Does this QF 747 have a First cabin?

[cjg]

I’m flying from NRT to SYD this coming Saturday (4 April) in J on QF 22 and I’ve noticed that a 747-400 is being used instead of the normal A330-300.

I know that QF has a few two-class 747s and QF isn’t selling any F tickets for this flight. But I was wondering if this aircraft may include a First configuration, and if so could these seats be used by J passengers or would they just not use this part of the aircraft? I’m currently seated on the upper deck.

The use of a 747 on this route seems to be a one off (re-positioning aircraft perhaps?) as other flights in the future show the aircraft to be the regular A330.

 

[McTavish]

perhaps you should ring QF

 

[simongr]

The seat map on expert flyer is showing a 3 class a/c with the front section being sold as J. There is one unallocated seat in the "F" section. If you are statused with QF I would call and see if you can get an F seat with J service.

 

[taswegian77]

Hi cjg,

Expert Flyer shows this flight as being a 2 class 747. I am sure if they decided to use 3 class aircraft they would indeed be selling First Class. There is no A or F class listed on expert flyer so I would be confident it was a genuine 2 class plane.

 

[serfty]

I have often seen 3 class 744 sold as three class.

E/F reveals a 4 class aircraft being sold as two. (Zone A 14 seat, Zone B is 2x3x2 J seating,
Y is showing as starting at row 34 with a 2x4x2 configuration; then from row 40 as 3x4x3.)

Note, none of the PE seats have been allocated.

There are two free seats in Zone A, 4A & 4E.

 

[Evan]

The question is why use a 744, loads are really high or maintenance of the A330's maybe ?
Anything special happeneing that day ? Loads tend to indicate its not that full on either the way up or back...

QF () 21 0 SYD
03/04/09 22:20 NRT
04/04/09 6:20 744
Unavailable
92% / 31m J9 C9 D9 I9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 XC E0

QF () 22 0 NRT
04/04/09 20:30 SYD
05/04/09 6:50 744
Unavailable
91% / 9m J9 C9 D9 I9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 X9 E9

All W is blocked... maybe they may put a none PE configured plane in at the last minute but F is showing seats used as serfty noted. Seems to be a decent J load on that flight back your on but not nearly enough to put a 744 on it, way up looks like less J taken.

Unless somebody uber rich or similar really wanted some F seats and was willing to but most of the cabin at the right price.

E

 

[serfty]

QF41 had an aborted take-off yesterday. I believe the a/c went U/S and another had to be subbed.

(http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../another-qantas-scare-tonight-take-17050.html)

Perhaps Qantas are expecting to be a 333 short for the time being ...

 

[Evan]

QF41 had an aborted take-off yesterday. I believe the a/c went U/S and another had to be subbed.

(http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../another-qantas-scare-tonight-take-17050.html)

Perhaps Qantas are expecting to be a 333 short for the time being ...

Yep, saw that i had sort of assumed the 744 was sheduled some time ago but it could be a last minute sub.

No big discounts when i checked a few minutes ago... pity they wont sell these things really cheap for an MR.

 

[taswegian77]

The question is why use a 744, loads are really high or maintenance of the A330's maybe ?
Anything special happeneing that day ? Loads tend to indicate its not that full on either the way up or back...

QF () 21 0 SYD
03/04/09 22:20 NRT
04/04/09 6:20 744
Unavailable
92% / 31m J9 C9 D9 I9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 XC E0

QF () 22 0 NRT
04/04/09 20:30 SYD
05/04/09 6:50 744
Unavailable
91% / 9m J9 C9 D9 I9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 X9 E9

All W is blocked... maybe they may put a none PE configured plane in at the last minute but F is showing seats used as serfty noted. Seems to be a decent J load on that flight back your on but not nearly enough to put a 744 on it, way up looks like less J taken.

Unless somebody uber rich or similar really wanted some F seats and was willing to but most of the cabin at the right price.

E

How do you guys see F class availability on E/F. I do not see that available so IMO this QF22 service is only 2 class plane. I do not see a W or T class or a F or A class. How are you seeing something I cannot of E/F please?

 

[serfty]

It's by the science of omission.

First class for Qantas comes from booking codes P, R, F & A.

If an availability query does not return ANY results for these classes then F is NOT being sold on that flight. Same for PE and W & T (&Z). If first is being offered, but is sold out/closed you get a 0 (or C, L or R)

Try seat counter - you don't get a number, if there that letter as a column head, you get a blank!

 

[Evan]

How do you guys see F class availability on E/F. I do not see that available so IMO this QF22 service is only 2 class plane. I do not see a W or T class or a F or A class. How are you seeing something I cannot of E/F please?

Yes your right no F or W being sold but if you check the seat map in EF you see the plane configuration. It has an F cabin and a W cabin and the smaller Y cabin.
So from the seat map you just need to check the cabins and row number to find out what plane will be used.

At the moment all the W is blocked so maybe there is a chance they will move back to a 3 class plane from 4 class or maybe its just chance and they will assign people on request or at check-in or maybe its also balance related, this i cant tell.

E

 

[taswegian77]

It's by the science of omission.

First class for Qantas comes from booking codes P, R, F & A.

If an availability query does not return ANY results for these classes then F is NOT being sold on that flight. Same for PE and W & T (&Z). If first is being offered, but is sold out/closed you get a 0 (or C, L or R)

Try seat counter - you don't get a number, if there that letter as a column head, you get a blank!

Ok, I assumed that but how do you then work out the aircraft is a 3 or 4 class as opposed to a 2 class. I am sure seat counter would still show F and A etc but with blanks, this does not mean that aircraft is a 3 or 4 class plane. You mentioned two unallocated seats in F for that flight, where did you get that from? Was it E/F seat maps??

 

[Evan]

Ok, I assumed that but how do you then work out the aircraft is a 3 or 4 class as opposed to a 2 class. I am sure seat counter would still show F and A etc but with blanks, this does not mean that aircraft is a 3 or 4 class plane. You mentioned two unallocated seats in F for that flight, where did you get that from? Was it E/F seat maps??

E/F seat maps, thats where you see the free seats and just look at the layout has to be F cabin. Very different from the 2 class nose section.
Also you can see the 2-4-2 W cabin and behind it the 3-4-3 Y cabin as normal.
E

 

[NM]

Ok, I assumed that but how do you then work out the aircraft is a 3 or 4 class as opposed to a 2 class. I am sure seat counter would still show F and A etc but with blanks, this does not mean that aircraft is a 3 or 4 class plane. You mentioned two unallocated seats in F for that flight, where did you get that from? Was it E/F seat maps??

by looking at the seat map for the J and Y sections. If the J seatmap shows the F cabin layout in Zone A then its a 3 or 4 class aircraft. If the Y cabin shows the 2x3x2 config at the front (the Premium Economy config) then its a 4-class aircraft.

Even though they may be planning to use a 4-class aircraft, they will not sell F or W just for the one flight.

 

[taswegian77]

by looking at the seat map for the J and Y sections. If the J seatmap shows the F cabin layout in Zone A then its a 3 or 4 class aircraft. If the Y cabin shows the 2x3x2 config at the front (the Premium Economy config) then its a 4-class aircraft.

Even though they may be planning to use a 4-class aircraft, they will not sell F or W just for the one flight.

Cheers, I now can work it out, thanks guys.

 

[cjg]

Thanks for your help everyone.

My booking details on-line weren't showing a seat number, even though my printed itinerary that was sent to me had me listed in seat 12A.

I called Qantas to see if I could get one of the remaining seats in Zone A and I was told I was already allocated 1K.

The lady I spoke with confirmed that the aircraft currently listed is a four class aircraft, but they're only selling J and Y tickets.

I don't know why I was moved, but I'm certainly not complaining!

 

[serfty]

... I don't know why I was moved, but I'm certainly not complaining!

See post #7 for an educated guess ...

 

[Febs]

If flying in J on a 2-class 747 service, always try for a J seat in rows 1-4. If there's a substitution to a 3-class plane, there's a good chance you'll get an F seat (with J service).

I did this on BNE-LAX last year and enjoyed a very pleasant trip in 1A. Just had a feeling there'd be a substitution, and there was.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mal]

If flying in J on a 2-class 747 service, always try for a J seat in rows 1-4. If there's a substitution to a 3-class plane, there's a good chance you'll get an F seat (with J service).

Keeping in mind of course that there are "missing" seats when converting from Nose J to Nose F, so for a better chance you should ensure that the seat you choose is available in both configurations.

 

[serfty]

It doesn't always work out seat for seat.

Some years ago I had 2K in J for a BNE-AKL on QF25 in a 3 class configuration. A little time before the flight it was again subbed for a non skybed 744 and the whole cabin was reallocated by seating preference, not selected seating; I ended up in 1A.

In the end there was another late notice swap and I at least ended up in a Skybed.

Here's an FT thread on my adventure: Dang It! QF have switched Configs on me! - FlyerTalk Forums