Qantas eyes 'tip to tail' seat upgrade for Airbus A380

[defurax]

My wife was also cranky after 8 hours of not being able to communicate.

That's why I love the seat!

 

[Reeldeel]

Some of these comments are quite funny really. Whilst I understand that there are plenty of people here who only fly J or F, it's amusing hearing people calling any J class seat "claustrophobic". Try sitting in Y for anything over 8 hours, THAT'S claustrophobic!

Having said that, I do totally understand that comparisons need to be made to other products in the market and all opinions are completely valid. I personally found the QF 330 suites very good indeed, and would gladly spend a long haul flight in one. I just hope that Y is improved as well as J and F.

You can be as amused as you like. I was just stating how the seat made me feel. Not being condescending or uppity.

I do 99 percent of my travelling in economy and never feel that way as the space is open.

I love the A380 J seat but was genuinely disappointed with the A330 seat.

If someone is paying big dollars for a premium seat they have every right to express disappointment in the product if that is how they feel.

<redacted>

 

[Reeldeel]

That's why I love the seat!

HAHA.
Maybe. Not something Im game enough to say to the wife however!:mrgreen:

 

[opusman]

Some of these comments are quite funny really. Whilst I understand that there are plenty of people here who only fly J or F, it's amusing hearing people calling any J class seat "claustrophobic". Try sitting in Y for anything over 8 hours, THAT'S claustrophobic!

Clearly the comparison being made here is between different types of J seats. Obviously any J seat is going to be better than Y. Maybe you should stick to threads about Y travel if hearing us elites discuss business class offends you.

 

[samh004]

I hope they take F in the same direction as EY went with their idea that the seat is just for sitting, and there's a separate couch that can be converted into a bed for sleeping. Not having tried either, I would assume the EY bed is far more comfortable. Probably takes up about the same amount of room too.

I'm not sure what direction they could take J as the new seats on the A330 and soon 787-9 surely would result in less seats on the plane. They don't want to do that I'm sure, so I will be interested to see their direction, but if I had the cash, I wouldn't be paying for 2-2-2... every seat deserves direct aisle access, and not to have to worry about stepping on someone.

I figure the new PY for the 787-9 that is still unannounced will make its way to the A380 too.

I wouldn't be upset or surprised if they removed the screens from the back of the seats in Y in favour of BYOD, as the streaming AVOD makes a lot more sense and probably weighs a lot less. As far as the food and service goes though, they're pretty good from what I recall of my last flight.

 

[blackcat20]

I hope they take F in the same direction as EY went with their idea that the seat is just for sitting, and there's a separate couch that can be converted into a bed for sleeping. Not having tried either, I would assume the EY bed is far more comfortable. Probably takes up about the same amount of room too.

Many reports suggest the EY bed is actually uncomfortably firm, while I and many others have found the QF bed to be one of the best.

 

[TomVexille]

I hope they take F in the same direction as EY went with their idea that the seat is just for sitting, and there's a separate couch that can be converted into a bed for sleeping. Not having tried either, I would assume the EY bed is far more comfortable. Probably takes up about the same amount of room too.

Now I've flown QF and not EY, but by all reports on here and fb, the QF bed is considered one of the best in the sky and the EY bed is known as "too hard"

I agree that the QF F seat is one or two generations behind the leaders, but as a bed it's excellent.

 

[mviy]

I wouldn't be upset or surprised if they removed the screens from the back of the seats in Y in favour of BYOD, as the streaming AVOD makes a lot more sense and probably weighs a lot less. As far as the food and service goes though, they're pretty good from what I recall of my last flight.

They may be doing that for some domestic aircraft but for the A380 I think there's no chance. For long haul international they're going to want to provide seat back screens for those who cannot be bothered/find it too difficult to bring their own device.

 

[timster]

Given how rarely some of the issues complained about on here are criticized as "first world problems", I think the description of any J seat as 'claustrophobic' was a fair target for a light-hearted dig (unless complainant has a doctors certificate indicating they suffer from that condition).

 

[samh004]

[mod hat]

A number of posts that were off topic and aggressive have been deleted. Stick to the topic, don't bring politics into this thread.

[mod hat]

 

[mviy]

As someone who's fairly tall I think the A380 J seat would be a lot better if it was just a little bit longer when in the bed position. Additional storage would be nice too, but there are the overhead lockers. The big thing would be direct aisle access for everyone. I just hope reconfiguration doesn't reduce the chance of upgrades.

During the refurbishment process if a plane has to be swapped out refurbished for unrefurbished or vice versa due to technical issues that could cause some problems if there are different number of seats in some cabins. They could have to upgrade/downgrade some passengers. Hopefully the end result is worth it.

 

[samh004]

Many reports suggest the EY bed is actually uncomfortably firm, while I and many others have found the QF bed to be one of the best.

Now I've flown QF and not EY, but by all reports on here and fb, the QF bed is considered one of the best in the sky and the EY bed is known as "too hard"

I agree that the QF F seat is one or two generations behind the leaders, but as a bed it's excellent.

Fair enough, although that could be due to a number of factors such as the age of the seat (2008 onwards would give 8+ years to remove firmness). I just like the concept of a couch that folds into a bed having one crease as oppose to a seat having at least 2. Of course it's all then offset if a mattress is involved.

Beyond a radically different layout I can't see much room for improvement in the hard product without adopting gimmicks like a personal bad or a shower.

Soft product on the other hand.

 

[Reeldeel]

Given how rarely some of the issues complained about on here are criticized as "first world problems", I think the description of any J seat as 'claustrophobic' was a fair target for a light-hearted dig (unless complainant has a doctors certificate indicating they suffer from that condition).

Thats fair comment.

Questioning the validity of an opinion or complaint however is not a "light hearted dig".

I believe everyone should be able to express their (valid and reasonable) opinions on this forum without having to defend them.

By the way, I do suffer mild claustrophobia. I believe it is quite common.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Also not a massive fan of the QF seat; the VA seat is far more comfortable.
Be interested to see what happens to F.

Completely disagree. Having just fine Transpacific, The VA I seat is far too cramped imo. The QF A330 seat is much better.

 

[kpc]

Many reports suggest the EY bed is actually uncomfortably firm, while I and many others have found the QF bed to be one of the best.

Now I've flown QF and not EY, but by all reports on here and fb, the QF bed is considered one of the best in the sky and the EY bed is known as "too hard"

I agree that the QF F seat is one or two generations behind the leaders, but as a bed it's excellent.

I have done both QF F and EY F.....personally I didnt find the EY bed too hard but it was on the firm side but didn't really bother me. Yes the QF bed is comfortable because of the mattress they put on the seat....However, in ALL aspects, EY F >>>> QF F.....in facr the apartment in EY F is fantastic and imo EY F on the A380 is the best F product going around currently

 

[blackcat20]

Completely disagree. Having just fine Transpacific, The VA I seat is far too cramped imo. The QF A330 seat is much better.

I also did both of those and found VA better. We're all different.

 

[docjames]

If they refit the aircraft nose to tail, then I wonder if there's possibility of lower forward become J and upper forward becoming F?

 

[moa999]

If they refit the aircraft nose to tail, then I wonder if there's possibility of lower forward become J and upper forward becoming F?

Can't see J going downstairs as it's too wide for most all-aisle product.

Would think some possibility that F goes upstairs - consistent with EK.. could have big F bathrooms at the front and then a mid or rear-cabin bar shared with F.

Downstairs becomes all Y, maybe with a small PE cabin at the front.

 

[TomVexille]

Fair enough, although that could be due to a number of factors such as the age of the seat (2008 onwards would give 8+ years to remove firmness). I just like the concept of a couch that folds into a bed having one crease as oppose to a seat having at least 2. Of course it's all then offset if a mattress is involved.

Beyond a radically different layout I can't see much room for improvement in the hard product without adopting gimmicks like a personal bad or a shower.

Soft product on the other hand.

I have done both QF F and EY F.....personally I didnt find the EY bed too hard but it was on the firm side but didn't really bother me. Yes the QF bed is comfortable because of the mattress they put on the seat....However, in ALL aspects, EY F >>>> QF F.....in facr the apartment in EY F is fantastic and imo EY F on the A380 is the best F product going around currently

Just need to put a QF mattress in the Apartment

Completely disagree. Having just fine Transpacific, The VA I seat is far too cramped imo. The QF A330 seat is much better.

I'll have to disagree. The QF seat is uncomfortable to sit in and the legrest is unusable. For me there's no decent lounging position. The VA seat is much more comfortable.

 

[Steady]

The QF seat is uncomfortable to sit in and the legrest is unusable. For me there's no decent lounging position.

I feel like I'm sitting on the seat rather then in it, I also struggle to find a comfortable reclining position. This is not to say I don't like the new seats, but I do think there is plenty of areas they could improve.