"Qantas to upgrade Boeing 737s to fit more bags in overhead bins"

[SteveJohnson]

Interesting! These are brand new aircraft with bigger bins than normal but Qantas is going to rip them out and install new bins that can larger caryron bags and also more bags. Can't see the reason for this, its not like Qantas will make more money from passengers carrying on bigger bags and more bags!

"Qantas will trial a new overhead bin system in its Boeing 737-800NG aircraft designed to fit not only larger carry-on bags, but more of them. The retrofit cabin interior, codenamed Project Amber and developed by aircraft interiors firm Heath Tecna, will be installed by Qantas in the fourth quarter of 2012 and promises to boost overhead stowage capacity by 30-40%. Project Amber is a pivot bin interior that is designed to replace Boeing's own interior on the Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft, which uses existing structural components and a pivot bin system to increase stowage capacity for roller bags in the cabin."

Qantas to upgrade Boeing 737s to fit more bags in overhead bins - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Mal]

Not surprising. The lack of overhead baggage space can delay a flight leaving, the cost of handling checked baggage is actually a lot to the airline, Qantas seem spineless and unable to enforce carry-on etc etc.

Good on them!

 

[moa999]

It looks like BSI.
I would hope they install it in the older 737s first to bring them up to BSI style spec.

 

[moa999]

PDF from the manufacturer here.
Options include LED lighting and new wall panels

http://www.heath.com/Files/Marketing-Collateral/ht_project_amber_071012.aspx

 

[chrisb]

They really need to update the 767's too. (Yeah, i know. They're going away real soon now. really. trust us.)

 

[boylero]

They really need to update the 767's too. (Yeah, i know. They're going away real soon now. really. trust us.)

yes with 787's

 

[markis10]

Interesting! These are brand new aircraft with bigger bins than normal but Qantas is going to rip them out and install new bins that can larger caryron bags and also more bags. Can't see the reason for this, its not like Qantas will make more money from passengers carrying on bigger bags and more bags!

I think you will find its an update to the non BSI aircraft, the BSIs are an improvement on the existing 800 series design and given QF have plenty of the oldies it makes sense.

 

[Kceips]

It would be more helpful if they made the jetstar overhead bins larger. I have been delayed several times on jetstar due to issues with crowded bins but never on QF!

 

[Joseph Corpe]

In reference to Steve's first post, Heath Tecna is actually working with Qantas to upgrade a 737-800NG with the original NG shelf bin interior. The majority of 737NGs flying today have shelf bins, while the new 737NG's have the Boeing Sky Interior with pivot bins.

 

[Danger]

I'm reading AFF on an iPad at the moment and when I first viewed the thread title from the list of threads, all I saw was "Qantas to upgrade Boeing 737s to fit more". It was a long five seconds until the full title was displayed!

Not surprising. The lack of overhead baggage space can delay a flight leaving, the cost of handling checked baggage is actually a lot to the airline, Qantas seem spineless and unable to enforce carry-on etc etc.

Yes, I agree. Rather than enforce their existing rules, I only see this idea to increase overhead bin space as a backdown, sort of like Qantas saying 'Well, we tried. But it was just so hard. So instead we'll just spend money on bigger bins.'

Surely we're missing something. There must be another reason to do this.

 

[Noob]

I'm reading AFF on an iPad at the moment and when I first viewed the thread title from the list of threads, all I saw was "Qantas to upgrade Boeing 737s to fit more". It was a long five seconds until the full title was displayed!



Yes, I agree. Rather than enforce their existing rules, I only see this idea to increase overhead bin space as a backdown, sort of like Qantas saying 'Well, we tried. But it was just so hard. So instead we'll just spend money on bigger bins.'

Surely we're missing something. There must be another reason to do this.

(Speculative) Could be because QF are keeping a large number (the majority) of their 737-800 fleet and will have a proportionally smaller number of BSI aircraft than their closest competitor. This option is a relatively inexpensive way of refreshing their non-BSI fleet, hopefully Virgin does the same on their newer non-BSI 737-800s however at the rate they are receiving new BSIs I doubt it.

 

[Fruitcake]

Surely we're missing something. There must be another reason to do this.

Cargo hold freight is probably a lot more profitable than checked luggage !

 

[serfty]

Cargo hold freight is probably a lot more profitable than checked luggage !

Many would be surprised at the amount of freight carried in the holds of domestic passenger jet services.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[simongr]

Surely we're missing something. There must be another reason to do this.

I would have thought the resin would be to improve turnaround times. Instead of wasting time trying to cram in bags if there was more space this would be a quicker process.

It would also free up space in the hold for freight.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Less baggage handling ergo, less baggage handlers.

 

[markis10]

Many would be surprised at the amount of freight carried in the holds of domestic passenger jet services.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

In the case of a 738, 28m2 or 3T with a full passenger load.

 

[ajw373]

Interesting! These are brand new aircraft with bigger bins than normal but Qantas is going to rip them out and install new bins that can larger caryron bags and also more bags. Can't see the reason for this, its not like Qantas will make more money from passengers carrying on bigger bags and more bags!

"Qantas will trial a new overhead bin system in its Boeing 737-800NG aircraft designed to fit not only larger carry-on bags, but more of them. The retrofit cabin interior, codenamed Project Amber and developed by aircraft interiors firm Heath Tecna, will be installed by Qantas in the fourth quarter of 2012 and promises to boost overhead stowage capacity by 30-40%. Project Amber is a pivot bin interior that is designed to replace Boeing's own interior on the Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft, which uses existing structural components and a pivot bin system to increase stowage capacity for roller bags in the cabin."

I noticed that the bit you have quoted above is a modification of the words in the article you have linked to, with a key part missing. I have replicated the article below with the missing bit in bold. It really changes the context of the whole discussion.

Also as you may or may not know a good number of the Qantas 737-800 fleet, about half in fact are over or fast approaching 10 years old. So a bit of a refresh is to be expected.

Now here is the quote from the article with the missing bit included in bold.

"Qantas will trial a new overhead bin system in its Boeing 737-800 aircraft designed to fit not only larger carry-on bags, but more of them.

The retrofit system, codenamed Project Amber and developed by aircraft interiors firm Heath Tecna, will be installed by Qantas into one of its Boeing 737 jets in the fourth quarter of 2012 and promises to boost overhead storage capacity by 30-40%.

Project Amber is a pivot bin system (similar to that adopted by Boeing in its Boeing Sky Interior design) which can replace Boeing's standard 'shelf bin' designs for the Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft to increase overhead storage capacity."

 

[JohnK]

Not surprising. The lack of overhead baggage space can delay a flight leaving, the cost of handling checked baggage is actually a lot to the airline, Qantas seem spineless and unable to enforce carry-on etc etc.

And with increased overhead bin space Qantas wants to encourage people to take more on-board?

 

[coyote25]

And with increased overhead bin space Qantas wants to encourage people to take more on-board?

In the end it will be like increasing road capacity into cities. It will make a difference at first but people will notice the better conditions and drive more often / bring more on board and you'll end up with a similar problem.

I can see people thinking I can fit a bigger bag in the overhead bins!

The question is really is there enough space for if people comply with the rules. I have a feeling there might not be if everyone bought on the max allowed however if you don't enforce that rule than matching the rules won't help.

I'd expect this is about better on time departure. Maybe an increase in space and enforcing the rules will solve the problem.


Sent from my iPad using AustFreqFly app

 

[mannej]

It would be nice of the bins were available for the 767's