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

[RichardMEL]

Interested to note QF426 MEL-SYD 14Jan is now showing new config 332 as opposed to 333 which it was scheduled for previously. obvious this stuff is very subject to change

 

[RickyT84]

If you read the press releases, the 332 will have the economy seats refreshed, with Q-Streaming installed. That will mean a number of the 332's won't have seat back IFE in Y if the releases are to be taken at face value.

Thank you for the correction. I completely forgot about the ex-JQ 332s.

 

[RickyT84]

Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd ask here.

I'm on expert flyer and see business seats on the a330 with E&F. Is there a way to tell whether this is the "premium economy" version or the Skybed version?

One way to tell the difference is the location of the galley in the seat map.

If the aircraft is equipped with Skybed, the galley is located between rows 3 and 4. If the aircraft is equipped with the 'premium economy' J seats, the galley is located behind row 6.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Interested to note QF426 MEL-SYD 14Jan is now showing new config 332 as opposed to 333 which it was scheduled for previously. obvious this stuff is very subject to change

The general rule is that the 332s will be used for domestic, and the 333s for international.

 

[moa999]

The general rule is that the 332s will be used for domestic, and the 333s for international.

I think a few posters here have established that at least some 332s now (and presumably more once the final non-refurb 747s leave the fleet) are required to do the international services.

What we are trying to guess is which subfleet and Y IFE these aircraft will have (and or whether QF does some Y seat replacement in the 332s - eg. The current Rockwell Collins IFE fleet)

Edit- missed the point of your response, but will let the comment stand

 

[mannej]

What we are trying to guess is which subfleet and Y IFE these aircraft will have (and or whether QF does some Y seat replacement in the 332s - eg. The current Rockwell Collins IFE fleet)

This is the 64k question Eddie!

 

[RichardMEL]

The general rule is that the 332s will be used for domestic, and the 333s for international.

yes I know this

the point was that at one stage, that particular flight was supposed to be the debut of the int configured 333 as a domestic run, then a month or so back it just was changed in the schedule to a regular 333, and the new config was set to go straight into MEL-SIN-SYD rotations, which I think is still the plan from next week... it's only yesterday I looked and the flight had changed to a 332 (nothing unusual there) but the seat map shows new J which is a turn up. Hey that's over a week away so it my be a 73H by then

but posted as if anyone is flying the triangle that day that it seems QF is going to mix things up still so could be a chance to get EBV for those who want

 

[yohy?!]

the 332s regularly get subbed in now for int. when loads are lower - seems crazy having a subfleet with inferior IFE but obviously theyve done the numbers

 

[ajw373]

the 332s regularly get subbed in now for int. when loads are lower - seems crazy having a subfleet with inferior IFE but obviously theyve done the numbers

There are currently 4 international configured 332's, whilst of course there is not enough international flying to occupy all 4, if a 332 appears on international, which they have increasingly been doing (CGK for example it is now the norm rather than the exception) then it will be one of these 4. Cannot see any reason why into the future it could not be the same 4 aircraft made over the same as the 333's, or maybe even the newer current domestic 332's with fixed back IFE. Of course time will tell.

 

[Mr_Orange]

the 332s regularly get subbed in now for int. when loads are lower - seems crazy having a subfleet with inferior IFE but obviously theyve done the numbers

I'd say that with some of the recent decisions, it's pretty clear they don't do the numbers....!

 

[ChrisCunard]

So the 332's with Rockwell Collins keep that in economy and have the Panasonic product in business or?

 

[ajw373]

So the 332's with Rockwell Collins keep that in economy and have the Panasonic product in business or?

Uless I am mistaken the only 332's with Rockwell Collins and fixed seat IFE are the 4 international configured a/c. The earlier 332's have Rockwell Collins and main screen IFE and the latter ones with fixed back IFE already have Panasonic (EBV for example), but will be upgraded to the latest server but same screens in Y.

No A330 will have Rockwell Collins, so no mix. All will have Panasonic(with Q streaming), the latter 332's with fixed seat IFE will keep the same seats and screens and the early ones will get Q streaming and Qantas provided ipads.

Again the issue is what are they going to do with the 4 international birds. Options are new seats and fixed IFE ala the 333's, or as someone else suggested basically cover the screens up and have Qantas provided ipads.

But no release thus far has been clear enough to say for certain.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Again the issue is what are they going to do with the 4 international birds. Options are new seats and fixed IFE ala the 333's, or as someone else suggested basically cover the screens up and have Qantas provided ipads.

Have to admit though, the way I read the comments by Qantas, I actually thought they were just going to give those Y seats a carpet clean (or may be a new cover). They would most likely be using the 332s on the routes with the lowest loads anyway, I wouldn't be too concerned. I'm also assuming that they are being kept to international routes.

 

[ajw373]

Have to admit though, the way I read the comments by Qantas, I actually thought they were just going to give those Y seats a carpet clean (or may be a new cover). They would most likely be using the 332s on the routes with the lowest loads anyway, I wouldn't be too concerned. I'm also assuming that they are being kept to international routes.

This is where the release is vague. The way it was talking was if all the A330-200's were domestic, which isn't the case. The domestic a/c come in two basic varities, from an IFE perspective. Rockwell Collins and over head screen, or Panasonic and fixed IFE. What they plan to do with these is simple. All to have new Panasonic server with Q streaming. If seat has no screen then they get ipad (fixed in J of course), if fixed screen then it stays with seats refurbished.

Though as we know Qantas has 4 international 332's that, like their 333 cousins have Rockwell Collins and fixed IFE. So no brainer they will get the Panasonic server, but the question is what about the screens. I beleive the screens only operate with the server they are designed for, so that means they have to go and be replaced by ipads or the seats replaced and Panasonic screens installed ala the 333's. This is where the release isn't clear.

 

[yohy?!]

Have to admit though, the way I read the comments by Qantas, I actually thought they were just going to give those Y seats a carpet clean (or may be a new cover). They would most likely be using the 332s on the routes with the lowest loads anyway, I wouldn't be too concerned. I'm also assuming that they are being kept to international routes.

Hopefully with a thorough delousing too!

 

[Mr_Orange]

Though as we know Qantas has 4 international 332's that, like their 333 cousins have Rockwell Collins and fixed IFE. So no brainer they will get the Panasonic server, but the question is what about the screens. I beleive the screens only operate with the server they are designed for, so that means they have to go and be replaced by ipads or the seats replaced and Panasonic screens installed ala the 333's. This is where the release isn't clear.

The seats being replaced is what should happen so that the international product is consistent.

 

[ajw373]

The seats being replaced is what should happen so that the international product is consistent.

Yeah really don't follow the -200's. I mean to say they have 8 that currently have Panasonic AVOD IFE in Y, so yeah a server upgrade and seat cover replacement makes sense even if the product will be slightly different, read a smaller screen.

They have 4 Rockwell Collins international configured a/c, so would have thought giving them the same treatment as the 333's vis seat replacement would be in order. Still may be the case.

That then leaves 6 332's (less EBJ and EBK which will leave) with no fixed seat back IFE in Y. So for the sake of 6 a/c you would think the cost to replace the seats with fixed seat IFE wouldn't have been that much in the interest of product consistency. It would also make it easier to just sub any of the 18 332's onto international runs if demand or other circumstances so require it.

 

[drpurpleturtle]

They have 4 Rockwell Collins international configured a/c, so would have thought giving them the same treatment as the 333's vis seat replacement would be in order. Still may be the case.

That then leaves 6 332's (less EBJ and EBK which will leave) with no fixed seat back IFE in Y. So for the sake of 6 a/c you would think the cost to replace the seats with fixed seat IFE wouldn't have been that much in the interest of product consistency. It would also make it easier to just sub any of the 18 332's onto international runs if demand or other circumstances so require it.

I've been told some new information regarding the exJQ A330-200's from a forum member from "Sydney Airport Message Board" stating that VH-EBH & I are the aircraft being returned to their lessors, with EBJ coming back to mainline from JQ sometime in March and heading straight into its refurbishment!

According to this forum member, VH-EBA,B,C,D,E,F,J & K's Y product will be Q-Streaming with iPad Mini's!

 

[ajw373]

I've been told some new information regarding the exJQ A330-200's from a forum member from "Sydney Airport Message Board" stating that VH-EBH & I are the aircraft being returned to their lessors, with EBJ coming back to mainline from JQ sometime in March and heading straight into its refurbishment!

According to this forum member, VH-EBA,B,C,D,E,F,J & K's Y product will be Q-Streaming with iPad Mini's!

If that is the case then there is still a question mark over what would happen to the remaining two international configured 332's.

 

[moa999]

Any update on the first Intl A330??
Think it was originally QF35 on the 15/1 - is this still go?