Jaunted

After some humm-ing and haww-ing about where to sit, we decided on some upper deck action for a bit more privacy and better photo opportunities from the window. As we settled in our seat and looked forward to the next hour or so we were treated to a pre-departure choice of water or orange juice, plus a hot towel to refresh just as the sun was just rising.

If you've had the joy of taking off in a 747, you can understand the power the machine spits out. Let us tell you that it is even better on the upper deck. Finally, after the "bing" that alerts cabin crew we've reached cruising altitude, a hot breakfast served quite promptly with a warm smile. We opted for the chocolate french toast with a berry compote and fresh fruit. Though we have ordered this on a previous Qantas flight, we enjoyed it just the same.

An appreciated touch: the Customer Service Manager introducing himself during a personal welcome (note: we paid for this flight ourselves but do hold Qantas status). Since we were delayed about 40 minutes out of Brisbane due to a bird strike in Dallas (yikes), he asked if we had a connection in Sydney he could help with. We certainly didn't expect this type of attention on quickie domestic service, so extra points there. Finally, 40 minutes into the flight, we enjoyed an additional coffee service to perk up before landing.

The seats are an updated version of Qantas' popular Skybed. Each seat comes with massage capabilities (with memory setting) to find that just-right position. We didn't take advantage of the a lie-flat capabilities since it was such a short flight, but we're sure those back in Economy would've killed for a few minutes' lie-down at this point.

A very attentive crew made multiple checks through the half-filled Business Class cabin, continuously offering more coffee or other refreshments until the captain prepared for landing. The service came to an end just as our seat came to an upright position, but the joy of experiencing long-haul seats and service for a short-haul trip and price makes us want to fly again.

Essentially, it's the best way to sample the service to determine whether or not you'd like to dole out on it for the long haul.

[Photos: Rayme Gorniak/Jaunted]