QF1 is Qantas’ flagship route. The ‘kangaroo route’ operates direct from Sydney to London via Singapore, with a total flight time of around 24 hours. (By direct, we mean it carries the QF1 flight number all the way from Sydney to London as if it was one flight, but there is a short stop in Singapore).
Here’s what to expect on Qantas flight QF1.
QF1 flight time
QF1 departs Sydney daily at 3:10 pm. The first leg of the journey takes approximately 8.5 hours, with a 9:30 pm arrival in Singapore. Passengers disembark the plane during the two-hour transit, allowing the plane to be cleaned. QF1 then departs Singapore for London at 11:30 pm with the flight landing in Heathrow 14 hours later, at 6:35 am the following day. The entire journey, including flights and transit, takes 24 hours.
QF1 aircraft type and seating
QF1 is serviced by the spacious Airbus A380, with four cabin classes available.
First Class on QF1
At the front of the lower deck sits QF1’s First Class cabin, with 14 suites in a 1-1-1 layout. All seats convert into a flatbed, and the extra privacy of the suite makes for a comfortable cocoon in the sky.
Business Class on QF1
Located at the front of the upper deck, QF1’s Business Class cabin has 70 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. All seats have direct aisle access and convert to flatbeds, so you can get ample shut-eye during the flight.
Here’s what to expect onboard Qantas’ Airbus A380 Business Class from Sydney to Singapore.
Premium Economy on QF1
The Premium Economy cabin onboard QF1 is located on the upper deck with a 2-3-2 layout. With a 38-inch seat pitch – seven inches more than Economy – Premium Economy is a comfortable way to fly from Sydney to London.
Economy Class on QF1
QF1’s Economy Class cabin has 341 seats, with a 3-4-3 configuration. Seats are 18 inches wide with a seat pitch of 31 inches. Exit row seats have extra legroom for the long flight, but note that pre-selecting these seats incurs a $190 fee.
Lounge access when flying QF1
Sydney
With a mid-afternoon departure, eligible passengers can enjoy lunch at the Qantas International Business Lounge in Sydney. This includes Business Class passengers as well as Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers. Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members also gain entry. Passengers who hold a complimentary digital lounge pass or Qantas Club membership are also eligible.
Passengers flying in First Class, Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members, and oneworld Emerald members can access the Qantas International First Lounge in Sydney.
Singapore
During the two-hour transit in Singapore, passengers must disembark the plane. A 9:30 pm arrival may be too late for dinner, but eligible passengers can still kick back at the Qantas International Business Lounge in Singapore. Again, this includes Qantas Gold and above frequent flyers, Qantas Club members and complimentary lounge pass holders. This lounge is open until the last Qantas departure from Changi Airport.
First Class passengers gain access to the Qantas International First Lounge in Singapore. Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members, and oneworld Emerald members can also use this lounge during their transit in Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Booking QF1 using points
QF1 can be booked using Qantas Points. Here’s how many points you’ll need to fly from Sydney to London.
| Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First | |
| Sydney to London via Singapore | 55,200 | 108,400 | 144,600 | 216,900 |
Alternative flights
If you’re unable to score a seat on QF1, here are some other Qantas-operated routes to consider:
- Qantas flight QF9 – Melbourne to London via Perth
- Qantas flight QF5 – Perth to Rome
Alternatively, here are some other ways to fly from Australia to London with various airlines.
FAQs
QF1 is serviced by an Airbus A380 which offers four cabin classes.
Yes, passengers disembark the plane during QF1’s two-hour transit in Singapore’s Changi Airport.
QF1 departs Sydney daily at 3:10 pm.
Yes, QF1 offers 14 First Class suites in the Airbus A380.
QF1 departs daily from Sydney to London via Singapore.
No, Qantas flight QF1 from Sydney to London is a direct flight rather than non-stop. While non-stop refers to flights that don’t stop, QF1 has a two-hour transit in Singapore. The entire journey is completed on the same aircraft with the same flight number.
2. Is there enough time in stop over in Singapore to have a shower in the lounge?
On the relative merits of Business v Premium Economy, the fact that sleep is possible in Business Class makes it worth paying extra for, however if time is not an factor then it would be cheaper to book a Singapore stop-over and have a good night’s sleep in real bed in Singapore.
Melbourne to London on various dates in Feb/Mar next year is showing about 745000 over and 813000 back.
Even Singapore return is about 800,000.
What’s going on?
Over the weekend, we saw that Business reward seats from Rome to Perth were released, as an example.
The morning arrival time is, I believe, a cherished spot as it means business travellers get a full day or work done before the jetlag kicks in.