Let’s be honest: flying 22 hours from the UK to Sydney isn’t so much a journey as a test of existential endurance. It’s the long-haul equivalent of watching your phone battery tick down during a business call that never ends. And yet, flying premium economy with Qantas on a recent trip Down Under, I emerged on the other side not only upright, but oddly cheerful, and smug enough to start recommending it to everyone, including now you.
Speed
From Heathrow, you’re immediately given the VIP treatment as you’re given access to the premium check-ins. Whilst others are busy queuing, this time, you’re gliding through the airport as if you’re not on your way to 22 hours in the air. Even before boarding, the joy of knowing you’re not wedged into a middle seat beside a snorer who’s claimed both armrests is enough to justify feeling smug. Either way, it was blissfully quick and completely un-sweaty.
Comfort
Now, here’s where things take a luxurious turn – the Airbus A380 door closes, the safety demo begins, and before you’ve even had time to regret not downloading more Netflix, a smiling member of the dedicated premium economy crew (read: these folks are exclusively yours) appears with a tray of sparkling wine and water. It’s hard not to opt for the fizz, naturally – and it certainly won’t be the last of the flight. Call it an aid to sleep, de-stressing or just fitting in with the crowd, but somehow it tastes better 36,000 feet in the air.
Attention
The private premium economy cabin – adjacent to business, separate from economy – is small enough to feel exclusive without leaning into first-class pretensions. The seats are generously wide, with plenty of elbow room, and the legroom is so ample I briefly forget what it’s like to tuck my knees under my chin. The ergonomic headrest means that you can cradle your head from every direction whilst the specially designed pillow envelopes it so that you’re not constantly wrestling with gravity or waking up every 20 minutes as it falls into the aisle.
Luxury
Of course, what really seals the deal is the amenity kit. This little bundle of in-flight goodness includes a proper eye mask (not a flimsy one that gives you acne), a dental kit, and a pair of compression socks that you won’t be embarrassed to wear. Throw in a large cotton pillow and a pure wool blanket – yes, actual wool – and you’ve got yourself a situation that’s closer to a floating boutique hotel room than a typical long-haul seat.
Delicious
Then comes dinner. Or perhaps it’s lunch. Or breakfast? Time loses all meaning somewhere over the Indian Ocean. Either way – the three-course meal arrives, beautifully presented on tableware designed by Australian designer David Caon, who clearly understands the importance of aesthetics at altitude. There’s real cutlery (bless), a cloth napkin, and dishes that you’d regret being asleep for. My meal included a gorgeously fresh salad to start and then a tender beef dish that tasted like actual beef and not something rehydrated before take-off – a true airborne miracle.
Easy
The award-winning wine list features a rotating selection of Australian and international labels that could impress even seasoned enthusiasts. The choices available for both white and red make the flight feel more like a bar than a tin can. When your glass is topped up mid-movie by a passing crew member who looks genuinely delighted to be offering you another pour, you know you’re in the right cabin.
Relaxing
Sleep, when it came, wasn’t the kind of tortured, twisted slumber that leaves you drooling on your neighbour’s shoulder and wondering if you’ve thrown out your back. Thanks to the spacious recline, ergonomic extras, and sheer quiet of the private cabin, it was… actual sleep. As I awoke naturally and slowly, without the jet lag-induced rage, from the calm presence of the crew I felt a surprisingly strong hunger for breakfast, which arrived with endless strong coffee and fresh fruit. I almost wept.
Just Right
Premium economy flights to Sydney don’t try to be something they’re not. They don’t promise gold-plated faucets or in-seat cappuccino machines. But it delivers all the things that actually matter on a 22-hour flight: space to breathe, food worth eating, wine worth sipping, and enough comfort to keep you from fantasising about pulling the emergency exit mid-Pacific.
By the time I landed in Sydney, I was refreshed enough to face immigration without snarling. Would I do it again? Absolutely. There’s no other way that I would fly that far again. Because while Sydney is always worth the trip, flying premium economy makes the getting-there feel like part of the holiday – not a punishment for wanting to see kangaroos in real life.
- Qantas London to Sydney
- Premium Economy from £1,475
- Economy from £3,097
