Avoiding the Qantas 787

[RichardMEL]

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....

PaulST I'm in 22K tonight with most of the PE cabin full so I will probably get the full recline-small-space experience.. which I am kind of looking forward to for the purposes of review and experience.

I'm also on the inaug but in J I am sure a few more AFFers will also be on the flight.

 

[PaulST]

PaulST I'm in 22K tonight with most of the PE cabin full so I will probably get the full recline-small-space experience.. which I am kind of looking forward to for the purposes of review and experience.

I'm also on the inaug but in J I am sure a few more AFFers will also be on the flight.

Ah yes I've got 23K booked for the flight to LAX. I prefer sitting at the end because I always feel guilty reclining into someone!

Cool I know of at least 3 of us on HFC who are on the inaugural flight. I do recall one saying he was in J (possibly you?), myself in PE and another poor soul in Y.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Add me (or another AusBT'er) to the inaugural MEL-LAX list, look forward to catching up with a few of you!

 

[RichardMEL]

Well I did not get to try 22K last night as P1 upgraded me to 2A. How generous (though I was actually a lil disappointed... yes there's a whinge about an free upgrade!!! Seems appropriate for this thread )

so that said some things I noticed:

- mid cabin J galley at door 2 is very narrow and in order to walk the cabin if crew are busy in there one must head forward of row 1 (not popular on routes to the US!).
- the weird folding out doors of the closets are weird.. like one next to 10K the door nearly folded out into the suite space. It surprised a couple of us.
- In a similar vein I can see 1A/K seats not loving these (a bit like in F on the 380) with a bit of foot traffic possibly to/fro..

The lav forward of row 1 is fwd of the door so at least 1A doesn't have all the lav stuff quite so close.

I could see rows 8 and 10 (ie around mid cabin lavs and galley) could have some effects from all that activity

- Aisles are quite narrow so definitely those in the aisle seats (and those J suites close to the aisles) will feel more effects specially during service.

I feel since I did not sit in PE or Y it's difficult to give it a more full review for a short couple of flight sectors though.

Aircraft was pretty quiet at cruise and TO/landing which was good.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Well i've had two flights on her now in J and PE.

J has plenty said about it.

PE seats are narrower than those on the 747/380. Very comfortable though. I chose a window seat and even without the person infront reclining there is no way I could get out into the aisle without asking the neighbour to stand up. With the divider between the seats it would be nigh on impossible to get out if the person in front was fully reclined.

Other than that it is a very comfortable product and I tried out the footrest which did seem to support very nicely.

I stayed on at the end and asked the crew if I could go and sit in Y. Leg room is pretty good but there is absolutely no way I would do long haul in that seat. Way too narrow. I am fairly broad shouldered and tall and could feel I was slightly encroaching on the the next seat's space. If you had two well built people next to each other that would be a hellish 18 hours. Colossal stuff upon QF's behalf to think this is ok for ULH flights.

 

[PaulST]

I had a great flight yesterday from SYD down to MEL.
J has been covered so I won't say much about it. My only criticism is that there's no closed storage space.
The FA recognised my from youtube so he took me through the rest of the plane which was great. PE seemed nice with fantastic lumbar support. I got a friend to sit in the seat next me and we reclined the seat in front and I reckon I could just get out without disturbing my aisle buddy. A combination of my love of the view out the window, my propensity to drink a decent amount of wine when I fly and a little bladder may cause issues if I can't sneak past them!

 

[downgraded]

Any more takers for this thread? Or converts?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I will reserve my judgement on the 787 with QF, and wait and see where QF puts the rest of their 787s, maybe hopefully one will slot into the Au east coast to NZ service on a daily basis.
Haven't tried the QF product, but have tried the LA(tam) and the (Air)NZ 787s on the shorter runs. Loved the LA(tam) J and the (Air)NZ premY.
Probably will try the MEL - PER with the 787 maybe later on into 2019, with the 4 and a bit hours flight in Y with a comfort seat booking.

 

[Catweazle]

Well I'm bored already because I remember the hype back all that time ago when a few of us folks got on the inaugural Australian 787 trip, albeit with JQ. What fun! But I feel QF has missed the flight on this one, so to speak, and are a bit behind the times.

Even the A350 is, in a sense, old school in the news, as is the Embraer E195–E2. The A380 has been around for what, a decade? Don't get me wrong though, an incredible piece of machinery as was the 747. Of course, there are different types of such aircraft with the 787–10 out now too, but I'm read-read-ready to hear about the next latest aircraft.

Ok, maybe there's too much of the modern kid in me that wants everything up front lol...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just imagine, if you will, that out of the blue, QF decides to buy and operate one, or two at the most, Airbus350s.
The SQ Airbus350 J seats look very cushiony.
I know, in all seriousness they probably won't.
Now that would be something to look forward to, but I will just dream on.

 

[mviy]

I think I'd prefer to avoid the 787 to LHR. As for flying to SFO that would depend on the upgrade chances and the schedule (an evening departure out of MEL is good timing imo as I much prefer evening visits to the FLounge and arriving early morning at the destination makes for a long days o the evening departure out of MEL would give a better arrival time imo as well).

I will reserve my judgement on the 787 with QF, and wait and see where QF puts the rest of their 787s, maybe hopefully one will slot into the Au east coast to NZ service on a daily basis.

I doubt they'd put a 787 on a Trans-Tasman route. For one thing there can be very bad delays sometimes affecting flights in NZ which could have a flow on effect. With the price tag of these things they don't want it sitting unnecessarily on the ground.

For another using a 787 would mean significantly reducing the number of services as the 787 can carry many more passengers than the planes they use today on the route.

What's more likely is that if there's a fuel crisis again in NZ they might use a 787 to ferry fuel if they can no longer use the 747 to do so, but I can't see them using the 787 on such a short route on a regular basis.

If QF does see a need for PE on flights to NZ which seems doubtful they'd be far more likely to re-fit out a smaller plane or when it comes time to replace a smaller plane fit the replacement with PE.

 

[RichardMEL]

Just imagine, if you will, that out of the blue, QF decides to buy and operate one, or two at the most, Airbus350s.
The SQ Airbus350 J seats look very cushiony.
I know, in all seriousness they probably won't.
Now that would be something to look forward to, but I will just dream on.

huh? What has SQ's fitout of the 350 (or 787-10 for that matter) have ANYTHING to do with what QF would do with a similar shell?

Even if they ordered the 350ULR(or similar) to do SYD/MEL-LHR chances are they would install a variant of the current J suite.

SQ's product (or any other airline customer) is irrelevant IMHO.

 

[eddie 73]

A rebuttal to the 'other' QF 787 thread...

With the arrival of the first QF 789 into SYD yesterday, QF will soon be serving up their 'luxury' short haul 737 Y experience to their long haul 789 Y pax. The new 789 Y seat width is less than that offered on the current QF A330 and A380 medium/long haul fleet and the increased Y seat pitch now only equals competing airlines (SQ, VA 77W etc).

Even in J, QF have admitted that they are using the exact same seat (but fitted with a sliding partition) as currently used on the QF A330 fleet and by other esteemed airlines like RwandAir (Air Rwanda). It is reported that the same J seat will also be fitted to the QF A380 fleet commencing April 2018 resulting in no difference between the A380 and the 789 J in the medium term.

In my previous travels on the 789 with other airlines (EY, BA etc), the purported advances by the Boeing PR department in cabin pressure and humidity etc were not noticeable compared to travelling on other modern aircraft (A380 for example). The 789 is not particularly quiet aircraft during flight and the window dimming is an absolute joke if you need a dark cabin to sleep. As a positive, I actually like how poor the dimming system is as you can see outside all of the time.

So, at best, travelling on the QF 789 will be no better than the current QF A330 and A380 (once the J retrofit has occurred) fleets and for most (those in Y) it will be a step down from the current QF A330 and A380 fleets.

Therefore, if travelling in Y on QF, I will be trying to avoid the 787 where possible. If travelling in J or W on QF, I certainly will not be 'chasing' the 787.

I should make it clear that I do not blame QF for what they have done with the 789 in Y or W (the regional J seat should have been replaced however). Most 787 operators have done the same. What does get a bit annoying is all of the sycophants in the 'independent' media just reprinting QF press releases about how 'revolutionary' in the QF 789 is when it is not...

(yay for me... my 2000th post!!)

Just recently completed first experience QF95/96 MEL-LAX.

The positives

Normally like to book J suite 5 or 6K in the 330 and my 6’3 frame struggles with the footwell when tossing and turning whilst trying to sleep or rest. Booked 10K both legs on the 787 and enjoyed much more space and actually rested well for a change... BUT... not sure if the wider footwell is due to minor redesign or bulk head.

The climate did feel better, lips didn’t dry out so much.

The negatives

More engine noise

Window tint vs pull down shades. After getting over the excitement of playing with the button, i found whilst reclined and watching IFE there was a very annoying bright reflection nagging and annoying my brain. Also, on QF95 i was able to adjust to my desired level, but on QF96 the main override setting was on faaar too long and i was unable to adjust - i generally can’t sleep on flights and enjoy the ability to gaze up at the night sky stars, or gaze down at city lights when flying over remote places such as phillipine islands or pacific islands.

.... other than that, rate it not much different to 330 suites.

Can’t wait for 380 upgrades, flying J on my own coin, suffering skybeds really makes me feel ripped off.

 

[Himeno]

Also, on QF95 i was able to adjust to my desired level, but on QF96 the main override setting was on faaar too long and i was unable to adjust

The biggest thing I hate about the 787. The ability for the crew to override and completely block the window shade controls.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The biggest thing I hate about the 787. The ability for the crew to override and completely block the window shade controls.

One of the saving graces of what is otherwise a very average aircraft to travel in in Y for me.

Maybe in J it would be different. But it's been more than a few times I've been woken from finally getting a light nap by someone wanting to look out the window and fill the cabin with sunlight...

 

[eddie 73]

One of the saving graces of what is otherwise a very average aircraft to travel in in Y for me.

Maybe in J it would be different. But it's been more than a few times I've been woken from finally getting a light nap by someone wanting to look out the window and fill the cabin with sunlight...

Agree. Fellow passengers should respect someone sleeping. I generally can’t sleep, and enjoy gazing out windows at night to pass the time away.

 

[Limewood]

We like sitting up in J in the 747 bubble, only few Mk11 seats, one loo and galley with two attendants, even after flying on most of the newer aircraft above, one we will try is the QR "Q" seats see Dennis Bunning excellent review here.

 

[redwoodw]

Agree. Fellow passengers should respect someone sleeping. I generally can’t sleep, and enjoy gazing out windows at night to pass the time away.

I beg to disagree. There are something called eye masks if you need to sleep. There's an attached benefit of sitting in the window seat being able to look out of the window, given the sacrifice of aisle access.

 

[moa999]

The biggest thing I hate about the 787. The ability for the crew to override and completely block the window shade controls.

I suspect the next gen of aircraft won't have windows at all.

Rather a strip of screens projecting the view (as per EKs new internal F suite).

Much cheaper skin construction and better heat/noise insulation. And I suspect complete control by the crew.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I beg to disagree. There are something called eye masks if you need to sleep. There's an attached benefit of sitting in the window seat being able to look out of the window, given the sacrifice of aisle access.

Given a host of airlines don't provide these any more (in Y at least), should everyone bring an eye mask?