Avoiding the Qantas 787

[justinbrett]

Will the QF Dreamliners operate with that feature which reduces cabin humidity?

I believe JQ's don't fly with this feature enabled as it requires additional uplift of water thus increasing take off weights and costs.

First - I think you mean INCREASE cabin humidity...

Second - Jetstar advertise that they do

Higher cabin humidity
The 787 Dreamliner features a higher cabin humidity to help keep your body and skin more hydrated.

Third - have you got a source that says this is an optional extra? I've not heard this is something that can be turned on and off.

 

[Pleb Status]

Will the QF Dreamliners operate with that feature which reduces cabin humidity?

I believe JQ's don't fly with this feature enabled as it requires additional uplift of water thus increasing take off weights and costs.

My understanding is that the 787 is not fitted with cabin humidifiers (except in the coughpit). The extra 'water' in the air comes from the pax themselves and less is removed by the air conditioning system on the 787. So there is no extra water to uplift (except for the pilots) to give a higher humidity.

The humidity level can still be highly variable throughout the aircraft and will generally be lower in F than in Y due to pax density.

 

[Altair]

Was not the humidity benefit mostly due to the fact that the 787 uses a 'bleed less' engine design (air not coming from the engine systems so the slightly higher humidity is due to that, the composite fuselage also meant the corrosion issue about the humidity was reduced. Also remember we are talking about 1% not 10% and I am sure that Airbus has said the A380 operates with the same cabin pressure and humidity levels that the 787 does.

 

[Happy Trails]

Lots of info on the supplier's website:

CTT - Humidity In Balance

 

[RichardMEL]

The 6000ft cabin pressurisation featre is standard to the 787 so.. yes.

 

[Pleb Status]

It would appear that the QF marketing department (aka Ausbt) is yet to release their 'review' on the 'game changing' Y seat in the 789.

As most pax will only see this seat in the 789, you would think it would be the most important 'review' of them all.

 

[justinbrett]

It would appear that the QF marketing department (aka Ausbt) is yet to release their 'review' on the 'game changing' Y seat in the 789.

As most pax will only see this seat in the 789, you would think it would be the most important 'review' of them all.

The site is Australian Business Traveller - not Australian Economy Traveller

 

[Pleb Status]

The site is Australian Business Traveller - not Australian Economy Traveller

On that (incorrect) basis, there should be no F reviews either...

 

[downgraded]

I've been surprised by the lack of reviews and commentary so far - seemed like passengers are sworn to secrecy.

 

[codash1099]

I've been surprised by the lack of reviews and commentary so far - seemed like passengers are sworn to secrecy.

...or are still recovering from the horrors of flying Y

 

[Kendall Roy]

I'm about to jump on 460 to SYD. Will report back later.

 

[redwoodw]

Flew on the 460. PEY is surprisingly comfortable, didn't had the chance to try getting out of the seat when front seat is reclined, but legroom is okay. Legrest is really great so is the pillow on headrest. Had a walk back to the EY cabin looks tight and narrow (a QF staff said it herself "the aisles are really narrow" and can't fit the ordinary wheelchairs for other A/C). Best seat in house for Y IMO is 59A and K with 1.7x seat width you'd normally get since the curvature of the A/C and lack of a seat between you and the window. New IFE screen is good.
Just a minor flaw, USB charging is weird that if you pull out your phone on the other end (ie not the charging port side) and plug it back in the power won't resume. Leather in seat unfortunately is already showing some sign of wear and tear after a few days of operations.

One thing I noticed is a little camera like thing on the bottom left of the screen. Anyone has any idea what it is?

On a side note, the 787 apparently has no tail cam/nose cam sadly.

Happy to answer any questions

 

[Must...Fly!]

The "mini camera" is likely just a brightness sensor for the screen

 

[Kendall Roy]

Didn't get the chance to sit in Y+ (looks like Redwood has that covered), however did make the trek back from J to Y.

J = Solid. A330 product, with the window seat providing extra privacy. Bit of a reach to the TV, but overall, great product!
Y = I look forward to QF1 via SIN on the A380. Medium/Long-Haul in Y is just not happening for me on the 789. The UN should be brought in to investigate a real human rights breach with 9 across on a PER-LHR run!

For the record, Y is my usual method of transport.

 

[dairyfloss]

Y = I look forward to QF1 via SIN on the A380. Medium/Long-Haul in Y is just not happening for me on the 789. The UN should be brought in to investigate a real human rights breach with 9 across on a PER-LHR run!

Lucky they aren't planning on putting the QF 789 on anything much longer than the trans-continental, right? Right???

 

[levelnine]

Lucky they aren't planning on putting the QF 789 on anything much longer than the trans-continental, right? Right???

Exactly. Y would be perfectly tolerable if this plane were only doing 4 - 8 hour routes.

But when the plane is doing 17+ hour routes, it is going to be absolutely atrocious from a passenger comfort standpoint. Imagine being stuck next to a larger-than-average person in one of those narrow seats for hours and hours and hours. What a disaster.

 

[downgraded]

Even on the slightly wider A380 Y QF the cabin crew recently had to move me to another seat as I wasn't actually able to sit straight due to the (solid not fat) dimensions of the guy sitting next to me - so much for WP shadows! (and I am wider at the shoulders than the middle, so it isn't me consuming the space)!

I know it is speculation, but I think the A380 will continue to command the premium that's always been claimed of it, and the 787 option will end up with the sale fares (for Y) as the knowing select their flights based on aircraft type. Unless of course QF commercialise comfort seats through some readily accessible and sensibly priced mechanism.

 

[dairyfloss]

Even on the slightly wider A380 Y QF the cabin crew recently had to move me to another seat as I wasn't actually able to sit straight due to the (solid not fat) dimensions of the guy sitting next to me - so much for WP shadows! (and I am wider at the shoulders than the middle, so it isn't me consuming the space)!

I know it is speculation, but I think the A380 will continue to command the premium that's always been claimed of it, and the 787 option will end up with the sale fares (for Y) as the knowing select their flights based on aircraft type. Unless of course QF commercialise comfort seats through some readily accessible and sensibly priced mechanism.

I'm actually more than a little worried that QF, in all it's wisdom, might start retro-fitting the [probably lighter] new 789 Y product while updating the cabins on their 388s between Q2 2019 and the end of 2020. As a pretty big lad (rugby forward big), unless I'm in W or J, that could be the beginning of the end for medium & long haul international travel on QF metal for me. Thankfully I should have hit LTG by about that stage so it won't be as tricky when I do swing back for a sale or something short-medium haul.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[DavidFlynn]

It would appear that the QF marketing department (aka Ausbt) is yet to release their 'review' on the 'game changing' Y seat in the 789.
As most pax will only see this seat in the 789, you would think it would be the most important 'review' of them all.

1. If AusBT was 'QF marketing' I seriously doubt we'd have run this truthy story on the 787's premium economy seating
2. AusBT doesn't cover economy per se, as we cater for the premium end of the market (ie, premium economy and up) to suit the business traveller audience
3. That said, we will be putting together a photo gallery of the Qantas 787's economy seats – but it's understandably not a high priority, so it's taking its place in the queue behind plenty of other unique and 'more-AusBT' stories.

 

[PaulST]

It would appear that the QF marketing department (aka Ausbt) is yet to release their 'review' on the 'game changing' Y seat in the 789.

As most pax will only see this seat in the 789, you would think it would be the most important 'review' of them all.

People are more interested in the premium cabins. My first and business reviews on youtube get waaaaay more interest than economy ones. There's also large online communities (such as this one) where people talk about flying up the point end where people either are flying up the front, or dreaming that they were. No one dreams of flying in 64D.
Also, Y pax (a generalisation of course) don't care as much about comfort as they know it's going to be horrible in any airline. J pax are far more choosey because they (we) know that there's a huge variation in quality.

I've been surprised by the lack of reviews and commentary so far - seemed like passengers are sworn to secrecy.

It's important to remember that it's not yet officially flying. I've snagged a business award this coming Saturday and will happily report back (video should be online by Sunday morning).
I'm on the inaugural flight to LAX in premium economy so I'll be uploading another video shortly afterwards. Let's see what mood I'm in after 14hrs cramped into these new revolutionary seats....