Sydney to LA: Surviving and thriving in Qantas Economy


Stuck in fourth class from Sydney to LA? It’s going to be a long haul, but the Qantas A380 makes the journey much more enjoyable. I should know – I recently made the trip myself. Here are my tips on how to make the 13.5 hours more comfortable:

You’ll want to be well-rested for when you get discovered in Hollywood
  1. You’ll probably pick your seat online ahead of time, but it doesn’t hurt to ask at Check In which seats are still available. Seats open up for a number of reasons (missed connections, cancellations, no-shows) and you might be able to swap to a better one, or a seat with no-one next to it. Score!
  2. Aim for the upper deck. Qantas A380s have a small economy cabin on the upper deck, as well as the main section on the lower level. The upper deck offers a quieter, more relaxed experience, so try to bag a seat if you can.
  3. Drink lots of water. You’ll arrive feeling fresher. Qantas staff pass out complimentary bottles of water to all passengers. You can re-fill them at your convenience via a tap at the back of the plane (lower level).
  4. When you’re ready to sleep, put your feet up by putting your legs into the netting under the seat in front of you. Reclining with your feet off the ground should help you find a more comfortable sleeping position.
  5. Sit near the front of the plane. When you land, you want to be at the front of the rush to disembark. If you’re last off, there’ll be almost 500 people in front of you at US Immigration and you’ll be in for a long wait (although the recent introduction of ePassport readers at LAX has markedly improved the experience).
Less time in line at immigration means more time on the beach at Santa Monica.

If you haven’t already guessed, I was quite impressed by the Qantas A380. It’ll definitely be my go-to for future long-haul flights. Five of my favourite features were:

  1. The wide variety of in-flight entertainment options, including TV, movies, and video games.
  2. A choice of three meals for the main lunch service, with the option to pre-order (on select flights).
  3. The self-service goodie bar stocked with Tim Tams, muesli bars, and soft drinks.
  4. Snacks! Served throughout the flight, they include chilli-dogs, empanadas, banana bread, and ice‑cream.
  5. The A380 is quieter than some of the other aircraft types flying the SYD>LAX route. Plus, Qantas’ A380 economy seats are roomier than some competitors’ offerings
Check out Qantas flights to LA
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