Welcome

Friends,

I get asked the “who has the best” or “what is your favorite” question re:airlines often. And it is a totally fair question.

But the reality is there is not a fair answer. Every product comes down to multiple variables that are near-impossible to compare equitably. The degree of subjectivity is significant when factoring in crews, airplanes, airports, flight lengths, etc.—before you even consider the hard product.

And I write all of that just to recognize that comparison is hard, but some are better than others. Today, I am excited to write about one of the better ones.

Let’s get going.

Links

Cool soundtrack really made this YouTube short fun, imo 🎥.

This is wild and ridiculous. It is also false 🙈 #TikTok.

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First class is a fun way to fly—but not with a one- and three-year-old. So while I was totally glad to use the Qantas first class check in and lounge in Melbourne (thank you again, Oneworld Emerald), it was great to turn right on boarding and find my family’s seats in row 20.

Our next stop was Dallas, and the only thing separating us from Texas was the unbelievably massive Pacific ocean. We would fly for fifteen hours or so, but not until after we sat at the gate for an extra 40 minutes waiting on final paperwork (#airlines).

We took off to the south and turned left towards the Northern Hemisphere. We were headed towards the U.S.A.

A great flight is the intersection of many things, but most materially it is restful (not stressful). That takes a lot of things going right for it to happen once. It is even more of a feat to be able to pull off repeatedly. To me, that is what makes Qantas’ economy remarkable.

It is a quality, restful way to travel.

A quick point of added context: I worked as a flight attendant (more on that another time) and spent a fair bit of time serving economy passengers to destinations like Brussels, London, and Lima. The hard part about the economy cabin is its sheer size: there are a lot of people to serve, so I do not make this commendation lightly.

Qantas has, in my view, the best economy class in the world today.

The seats and entertainment are fantastic—largely table stakes, but Qantas takes them to another level. They also provide genuinely comfortable pillows and blankets for everyone, plus fun amenity kits—including special ones for children.

The food is pleasantly unremarkable, but the airplane coffee stands out—served from large French presses (or 'coffee plungers,' as they call them Down Under) on the bar carts.

But what pulls all of this together is the service. The Qantas crews I have flown with are consummately professional and extend a relaxed, Australian hospitality. Even with the size of the cabin, they connected with individual passengers and were kind.

The art of serving a group of strangers for fifteen hours straight and seeking to actually connect with everyone while keeping the place tidy is, to me, something of note.

So, Qantas gets high marks on all fronts from me, even with their slow roll-out of onboard wi-fi and the extended wait to push-back on this most recent trip from Melbourne. Whether in economy or a bit further up front, I am confident you will like them, too.

Big Picture: Qantas has a seriously strong economy class product. Is it the best in the world? You’ll have to decide for yourself. But make no mistake—it’s really good.

Happy flying.

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Remember, this life you are living has meaning. Be well today.

-Tommy