Qantas A330 Business Class Review, Melbourne To Hong Kong

As someone who regularly criticises our national carrier, I absolutely love to fly with Qantas internationally. Perhaps it’s the noticeable lift in dining and drinks, the normally cheery cabin crew or even the feeling of pride for my home country. Either way, I quite enjoy crossing seas with Qantas.

I booked this flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong before Qantas’ August 2025 devaluation, which means I paid only 68,400 Qantas Points plus $161 in taxes. Nowadays, you will need 82,100 Qantas Points plus $244 in taxes.

Melbourne Ground Experience & Lounge

Melbourne’s T2 is quiet for my Wednesday morning departure, which has me checked in and on my way to immigration within about forty seconds. Qantas Business passengers gain access to fast-track security in Melbourne, which has me cleared just as fast.

International Business Class lounges aren’t exactly a standout with Qantas, a point that is quite evident in Melbourne. Although I did retire to the American Express Centurian Lounge, which is smaller but typically less crowded and feels like a nicer place to be (free access with cards like the Amex Platinum), I first braced myself for disappointment with what Qantas has to offer.

The space is down in a dungeon with no windows, and a collection of old seating. While the lounge is large, it also feels crowded given Qantas’ expansive Melbourne operation. The coffee is good, and the food is fine, but don’t expect to be wowed here.

The Seat: Qantas A330 Business

Qantas utilises the Thompson Vantage XL seat in Business Class across its entire widebody fleet, which is a remarkable thing for consistency. There are a few differences between each aircraft type, but these seats are extremely competitive. That is mighty impressive for a design that’s more than ten years old.

I’m seated in 1K, a bulkhead seat, which means I have a little more wiggle room by my feet. The downside is that window seats in odd-numbered rows are located closer to the aisle, making them less private. Although being in the first row means I can’t see other passengers anyway, and 1K beats 1A as there is no toilet directly in front of me.

The seat appears clean and premium, with charcoal fabric with a leather headrest clad in a textured and wood-effect hard shell. The surface to the side is quite large, with a storage slot above, and dedicated space for headphones and water.

Qantas’ A330 seats come equipped with a universal plug and USB-A port. A dated remote for the screen is hidden off to the side, with a mirror also revealed.

Seating controls are built into the console, nicely out of reach, so they aren’t bumped mid-flight. This seat also has a huge party piece, with a dedicated recline position that can be used during takeoff and landing, indicated by a plane icon. This is so much more comfortable than the bolt upright position required on most other airlines.

There is an enormous open space below the console for the storage of bulky items. The tray table pops out just above this, and is plenty sturdy.

Onboard Dining

Neil Perry really pulls his finger out on Qantas international flights. The selection was quite varied;

To start;

• Green pea and mint soup with whipped ricotta
• Tasting plate of lamb prosciutto, goat’s cheese, pea and mint dip, and pickled beetroot
• Chargrilled Lebanese chicken skewer with pickled turnip and tomato tabouli

Main;

• Caramel braised tofu and mushrooms with stir-fried water spinach and rice
• Seared barramundi with XO sauce, stir-fried jasmine rice, and mushrooms
• Roast chicken breast with caramelised fennel, sauteed silver beet, and gribiche sauce
• Seared beef fillet with potato gratin, red wine jus and green beans

Dessert;

• Cheese board
• Three milk cake with passionfruit curd, raspberry, and meringue
• Ice cream sandwich

Before landing;

• Pan-fried Parmesan polenta with braised greens, mushroom ragout and salsa verde
• Spicy tiger prawns with sticky rice and herb salad

Shortly after boarding, water or Jacquart Brut Mosaique was offered, with another drinks service and salted nuts offered shortly after departure. Meal orders were taken on the ground, meaning service was quite prompt.

I kicked the flight off with the Australian tasting plate, which had some gorgeous Margra lamb prosciutto and lemon myrtle goat’s cheese. This was served with a choice of warm breads and a really fresh green leaf salad.

My Bannockburn chicken breast main was overcooked and very dry, but was saved by the gribiche sauce. The caramelised fennel and sauteed silver beet were an enjoyable addition.

Further into the flight, I snacked on some Red Rock deli chips and a Tommy’s margarita. These are by Curitaf and come out of a can, but are actually pretty good, and a regular choice when on board Qantas.

A double espresso went down nicely to get me back into work mode after a quick nap.

Around 90 minutes prior to landing, a final service was offered. My choice was the pan-fried Parmesan polenta with braised greens and mushroom ragout. While the vegetables were tasty, polenta isn’t really my thing.

Amenities

Qantas provided a thin seat cover, blanket, pillow and pyjamas on this nine-hour daytime flight, which I must say is quite impressive. The amenity kit is basic and good quality, with all the regular lotions and potions.

What’s not good quality is Qantas’ international WiFi, or should I say the lack thereof. I am convinced Qantas is taking tips from the NBN, because their international WiFi has been ‘just around the corner’ for years. While competitors like Qatar have rolled out high-speed Starlink on entire aircraft types across their fleet, Qantas continues to drag its feet. They’re also installing a slower system that will quickly become outdated. My aircraft did not have WiFi access, although some A330’s will.

The seatback screens on these decades-old A330’s are passable, but not as sharp and bright as modern aircraft. On the other hand, the range of entertainment Qantas provides is excellent, and includes several new releases.

Service

Qantas’ international crew are some of their best, and this flight was no different. As well as the crew serving me, the purser stood out on my flight, as he was actively checking on guests, instead of hiding away in the galley.

After asking about my trip, I got talking about my upcoming flights and the exciting aircraft I was keen to fly. Perhaps it was the camera, but this led to a lovely card from the crew, plus a Qantas cap and keychain.

Summing Up: Qantas A330 Business Class

Qantas’ A330 Business Class strikes a fine balance between comfort, service and consistency. The seat remains competitive, and I especially love the clever take-off-recline mode and ample storage. On the flip side, ageing entertainment screens and the continued absence of international WiFi are clear drawbacks.

Onboard meals are usually quite good with Qantas, but I can’t say Neil Perry’s menu has ever been a jaw-dropper. At least they have finally refreshed the green salad, which used to be a Coles leaf mix dumped into a dish.