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

[boomy]

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

Anyway the moral of the story is that its still miles better than Y, QF still has the best Y+ product around.

Totally agree, QF has a great Y+ product and it's perfect for a day flight to Asia.

 

[Mr_Orange]

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

I thought I did a CX Y+ TR but I am stuffed if I can find it. So here is what I remember;

I flew from TPE back to MEL via HKG and sadly it was the same week as the Grand Prix and the CX plane was full of pit crew etc so couldn't get a J seat, but had the first row of PE (bulkhead) from memory it was row 30(?)

I found the seat average in terms of comfort (the QF seat is much more comfortable) There is plenty of legroom in that row so that was a positive score.

What did suck though was the IFE screen which comes out of the seat (only an issue in the first row i know) but you could never watch it at a perfectly straight on angle it basically only tilts! so you end up having your head on a strange angle.

The legrest was ok without being excellent. The seat as a rule however isn't nearly as comfy as QF's whether thats my pear like bodyshape or not im not sure.

The food offerings is where it really falls down, as its basically just a Y meal with no discernible difference. Likewise the amenities are shared with Y pax so there is often a long wait.

Service wise as you are stuck between the two cabins with no crew seats or a place where they "hang out" so the FA's do become ghosts after meals, so if you are a person that likes a walk/stretch, there is nowhere to walk/stretch to!

Anyway the moral of the story is that its still miles better than Y, QF still has the best Y+ product around.

Thanks. I flew BNE-CNS-HKG in the front row against the bulkhead and found the same thing as you concerning the in arm screen. I also thought the foot rest was a waste of time as it could not be extended out (maybe a faulty seat) although Mrs O's seat was the same. I ensured we had other rows for the remaining flights.

I found the width and comfort to be good, but having not tried QFs Y+ seat, I don't have a benchmark other than AF which I thought was awful.

 

[Happy Trails]

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

I also thought the foot rest was a waste of time as it could not be extended out (maybe a faulty seat) although Mrs O's seat was the same.

There's a 'secret' lever to extend the footrest but, even when you manage to find it, it doesn't make much difference.

 

[eastwest101]

So what is the competition flying exactly?

Sorry - should have been more specific.

Current configuration QFd domestic J class A330s are competing against a variety of old ex-EK and newer VA A330. After the refit is complete and all the ex-Starclass PE seating being sold as J class stuff is out of the way then yes - the QF product will be as good as or maybe slightly better than the VA mix of old and new, assuming VA keeps running old and new A330 configs.

As for international - it depends on the route but the competition (SQ, CX, MH, TG) already has better J class seats and cabins than the QFi A330s, and the competition will have lots of younger A330s, B787s, B777s etc

As others have pointed out - the A330 J refit is welcome but it is really only catching QF up to where the competition has already been - not where the competition will be by 2014....

 

[ajw373]

As for international - it depends on the route but the competition (SQ, CX, MH, TG) already has better J class seats and cabins than the QFi A330s, and the competition will have lots of younger A330s, B787s, B777s etc

Worse than TG? I must have been dreaming last time I flew TG business class, SYD-BKK-SYD. On the way out it was a 747 with a seat not too different from what Qantas has on their A330's. Appart from the colour I couldn't really tell you the difference. On the way back it was a sit-up recliner seat. Now yes I know the sit-up seat was not meant to happen, but it did. Other than that though what TG offers on flights to Aus, is their long haul product, which is not too dissimilar to what Qantas has on the A330's. Angled bed, same basic seat design.

As for SQ, they operate regional business class a/c to Aus with with a seat not too different to current Qantas A330 J seat. Now yes it looks different, but is not 100% lie flat, and has the same size same basic idea in design and layout.

Found on A330's, which yes are newer than Qantas's, these operate to Brisbane, 2 a day to Perth, Adelaide and 1 flight to Melbourne. SQ also fly the older 777-300 and 777-200 on flights to Sydney, which are a mix of seats similar to their A330's and recliner, though not sure if they fly recliner fitted a/c to Australia.

A380 and 777-300ER, yes much better than Qantas A330, though this is a long haul product only operates to Syd and Mel, but not all flights.

MH, again new A330's with a seat not too far removed from the current Qantas seat (closer in look to SQ's), plus some older 777's, again similar seat (closer in look to QF). Neither lie flat either, same basic config.

CX regional business class is a sit-up seat, though of course they don't fly them to Australia, but instead fly long haul fitted a/c, which on the new config is about the same as QF A330 business class.

So really I would say if you exclude the long haul competition, what Qantas runs now is on par with most, and what they will be running will put them on top.

As others have pointed out - the A330 J refit is welcome but it is really only catching QF up to where the competition has already been - not where the competition will be by 2014....

See above and happy to hear what new product the competition are planning in the next year or so.

 

[Nizar]

Guys has anyone heard any updates on this ? Do they still plan to start Nov this year with the seat upgrade ?
Which routes are likely to be among the first to feature the new seat ? Probably HKG ?

I need a flight to HKG in March and weighing up my chances lol.

 

[Nizar]

Guys has anyone heard any updates on this ? Do they still plan to start Nov this year with the seat upgrade ?
Which routes are likely to be among the first to feature the new seat ? Probably HKG ?

I need a flight to HKG in March and weighing up my chances lol.

Thoughts ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thoughts ?

No idea at all, but I'm also pretty interested as CX leaves the current QF A330 for dead

 

[yohy?!]

I wouldn't bank on it happening in time.. The full year results will be extremely ugly and the program to refurb will probably get pushed out.

 

[straitman]

No idea at all, but I'm also pretty interested as CX leaves the current QF A330 for dead

Similarly I have no idea with this so just adding to PF's comment, I have to say the current QF J seat is much better, IMHO, than the Emirates B777 J seat I experienced last night.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Similarly I have no idea with this so just adding to PF's comment, I have to say the current QF J seat is much better, IMHO, than the Emirates B777 J seat I experienced last night.

What kind of seat was it?

 

[lovestotravel]

Guys has anyone heard any updates on this ? Do they still plan to start Nov this year with the seat upgrade ?
Which routes are likely to be among the first to feature the new seat ? Probably HKG ?

I need a flight to HKG in March and weighing up my chances lol.

Yep still planning to start in November, routes could be anything

By March I'd say you have a 3 in 30 chance of getting a refurb

 

[Nizar]

Similarly I have no idea with this so just adding to PF's comment, I have to say the current QF J seat is much better, IMHO, than the Emirates B777 J seat I experienced last night.

Those EK 77Ws are 7-across in J lol what a joke that's probably close to a world record lol probably only losing to UA who from memory have 8 across.
And SQ have had 4-across in J on the same aircraft since like 2007 lol that's quality and that's what separates the men from the boys, even now 7 years later I can't think of many (any?) other airlines with 4-across in J.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Those EK 77Ws are 7-across in J lol what a joke that's probably close to a world record lol probably only losing to UA who from memory have 8 across.
And SQ have had 4-across in J on the same aircraft since like 2007 lol that's quality and that's what separates the men from the boys, even now 7 years later I can't think of many (any?) other airlines with 4-across in J.

cathay has 4 across in J... but that's not really the point. you can't compare 4 across to 7 across except for aisle access.

otherwise the EK seats and others all have a much greater pitch and more forward space.

the SQ 4 across must be very short! I can't even fit into their F seats without lying on he diagonal

 

[Nizar]

you can't compare 4 across to 7 across except for aisle access.

My point exactly. Beyond comparison. But anyway we are getting a tad off topic.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My point exactly. Beyond comparison. But anyway we are getting a tad off topic.

sorry. i meaning to convey that it's an invalid assumption that 4-across must necessarily be better than 6 or 7 across.

it's simply not the case.

Width and pitch make a better seat, not one or the other.

 

[Nizar]

Width and pitch make a better seat, not one or the other.

Of course I agree. Difficult not to.

I just can't resist having a go at EK whenever I can re the 7 across lol because I just think it's a joke and they seemingly haven't even got plans to refurbish them. Haven't tried it and not in a hurry to lol but perhaps its not as bad as it seems. Until you're the middle guy :shock:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of course I agree. Difficult not to.

I just can't resist having a go at EK whenever I can re the 7 across lol because I just think it's a joke and they seemingly haven't even got plans to refurbish them. Haven't tried it and not in a hurry to lol but perhaps its not as bad as it seems. Until you're the middle guy :shock:

difficult not to agree

 

[straitman]

Of course I agree. Difficult not to.

I just can't resist having a go at EK whenever I can re the 7 across lol because I just think it's a joke and they seemingly haven't even got plans to refurbish them. Haven't tried it and not in a hurry to lol but perhaps its not as bad as it seems. Until you're the middle guy :shock:

We had the wonderful experience of EK J on a B777 last night (7 across) and I have to say it is very underwhelming at best. It certainly makes the QF Mk1 Sky(slope)bed look pretty good IMHO.

 

[Ansett]

Those EK 77Ws are 7-across in J lol what a joke that's probably close to a world record lol probably only losing to UA who from memory have 8 across.
And SQ have had 4-across in J on the same aircraft since like 2007 lol that's quality and that's what separates the men from the boys, even now 7 years later I can't think of many (any?) other airlines with 4-across in J.

BA also has 8 across in Business class on the 777