ALL QF's 330's to get lay flat Business seating - Including Domestic

[Virgin Bart]

And?

There is no secret not all the fleet is upgraded and there is no secret that there is no guarantee you will get a refurbished aircraft.

Whilst certainty not fool proof did you at least check the config before you booked?

Not sure what you mean by "and?", because I'd have thought you'd be able to presume my great disappointment.

Yes, it was new config when I booked two weeks ago. Last week it changed but they wouldn't move me to a new config (the next flight) because there were no award seats. There were revenue seats available on said next flight.

 

[mannej]

Having a quick look at the PER-MEL aircraft today, Virgin Bart did not receive the sole JQ configured A330 (EBD), but either EBN (QF762), EBP (QF772) or EBQ (QF768).

XZL was the 737 running across, so IFE wise not much of a difference.

 

[eminere]

Having a quick look at the PER-SYD aircraft today, Virgin Bart did not receive the sole JQ configured A330 (EBD), but possibly EBO (QF574), EBR (QF642) or EBM (QF580). The other flights were operated by either refurbs (EBS, EBB or EBV) or by a 737 (VYL).

I'd take one of today's 330s over VYL due to the overhead IFE in both Y and J.

I don't think he flew today...
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/qf-downgrade-a332-reconfig-j-72887.html

 

[mannej]

I don't think he flew today...
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/qf-downgrade-a332-reconfig-j-72887.html

Yes he did - he flew January 1 as per the thread you have quoted. I have fixed my post up as I have quoted the SYD flights instead of MEL...

 

[ajw373]

Yes he did - he flew January 1 as per the thread you have quoted. I have fixed my post up as I have quoted the SYD flights instead of MEL...

Maybe don't read the post too literaly. The way I read it he was just complaining about getting a sit-up seat (ala JQ), not actually an ex JQ a/c.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Maybe don't read the post too literaly. The way I read it he was just complaining about getting a sit-up seat (ala JQ), not actually an ex JQ a/c.

Sorry guys. To clarify, I did fly on 01JAN.

Also, the lady at the desk at QF J lounge told me that the next flight was refurb, but she couldn't move me there. If that's incorrect then fair enough, I relied on her info.

Finally, yes I was complaining that the seat was very similar to that on JQ's current J class on the 788s. IMO an entirely different level of product than the suites. (Yes, of course the aircraft is always subject to change and all that, but surely to a similar product?... Anyway, before I get hounded down by the fine print brigade I'll just leave this here, at a disappointing experience).

 

[ajw373]

Finally, yes I was complaining that the seat was very similar to that on JQ's current J class on the 788s. IMO an entirely different level of product than the suites. (Yes, of course the aircraft is always subject to change and all that, but surely to a similar product?... Anyway, before I get hounded down by the fine print brigade I'll just leave this here, at a disappointing experience).

It has nothing to do with fine print. The product is in a state of change, as fast as Qantas can physically do it and keep enough aircraft flying, with exactly half the 200's done (as per the post on 26 saying 9/18). So it is a 50/50 proposition, as simple as that. Being a regular on this board, it surprises me you are surprised you got old product, hence my comment 'And?" above. It also surprises me you think they can do a like for like swap if a/c need to change. They don't have that many sitting around, and all it needs is for an issue, even a few days before hand and voila it has downstream effects.

 

[Virgin Bart]

It has nothing to do with fine print. The product is in a state of change, as fast as Qantas can physically do it and keep enough aircraft flying, with exactly half the 200's done (as per the post on 26 saying 9/18). So it is a 50/50 proposition, as simple as that. Being a regular on this board, it surprises me you are surprised you got old product, hence my comment 'And?" above. It also surprises me you think they can do a like for like swap if a/c need to change. They don't have that many sitting around, and all it needs is for an issue, even a few days before hand and voila it has downstream effects.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Suffice to say, I find it astounding they can swap between two vastly different products at their whim.

 

[ajw373]

We'll have to agree to disagree. Suffice to say, I find it astounding they can swap between two vastly different products at their whim.

With only half the fleet done how do you propose they do this?

 

[Virgin Bart]

I think you misunderstood what I said. I mean that with all their advertising being the new J product I find it hard to understand how they think it's OK to swap to a vastly inferior product just because the T&Cs say it's OK.

Annnnnd that's all I'll be saying about this, I can tell I'm on my own!

 

[ajw373]

I think you misunderstood what I said. I mean that with all their advertising being the new J product I find it hard to understand how they think it's OK to swap to a vastly inferior product just because the T&Cs say it's OK.

Annnnnd that's all I'll be saying about this, I can tell I'm on my own!

Simple fact is only half the fleet is done. The real question is are you paying for the new product? I don't recall a price rise when it came in, so suspect people are actually paying for old and getting a bonus if they get new.

 

[mitch24]

On 24/12 I flew on VH-EBC operating QF767 BNE-PER which has just been refurbished.

 

[mannej]

I think you misunderstood what I said. I mean that with all their advertising being the new J product I find it hard to understand how they think it's OK to swap to a vastly inferior product just because the T&Cs say it's OK.

Annnnnd that's all I'll be saying about this, I can tell I'm on my own!

There is no one on here who wouldn't be disappointed with the "workstation" J. However isn't the key in QF's marketing here that they have stated the suites to be progressively introduced from day dot?

 

[Melburnian1]

mannej, you will certainly be correct if one looks at the fine print, often at the bottom of an advertisement.

However what our Mr Bart may be complaining about is that he had a perception - encouraged by the airline's advertising, which in fairness is not unique to QF - many of them worldwide create such expectations - that 'his' flight would be a refurbished 'bird', buttressed by what he saw online in his booking.

This is a case where one can see both sides of the story.

Our domestic J fares are very expensive if one is paying out of one's own pocket, but nonetheless, yes, perhaps the best attitude is that it is indeed a 50/50 chance at present.

It would be preferable if all the airlines declined to advertise such refurbishments until all had been completed, but of course that's unrealistic because they all look for a competitive advantage. The airlines however ought not wonder why passengers like Virgin Bart complain, because he has been 'robbed' or 'brought down to earth' very quickly instead of his anticipation in receiving a refurbished aircraft for his flight becoming reality.

 

[mannej]

mannej, you will certainly be correct if one looks at the fine print, often at the bottom of an advertisement.

https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/a330/global/en

I would not call the first paragraph of information as fine print at the bottom of the advert.
Like I have mentioned, no one here enjoys the Recaro product of the Business Suites product, however apart from the mention of "Progressively Introduced" and the information on this thread, the information is available to the OP. As it has been stated, the OP took a gamble which had a 50:50 chance of paying off and didn't win. The OP also mentioned that QF should reciprocate the loyalty to the OP by opening up some award space, however if more and more WP's are getting their requests denied, unfortunately a SG will have even less of a chance of this opening up.

It is a fact that until all 18 of the 332's are done and the 10 333's, there is always a chance of ending up on an inferior product. That is the simple truth.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It has nothing to do with fine print. The product is in a state of change, as fast as Qantas can physically do it and keep enough aircraft flying, with exactly half the 200's done (as per the post on 26 saying 9/18). So it is a 50/50 proposition, as simple as that. Being a regular on this board, it surprises me you are surprised you got old product, hence my comment 'And?" above. It also surprises me you think they can do a like for like swap if a/c need to change. They don't have that many sitting around, and all it needs is for an issue, even a few days before hand and voila it has downstream effects.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Suffice to say, I find it astounding they can swap between two vastly different products at their whim.

I agree with Virgin Bart.

The advertisement posted above says the new product will be progressively introduced from late 2014. It's now 2016. And still a long way to go.

There have been many cases where QF has shown a new suite configuration, taken the fare, and then substituted an old aircraft in the day or so prior to departure. If some people argue that's ok, fine, but why not let the passenger change flights? Seems a pretty simple solution to me.

But QF wants to take your money for a new product, then not come to the party when they switch the plane out.

 

[Virgin Bart]

I agree with Virgin Bart.
...
QF wants to take your money for a new product, then not come to the party when they switch the plane out.

Knew I could count on a fellow Melbournian!

 

[Ansett]

Simple fact is only half the fleet is done. The real question is are you paying for the new product? I don't recall a price rise when it came in, so suspect people are actually paying for old and getting a bonus if they get new.

Whilst I have no proof my memory is telling me that over the last 12 to 24 months the cost of J tickets, especially transcontinental, seems to have increased at a much higher rate than Y fares.

It would be interesting to compare J prices 2 years ago MEL-PER and what they are asking now if any one has this historical data.

 

[penegal]

As a general rule it is a lottery.

There is some method, but airlines still view aircraft as flying cargo freighters. The freight capacity for both "cargo" and "self-loading cargo" (pax) of the eintire range of 332 variants is roughly the same, hence QF view them as interchangeable.

---

Wait til you've had a 332 become an older 737 ex-PER... That sucks bigtime...


But to their credit QF did their best to look after me. As a high status pax on a revenue fare, I was one of the "lucky 12" who got on the 737... Other pax were offloaded to the Jetstar config 332 which left an hour later, and others were downgraded or re-booked on the red-eye that left approx 6 hours later (but was refurb).

Yes a 737 recliner was cough, and far inferior to a refurb 332, but I think Qantas absolutely did the right thing by me as a high value customer to get me home as fast as possible. The crew of that 737 did exceptionally well to get the rowdy mob settled quickly, and we made up some time in the air.

I got home 20 minutes late in the class of service I booked (and was quite merry on a lovely Margaret River Cab Merlot).

 

[Punky]

No way. Was very similar to JQ's "J".

Which of course was 'classic' Qantas DOM J.