Seating on QF's direct SYD-DFW route

[Berlin]

Hi everyone,

I have booked cattle class tickets on the new(ish) Sydney to Dallas route and am very confused by the seating arrangements: Due to my status, I got automatically assigned seats 37K and J which look on the QF seat map as if there is no third seat in the aisle which is great. When you look on seatguru however, the seatmap of a QF747 in 3-class setting looks entirely different and our seats would be everything but nice. I even called QF on this and they have confirmed that we are lucky to be in one of the few rows with only two seats on the outer parts of the cabin.

Can anyone confirm how the seating is actually laid out? Are we lucky to sit in Premium Economy seats in those rows because that's how the seating looks like on the QF seatmap: Like the Premium Eco seats on the seatguru maps for a 4class layout. I am freaking out about such a long flight in cattle class anyway and even just not having to climb over a third person will help me with my anxiety about this trip. Hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this! Thank you already

 

[serfty]

Look at this seat map (this is the only aircraft Qantas are currently using on this route):

Boeing 747-400ER: 14 First; 66 Business; 40 Premium Economy; 187 Economy

The seating is configured by Row:

• 1-4: First
• 11-30: Business
• 34-39remium Economy
• 51-75:Economy

For this route the seating is redefined & the seating is configured by Row:

• 1-26: Business
• 29-35remium Economy
• 36-75:Economy

So those:

• Business Class PAX in rows 1-4 get First Class Seats
• Premium Economy PAX in rows 29-30 get Business Class seats
• Economy PAX in rows 36-39 get Premium Economy seats.
• All other seats rows are as per booking class

Late last month I travelled on an Economy fare in 36B which is a PE exit row seat.

Note that starting later this year, these aircraft are to be refitted into 3 class J/W/Y with the First Class seats removed, Skybed Mk II (Full Flat) installed for business class.

 

[Berlin]

Thanks a lot for this answer- how good is that, we'll indeed be flying in Eco+ seats! Your answer makes me so happy!

We are flying in three weeks time and given that our current seat map shows exactly this configuration I am safely assuming that we're too early for the refitting!

Look at this seat map (this is the only aircraft Qantas are currently using on this route):

The seating is configured by Row:

• 1-4: First
• 11-30: Business
• 34-39remium Economy
• 51-75:Economy

For this route the seating is redefined & the seating is configured by Row:

• 1-26: Business
• 29-35remium Economy
• 36-75:Economy

So those:

• Business Class PAX in rows 1-4 get First Class Seats
• Premium Economy PAX in rows 29-30 get Business Class seats
• Economy PAX in rows 36-39 get Premium Economy seats.
• All other seats rows are as per booking class

Late last month I travelled on an Economy fare in 36B which is a PE exit row seat.

Note that starting later this year, these aircraft are to be refitted into 3 class J/W/Y with the First Class seats removed, Skybed Mk II (Full Flat) installed for business class.

 

[TimB]

Note that starting later this year, these aircraft are to be refitted into 3 class J/W/Y with the First Class seats removed, Skybed Mk II (Full Flat) installed for business class.

This may be asking for some crystal-ball gazing, but is there any information yet on when "later this year" the refits will happen? Or on what that will mean for those of us who already have one-class-up seats assigned?

I'm flying QF7 on 28 Nov and QF8 on 12 Dec, and in both cases my PE seat is in row 30, which is currently a Skybed (Mk I). I'll be more than a little disappointed if I end up in a PE seat, particularly since Qantas advertised that WP and SG members could select J seats on a PE fare.

 

[serfty]

I have seen posts that indicate the refits are to start sometime in October. However, plans are for the first few of the aircraft being refitted to be deployed on the BNE/LAX route.

 

[ozmille]

I'm flying QF7 on 28 Nov and QF8 on 12 Dec, and in both cases my PE seat is in row 30, which is currently a Skybed (Mk I). I'll be more than a little disappointed if I end up in a PE seat, particularly since Qantas advertised that WP and SG members could select J seats on a PE fare.

Not sure that QF ever published this as a benefit. It has been discussed here a lot.

 

[mannej]

This may be asking for some crystal-ball gazing, but is there any information yet on when "later this year" the refits will happen? Or on what that will mean for those of us who already have one-class-up seats assigned?

I'm flying QF7 on 28 Nov and QF8 on 12 Dec, and in both cases my PE seat is in row 30, which is currently a Skybed (Mk I). I'll be more than a little disappointed if I end up in a PE seat, particularly since Qantas advertised that WP and SG members could select J seats on a PE fare.

Tim, was it ever advertised, or just an unpublished benefit?

 

[whoistheg]

Just flew this last month and i scored the upgrade from business seat to first seat.

Must say it was probably my best flight i have done.

seats were super soft and my wife and i got a lot of sleep

Its funny as you depart at 13:30 ish..

They feed you and then shut all the windows so your pretty much in bed around 5-6pm AU time.

I cannot wait until they stick some A380 on this route

 

[TimB]

Tim, was it ever advertised, or just an unpublished benefit?

When I booked the flight (in Feb), I'm fairly sure I saw it on a Qantas web page, whether in a press release or the page promoting the new route, I'm not sure. Of course, I can't find it now.

There don't seem to be any AU-specific Qantas pages promoting the route any more, and the US one (at New service Texas to Australia) doesn't make any mention of J seating for WP/SG PE passengers.

 

[Qld4101]

Hi all, Interesting - I have just booked for SYD - DFW in March (PE) and it has assigned Row 29, which looked like it was at the back of the J cabin. Just hoping now that they don't refit these aircraft too quickly and the seats remain assigned as they currently are......
Any thoughts on likely times, and if I am actually interpreting this correctly?
Thanks

 

[TimB]

Hi all, Interesting - I have just booked for SYD - DFW in March (PE) and it has assigned Row 29, which looked like it was at the back of the J cabin. Just hoping now that they don't refit these aircraft too quickly and the seats remain assigned as they currently are......
Any thoughts on likely times, and if I am actually interpreting this correctly?
Thanks

If the seats are 2-3-2 rather than 2-4-2, then it's the SkyBeds.

serfty posted at #7 that the first refitted aircraft is going to be used on BNE-LAX, which is a good sign. However, by March, more aircraft may have been refitted, and possibly moved onto other routes as well.

I'm flying QF7/8 in Nov/Dec, so I'm in the same situation, just a few months earlier.

 

[serfty]

...

There don't seem to be any AU-specific Qantas pages promoting the route any more, and the US one (at New service Texas to Australia) doesn't make any mention of J seating for WP/SG PE passengers.

I have not seen any Qantas material advertising this either. If they did, many could book a class below because they have a chance at a better seat - then complain when they didn't get one.

 

[hotpaws]

Seating requests for SG

Hi everyone,
I am flying QF8 DFW-SYD on 25 Feb in J, I have managed to secure seat 4K in F cabin of 744. Was just wondering if anyone has had any luck calling QF and requesting seating further forward.
I will be gaining WP status about 9 days before this flight (flying AA - so hopefully will post quickly) so may be able to pick something else myself if QF wont help me.
I also understand may be substituted for one of the upgraded 747 at this time, although Expert Flyer still showing old config on all Dallas flights around this time. By my calculations, I would expect there will be 3 of the new configs flying at this time
Thanks for your help

 

[Flying Fox]

Re: Seating requests for SG

Personally I like 4A & 4K in the F cabin and wouldn't bother about moving forward (I think that they are some of the best seats in the aircraft).

Unless you wanted to score 1A for the 'thrill' of it.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Exactly the thread I was looking for!

I'm flying QF7 in Y+ in January, I was only silver when the booking was made and was in Row 34 I think..anyway since making the booking, I've ticked over to Gold, and I've selected 30A (2-3-2 configuration row). The next row behind is Row 34 in a 2-4-2 configuration. So From the previous posts on this thread - Looks like I'm in a skybed?. Are these the newer style skybeds, or the really old ones?

Coming back on QF8 a week later, same configuration but I've selected 30K. My neighbour is FA that may be doing that route around that time, hopefully he'll be on *wink wink nudge nudge* but the upgrade may not be ncessary afterall?

 

[ozmille]

Exactly the thread I was looking for!

I'm flying QF7 in Y+ in January, I was only silver when the booking was made and was in Row 34 I think..anyway since making the booking, I've ticked over to Gold, and I've selected 30A (2-3-2 configuration row). The next row behind is Row 34 in a 2-4-2 configuration. So From the previous posts on this thread - Looks like I'm in a skybed?. Are these the newer style skybeds, or the really old ones?

Coming back on QF8 a week later, same configuration but I've selected 30K. My neighbour is FA that may be doing that route around that time, hopefully he'll be on *wink wink nudge nudge* but the upgrade may not be ncessary afterall?

That will still be the SB MK1 but to be honest I sleep better in a MK1 then in Y+

 

[SeatBackForward]

That will still be the SB MK1 but to be honest I sleep better in a MK1 then in Y+

I no complain...as long as I have elbow room and can do a bit of work on the flight, im sorted

 

[serfty]

I no complain...as long as I have elbow room and can do a bit of work on the flight, im sorted

Well ... you're sorted then!!

Plenty of lateral room in a Skybed.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Well ... you're sorted then!!

Plenty of lateral room in a Skybed.

I'm very looking forward to this flight, even if it were in a Y+ Seat.I can handle long flights fine, and having room only makes it more enjoyable.

I'm only just beginning to enjoy the joys of International travel for work. Two trips last year to Kuala Lumpur and Manilla in J, this year a flight to Delhi in J, and early next year to a conference in Orlando in Y+.

 

[ozmille]

I'm very looking forward to this flight, even if it were in a Y+ Seat.I can handle long flights fine, and having room only makes it more enjoyable.

I'm only just beginning to enjoy the joys of International travel for work. Two trips last year to Kuala Lumpur and Manilla in J, this year a flight to Delhi in J, and early next year to a conference in Orlando in Y+.

The problem comes when one has to go back to the back of the bus

Enjoy your travels!