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

[ajw373]

That answers the questions then.

Oh well - another QF 330 product until the makeovers... sigh

How many airlines have a consistant product? I struggle to think of any to be honest. Except maybe some start-ups who haven't yet had to refresh their cabins.

Singapore Airlines. Nope, good example their 777 fleet. Do they plan to standardise. Nope.
Cathay Pacific. Nope Good example ther A330 fleet, do they plan to standardise? Nope.
Air NZ. Nope. A320's for a start.
Virgin Aus. Nope, A330's anyone?
BA. Nope. Where do I start.
Thai. Most certainly not, 747's as a starter, followed by A330's, 777's.

 

[mannej]

How many airlines have a consistant product? I struggle to think of any to be honest. Except maybe some start-ups who haven't yet had to refresh their cabins.

Singapore Airlines. Nope, good example their 777 fleet. Do they plan to standardise. Nope.
Cathay Pacific. Nope Good example ther A330 fleet, do they plan to standardise? Nope.
Air NZ. Nope. A320's for a start.
Virgin Aus. Nope, A330's anyone?
BA. Nope. Where do I start.
Thai. Most certainly not, 747's as a starter, followed by A330's, 777's.

There are examples of airlines that have consistent products amongst their subfleet types. It isn't that hard to find answers.

Aren't MH and SQ's 330's are consistent for one. QF have the consistent product on their A380 for another.
It gives QF the flexibility to send their 330's anywhere, and it is a differentiator. How many people come on here stating that their VA experience was ruined by XFA/B - i.e it sticks in peoples mind.
For the number of 330's we are talking about, and considering the refurb, why wouldn't you do it?

 

[Mr_Orange]

How many airlines have a consistant product? I struggle to think of any to be honest. Except maybe some start-ups who haven't yet had to refresh their cabins.

Singapore Airlines. Nope, good example their 777 fleet. Do they plan to standardise. Nope.
Cathay Pacific. Nope Good example ther A330 fleet, do they plan to standardise? Nope.
Air NZ. Nope. A320's for a start.
Virgin Aus. Nope, A330's anyone?
BA. Nope. Where do I start.
Thai. Most certainly not, 747's as a starter, followed by A330's, 777's.

I think the point is why are QF repainting and tarting up the A330s and then putting them into maintenance again for the new J suite refit? Why not do the latter now and, heaven forbid, possibly save some money, deliver on a promise early and get their shiny new J product out there for pax to experience and rave about and get some positive feedback for a change?

 

[ajw373]

There are examples of airlines that have consistent products amongst their subfleet types. It isn't that hard to find answers.

Aren't MH and SQ's 330's are consistent for one. QF have the consistent product on their A380 for another.
It gives QF the flexibility to send their 330's anywhere, and it is a differentiator. How many people come on here stating that their VA experience was ruined by XFA/B - i.e it sticks in peoples mind.
For the number of 330's we are talking about, and considering the refurb, why wouldn't you do it?

Of course there are plenty of airlines that have a consistant product across a sub-fleet, though I still struggle to find an airline that doesn't have at least one subfleet where the products are inconsitant, let alone consistant across the whole airline.

As for MH and SQ and their A330's fleets, you will find both have a reasonably new fleet of them and only fly them on a single type of mission, which is similar to Qantas international A330 ops.

Qantas flies two different types of A330's on two completly different missions. Whilst in an ideal world yeah it would be good if the product was consistant, the fact is when you fly them on missions as varied as 9-10 hour international and 2-5 hour domestics you are going to see differences.

What also irks me that Qantas gets constantly hounded over product inconsitancies as if they are the only airline in the world that has them, and then in the next breath compared to the likes of CX and SQ, where they have some massive product differences, and like Qantas have no intentions of standardising. I call that double standards, or maybe blindness to the truth.

 

[ajw373]

I think the point is why are QF repainting and tarting up the A330s and then putting them into maintenance again for the new J suite refit? Why not do the latter now and, heaven forbid, possibly save some money, deliver on a promise early and get their shiny new J product out there for pax to experience and rave about and get some positive feedback for a change?

No that wasn't the point. The point was a jibe at Qantas having so many different types of economy seat.

But to your point, the new J product isn't available now so no way to get it out earlier, besides the conversation has been about economy. The a/c have come back from Jetstar so you wouldn't want to be flying around with a Jetstar product (even if the seats are the same), imagine the stick they would get here. So it is a no brainer to send them to Brisbane to de-Jetstar them, change the seat covers and give them a repaint. Hardly costly. Then when they are ready for the new product send them back.

 

[wenglock.mok]

I think some of us are just annoyed at having to play the A332 transcon gamble again...

Although the chances of scoring an A332 with AVOD is significantly higher now (12/13 of the -200s will have AVOD after EBB returns assuming a new IFE system has not been installed).

 

[ajw373]

I think some of us are just annoyed at having to play the A332 transcon gamble again...

Although the chances of scoring an A332 with AVOD is significantly higher now (12/13 of the -200s will have AVOD after EBB returns assuming a new IFE system has not been installed).

That is understandable of course, but as I keep saying Qantas is far from unique in this regard.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas flies two different types of A330's on two completly different missions. Whilst in an ideal world yeah it would be good if the product was consistant, the fact is when you fly them on missions as varied as 9-10 hour international and 2-5 hour domestics you are going to see differences.

What also irks me that Qantas gets constantly hounded over product inconsitancies as if they are the only airline in the world that has them, and then in the next breath compared to the likes of CX and SQ, where they have some massive product differences, and like Qantas have no intentions of standardising. I call that double standards, or maybe blindness to the truth.

i think qantas has four types of a330s... a332s, then a330s with skybeds, and then both 6 and 7 across domestic J class seating.

and it's often not possible to know which type of product you will get for domestic flights... as opposed to someone like CX/KA who lists the intended aircraft for each flight with a separate designator (33G 33R etc).

CX don't have massive product differences... they have regional and international. SQ has both regional and international. And you have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get.

Let's hope QF starts to designate their refurbished aircraft ASAP to encourage business.

 

[ajw373]

i think qantas has four types of a330s... a332s, then a330s with skybeds, and then both 6 and 7 across domestic J class seating.

Yep 4 types as I said.

and it's often not possible to know which type of product you will get for domestic flights... as opposed to someone like CX/KA who lists the intended aircraft for each flight with a separate designator (33G 33R etc).

CX don't have massive product differences... they have regional and international.

Really. Blow me down. Could have sworn that when I recently flew SIN-BKK-SIN on a CX A330's that the products were completely different, especially at the pointy end, not that I was flying there. Both were regional one old config and one an even older config. I know they have a newer config, so 3 configs in total. As for the booking, well that showed the flights a an A340 and a 777. That changed to the A330's about 4 weeks out, I realised as my seats had changed and could see if I did a dummy new booking, but the booking still showed A340 and 777.

SQ has both regional and international. And you have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get.

Really? 777's anyone? They have 3 maybe 4 different layouts on their 777-300's, but yes do differentiate. Except of course the 300ER's they now have 3 or 4 a/c with new seat products but in the same layout. I believe they only run the new ones to London (going to London on SQ318 next month) with fill in's to Tokyo, but no saying if one went U/S that one of the older ones wouldn't be used.

And don't mention the 777-200's, they have about 5 different layouts on these and can and do swap at will, especially on routes like Jakarta to Singapore.

A380's two layouts, same product. Generally they operate on dedicate routes, but can and do change if need be. Tuff luck if you book economy on top deck only to find a last minute swap to a full business top deck. Also no way to tell when booking until you get to choose a seat.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ajw... the issue is not so much minor tweaks between product, but massive differences. On CX I'm going to get regional, or international. Regional is pretty much same same (except for new old regional which wasn't so great). On an a330 its 2-2-2. It's not the massive difference of either 6 across, or 7 across, or skybed.

I don't find it hard to work out which SQ plane I'm going to get, but I do find it hard, without calling qantas, to find out which flights transcon might have skybeds

 

[ajw373]

ajw... the issue is not so much minor tweaks between product, but massive differences. On CX I'm going to get regional, or international. Regional is pretty much same same (except for new old regional which wasn't so great). On an a330 its 2-2-2. It's not the massive difference of either 6 across, or 7 across, or skybed.

I don't find it hard to work out which SQ plane I'm going to get, but I do find it hard, without calling qantas, to find out which flights transcon might have skybeds

The issue with CX and their product is not minor, there are massive differences between the 3 A330 variations that they have and as I found on my trips between Singapore and Bangkok, the product that turns up on any given day is a lucky dip.

The same is true for Singapore. As I said book a 777-200 between Jakarta and Singapore and see what you get. The booking engine may well say one thing, but what turns up different story. Likewise go to their web site and look at the 777-300ER and try and work out what config is on what route. Again big product difference even if the basic seat layout is the same. I only know that they run the new product to London and Tokyo thanks to Mr google and flight24 showing the rego number.

As for Qantas and Skybeds transcon, surely if you are that serious about working out what is going to be on your flight you would be using some of the tools that this board constantly talks about that show this kind of thing. Though of course just like CX and SQ the product may change from when you book due to operational reasons of course.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

a trans con is 'regional' by cx standards so Qantas is like CX - you're lucky to get a long haul config sometimes on regional flights (Which can be 5 hours long too). On Qantas Asia services the product is always A330 skybed

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The issue with CX and their product is not minor, there are massive differences between the 3 A330 variations that they have and as I found on my trips between Singapore and Bangkok, the product that turns up on any given day is a lucky dip.

The same is true for Singapore. As I said book a 777-200 between Jakarta and Singapore and see what you get. The booking engine may well say one thing, but what turns up different story.

As for Qantas and Skybeds transcon, surely if you are that serious about working out what is going to be on your flight you would be using some of the tools that this board constantly talks about that show this kind of thing. Though of course just like CX and SQ the product may change from when you book.

maybe there is a trick... but as an ordinary passenger, accessing the qantas website, how can I tell which aircraft I will be on without the use of special tools (which I don't have)? this refers to before making a booking... after booking is easier to work out what you are on.

GGK-SIN is a bit of a unique route with SQ. The non refurbs are almost gone now anyway (but had the advantage of large 18 seat F cabins for the cgk market)

As for CX I can't really speak for the massive differences... regional is regional to me. Each of the variants has it pros and cons. But I rarely watch IFE and the flights are short. Cx regional gives a330 gives me 2-2-2 at a minimum, but on QF I could get 2-3-2! that's a huge difference in product. And even the oldest of CXs regional products surpasses QF domestic business offerings in terms of seat pitch and recline.

 

[moa999]

Skybed to 6/7 across is a big change, but the seat width on the 7-across design is about the same thanks to the better ife in the seat in front. I actually prefer the 7-across and will pick the middle aisle to get the table.

But same issues in 737 from no ife, ife but old cabin and ife with bsi cabin.

Things will only get worse as globally the neos and boing engine options come online in narrow bodies.

 

[bunkeight]

But same issues in 737 from no ife, ife but old cabin and ife with bsi cabin.

All QF 737s have IFE. Surely you mean on-demand IFE?

 

[mannej]

All QF 737s have IFE. Surely you mean on-demand IFE?

That's correct - a minority of them do have AVOD, the rest are all pop down screens.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Read somewhere that the A330 would be on the SYD-HNL route in Octoberish!

I'm just back from HNL - the CSM on my flight said 14 September is the changeover date to the A330.

 

[moa999]

Drop down screens / projector screens don't count as what is shown is generally not 'entertainment' to me

 

[mannej]

Drop down screens / projector screens don't count as what is shown is generally not 'entertainment' to me

But it is IFE. What the older 737's don't have is personal IFE.

 

[ajw373]

But it is IFE. What the older 737's don't have is personal IFE.

Yes they do, you can choose your own audio channel. What they don't have is AVOD!