717 refurb - goodbye to Row 1 being one of the best Y seats in QF

[Fruitcake]

Thanks for the clarification markis10 - at least its not enhanced to the high density 155+ seat layout that Air Trans uses! (and thats with 12 J class seats)

AirTran Airways - Boeing 717 Seating Configuration

105 Y + 12J/F.

 

[eastwest101]

My bad sorry - I don't know where I saw that figure of 155 - I shouldn't have beleived it myself - you guys are correct about the Air trans setup, and it seems that the official max is 134 PAX for the 717 (not sure if this is single class layout or a more of a legal limit due to crew and emergency exits).

Still dosen't change the fact that seat pitch will be enhanced...

 

[markis10]

Close to 10% more capacity should make them very profitable aircraft, of course you have to fill the seats.....

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Here is LH J. LH J/Y is exactly the same, just curtain divider between J + Y.

The seats weren't too bad, but l was only doing a short hop, FRA-BUD, anything longer than 90 minutes, you'd start to get uncomfortable.

Slimline seats

(Sorry about the picture quality)

 

[Must...Fly!]

I did a 3 hour flight on those seats after a 4 hour EK flight (admittedly in J, but that was in a seat that gave me back pain) and was fine. Suppose it is individual experience.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I did a 3 hour flight on those seats after a 4 hour EK flight (admittedly in J, but that was in a seat that gave me back pain) and was fine. Suppose it is individual experience.

Yes, l think so.
l did a quick ~90 minute hop in those seats, but it was after some ~20 hours on TG (admittedly in F )

 

[mannej]

Yes, l think so.
l did a quick ~90 minute hop in those seats, but it was after some ~20 hours on TG (admittedly in F )

That explains the picture quality

 

[macrop]

I wonder - if they are increasing the capacity, how would they manage the two different config 717's they have now. Some have a third toilet at the front and still with good leg room (in 1A and B) but the planes without the front toilet have the huge legroom in 1A and 1B as mentioned by the OP. I found an article on the interwebs and they mention going to 125 seat capacity which to me sounds like they are merely adding two more rows. The seat pitch is around 31-32 inches currently so adding two more rows (from 23 to 25) would reduce this to around 29 inches which is bordering on very cosy. Personally, I think if they refurb all the machines then the large space infront at 1A and 1B on some machines will remain just to keep uniformity across the fleet.

To be honest, I actually like these jets (over the 737 for short haul) for some unknown reason even though they don't have any IFE. As long as Qantas keep auto-assigning me 1A - I'll continue liking them

 

[eastwest101]

I wonder - if they are increasing the capacity, how would they manage the two different config 717's they have now. Some have a third toilet at the front and still with good leg room (in 1A and B) but the planes without the front toilet have the huge legroom in 1A and 1B as mentioned by the OP. I found an article on the interwebs and they mention going to 125 seat capacity which to me sounds like they are merely adding two more rows. The seat pitch is around 31-32 inches currently so adding two more rows (from 23 to 25) would reduce this to around 29 inches which is bordering on very cosy. Personally, I think if they refurb all the machines then the large space infront at 1A and 1B on some machines will remain just to keep uniformity across the fleet.

To be honest, I actually like these jets (over the 737 for short haul) for some unknown reason even though they don't have any IFE. As long as Qantas keep auto-assigning me 1A - I'll continue liking them

Thats the issue I have - we can't all sit in 1A, and the 113 other passengers will not like their seat pitch reduced from 32-31" down to 29". I can't comment on the variations of toilets on 717's but I quess that QFlink booking systems will be able to handle a mix of 125 seat and 115 seat B717's except when there is a last minute substitution of a full flight that will make for an interesting conversation for 10 of the PAX!

 

[macrop]

Thats the issue I have - we can't all sit in 1A, and the 113 other passengers will not like their seat pitch reduced from 32-31" down to 29". I can't comment on the variations of toilets on 717's but I quess that QFlink booking systems will be able to handle a mix of 125 seat and 115 seat B717's except when there is a last minute substitution of a full flight that will make for an interesting conversation for 10 of the PAX!

Sorry I wasn't too clear. The thing is, the row 1 seats on the other side of the aisle can't really be moved forward anymore so I'm predicting that all the seats, either side of the aisle, will remain in alignment, even with a reduction in pitch. I doubt they would allow an offset left to right due to the emergency exits. This may mean that the 1a and 1b(or is it 1c?) seats will probably retain their large leg room (my predictions). On the variants of 717 with the front toilet there is still a little more leg room in 1a and 1c over the 1d,e, and f. The left bulkhead is slightly setback towards the door compard to the right bulkhead. Only an inch or two though. On the variants with no front toilet you will most likely still be able to setup a small band in front for a short gig. I'm not sure if there is enough room to stick just two seat by themselves at the front which would mean two different aircraft seating plans.

I guess times will tell over the next few months. I will probably fly another two dozen times on a 717 before the end of the year so will keep everyone informed.

 

[under the radar]

sorry that my following comment is not 'topic specific'... but it seems many on this forum 'worry/winge/are upset/disgraced/my world as i know it will end'!!! BEFORE the actual event!! i'm astonished (but sadly not surprised)... am i a freak?? too easy going??.. maybe...BUT IT MAKES MY WORLD A PLEASANT ONE

 

[Fruitcake]

Sorry I wasn't too clear. The thing is, the row 1 seats on the other side of the aisle can't really be moved forward anymore so I'm predicting that all the seats, either side of the aisle, will remain in alignment, even with a reduction in pitch. I doubt they would allow an offset left to right due to the emergency exits.

Alternatively, put Row 1 on the left at a sensible distance from the bulkhead (without regard to alignment with the seats on the right) and adjust the remaining left-hand seats ahead of the exit to distribute the extra space evenly. From the exit back, seat rows would be in alignment.

Then reserve A/B seats ahead of the exit for status pax - like NZ's "Space+". A nice little value-add for frequent flyers.

Just gotta figure out where the extra two rows get inserted under that plan!

 

[markis10]

sorry that my following comment is not 'topic specific'... but it seems many on this forum 'worry/winge/are upset/disgraced/my world as i know it will end'!!! BEFORE the actual event!! i'm astonished (but sadly not surprised)... am i a freak?? too easy going??.. maybe...BUT IT MAKES MY WORLD A PLEASANT ONE

LOL, Given aircraft classes are sold on comfort+space, then news that an extra 10% of the capacity is being added can only be construed as less comfort for passengers, as proved by the changes in the A380, addition of the middle seat in A330 Dom J etc etc, all topics that had unhappiness exhibit pre and post event. I am yet to see an event where extra seats being added resulted in a better experience for all pax.

 

[eastwest101]

Sorry I wasn't too clear. The thing is, the row 1 seats on the other side of the aisle can't really be moved forward anymore so I'm predicting that all the seats, either side of the aisle, will remain in alignment, even with a reduction in pitch. I doubt they would allow an offset left to right due to the emergency exits. This may mean that the 1a and 1b(or is it 1c?) seats will probably retain their large leg room (my predictions). On the variants of 717 with the front toilet there is still a little more leg room in 1a and 1c over the 1d,e, and f. The left bulkhead is slightly setback towards the door compard to the right bulkhead. Only an inch or two though. On the variants with no front toilet you will most likely still be able to setup a small band in front for a short gig. I'm not sure if there is enough room to stick just two seat by themselves at the front which would mean two different aircraft seating plans.

I guess times will tell over the next few months. I will probably fly another two dozen times on a 717 before the end of the year so will keep everyone informed.

Thanks for the detailed information - I can see your point now. I think Fruitcake had comments that would seem to be the most likely solution of spreading the pain around the reduced seat pitch over the aircraft as evenly as possible.

 

[Stealth]

Treat the 717 as the norm and then the 737-800 with full IFE is a pleasant surprise package.

The logic escapes me, unless its from a QF PR man......

Sadly its becoming the norm. I hear that some of the mining outfits are shifting pax to DJ, including Rio. That'll upset somebody.

 

[pauly7]

The logic escapes me, unless its from a QF PR man......

Sadly its becoming the norm. I hear that some of the mining outfits are shifting pax to DJ, including Rio. That'll upset somebody.

Wow that's big news if true! Will be absolute riots amongst the staff there!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Wow that's big news if true! Will be absolute riots amongst the staff there!

Rio/BHP have been using DJ/VA for FIFO ex-PER for a while.

 

[markis10]

Rio/BHP have been using DJ/VA for FIFO ex-PER for a while.

And ex TSV in the case of BMA.

 

[Flashback]

sorry that my following comment is not 'topic specific'... but it seems many on this forum 'worry/winge/are upset/disgraced/my world as i know it will end'!!! BEFORE the actual event!! i'm astonished (but sadly not surprised)... am i a freak?? too easy going??.. maybe...BUT IT MAKES MY WORLD A PLEASANT ONE

I like how people are complaining about the lack of IFE etc. on the 717's. Come fly intra-euro in either Y or J. One should be so lucky to get IFE......... it's BYO or not at all! That's true for flights up to 3-4 hours in time, too. Personally don't think it's an issue as most people have their own entertainment devices of some sort anyway.

 

[11sjw]

Rio/BHP have been using DJ/VA for FIFO ex-PER for a while.

Not to PBO.