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

[Awesom Andy]

With only a single aircraft flying QF35/36/81/82 I also wonder whether the actual pax are looked at.

Eg. Consider plane in SIN due to fly to MEL but then they look at the bookings and see they have the CEO and CFO of a major mining company traveling SIN-SYD and then half the Board of a major back traveling SYD-SIN the next day.

If I was QF I would be arranging a last minute switch

"Last minute" switches are only possible in SIN, whether they can just take the other plane to SYD/MEL/BNE. Don't think they would look at the actual pax, although they may look at capacity - the new config has a few less seats than the old one, so if one of the flight is overbooked, it might be possible that route will have the old config.

 

[mannej]

But the capacity is the same on both the refurbed 333 and the original 333. J loses two seats on the new config but Y gains the 2 seats.

 

[Awesom Andy]

But the capacity is the same on both the refurbed 333 and the original 333. J loses two seats on the new config but Y gains the 2 seats.

We don't want to be downgrading J pax, do we?

Imagine this... good news, you'on the the new config, but bad news, you'll have to fly in Y. That's not going to go down well.

 

[Sethur]

How does one tell whether they will be on a refurbished a330 if booked into economy? I have a spate of a330 flights coming up SYD-MEL-SYD but don't want to waste the upgrade points if it isn't the new product. Next flight is 5th March QF438.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Try using a program like Expert Flyer (if you have it) or Seat Guru.
I have had accurate results from seat map searches in EF but SG doesn't seem to be keeping up with the upgrade as effectively.

 

[ajw373]

How does one tell whether they will be on a refurbished a330 if booked into economy? I have a spate of a330 flights coming up SYD-MEL-SYD but don't want to waste the upgrade points if it isn't the new product. Next flight is 5th March QF438.

On the -300's the new config has 4 extra Y seats, which are 45 DEFG. But a tad harder of course on the -200's.

 

[pythonisman]

I'm interested that you mention NZ. I find the J seat to be quite confinding. Not to the same extent as the (old) CX "coffin" seats, but for me (I am not a big guy - yay diet - but I do have long legs and a decent frame) the NZ seat in bed mode is not adequate for me (my feet wind up outside the footwell half the time ) and even sitting in the seat I find it less than ideal. While I have not slept in the Business Suite, I have reclined it fully flat and had a lie down to compare, and I found it much more comfy for me - mostly for the leg room aspect and I also felt the time I did it, being in 4A which had the seat towards the window it felt extra cosy and private compared to NZ where you are, more or less, facing the aisle.

I also feel the seat area storage space (ie: the shelf area) to be superior in the QF product)

That's just a personal view though but having done a number of long hauls in NZ J on the 77W and 789 I'd take the QF hard product anyday. NZ catering though.. I'd keep that

I guess a case of you can't please all the people all the time

I don't want to bash the QF suite, it's a great seat absolutely; I was definitely pleased.

I agree the shelf area you get is a huge win and something only found in a bunch of airlines' first seats, and it's definitely something I used on my flight. I also loved having somewhere to store stuff for easy retrieval that didn't end up getting wedged in a spot by my thigh.

In terms of pure length I see your point and agree, you get a huge amount of flat out space top to toe on QF, moreso than NZ. The only areas I felt a bit constrained were around the knee area (when side sleeping) or around my torso (again, side sleeping, I had trouble working out where my arms went) but that's probably more my personal sleeping style and not going to impact anywhere near everyone. If you sleep on your back I doubt you'd encounter either of those issues.

(And I've only flown SQ and NZ's J products twice each, so I'm not exactly an expert in this matter)

I would happily fly the QF suite again, overnight on a redeye, and I'm sure I'd adjust to it and figure something out!

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

JQ A330-200 VH-EBJ is in Singapore, likely for repainting into QF livery before heading to BNE for reconfig. That leaves the JQ count at 3 planes with another due to return in a month or so once the next 787 arrives.

 

[moa999]

JQ A330-200 VH-EBJ is in Singapore, likely for repainting into QF livery before heading to BNE for reconfig. That leaves the JQ count at 3 planes with another due to return in a month or so once the next 787 arrives.

Makes sense, the last -300 paint job took about three weeks. Would put EBJ back to Brisbane about the same time that QPC gets completed

 

[ajw373]

Makes sense, the last -300 paint job took about three weeks. Would put EBJ back to Brisbane about the same time that QPC gets completed

Whilst it would make sense in one way, there is no certainty to it especially as the hard product also appears on other domestic aircraft.

 

[moa999]

Whilst it would make sense in one way, there is no certainty to it especially as the hard product also appears on other domestic aircraft.

Still a few other 'Jetstar' features to remove such as the orange stripe on the bins, the bulkheads and some of the IFE/control equipment, but agree it could be done in stages

 

[BindiBratz]

How does one tell whether they will be on a refurbished a330 if booked into economy? I have a spate of a330 flights coming up SYD-MEL-SYD but don't want to waste the upgrade points if it isn't the new product. Next flight is 5th March QF438.

I have flown on several refurbs recently on the PER-MEL-PER leg, and in the economy section it jumps from row 39 to row 44 rather than from row 35 or 43

 

[Flyerqf]

The new config will operate QF52 SIN-BNE tonight for the first time. Up to now it's only operated between SYD/MEL-SIN (and one SYD-MNL rotation)

 

[Awesom Andy]

The new config will operate QF52 SIN-BNE tonight for the first time. Up to now it's only operated between SYD/MEL-SIN (and one SYD-MNL rotation)

That's interesting. And obviously, QF51 tomorrow will gets it too. Probably has something to do with tonight's flight where both QF82 and QF36 has only J 1, which would become J -1 if they had gone with the new config.

 

[madrooster]

That's interesting. And obviously, QF51 tomorrow will gets it too. Probably has something to do with tonight's flight where both QF82 and QF36 has only J 1, which would become J -1 if they had gone with the new config.

So because there's one too many pax, everyone gets shafted?

 

[grrofunger]

Just got this:

We’re progressively making improvements to the inflight entertainment experience across the Qantas Domestic fleet, including the reconfiguration of our A330s from late 2014.
However, we wanted to let you know that while the A330 aircraft currently scheduled to operate your upcoming flight QF0762has overhead screens showing a variety of movies, TV and news programs, it may not yet be fitted with individual entertainment via in-seat screens or Q Streaming. Should this be the case, we’d like to credit your Qantas Frequent Flyer account with 1,000 bonus Qantas Points* which are in addition to any Qantas Points earned for the flight.
We are very excited about our A330 refurbishment program, and we can’t wait to welcome you on-board.

I can't remember the last time i had an A330 with only overhead screens and no personal entertainment :-|

 

[cmon0005]

Just got this:

We’re progressively ..

How far away is your flight?

 

[mannej]

I can't remember the last time i had an A330 with only overhead screens and no personal entertainment :-|

It used to be the norm before EBM/N entered the fleet. If you were stiffed with EBJ in those days you'd not get the 1000 point "gift".

How far away is your flight?

I got the email a couple of days out from the flight, sure enough it was EBC we were on so the 1000 points posted a couple of days after the flight.

 

[grrofunger]

my flight is tomorrow morning perth to melbourne

 

[Steady]

my flight is tomorrow morning perth to melbourne

What time is your flight?

I flew over yesterday on one of the returned J* birds in J and did not enjoy it at all - it was one of those "when it is bad it is really bad" Qantas experiences you get occasionally. I'm hoping to get the opposite tomorrow on the return as 802 is currently the new config.