AJ Foreshadows Harmonisation Of J Seats Across Fleet

[ChrisCunard]

Today's reports show that perhaps Qantas has woken up:

Qantas to roll out lie-flat business class Skybeds in A330s? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[moa999]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

Post on Plane Talking that the SkyBed I's on A330 International to be replaced with Fully Flat, and also new products for Domestic fleet

Verbal comments from Joyce at lunch

Qantas is fixing its A330 business class seats, pronto | Plane Talking

 

[markis10]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

Today's reports show that perhaps Qantas has woken up:

Qantas to roll out lie-flat business class Skybeds in A330s? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

I would take that with a grain of salt, given a lot of the A332s would require a major rework when they come back from JQ to have the floor strengthened to take any Skybed, not impossible, but a significant cash drain for very little return versus money spent elsewhere I am guessing.

 

[samh004]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

Today's reports show that perhaps Qantas has woken up:

Qantas to roll out lie-flat business class Skybeds in A330s? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Would much rather they went back to the drawing board and came up with something better, maybe Emirates can share some ideas

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

I would take that with a grain of salt...

Agreed. Personally, I'll be filing this promise with the "redQ" proposal.

Would much rather they went back to the drawing board and came up with something better, maybe Emirates can share some ideas

Something like... 2-3-2 business class in an A330 ? Admittedly at 60" it would probably be a bit more palatable.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Re: Fantastic or fail? Qantas criticised over business class 'inflight workspace'

Positive step in the right direction I think. Sure beats having someone in the middle!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

Post on Plane Talking that the SkyBed I's on A330 International to be replaced with Fully Flat, and also new products for Domestic fleet

Verbal comments from Joyce at lunch

Qantas is fixing its A330 business class seats, pronto | Plane Talking

What a load of BS!
As if the CEO didn't have a clue about J Class layout/config.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says he will recommend to the board fixes to the A330 domestic business class seat that had the frequent flyer nation in shock when it was unveiled as a new and improved product on Sunday.

Why not just do it right in the first place?

Do it right, first time! Save time, money and satisfy customers!

 

[moa999]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

I suspect "unveiled" is the Journo's words.

Key comment from Joyce:

He said the configuration ‘unveiled’ on Sunday had been locked into sales contracts some time in the past,

 

[oz_mark]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

I would take that with a grain of salt, given a lot of the A332s would require a major rework when they come back from JQ to have the floor strengthened to take any Skybed, not impossible, but a significant cash drain for very little return versus money spent elsewhere I am guessing.

The story only talks about skybeds on the international fleet. The suggestion is that the domestic fleet will get a consistent configuration, but that does not mean it will get skybed. We might get some clues when the Jetstar fleet come back, but my understanding is that it takes quite a while to get new seats after ordering them.

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

What a load of BS!
As if the CEO didn't have a clue about J Class layout/config.

Actually that reads to me that he was shocked at the way the product was presented. Sounds like he knew it was sub-par and knew he'd have to defend it on the spot - but that job is made a bit harder when the PR team stands beside you spruiking it as a great leap forward! No doubt a grad in PR somewhere thought they were on a winner when they came up with the "workspace" pitch.

Whether the CEO should be micro-managing the PR pitch is a different question but it does make you look a bit disorganised if your own PR team blindsides you!

 

[oz_mark]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

No doubt a grad in PR somewhere thought they were on a winner when they came up with the "workspace" pitch.

They've been referring it to a "workspace" ever since they added the table to the previous aircraft. Not a new term.

 

[markis10]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

The story only talks about skybeds on the international fleet. The suggestion is that the domestic fleet will get a consistent configuration, but that does not mean it will get skybed. We might get some clues when the Jetstar fleet come back, but my understanding is that it takes quite a while to get new seats after ordering them.

It also mentions having one standard J seat across the A330 seat, which by default infers Skybed.

If Joyce makes good on this it will come as welcome news to business travellers and frequent flyers who regularly make the transcontinental trek – especially if it standardises the A330 fleet around a single business class seat.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

Seems that it is a pre-cursour to a new upgraded A330 product. The original delivery ones are probably getting towards that stage of needing some replacement seats

 

[oz_mark]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

It also mentions having one standard J seat across the A330 seat, which by default infers Skybed.

It does say that with an 'if'.

The problem may be that it is not so easy a solution with some of the A330s returning from Jetstar, due to the apparent floor problem. The original Plane Talking article refers to 'products' in the plural suggesting a different product for international versus domestic. You'd think they could look at some of the regional configs around Asia for inspiration on what might be possible for the domestic fleet.

 

[markis10]

Re: VH-EBV layout?

It does say that with an 'if'.

The problem may be that it is not so easy a solution with some of the A330s returning from Jetstar, due to the apparent floor problem. The original Plane Talking article refers to 'products' in the plural suggesting a different product for international versus domestic. You'd think they could look at some of the regional configs around Asia for inspiration on what might be possible for the domestic fleet.

Agree, my point was that its a big if! Skybed 1 to Skybed 2 is easy, anything else is unlikely to be cheap or easy, or impressive!

 

[yohy?!]

Qantas is fixing its A330 business class seats, pronto | Plane Talking

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says he will recommend to the board fixes to the A330 domestic business class seat that had the frequent flyer nation in shock when it was unveiled as a new and improved product on Sunday.

Not only that, the current ‘sloper’ seats in business class in those A330s that fly longer haul routes for Qantas will also be replaced with flat bed seats.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Yup, reactive management alright!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thank goodness for that. Now here's hoping it doesn't disappear into the ether like the refurbishment of the SIN F Lounge or any of the other myriad of announcements and promises that QF have made

 

[simongr]

i think that they could get away with something close to the VA/DJ seat but not that big. I dont think it needs to be that big for DOM flights (and I am 6'2").

 

[Paddy55]

Qantas is fixing its A330 business class seats, pronto | Plane Talking

Are they so out of touch with their customers that the (negative) reaction couldn't be anticipated?

Looks like an expensive mistake, and I contrast with CX who responded to negative comments on J class coffins, and came up with true enhancement! (as opposed to QF "enhancement")