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

[Christopher Campbell]

Hopefully EBD returns soon from Brisbane M so EBG can enter for refurb.

 

[moa999]

VH-EBL has now been sitting in BNE for 48hrs so high likelihood that it is in for refurb.

Looking at ExpertFlyer appears that VH-EBG is continuing to operate QF3/4 until and including the 9/9 QF3 service, before QF3 switches to a refurb, so I would expect VH-EBG to go into refurb on 11/9 after arriving back into SYD late on 10/9 as QF4.
If that's correct would expect EBL out as #17 approx 1/10, and EBG out as #18 approx 9/10

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

Looking at ExpertFlyer appears that VH-EBG is continuing to operate QF3/4 until and including the 9/9 QF3 service, before QF3 switches to a refurb...

A -200 or 300 refurb? If a -200 then obviously it isn't an issue to have those aircraft operating that route.

 

[eric2011]

VH-EBL has now been sitting in BNE for 48hrs so high likelihood that it is in for refurb.

Looking at ExpertFlyer appears that VH-EBG is continuing to operate QF3/4 until and including the 9/9 QF3 service, before QF3 switches to a refurb, so I would expect VH-EBG to go into refurb on 11/9 after arriving back into SYD late on 10/9 as QF4.
If that's correct would expect EBL out as #17 approx 1/10, and EBG out as #18 approx 9/10

Interesting time ahead for me. My QF3 on 21/9 and QF4 on 28/3 still showing as un-refurb of both QF & EF. Monitoring closely so I can get preferred seat allocations if it changes

 

[moa999]

28/3 doesn't surprise me as it probably EBG/EBL allocated..and they still have the old map loaded

21/9 is more interesting given my hypothesis of things changing on 10/9

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

EBG/L may just be going in for standard maintenance, not refurbishment.

 

[eric2011]

28/3 doesn't surprise me as it probably EBG/EBL allocated..and they still have the old map loaded

21/9 is more interesting given my hypothesis of things changing on 10/9

Sorry moa999 my bad. Should have been 28/9, not 28/3. Only get 1 week in HNL not 6 months LOL

 

[moa999]

VH-EBD back into service today, leaving space for EBG.

Looking further at QF3/4 - whilst some of the seat maps beyond 16/9 still look like old config, the ones I have seen on EF have 8 seats blocked off, so I remain of the opinion that EBG will go into refurb after returning as QF4 on 10/9
(this is the case with eric's return on 28/9 with 8 blocked, 2 free, although not with the out on 21/9 with 5 blocked, 4 free)

So the current 330-200 list is:
-- 330-200 configs (of 18 )
8 - 28J/243Y Dom with Vantage XL Business Suite, QStreaming iPads in Y- EBA, EBB, EBC, EBD, EBE, EBF, EBJ, EBK
8 - 28J/243Y Int/Dom with Vantage XL Business Suite, Panasonic ex2 AVOD in Y - EBM, EBN, EBO, EBQ, EBP, EBR, EBS, EBV
1 - 36J/199Y Int/Dom with SkyBed I, RC AVOD - EBG
1 - Under Refurb - EBL

 

[eric2011]

Moa999,
Thanks for all the work you have done on this thread and the information you have given etc

VH-EBD back into service today, leaving space for EBG.

Looking further at QF3/4 - whilst some of the seat maps beyond 16/9 still look like old config, the ones I have seen on EF have 8 seats blocked off, so I remain of the opinion that EBG will go into refurb after returning as QF4 on 10/9
(this is the case with eric's return on 28/9 with 8 blocked, 2 free, although not with the out on 21/9 with 5 blocked, 4 free)

I mentioned something along these lines back in post #2785 on the 12th August although at that stage the seating for 28 seats appeared on both sectors. Waiting to see what happens

 

[Lynne Mangold]

VH-EBD back into service today, leaving space for EBG.

Looking further at QF3/4 - whilst some of the seat maps beyond 16/9 still look like old config, the ones I have seen on EF have 8 seats blocked off

Those same seats were blocked off when I booked in early May for a flight at the end of november flight for QF 3 & 4

 

[Brettmcg]

As per my earlier post, the last two (EBG and EBL) will just be in for checks and maintenance. No refurb taking place at this stage.

 

[moa999]

A shame indeed. Any idea when "in the future" as per your original clip will be.
Does seem very strange when QF only need one aircraft for QF3/4

 

[GoldCanyon340]

My CGK-SYD Flight (QF42) in mid November is still showing the old layout. Fingers crossed for an updated seat map closer to the flight.

I have a QF41 SYDCGK in mid-March 2017 that was swapped from a refurb to a non-refurb two months ago. Booked it at the end of April during the DSC offer.

 

[Ansett]

I have a QF41 SYDCGK in mid-March 2017 that was swapped from a refurb to a non-refurb two months ago. Booked it at the end of April during the DSC offer.

Same here for 2 flights in January but only the outgoing the return is showing as a refurbed bird.

 

[travelislife]

As per my earlier post, the last two (EBG and EBL) will just be in for checks and maintenance. No refurb taking place at this stage.

Gee that is poor I reckon. The whole time they have advertised the whole fleet will be done. Being Qantas as well I doubt there will be any compensation forth coming for lucking out with one of these aircraft.

 

[Brettmcg]

Gee that is poor I reckon. The whole time they have advertised the whole fleet will be done. Being Qantas as well I doubt there will be any compensation forth coming for lucking out with one of these aircraft.

Why would you get compensation? I'm not aware that in any advertising, nor during the booking process, they have ever guaranteed a particular onboard product?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why would you get compensation? I'm not aware that in any advertising, nor during the booking process, they have ever guaranteed a particular onboard product?

I think you'd have a reasonable case for a full refund if you purchased a ticket based on the statements that all aircraft would have business suites (and your flight doesn't). Seems a fairly simple case of the product not being as advertised. But that leaves you to find an alternative carrier and wait for the refund.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I think this is quite poor on QF's behalf. They also need to make a public announcement about this, as all their previous public comments have been that the whole A330 fleet would be reconfigured by the end of this year.

(Unless of course, the "in the future" comment actually still means some time before 31 December this year).

QF has known all along that the 300 series aircraft would be required for HNL (because of the required toilets and galley space) - and the only refurbs that have been used on HNL have been 300s - so obviously it was originally intended that the 300s would operate this sector. So something has changed in the planning, and relatively recently.

As I've said before, I wonder if yield/revenue management have become involved? Losing 8 J class seats on the HNL route - where very high prices/km are charged for J - would have a real impact on the financial return on this route.

 

[travelislife]

Why would you get compensation? I'm not aware that in any advertising, nor during the booking process, they have ever guaranteed a particular onboard product?

Well if I booked a flight for next year based on the strongly reinforced 'all A330s will be refurbed by the end of the year' although they might not legally be required to I believe it would be better customer service to be practice with some form of compensation. Some airlines are better at being proactive than others. BA with NF was good I hear. QF is generally reactive which leaves a sour taste and probably ends up costing more than the cost of doing something however minor, but proactively.

Try and find a photo of Skybed 1 on their website?

 

[stevenaus]

I did send an email through the contact us comment area on the website and did receive a call back. The Qantas person was apologetic and did say that Qantas had received some rather negative feedback regarding this. Not only is it Honolulu that is affected but Jakarta, Manila and Bangkok also often see EBG/EBL. There's really no reason that any A330 route could be subbed with one of these.