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

[ajw373]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

It's very very similar in Y to the current 332 domestic product...

The domesitc Y will be refreshed, which I gather means new seat covers and iPAD IFE, ala the 767 referesh.

International Y will be new seats with fixed IFE and WiFi streaming for BYO.

 

[ajw373]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

Is it because since everyone has direct aisle access, reclining your seat doesn't cause an obstruction that someone needs to overcome in an emergency evacuation?

OT to this thread I know, but glad someone brought this up. One thing that irks me is the self centred so and so's who recline on landing or have cough all over the floor. Clearly they think it is ok, except of course when it effects MY ability to exit in a hurry. I had a heated discussion when seated on 1A on an Ibera A320 flight a few years back with thepassenger in seat 1C and the crew about the amount of newspapers that was blocking my exit.

 

[MH_fan]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

Message to MH: Are you paying attention to what QF are planning for their A330s??? These are the kinds of seats you should be using on your A330s and A380s!!

 

[Daver6]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

Perhaps it is just my perception, but these seats do look quite narrow. Has seat width been mentioned anywhere yet?

 

[dk4]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

The news seats look very appealing, but with 1-2-1 instead of the current 2-2-2/2-3-2 this can only mean reduced J/increased fares.

You are correct, the tightest that I believe QF could configure these seats (in the front zone of an A332) is 6 rows of 4 seats abreast (1x2x1), which is 24 seats. which just happens to be the same number of seats that Virgin has, with 4 rows at 6 seats abreast (2x2x2 new version) but at VA, their slopey-sleep configuration suffers from window seats with no direct aisle access. (This Sicma/Zodiac seat is also a B787 catalogue item:idea

So QF dropping domestic business (zone A) from 2x3x2 (at 42 seats, or even with the middle seats blocked, making the total available 36) - something will have to give!

36 (old config) - 24 (new config?) = 12 seats gone

OR

12 (seats gone) / 36 (available seats in old config) = 0.333 = 1 third less seats in domestic zone A

 

[anat0l]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

Perhaps it is just my perception, but these seats do look quite narrow. Has seat width been mentioned anywhere yet?

The perception will be that they are quite narrow only because it will actually feel a bit more tightly packed in the cabin, though the living pitch in a way has not changed (assumes Business customers don't jump up and flail their arms around all the time). Probably doesn't help that the walls make it seem more narrow, but everyone seems to be going for the "suite" or "demisuite" look these days.

I'm not sure about other airlines that have similar product, but I wouldn't be surprised if they shaved off an inch or so from the width.

Also note that with these seats your feet go into a "cubby" hole, so those of you who sleep like a helicopter might want to start training yourself not to, otherwise you'll end up kicking the sides of the walls.

 

[mannej]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

The domesitc Y will be refreshed, which I gather means new seat covers and iPAD IFE, ala the 767 referesh.

International Y will be new seats with fixed IFE and WiFi streaming for BYO.

You obviously haven't been in one of the domestic A330's?

They have the seat back IFE system
Similar to the 380 and the similar slimline seats.

I would suspect it would be nothing like the 767's...

 

[Mr_Orange]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

I think adding a Y+ cabin to the reconfigured A330s would be a real bonus too. It would provide some competition to CX who operate Y+ and provides a 'premium' seat for those who can't afford the fares for J which, as others have noted, will probably increase to cater for the reduced number of seats. Although adding Y+ will reduce the number of Y seats which may be counter-productive from a bean counters POV.

 

[samh004]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

With the offset configuration, even 1-2-1 they can fit more seats into the same similar space. The reason being your feet go under the person in front. Same with the SQ A380 J seat. (and yes clearly others)

Good point. So with the foot space being under the seat in front that saves about 25-30% per row? After 4 rows you get a free row?

(assumes Business customers don't jump up and flail their arms around all the time).

Only when I'm seizing, apparently

I think adding a Y+ cabin to the reconfigured A330s would be a real bonus too. It would provide some competition to CX who operate Y+ and provides a 'premium' seat for those who can't afford the fares for J which, as others have noted, will probably increase to cater for the reduced number of seats. Although adding Y+ will reduce the number of Y seats which may be counter-productive from a bean counters POV.

As Y+ will probably take Y space, they can probably add it later if they think it'll sell well. It does seem odd it's not included, especially considering the relatively premium product suggested in pics.

 

[Flying Fox]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

Cool looking product. I like the colours in Y but I'm not keen on the purple used for the J fabric.

 

[cmon0005]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

I think adding a Y+ cabin to the reconfigured A330s would be a real bonus too. It would provide some competition to CX who operate Y+ and provides a 'premium' seat for those who can't afford the fares for J which.

+1

I'd love to see Y+ on the A330's (For International only) especially when I fly for personal travel overseas, sometimes J is just that little bit too much and Y is just that little bit too squishy and I'd be willing to pay extra for Y+ if it were available.

 

[wenglock.mok]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

You obviously haven't been in one of the domestic A330's?

They have the seat back IFE system
Similar to the 380 and the similar slimline seats.

I would suspect it would be nothing like the 767's...

That is only for the newest 6 domestic A332s. There are another 10 A332s due to return from Jetstar. 8 of them (EBA-F & EBJ-K) do not have personal IFE in Y, and the last 2 (EBQ & R) do so the news release seems to be skirting around that issue. The big question is -- will these A332s get the same seats and IFE in Y as the current domestic A332s or are we resigned to playing the lottery again (although having Q-streaming does somewhat make that more bearable). From what QF have mentioned in that news release, all of them will only get a refresh.

 

[anat0l]

Re: A330 J Refit - Familar?

Cool looking product. I like the colours in Y but I'm not keen on the purple used for the J fabric.

Must be an artefact of photography. I'm guessing more that the seat itself will be the same claret red which is pretty common on all of the rest of the fleet.

The picture in full flat position, I imagine, is the same seat fitted with Qantas' new sleeper outfit.

 

[mannej]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

That is only for the newest 6 domestic A332s. There are another 10 A332s due to return from Jetstar. 8 of them (EBA-F & EBJ-K) do not have personal IFE in Y, and the last 2 (EBQ & R) do so the news release seems to be skirting around that issue. The big question is -- will these A332s get the same seats and IFE in Y as the current domestic A332s or are we resigned to playing the lottery again (although having Q-streaming does somewhat make that more bearable). From what QF have mentioned in that news release, all of them will only get a refresh.

The release does skirt around the issue, however why wouldn't they update the JQ birds to the new product considering that the international 330's are getting the refit.

I take the refresh is referring to the newer 330's that already have the similar product installed already.

 

[Nizar]

Hard to imagine these seats will be wider than the (flagship?) A380 which is 21.5 inches ?
Or are the A380s/newer aircraft also due for a refurb soon ?
What other aircraft do QF have on order ?

SQ recently announced their "new" F and J seats to be fitted to newly delivered 77Ws, A350s and 787-10s.

 

[davec]

What a shame it's going to take them so long! Why nothing until the end of next year? Surely there are numerous factories around the world these can be sourced from.....

I cant believe QF will have pax travelling say ex MEL or BNE via SYD to HKG in J on a A380 and then returning direct on an A330 - the product is not comparable! And the 'new' CX product will be several years old by the time QF have a product (ex MEL for example) that compares....

Such a shame!

 

[ajw373]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

You obviously haven't been in one of the domestic A330's?

They have the seat back IFE system
Similar to the 380 and the similar slimline seats.

I would suspect it would be nothing like the 767's...

For one please loose the attitutde.

As for the A330 fleet some (the last couple) of the domestic A330-200's have seat back IFE some don't. Additionally most (but I don't think all, but don't quote me) of the A330's in Jetstar don't have seat back IFE these will be coming back to Qantas domestic.

So the bulk are without seat back IFE in domestic.

 

[ajw373]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

The release does skirt around the issue, however why wouldn't they update the JQ birds to the new product considering that the international 330's are getting the refit.

I take the refresh is referring to the newer 330's that already have the similar product installed already.

The same question could be applied to the A330's in domestic already without seat back IFE.

 

[pauly7]

Re: Airbus A330 flights expected to include the introduction of lie-flat seats in bus

Wow they look fantastic.....

Only problem is that I want them now now now!!!

 

[cosi]

What a shame it's going to take them so long! Why nothing until the end of next year? Surely there are numerous factories around the world these can be sourced from.....

Such a shame!

Totally agree especially with the domestic planes that have the horrible 2-3-2 config