SYDNEY FIRST CLASS: Want to escape Sydney in First Class comfort, and don’t care where you go?
I have often fantasised about heading to Sydney Airport and booking myself on the next available First Class flight out of Kingsford Smith. It’s a fantasy that I can’t afford to fulfil. But if it’s in your world of possibilities, here are the First Class flights out of Sydney you could catch by airline:
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Singapore Airlines
First class service on Singapore Airlines is offerend on two flights between Sydney (SYD) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). It flies both the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 777-300ER on this route, with the A380 featuring six Suites and the 777 offering four.
Flight SQ221
Destination: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Departure: 20:40
Arrival: 03:00 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 6 Suites
Flight SQ232
Destination: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Departure: 12:15
Arrival: 18:35
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 4
Emirates
Emirates currently provides three daily First Class services from Sydney (SYD) to Dubai International Airport (DXB), all on Airbus A380 aircraft. It also offers a service to Christchurch, New Zealand, on an A380, which also has First Class cabins. I took that journey, but from Christchurch back to Sydney in 2024. The flight may only be just over three hours but you still get full service and access to a shower!
Flight EK413
Destination: Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Departure: 21:10
Arrival: 05:30 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight EK415
Destination: Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Departure: 06:00
Arrival: 14:20
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight EK417
Destination: Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Departure: 16:10
Arrival: 00:30 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight EK412
Destination: Christchurch New Zealand (CHC)
Departure: 08:45
Arrival: 13:50
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Qantas
Qantas operates the most First Class services out of Sydney. You can head to Singapore, and on to London, or to the USA, Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). That’s it, other than currently a seasonal flight to Johannesburg, South Africa on an A380 (the only aircraft type on which Qantas currently has a First Class cabin), running six days per week.
Flight QF1
Destination: London Heathrow (LHR) via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Departure: 15:30
Arrival: 21:50
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight QF11
Destination: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Departure: 10:20
Arrival: 06:00 (same day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight QF7
Destination: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
Departure: 13:10
Arrival: 13:35 (same day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Flight QF63
Destination: Johannesburg (JNB)
Departure: 09:30
Arrival: 16:20 (same day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 14
Japan Airlines
You can fly in First Class on Japan Airlines between Sydney and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND).
Flight JL52
Destination: Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
Departure: 21:15
Arrival: 05:05 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 8
Cathay Pacific
Officially, there is no First Class cabin on Cathay Pacific flights between Sydney and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). However, sometimes it schedules a boring 777-300ER aircraft on the route that does have a First Class cabin. You won’t be able to buy a First Class airfare, but if you have significant status with Cathay, or OnWorld airlines, you jay be allocated a seat in that cabin.
The two flights that use Boeing 777s are listed below. There are two more flights to Hong Kong each day, but these are on Airbus A350s.
Flight CX138
Destination: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Departure Time: 15:10
Arrival Time: 22:30
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 6 (if scheduled)
Flight CX162
Destination: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Departure Time: 10:10
Arrival Time: 17:50
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 6 (if scheduled)
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways offers a slightly dated First Class cabin on its A380 services between Sydney (SYD) and Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH).
Flight QR909
Destination: Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Departure Time: 22:10
Arrival Time: 05:10 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
First Class Seats: 8
British Airways
British Airways provides First Class cabins on flights between Sydney and London Heathrow Airport (LHR), with a stopover in Singapore. BA is introducing a new First Class on some aircraft, so it may be the luck of the draw as to which version of First Class you get
Flight BA16
Destination: London Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Departure: 16:55
Arrival: 05:00 (+1 day)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 8
American Airlines
You can head to Los Angeles in style in American Airlines First Class on a Boeing 777-300ER jet. The flight will take just shy of 15 hours. The 777s don’t seem to have the most up to date suites, so expect something closer to a Business Class offering on other airlines.
Flight Number: AA72
Destination: Los Angeles (LAX)
Departure: 11:15
Arrival: 06:00 (same day)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
First Class Seats: 8
2PAXfly Takeout
I doubt I will ever fulfil my fantasy of buying a ticket on the next available First Class flight. But if you share this fantasy and have the means, then the guide above should be of assistance!
So far, my route to First Class has been via frequent flyer points. Only once, have I actually paid for a flight on Emirates from Christchurch.
If you think I have missed any First Class flights out of Sydney – comment below and I will update.
Nice article. FYI: AA is phasing out first class, so those seats may not be there for long.
Thanks T,
Of course you are correct. This was announced back in 2022 with an implementation date of 2024. Flagship First seats are currently for sale on the route, and on some flights (AA72) on some dates, First is actually cheaper than Business (Go figure!) General consensus seems to be that the loss of the first cabin will not be much missed, given the inconsistency of service, and lack of product definition.