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

[MEL_Traveller]

Other:
The whole sleeper service on these flights, the lights were off for a total of 2 hours. and we landed at 5am in the morning, in reality the J cabin with its excellent in seat lighting should have been lights all off from take off to touch down. Why this is not QF policy is beyond me.

This is certainly a strategic issue which the airline rep would be in a good position to send up the line and return here with feedback.

 

[Melburnian1]

ReLoad, your comment about the 'lights being off for only two hours' is one relevant to almost all airlines, not just QF, not that I want to get off topic too much.

On night flights, I have never understood why cabin crew cannot turn off all the lights and serve meals and drinks with passengers switching on individually controlled reading lights if they want to eat, or the cabin having minimal lighting. No doubt some OH & S consultant would claim 'it's a safety issue' but on night trains and coaches throughout the world, passengers and staff manage and sleep is encouraged by little or no lighting.

Many passengers find it impossible to sleep with bright fluro lights shining. There may be many reasons for travelling in J but surely it negates some of the experience of a flat bed and desire to (as one airline says) 'arrive in better shape' if the lights are on for say five hours of a seven hour journey.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ReLoad, your comment about the 'lights being off for only two hours' is one relevant to almost all airlines, not just QF, not that I want to get off topic too much.

I'm not sure agree on that... some airlines manage this better than others... while CX might have cabin lighting during meals, the total service is completed within one hour of takeoff. by that stage in qantas the staff are only, perhaps, just thinking about whether they should turn on the ovens to heat some food (or so it seems).

SQ handles late night flights well in a darkened cabin, and BA similarly has supper services.

TG is notable for extended meal services with full lighting... even at 1am ex BKK.

 

[fresherbill]

The whole sleeper service on these flights, the lights were off for a total of 2 hours. and we landed at 5am in the morning, in reality the J cabin with its excellent in seat lighting should have been lights all off from take off to touch down.

ReLoad I think I might have been on the same flight (dep. 17th?) though down the back. I worked for 2 hours on my laptop and slept for nearly 3, and ISTR that for nearly all of that time the lights in the economy cabin were off. I thought they did extraordinarily well considering the short flight time - it's a shame and a bit of a surprise that didn't happen in the business cabin. I also had the seats beside, behind and in front of me empty, making it a most enjoyable flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

I have not gone back multiple pages on this thread so I hope that this review (which as always is arguably 'compromised' due to the airline giving the journalist a free flight - and presumably free lounge access) has not been featured yet in this thread:

Airline review: Qantas business class, Sydney to Singapore

The way that the belt is described is a new term for me.

One wonders how long the main cabin lights were off on this flight? I am assuming that it was QF5.

Not many travel writers who receive freebies write lots of disapproving comments if they want to be again 'invited.' This is a byproduct of newsrooms such as Fairfax cutting budgets that once might have been used to purchase such flights and travel under cover so readers or viewers do not just receive the gushing version and nor is an airline (or hotel) forewarned that in seat or room XX is Mr So and So who is a travel writer and hence let's give him special attention.

 

[amaroo]

Just gave up a booking with the new seat map due to conflicting dates with daughters birthday .. JASA booking made the best part of 12 months ago. Have amended to another date and another rubbish sloping bed...

 

[Melburnian1]

moa999's helpful latest list showing that VH-QPE was in SIN as of 25 April 2015 for painting may need to be updated, as that A330 is on QF19 from SYD to MNL today. I assume that it is still in the old configuration as doesn't painting occur before any seats are converted to the new layout?

 

[wenglock.mok]

moa999's helpful latest list showing that VH-QPE was in SIN as of 25 April 2015 for painting may need to be updated, as that A330 is on QF19 from SYD to MNL today. I assume that it is still in the old configuration as doesn't painting occur before any seats are converted to the new layout?

QPE has returned to service some weeks back with a new coat of paint but still has the old cabin configuration as QPD is the one currently in the BNE hangar for its heavy check and cabin refit. I am guessing they can only do one A330-300 at a time, and also that they have to work around the availability of the paintshop in SIN, which will explain why QPE has to return to service first.

 

[madrooster]

I am guessing they can only do one A330-300 at a time, and also that they have to work around the availability of the paintshop in SIN, which will explain why QPE has to return to service first.

The BNE hangar is capable of doing 3 A330 refits simultaneously, with 2 of them undergoing C checks simultaneously and this has occurred previously. QPB and QPC were both in for refit + C check simultaneously with I think it was EBJ in the middle for refit only.

 

[Austman]

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

The way that the belt is described is a new term for me.

Inertia-reel?

One of many innovative and impressive features is the introduction of an inertia-reel style seatbeat, allowing passengers to move around in the seat safely.

The same as has been used in the auto industry for decades.

Or was it "seatbeat" (sic)

 

[Aus ATC]

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

A pleasant surprise to find VH-QPC assigned to QF51 today with refurbed cabin. Even the crew were expecting an older fit out.

Overall, I was very pleased for a business class product. Seat space was good. Minor point that stretcing ones arms in a window seat feels like economy (seated in 2K). And that the seat didn't quite align with the footrest area for sleeping (maybe 2cm different in height). Otherwise I loved the personal space. IFE screen great, but not always intuitive.

Minor service improvements including hot towels and being able to leave the matresses on for landing.

I didn't use the USB, but the power supply for the laptop was handy. Good job Qantas!

 

[Pleb Status]

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

First flight today with the new A330 J seats on BNE-PER. Obviously, the new seats are far better than the previous domestic J seats and the new Panasonic IFE is probably the most responsive system I have never used.

However, the very limited foot space lets these seats down badly. With the seat reclined, it feels like your feet are almost bound together. I noticed this almost immediately after take off and it did not get any better during the flight. I have tried a few staggered J seat setups and never experienced anything as bad as this.

I think VA will have to try very hard to install a new J seat worse than this, considering they are rolling out a superior reverse herringbone seat design. I would go as far as choosing the current VA A330 J seat over the new QF A330 J seat. Internationally, I would choose the existing CX J seat over the new QF J seat without any hesitation.

I would not go as far as saying that this new QF J seat is a fail, but the only J seats I would rate worse than this are the EK 77W seat and the various regional recliner J seats we get from Asia etc.

 

[drpurpleturtle]

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

VH-EBS's refurbishment is now complete it's currently operating QF589. It took just a "month" this time to complete.

 

[kermatu]

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

I also just had my first flight in a refurbished bird. In J, also seat 2K, evening flight Brisbane to Perth.

Really liked the privacy and overall ambience of the cabin. Entertainment was good and sound quality fine (I tend to listen to music so was great to finally get some more music on offer).

But, I agree with the concerns re the foot space. There's also minimal storage room, even for a small bag at your feet. Fittings don't feel like they will last. Armrests not very comfortable. I don't lie flat so can't comment on that aspect. Seat itself felt fine.

Huge improvement over most of QFs J products. The privacy wins it for me. But it is already behind Emirates and Cathay, which are the few I've had experience of.

Nothing to to do with the refurb, but the service on this flight was really sub-par for QF, especially in J. No drinks served for close to an hour into the flight, food service very abrupt. No refills of drink offered. I wasn't offered wine with either entree or main (even though my whiskey was finished). Of course when I asked it was all provided - just complete contrast to almost all other QF J experiences. Just felt stingy. MAy just have been my FA (others were fine).

overall, will definitely prefer a refurbished bird, but is a missed opportunity I think for Qantas.

 

[moa999]

Updated based on recent movements. Appears that VH-QPE may have gone in - doesn't seem to have operated from 25/5

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-QPE 330-300 In 25/5 - expected out late July (SIN repaint 25/4-12/5)

-- Refurbished aircraft in service - TOTAL = 7 (4 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)
VH-EBS 330-200 - 30days - In 26/4 Out 25/5

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)

 

[sydunipete]

-330s
1 in shop
3 new config
6 SkyBed Is

-320s
1 in shop
3 new config
3 SkyBed Is (excluding EBH)
9 Recliner
3 Still with JQ with recliner
1/2 expected to leave fleet

I'm travelling SYD-PER Q577 in J in July and again September. It sounds like I have a 50/50 chance of the new or old J seats and there's no way of predicting in advance. Correct?

 

[Awesom Andy]

I'm travelling SYD-PER Q577 in J in July and again September. It sounds like I have a 50/50 chance of the new or old J seats and there's no way of predicting in advance. Correct?

In theory, the chance is the number of new vs old configs flying, and you can check the seat map in advance. However, in practise, late subs are possible, and there are tons of situations where subs can occur between now and the time you fly, so your assessment is, IMHO, not far away from the actual chance.

 

[moa999]

I'm travelling SYD-PER Q577 in J in July and again September. It sounds like I have a 50/50 chance of the new or old J seats and there's no way of predicting in advance. Correct?

Probably 50/50 in July but might be a bit better in September. Seat map is best guide

 

[PeteS]

Hi all, I'm also on qf577, in August. Can someone explain why you think it will be a 50/50 (or slightly better) for the refitted a330 then? I know they are getting through one a month, but as i watch qf577, it's not getting many (any?) refitted birds? Thanks all...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The following pics are from VH-EBS prior to the departure of QF767 BNE/PER on Tue 26 May 2015.


The odd rows 1,3,5 etc have the console next to the window so the seat is closer to the aisle.


The even rows have the seat immediately next to the window with the console next to the aisle.


Row 1 the second window is slightly obscured.


Seat 7K looking aft. Console between the seat and the window.


Seat 7K looking forward. It has a handy storage big for carryon beneath the window.