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

[dk4]

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

...qf are the ones who decided to explicitly use the word 'unique'. presumably without anyone actually asking if that was true.

I think that it is meant to imply "uniquely" within Qantas (rather than unique to Qantas - as the seat is a stylised version of an off-the-shelf product, it is not unique to Qantas). So I am reading "uniquely" to mean - that on Qantas aircraft, only this particular business class seat, and not any other, will be allowed to recline for take off and landing.

 

[ajw373]

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

I read it as streaming being added, nothing else.

Though what of the JQ A330's when they come back to Qantas. It would seem odd to fit new seats in them with seat-back IFE, but not refit the current domestic a/c with IFE. Either way there will be product differences.

 

[markis10]

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

Though what of the JQ A330's when they come back to Qantas. It would seem odd to fit new seats in them with seat-back IFE, but not refit the current domestic a/c with IFE. Either way there will be product differences.

They are not fitting new seats into any Domestic A330 in Y.

 

[Anna]

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

Could one of the people saying that QF is late with this, please tell me who has it ex Australia now because I want to book it now and not wait until end of 2014

 

[moa999]

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

Agreed.
Two A330 fleets
Intl/ Coast-Coast - with Skybed III, and new Y seats and entertainment
Domestic - standard J and Y seats -- I suspect the newer planes with seatback IFE will be used for this, no point ripping out already good seats.

 

[markis10]

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

Domestic - standard J and Y seats -- I suspect the newer planes with seatback IFE will be used for this, no point ripping out already good seats.

Nope:

All 30 of Qantas’ A330s will be upgraded with Business Suites in a 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds and direct aisle access from every seat. Ten A330-300s for Qantas International will feature new Economy seats and 20 A330-200s for Qantas Domestic will see their Economy seats refurbished.

 

[Fruitcake]

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

Two A330 fleets
Intl/ Coast-Coast - with Skybed III, and new Y seats and entertainment
Domestic - standard J and Y seats -- I suspect the newer planes with seatback IFE will be used for this, no point ripping out already good seats.

From the QF press release:
"All 30 of Qantas’ A330s will be upgraded with Business Suites in a 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds and direct aisle access from every seat."

 

[anat0l]

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

Could one of the people saying that QF is late with this, please tell me who has it ex Australia now because I want to book it now and not wait until end of 2014

Well as for domestic travel, the best you can do is VA's J with almost lie flat seat, a la SQ regional J product.

As for international, for 1-2-1 config

• CX non-regional J (the new one, all refitted now).
• TG longhaul J, the new one, which is not completely refitted yet.
• SQ longhaul J, fitted onto 77W and A380.
• If you have to count VS J, they are herringbone, which is 1-1-1. Not exactly my cup of tea, but that's just me.

 

[serfty]

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

Though what of the JQ A330's when they come back to Qantas. It would seem odd to fit new seats in them with seat-back IFE, but not refit the current domestic a/c with IFE. Either way there will be product differences.

I don't think any new in seat IFE will be added. For those coming 'back' without in seat IFE, punters in economy would need to use streaming.

 

[sydstar]

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

Surely overkill putting the new J product on the 330s that will be golden triangle? Considering the difference in J between a 330 and 738 will be massive. I'm sure that those booking a 330 MEL-BNE will be disappointed to get a 738 when they 'chose' a 330 flight

And surely it would have made sense to put Y+ in the 330s for international, considering the ex Asia flights are overnight? Surely there would be a market for it if a similar/same product to that of the 380.

Will be interesting to see if this is the same product rolled out on the 789s as well for fleet consistency if they will be running on similar routes. (I take it that the plan is for 380/747 long haul and 330/787-900 medium haul)?

 

[ajw373]

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

They are not fitting new seats into any Domestic A330 in Y.

That was my point, as I assume this will also apply to those coming from JQ. Hence there will be 3 variations in Y. International with new seats, current domestic with existing seats refreshed with seat back IFE and ex JQ domestic refreshed seats no seat back IFE.

 

[ajw373]

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

I don't think any new in seat IFE will be added. For those coming 'back' without in seat IFE, punters in economy would need to use streaming.

Which is how I read it too (and as previously mentioned I did think some of the existing Qantas domestic A330's were the same but concede I was wrong). So as mentioned in the post above that means 3 variations in Y.

 

[ajw373]

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

And surely it would have made sense to put Y+ in the 330s for international, considering the ex Asia flights are overnight? Surely there would be a market for it if a similar/same product to that of the 380.

Good point, but the real issue is are the aircraft big enough to justify the extra cabin, especially as they are medium haul flights.

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

Good point, but the real issue is are the aircraft big enough to justify the extra cabin, especially as they are medium haul flights.

CX manage it!

 

[ajw373]

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

CX manage it!

You cannot simply say because one airline does it it will work for all. You need to look at the route network specifically the destinations, passenger mix and yield factors. Now not saying in Qantas's case they shouldn't be doing it just asking the question and making the point you cannot compare two different airlines flying to different destinations like for like.

 

[dk4]

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

It will be interesting to see what the difference in Premium configuration is between International A332 & Domestic A332.

The International A332s currently have a flight crew rest facility in front of the starboard door number 1, and galley/storage & toilet, taking up space behind the front doors in zone A . However - Domestic configurations allow for this crew rest area to become a toilet/galley space, meaning more space for seating in zone A.

If Qantas removes the flight crews' private birth, and tells them to rest in one of these new horizontal-lay-flat business seats instead. QF will be able to move a toilet and storage area out of zone A, & into the former FCRC. And if they remove the rear galley intrusions from zone A, they will have the ability to get up to 24 J seats into zone A (2 of which will need to be withheld from sale, when required for Flight Crew use) leaving 22 seats available for sale.

Currently in zone A on international A332s QF only has 18 seats available, so this would add 4 more J seats, with this better utilisation of space in zone A.

It has another 18 seats at the front of zone B on international A332s, which would be a perfect location for Premium Economy to be added! (So let's say they do this, they can probably add 4 rows of P.E., at 7 abreast, and still have a few inches to spare for some galley/storage space across the front of zone B.) So a total of 28 P.E. seats.

Thus, if they squeeze tightly, they might manage to turn 36J into 22J + 28 P.E ?

 

[Anna]

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

Thanks. Do these ones below go ex Australia? (I'm not sure what counts as CX "non-regional" J, or SQ "longhaul".)

• CX non-regional J (the new one, all refitted now).
• SQ longhaul J, fitted onto 77W and A380.

 

[mannej]

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

Which is how I read it too (and as previously mentioned I did think some of the existing Qantas domestic A330's were the same but concede I was wrong). So as mentioned in the post above that means 3 variations in Y.

I would say 2 variations, as the new product does seem to be negligibly different to the new product on paper, the greatest difference seems to be the older 330's currently with JQ.

I would think it would not be stupid to update these ones to have the PIFE as it would be a step down from the current product...

 

[anat0l]

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

Thanks. Do these ones below go ex Australia? (I'm not sure what counts as CX "non-regional" J, or SQ "longhaul".)

SQ longhaul J is only fitted on flights operated by the 77W or A380. As far as I can tell properly, these flights to SIN only operate out of SYD and MEL; all other SQ capital centres are operated using A330s that use regional J (not 1-2-1).

CX non-regional J 1-2-1 is on all aircraft operating between Hong Kong and Australia, which are all A330s. I guess CX could sub out a longhaul A330 for a regional one, but that would be mean. CX regional J is only used on short / medium haul flying from Hong Kong to the rest of Asia.

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

P.E., at 7 abreast,

For comparison, CX use the 2-3-2 layout in PE on their A330s and I can testify that it is spacious and comfortable.