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

[JohnPhelan]

I prefer not to throw darts but rather bet on sure things.

Until the whole A330 fleet is done - late 2016 - there are no sure things.

(And even then - always possible to be subbed for a 737).

 

[Awesom Andy]

Until the whole A330 fleet is done - late 2016 - there are no sure things.

(And even then - always possible to be subbed for a 737).

And then you find your flight cancelled for the day, and JQ is the only flight left for the day.

 

[mannej]

And then you find your flight cancelled for the day, and JQ is the only flight left for the day.

Realistically speaking, how often is the Red-eye cancelled from PER (QF568, QF648 or QF652)?

 

[Awesom Andy]

Realistically speaking, how often is the Red-eye cancelled from PER (QF568, QF648 or QF652)?

Rarely. Although Murphy's law may apply.

 

[Melburnian1]

While many of us are sceptical about travel writers (with the publication below never disclosing if the trip was a freebie - my assumption is that in every case it is), 'Business Traveller Asia-Pacific' has this recent interesting review on an unrefurbished QF A3330 (with the author expressing surprise at not travelling on a refurbished one):

Qantas Airways A330-300 Business Class - Business Traveller Asia

Probably many of you know more about '4:3 aspect' than I do!

 

[jpboyce]

Probably many of you know more about '4:3 aspect' than I do!

4:3 aspect ration refers to the ratio between the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the screen. Older TVs and PC monitors were 4:3 ratio and looked more "square" shaped. Wide screens are generally 16:9 ratio, more rectangle shaped. When you play media in one aspect ratio on a screen of another, some weird stuff can happen. The author's comment about "scaled up" may suggest the movie was scaled vertically so fill the entire screen (and thus would look really bad) or displayed in "pan and scan" where the outer sections of the wideframe media are cropped to fit on a 4:3 screen (thus removing some of the experience for the viewer).

 

[hotpaws]

Well just had my hopes dashed - was booked on new business suite to BKK and return in December, just received an email saying return trip aircraft has changed to A330-200. Checked both trips, outbound still A330-300, but with old config, and inbound is now A330-200 with old config as well. Was looking forward to trying the new business suites, can only hope for another change, but not that confident.

 

[Melburnian1]

hotpaws, do not give up hope because by then more of the fleet will have been refurbished. Others have commented that 'a further change' for flight X is quite possible. You may not know until very close to the travel date, and even then at the last minute an event may occur necessitating an 'equipment change.'

Let's hope that reliable AFF member moa999 updates his amazingly detailed table to keep you in the loop.

Say a prayer to St Jude!

 

[ajw373]

Well just had my hopes dashed - was booked on new business suite to BKK and return in December, just received an email saying return trip aircraft has changed to A330-200. Checked both trips, outbound still A330-300, but with old config, and inbound is now A330-200 with old config as well. Was looking forward to trying the new business suites, can only hope for another change, but not that confident.

EBS and EBV have been operating some international sectors of late (not in last 2 weeks or so though), with it to become the norm for international -200 flights as more of the fixed IFE 'domestic' -200's get refurbished.

 

[Ibhayi]

Why didn't QF opt for clothing seating on the A330-200?

I know they said that passengers prefer cloth on lengthy sectors but does it really matter if it is leather on a domestic?
While I appreciate this is a transitionary phase for QF and their A330 fleet, we've seen them use the -200 on long haul and on their long-long haul A330 routes such as to HNL.

Any ideas why they didn't go all cloth?

 

[serfty]

Search this very thread for the word leather ...

 

[Ansett]

Have just arrived back from Singapore on a Reconfigured A330 VH-QPI and had seat 4 A, have to say whilst it is an improvement on the sky bed in terms of privacy I found that the contour of the side wall at this seat was a little invasive. It restricted my arm movement, in particular not being able to stretch arms upwards with out banging into the side wall.

The IFE again a step up however the lack of adjustment meant that a lot of the screen was blurred, even the CSM tried it and thought it was poor. The seat also failed and would not operate properly or at all so was moved to 1 K with a QF Staff member being relocated to my seat. Found 1 K to be a much better seat in terms the wall and the foot well being better.

Wasn't impressed with the lack of moving arm rest that stayed full height even when in the bed mode. The controls them selves I thought were OK but for some I could see that there may be too many buttons and it becoming coughbersome.

The feel of the seat was like a mini F suite from the A380 but without the finesse. Storage was lacking and the sash seat belt was a pain in the A77, having to retrieve it from down the side of the seat constantly fishing for it was a nuisance.

With the mattress fitted the sash belt was a hindrance and the inertia side didn't work requiring a lot of fiddling to get it to retract. Took the Mattress off in the end.

In Take off mood I was able to go full flat, would have thought that there would have been an interlock of some sort.

Seat whilst acceptable was certainly not the most comfortable seat I have encountered.

Overall my score out of 10 would be a 3 and hate to say it would prefer the skybeds on the basis of seat comfort and cabin feel, not as claustrophobic as the new cabin lay out.

 

[maninblack]

Have just arrived back from Singapore on a Reconfigured A330 VH-QPI and had seat 4 A and have to say whilst it is an improvement on the sky bed in terms of privacy I found that the contour of the side wall at this seat was a little invasive. I found that it restricted arm movement in particular not being able to stretch arms upwards with out banging into the side wall.

The IFE again a step up however the lack of adjustment meant that a lot of the screen was blurred, even the CSM tried it and thought it was poor. The seat also failed and would not operate properly or at all so was moved to 1 K with a QF Staff member being relocated to my seat. Found 1K to be a much better seat in terms the wall and the foot well being better.

Wasn't impressed with the lack of moving arm rest that stayed full height even when in the bed mode. The controls them selves I thought were OK but for some one could see that there may be too many buttons and it become coughbersome.

The feel of the seat was like a mini F suite from the A380 but without the finesse. Storage was lacking and the sash seat belt was a pain in the A77, having to retrieve it from down the side of the seat constantly fishing for it was a nuisance.

With the mattress fitted the sash belt was a great hindrance and the inertia side didn't work and required a lot of fiddling to get it to retract. Took the Mattress off in the end.

In Take off mood I was able to go full flat, would have thought that there would have been an interlock of some sort.

Seat whilst acceptable was certainly not the most comfortable seat I have encountered.

Overall my score out of 10 would be a 3 and hate to say it would prefer the skybeds on the basis of seat comfort and cabin feel, as in not as claustrophobic as the new cabin lay out. The reduction is toilets was noticeable in terms of availability after take off and prior to landing as people changed into and from pajamas.

I agree with much of what you say but probably not the ultimate conclusion regarding the Skybed. You do wonder how QF has managed to go to so much trouble to design such a flawed product, the F suite is another concoction that doesn't work nearly well as it should.

 

[Mr_Orange]

It is interesting that airlines that have largely left seat designs alone, bar the choice of materials and colour seem to have fewer complaints/problems and those that customise to the nth degree (QF with Marc Newson) run into problems. Is Marc Newson an aircraft seat designer? I don't think so, so why not leave the design to those that are and just pick a colour?

Edit: It is especially disappointing to read these type of comments given how long QF took to start installing these seats from initial announcement and how long the installation is taking! It seems like they could have saved themselves a lot of time and effort.

 

[ajw373]

The reduction is toilets was noticeable in terms of availability after take off and prior to landing as people changed into and from pajamas.

There is no reduction in toilets on the -300. Was 2 before, still 2. One is next to coughpit door, the 2nd has just been 'relocated' from near door 1R to 2R. It is the -200's that loose a toilet as there is none near door 2R.

 

[Ansett]

There is no reduction in toilets on the -300. Was 2 before, still 2. One is next to coughpit door, the 2nd has just been 'relocated' from near door 1R to 2R. It is the -200's that loose a toilet as there is none near door 2R.

I stand corrected. Thanks ajw

 

[whughes3]

There is no reduction in toilets on the -300. Was 2 before, still 2. One is next to coughpit door, the 2nd has just been 'relocated' from near door 1R to 2R. It is the -200's that loose a toilet as there is none near door 2R.

When I have been on these a/c, it has been fairly obvious that most of the pax did not realize that the toilet on the RH side was at the rear; almost everyone was using the front one. Some clearer signage might be in order!

 

[Happy Trails]

When I have been on these a/c, it has been fairly obvious that most of the pax did not realize that the toilet on the RH side was at the rear; almost everyone was using the front one. Some clearer signage might be in order!

No, let's keep it our little secret.

 

[whughes3]

Another oddity I have noticed concerning the upgraded planes: when you book a domestic J sector on them, you get auto-allocated a seat assignment. This does not happen with any other a/c type I am aware of; you have to do your own seat allocation if you want it.

 

[cmon0005]

I am mighty P$$$$d just checked seatmap for my paid J flight SYD-SIN in November with wife and infant. Now on a non-refurb! grrr. after all that planning to get a refurb.. being this far out could it potentially change back to a refurb?