clear favourite, which helped keep our daughter settled and entertained for long stretches of the flight.
In terms of connectivity, I wasn’t able to connect to any Wi-Fi service during the flight.
Dining and Refreshments
Dinner was served within the first couple of hours after take-off. Unfortunately, this was one of the weaker aspects of the experience. Portions were small for Business Class, and the quality didn’t quite meet expectations. I chose the chicken dish, which was fairly ordinary and felt closer to an economy-style meal than a premium offering.
The biggest issue was the long gap between dinner and breakfast. After dinner, most passengers slept, but the stretch without food was excessive. By the time breakfast arrived, my wife, our daughter, and I were all very hungry. There was no proactive snack service during this period, and you really had to get up and ask.
When we did seek snacks, the options were basic – apples, packet biscuits, and nuts – which felt underwhelming for Business Class.
One additional disappointment was around water service. When I asked for bottled water, I was told there wasn’t enough storage space onboard to carry sufficient bottled water. Instead, I was offered sparkling water or water poured into a glass. While not a major issue in isolation, it felt like an unnecessary compromise for a long-haul Business Class flight, where bottled water availability would reasonably be expected.
For breakfast, I selected fruit juice, peppermint tea, scrambled eggs with salmon and potato, plus fruit salad and yoghurt. Again, the portions were small for Business Class and overall felt light rather than satisfying.
We were given a pen earlier in the flight to select our breakfast choices, which was a nice touch.
Service, Cabin Atmosphere and Bathrooms
The cabin crew were generally friendly and professional, though it was noticeable that the staff skewed older. This isn’t inherently negative, but it did contribute to an overall feeling that the airline’s style, uniforms, and service philosophy are somewhat dated. It doesn’t project innovation or a modern, forward-thinking identity.
Noise awareness could have been better. When most passengers were sleeping – and knowing we had a baby on board – there was a noticeable amount of loud talking and banging of plates and cutlery from the crew, which felt avoidable and disruptive.
The Business Class passengers themselves were considerate and well behaved. Most people were either asleep or quietly watching movies with headphones, and there were no passenger-related disturbances.
The bathroom near the front of the Business Class cabin was kept reasonably clean throughout the flight and consistently smelled fresh, which was appreciated on such a long journey. However, there was only one toilet close by, which resulted in several short waits.
Overall Verdict
Qantas Business Class on the Perth to Paris direct route offers a functional experience, particularly in terms of in-flight entertainment, bassinet practicality, and the convenience of a non-stop service.
However, it falls short of being a genuinely premium, world-leading Business Class product when compared with airlines such as Qatar and Singapore Airlines. The seats feel dated and lack ergonomic support, the lounge experience is average, food quality and portion sizes are underwhelming, and long gaps between meals detract from comfort on such a long flight.
That said, Qantas currently offers the only direct flight between Perth and Paris, and for many travellers – particularly families – that convenience alone carries significant value and will be a decisive factor.
Overall, Qantas Business Class is a convenient and reasonable option, especially given the uniqueness of the direct route, but there is clear room for improvement if Qantas wants to truly compete with the best Business Class offerings globally.
Bedbuyer’s rating: 3.2 / 5