Qantas making cuts, who would've thought? :-(

Actually, I reckon the new Skybeds are more comfortable than the old First seats...

Agree. The Skybed mark2 is a better option than the old First seats.

i agree with John; IMO the old First product has been superceeded by the new business Skybed.

This doesn't come as a surprise - weren't Qantas saying they were planning on doing this a while ago?

To those who don't avidly follow what these companies are doing, the removal of First in the middle of my trip did come as a surprise.  The information on this website is only known about once the airlines actually want you to know what they are planning.  

I was booked to come home First Class through Joburg and was caught unawares.  I chose First class for my trip as it gave me more room to manoever (movement/pain concerns) than business.  I was then told by my Travel Agent when I went to change my flights after this news that it would cost me almost $600 to do so because of airline/airport costs.  I asked my agent to press the point with Qantas that nobody had informed me of this change even though it had been well known by the airline for some time and that they should bear the cost of the change, which, fortunately they did.  I re-routed through Hong Kong and was delighted travelling in Cathay's First.  

Travelling in Business is NOT the same as First even though these airlines are pushing towards no First class on alot of flights.  They will get you where they want you and then adjust the prices.  So in effect, what they will have done is add premium economy, partially improve business, but not to the level of First and then removed First so that they have effectively downgraded First to Business and Business to Premium Economy ... "not happy, Jan!"

Was wondering if this article is still current? Will the QF service to Johannesburg really have a380 style interior and what about premium economy?