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

[Dr_Fliptop]

I have just bought some AA points with the intent of booking some PER-SYD J flights in September.

Is there any way of checking to see if potential flights are scheduled to be in the new configuration before I book? Obviously they could be subbed out before I fly but I would much prefer new J (I also have the option to book with VA instead but would prefer to use these for some SYD-MEL in May as the availability is better.).

I am not that familiar with the QF site but it only seems to just say A332 with a link to all the potential seat maps for that aircraft.

Expertflyer is your friend, but it might take you a while to work out which flights have the new config. For instance, I'm on a refurbished A332 from BNE-PER in June. The seating in Expertflyer currently looks like this:

 

[Dmac6345]

Expertflyer is your friend, but it might take you a while to work out which flights have the new config. For instance, I'm on a refurbished A332 from BNE-PER in June. The seating in Expertflyer currently looks like this:

View attachment 47645

Its actually very quick to work out the new config, if you have EF.
Only the old config A330's (incl 333 and 332's) have 5 or 6 rows of J respectively.

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

Its actually very quick to work out the new config, if you have EF.
Only the old config A330's (incl 333 and 332's) have 5 or 6 rows of J respectively.

Correct - hence my screen shot! I was referring to the time it would take to query every flight on a particular day you wanted to travel.

 

[exceladdict]

But you can use the Y seat map to determine which configuration you are on.

The seat rows will give you a hint as to what configuration you are on. For the refurb, look for the end of the first cabin at Row 39, with the start of the next cabin at 44.

So if the break is 43/44 I'm not in luck? Looks like daytime per to Melbourne misses out. That's ok I guess.

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

So if the break is 43/44 I'm not in luck? Looks like daytime per to Melbourne misses out. That's ok I guess.

Much easier to use EF as per my post above. J cabin has a 1-2-1 config that is the new fit out.

 

[mannej]

Much easier to use EF as per my post above. J cabin has a 1-2-1 config that is the new fit out.

Whilst the J seat map gives an easy answer, not everyone has access to EF.

If the last row before the emergency exit is 43, they would be on the PE type seat from memory.

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

Whilst the J seat map gives an easy answer, not everyone has access to EF.

If the last row before the emergency exit is 43, they would be on the PE type seat from memory.

True - but if you're really serious about this whole flying thing and making sure you get what you want - the (USD) $5 or $10 a month is a small price to pay!

 

[serfty]

if you travel is ongoing them the usd99 per year may be better value ...

 

[mannej]

True - but if you're really serious about this whole flying thing and making sure you get what you want - the (USD) $5 or $10 a month is a small price to pay!

Not everyone who wants to fly on the new product will want to go through the rigmarole of an EF subscription.

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

Not everyone who wants to fly on the new product will want to go through the rigmarole of an EF subscription.

Very true - and to them I say - best of luck!

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

1 month to the day QF129 SYD-PVG is on a refurb. Not sure it's a substitution this time. If not, the spread just got a lot thinner with just 3 300refurbs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have just bought some AA points with the intent of booking some PER-SYD J flights in September.

Is there any way of checking to see if potential flights are scheduled to be in the new configuration before I book? Obviously they could be subbed out before I fly but I would much prefer new J (I also have the option to book with VA instead but would prefer to use these for some SYD-MEL in May as the availability is better.).

I am not that familiar with the QF site but it only seems to just say A332 with a link to all the potential seat maps for that aircraft.

you can call qantas reservations and ask them to check the flights for the day and the proposed configuration.

once you have made the booking, you can keep an eye on it through 'manage your booking'.

 

[serfty]

It's still a grab bag and late subs are common.

One AFF member here is flying home from SIN this evening and yesterday was in a refurbished 333, today it's an older configuration.

My suggestion for those J travelers looking for privacy and who may prefer to hedge their bets is to preselect an Even numbered E seat (e.g. 2E) or an Odd numbered F seat (5F).

 

[Dmac6345]

1 month to the day QF129 SYD-PVG is on a refurb. Not sure it's a substitution this time. If not, the spread just got a lot thinner with just 3 300refurbs.

Can't believe that. I have 2x MEL to HKG in the next 6 months and none of them are showing new config. I would have thought both by the end Novemeber would be on new config.
Maybe they won't change the seat maps on EF until it is confirmed.

 

[moa999]

Given its been in over a week, willing to call VH-EBS as a refurb, as well as QPE in SIN for paint.. So.

Updated based on Qantas Source posts / FR24 data

-- Current aircraft in Brisbane maintenance
VH-QPD 330-300 In 23/4 - expect out late June
VH-EBS 330-200 In 26/4 - expect out late May

-- Refurbished aircraft in service - TOTAL = 6 (3 A330-200s, 3 A330-300s)
VH-EBV 330-200 - 1mth 15days - In 16/11 Out 31/12
VH-QPA 330-300 - 2mth 13days - In 3/11 Out 16/1, C8 check (SIN repaint 2/8-20/8 )
VH-EBA 330-200 - 1mth 12days - In 1/1 Out 13/2
VH-QPC 330-300 - 2mth 6days - In 17/1 Out 23/3, C8 check (SIN repaint 16/7-2/8 )
VH-EBJ 330-200 - 1mth 3days - In 14/3 Out 17/4 (fresh from SIN repaint from JQ from 27/2-13/3)
VH-QPB 330-300 - 2mth 7 days - In 16/2 Out 23/4 (fresh from SIN repaint 31/1-16/2, C8 check)

330-300s - 28J/ 269Y, J Panasonic ex3 16" IFE, Y Panasonic exLite 11" IFE
330-200s - 28J/ 243Y, J Panasonic ex3 16" IFE, Y Panasonic 9" IFE (EBM-EBV), 8" iPadMini (EBA-EBL)

-- In Singapore for painting (presumably) -300s only (all the -200s are already New Roo apart from the JQ aircraft)
VH-QPE 330-300 In 25/4

 

[moa999]

Also done a very quick analysis of the first 9 days flying with 3 A330-300s.

-- Likelihood of International Aircraft (based on first 9 Days of 3 A330-300s flying)
Flights (max is 9) - based on a simple Pivot Table from QantasSource data for 24/4-2/5.Total 52 flights (QPA satout 30/4)
BNE
- HKG QF97 - 6
- SIN QF51 - 7
MEL
- HKG QF29 - 3
- SIN QF35 - 8
SYD
- SIN QF81 - 2
HKG
- BNE QF98 - 5
- MEL QF30 - 4
SIN
- BNE QF52 - 7
- MEL QF35 - 8
- SYD QF82 - 3

So both MEL and BNE are getting far more love than Sydney.

 

[Ansett]

Also done a very quick analysis of the first 9 days flying with 3 A330-300s.

--

So both MEL and BNE are getting far more love than Sydney.

Exactly as it should be LOL

 

[moa999]

And similarly the first 15 days of three A330-200s from 18/4/ to 2/5
Bolded flights shows a ~50% of refurb

BNE
- PER - QF589 8; QF767 5; QF597 3
MEL
- PER - QF481 8; QF485 8; QF653 4; QF769 4; QF773 2; QF475 2
- SYD - QF408 2; QF462 2; QF418 1; QF438 1
SYD
- PER - QF575 8; QF583 4; QF577 1; QF565 1; QF571 1
- MEL - QF421 3; QF 411 2; QF449 2; QF401 1; QF405 1; QF429 1; QF453 1; QF497 1
PER
- BNE - QF598 8; QF652 4; QF650 3
- MEL - QF802 8; QF648 7; QF476 2; QF768 2; QF772 2
- SYD - QF568 9; QF580 8; QF574 2; QF642 2; QF566 1

 

[Dmac6345]

Exactly as it should be LOL

Absolutely.
They have a 744 for HKG. They can't have everything.

 

[Mr_Orange]

So both MEL and BNE are getting far more love than Sydney.

That makes a hugely refreshing change for the Sydney-centric QF!