Chasing the Qantas 787

[Flying Fox]

Any info on 787 ADL runs (I can't seem to find any)?

Thanks

 

[Mattg]

Any info on 787 ADL runs (I can't seem to find any)?

Thanks

The 787 will be operating the following flights next Saturday (18 Nov):

• QF673 MEL-ADL departing 07:30
• QF595 ADL-PER departing 17:25

 

[PaulST]

Just catching up on this thread.
I was disappointed to not see side bins in Premium economy.
Love those storage bins!

I think we're spoilt in the A380 and 747 window seats. As much as those skybed mk2s were ageing the amount of storage space in the window seats was really impressive.

On the topic of the aircrafts actual name. The CSM (I think) called it the 787-900 when I flew down to MEL last Saturday. lol

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If anyone wants a very late dep from SYD - MEL with the 787, on the 09Mar18, there is the 22:00 dep SYD arr MEL 23.35 (of course, this may/can change).
Great thing to try after work and do a short hop to MEL and back to SYD for the weekend.

 

[PaulST]

So flew 460/497 last night.

There was a 45 minute delay due to a faulty radio (really?) - and the a/c was also delayed ex-PER for some reason. Some punters were not happy at MEL and a lot jumped ship (and more than one were quite rude to the poor sole gate agent who we happened to be standing near and could observer). A real "Ready for Takeoff" type scene....

but that's not really about the plane (apart from the radio).

So once on board it was very nice (as expected). The crew were all excited about the aircraft and wanted to show it off to a certain extent.. a definite effort to do some positive PR (which was needed for some of the disgrunted souls who just wanted to get to SYD !!). Pilot flying was none other than the TV commercial star, Andrew Stead, was flying. Captan Simpson gave a very gushing commentary (and someone else put this up on youtube!!

) The anouncement is around 14:30 in.

I was in 10K and the engine noise was very very quiet. I was surprised how good it was for the position I was in (which I picked on purpose). In the youtube above the sound on TO behind the wing is impressive too and it was just like this by the engine.

While not my first 789 ride in the least (I've been on 787's of JQ UA NZ AC and now QF) this was very impressive still. Probably not requiring a full power takeoff with the relative light load of bags, fuel etc.

Anyway it was a good light. The J suite has had a couple of changes from the A330 and seems a tad improved, but it's pretty similar.

10K is one of the "sesat by the window" more private suites by the bulkhead at Door 2R. Pretty nice and wouldn't be horrible for a long hail flight for sure.

On 497 I was given a P1 courtesy upgrade to 2A (I'd kind of hoped to stay in 22K to try PE tbh) but this gave me a chance to try the opposite config, and like the 330 these ones with the seat on the aisle are not as good. I found my elbow into the aisle a little bit on occasions and felt far more exposed to people, carts etc going past. Would definitely not pick on a long haul (and have row 3 on the LAX inaug).

Cabin seems roomier above the head due to the design of the suites I think being not that high though the whole aircraft still somehow feels more narrow than the 77W.

I would like to make a shout out to the tech crew as well as the inflight team who were fantastic and specially to me when I noted I was flying back with them and was there for the 789 they were really excited to show it off and talk about it. Tech crew were gracious to invite a few people (not just me) to the front office, let people sit in the left seat (I declined ) and talk about the aircraft even despite the late arrival and job they had to do.

Specially impressed when on the 497 the Captain (Andrew Simpson I think) came back and spent about 5-10 minutes talking with me about it.. talking about the pilot rest areas (he offered to show me on the ground but I had to sadly decline as I needed to get home!! ) and we talked about it compared to the 380, 747 etc. I was really touched by this special effort and acknowledgement.

Some extra things I learned...

On long hauls they will do "Service 1" (so start of flight) from the forward galley at door 1 and then 2nd service will be from mid cabin galley. This also assists pilots rest as their rest area is above that galley area, so FA's will hang out in the mid cabin galley rather than up fwd. The tip was "Book front of the plane and you will find it more quiet due to this"

That mid cabin galley is REALLY NARROW!! I wanted to walk through to get to my friend in the front J cabin and you could barely fit 2 staff working back to back in that space let alone people getting by. I've seen this too on UA and NZ of course, but it really struck me how small the space was compared to things like the 380. I don't envy them their task in there tbh.

Disabled lav is on the A side too for those interested, though I did not use it.

I still do not think I would want to take this aircraft from PER-LHR but it will be an improvement for QF I think

View attachment 110117 View attachment 110118

Thanks Richard.
I was originally booked in PE on the inaugural flight but I've just upgraded to J (cash). I've totally blown my budget but, hey, how often can you get on an inaugural flight? It should be an awesome weekend as I'll be up to Seattle straight after to visit the Museum of flight and then back down to LAX to catch QF96 back to MEL the following day. I've booked 10K (both private and has extra leg room I understand) and I've got 10A booked on the return flight (literally the last seat available for this lowly gold).
I can't wait

 

[JessicaTam]

I was debating a trip in December only to find I could take one of the legs in the 787. Sold it for me.

 

[RichardMEL]

If anyone wants a very late dep from SYD - MEL with the 787, on the 09Mar18, there is the 22:00 dep SYD arr MEL 23.35 (of course, this may/can change).
Great thing to try after work and do a short hop to MEL and back to SYD for the weekend.

uh yeah Pooch in case you hadn't noticed they've been running the 789 on this flight for a few weeks now.

Just looking at the timetime it seems the 789 will be on the 497 for most of March next year. I couldn't be bothered looking between Dec and Feb.

Just getting more hours into the crews no doubt as the fleet increases.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks Richard.
I was originally booked in PE on the inaugural flight but I've just upgraded to J (cash). I've totally blown my budget but, hey, how often can you get on an inaugural flight? It should be an awesome weekend as I'll be up to Seattle straight after to visit the Museum of flight and then back down to LAX to catch QF96 back to MEL the following day. I've booked 10K (both private and has extra leg room I understand) and I've got 10A booked on the return flight (literally the last seat available for this lowly gold).
I can't wait

It should be fun but moreso for a few of us being on that flight tbh I doubt QF will do that much different or special for it.. but you never know (hint to QF: P1's and J pax should be offered a 789 model ... yeah that can work )

Life's for living so yeah blow the budget but it's going to be for a great experience hopefully! see you there

I am also having a "quick" weekend bit back on the Sunday night on the 94 (F looks ripe for an upgrade seat right now and hope it stays that way ).

I can HIGHLY recommend the Museum of Flight and if you can make it to the factory tour at Everett.. both really really good. Been a few times and a lot of fun.

 

[PaulST]

It should be fun but moreso for a few of us being on that flight tbh I doubt QF will do that much different or special for it.. but you never know (hint to QF: P1's and J pax should be offered a 789 model ... yeah that can work )

Life's for living so yeah blow the budget but it's going to be for a great experience hopefully! see you there

I am also having a "quick" weekend bit back on the Sunday night on the 94 (F looks ripe for an upgrade seat right now and hope it stays that way ).

I can HIGHLY recommend the Museum of Flight and if you can make it to the factory tour at Everett.. both really really good. Been a few times and a lot of fun.

Considering the fuss they made about the first flight from Seattle I'm actually hoping for quite a show. I too am hoping for a few souvenirs, and an updated model would be great as my current 787-8 in the old QF colours is kinda out of date!
I did consider flying back on the A380 and putting in for an F upgrade but an opportunity to check out the 789 again would be interesting once the novelty has run out.

Yep I've done the tour and the MoF before so I'll just do the museum again this time. It's fantastic museum and I can't wait to see it again.

 

[Dorutland]

Anyone going to the 787 viewing at PER on Sunday?

 

[Colster]

Just found out I have three QF Group 787s in a row. Am flying JQ J class MEL-SIN return and then hoping on THE QF 789 from Mel to SYD. Have snagged a Y+ seat on qf422 so will be able to easily tell the difference between the two (JQ y seat and QF Y+ 789 seat).

A mate that flies for QF says that 40 or so QF pilots are doing the JQ runs at the moment to get the hours up as well as an FYI.

 

[Melburnian1]

The News Ltd 'Escape' travel section editor's contention that the economy seats on the B789 are more comfortable compared to other aircraft is one opinion that none of us should take as gospel. No travel writer on an inaugural flight is going to travel in cattle class if they are on the usual freebie.

One feature of the domestic flights this initial, dramatically overhyped B789 has operated thus far is that the timetabled turnarounds have been generous. That's unavoidable when there are 'open days' at various airfields.

This is also understandable because even though QF was far from the first airline to introduce this type to Australia - LCC Scoot (TR), among many others, beat it - QF crews are being trained, and the aircraft like most new items of transport equipment may have a few idiosyncrasies or bugs to gradually iron out.

That said, I can't help considering that QF wants to minimise the risk of negative media publicity from a B789 flight running badly late, so that's another reason not to push it too tightly with quick timetabled 'reversals.'

From March next year we can have the joy of gradually discovering if, eventually, the B789s start to mimic the less than satisfactory timekeeping of QF's long haul A388s and especially in recent weeks its B744s.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just found out I have three QF Group 787s in a row. Am flying JQ J class MEL-SIN return and then hoping on THE QF 789 from Mel to SYD. Have snagged a Y+ seat on qf422 so will be able to easily tell the difference between the two (JQ y seat and QF Y+ 789 seat).

A mate that flies for QF says that 40 or so QF pilots are doing the JQ runs at the moment to get the hours up as well as an FYI.

Don't be so happy to snarl that QF 787 yet.
As mentioned by someone on one of the topics on this forum, wait till your bum is in the seat or words to that effect.
I have had QF done equipment swaps on me before, also have AirNZ done that to me.
After having flown the JQ 787 and the AirNZ 787, sit behind the wing if you don't have any chance of an upgrade.
Flaperon and aileron movements are quite dramatic on the 787, also deep turns.
Backseat pilots or pilot wannabees will also love the 787.
If you know the route of the 787, and it does not deviate from the planned route, you can see the airport approaching you, and also the runways.
Flying into SYD is one of the best in the 787 with the wider windows that you really see out the window without straining your neck like a hunchback!
Edit: for RichardMEL, ta for that.

 

[PaulST]

So flew 460/497 last night.

There was a 45 minute delay due to a faulty radio (really?) - and the a/c was also delayed ex-PER for some reason. Some punters were not happy at MEL and a lot jumped ship (and more than one were quite rude to the poor sole gate agent who we happened to be standing near and could observer). A real "Ready for Takeoff" type scene....

but that's not really about the plane (apart from the radio).

So once on board it was very nice (as expected). The crew were all excited about the aircraft and wanted to show it off to a certain extent.. a definite effort to do some positive PR (which was needed for some of the disgrunted souls who just wanted to get to SYD !!). Pilot flying was none other than the TV commercial star, Andrew Stead, was flying. Captan Simpson gave a very gushing commentary (and someone else put this up on youtube!!

) The anouncement is around 14:30 in.

I was in 10K and the engine noise was very very quiet. I was surprised how good it was for the position I was in (which I picked on purpose). In the youtube above the sound on TO behind the wing is impressive too and it was just like this by the engine.

While not my first 789 ride in the least (I've been on 787's of JQ UA NZ AC and now QF) this was very impressive still. Probably not requiring a full power takeoff with the relative light load of bags, fuel etc.

Anyway it was a good light. The J suite has had a couple of changes from the A330 and seems a tad improved, but it's pretty similar.

10K is one of the "sesat by the window" more private suites by the bulkhead at Door 2R. Pretty nice and wouldn't be horrible for a long hail flight for sure.

On 497 I was given a P1 courtesy upgrade to 2A (I'd kind of hoped to stay in 22K to try PE tbh) but this gave me a chance to try the opposite config, and like the 330 these ones with the seat on the aisle are not as good. I found my elbow into the aisle a little bit on occasions and felt far more exposed to people, carts etc going past. Would definitely not pick on a long haul (and have row 3 on the LAX inaug).

Cabin seems roomier above the head due to the design of the suites I think being not that high though the whole aircraft still somehow feels more narrow than the 77W.

I would like to make a shout out to the tech crew as well as the inflight team who were fantastic and specially to me when I noted I was flying back with them and was there for the 789 they were really excited to show it off and talk about it. Tech crew were gracious to invite a few people (not just me) to the front office, let people sit in the left seat (I declined ) and talk about the aircraft even despite the late arrival and job they had to do.

Specially impressed when on the 497 the Captain (Andrew Simpson I think) came back and spent about 5-10 minutes talking with me about it.. talking about the pilot rest areas (he offered to show me on the ground but I had to sadly decline as I needed to get home!! ) and we talked about it compared to the 380, 747 etc. I was really touched by this special effort and acknowledgement.

Some extra things I learned...

On long hauls they will do "Service 1" (so start of flight) from the forward galley at door 1 and then 2nd service will be from mid cabin galley. This also assists pilots rest as their rest area is above that galley area, so FA's will hang out in the mid cabin galley rather than up fwd. The tip was "Book front of the plane and you will find it more quiet due to this"

That mid cabin galley is REALLY NARROW!! I wanted to walk through to get to my friend in the front J cabin and you could barely fit 2 staff working back to back in that space let alone people getting by. I've seen this too on UA and NZ of course, but it really struck me how small the space was compared to things like the 380. I don't envy them their task in there tbh.

Disabled lav is on the A side too for those interested, though I did not use it.

I still do not think I would want to take this aircraft from PER-LHR but it will be an improvement for QF I think

View attachment 110117 View attachment 110118

RichardMEL, does 10K have more leg room (a wider recess) than the other seats? I've selected it for the inaugural flight.

 

[RichardMEL]

RichardMEL, does 10K have more leg room (a wider recess) than the other seats? I've selected it for the inaugural flight.

yeah I think it has a little bit more though tbh (I was in 2A on the return) I did not spend a lot of time trying to test out exactly how much. 2A seemed fine except for the close to the aisle bit. I have long legs and I felt both were pretty good in that respect.. but I never went fully flat either

so.. that's real helpful isn't it?

 

[Matt_01]

Travelled on the 787 MEL to ADL in PE, which I was interested to try. I was originally in 21J but mid flight changed to 22K as there was no one in the either 22J or K.

It was surprisingly more comfortable than I thought it would be, saying that my only experience in PE is with SQ (I am lucky enough to do all international travel in J). The leg rest thing with the net was a bit odd to operate, i.e. releasing a lever pushing it down, putting feet between the brackets then adjusting into a comfortable position, but when set up it works quite well. The aisle seats would be my preference as the arm rest can be lowered once you find the release catch. I am not sure it I would select R20, no foot rest available, the only advantage of this row is no one in front to recline to your space. I also hope QF has a few spare parts, as a new plane I was surprised that the head phone fell out a few times also watching the person next to me continually pulling at the tablet holder that was obviously locked for take off and madly pressing the window shade button, set to clear and controlled by the crew on take off and landing I suspect a few bits will get broken,

If the 787 ended up on a routes of 7-8hrs and it was a day flight would go PE - most likely. MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL both overnight flights or 19hrs PER-LHR and other long haul routes being planed - not likely.

I also attended the P1 viewing so was able to get a good look around the J cabin. R1 and R10 have bigger foot wells, they also have a small pull out storage draw under the TV screen that other rows do not have. All the odd rows on the A and K side offer better privacy. Also 1A and 10A are right next to the bassinets.

Unless I had no other option I would stay away from R10-13 as there would be more foot traffic from PE PAX using the J toilets. I'm flying QF96 early next year and have opted for 3K.

 

[PaulST]

I am not sure it I would select R20, no foot rest available, the only advantage of this row is no one in front to recline to your space..

I've attached a photo of the footrests they're using in the front row of PE.

 

[Matt_01]

I've attached a photo of the footrests they're using in the front row of PE.

Well that changes everything I would suspect that ottoman type foot rest is better than the one in the seat back. I would go for R20 on that basis.

 

[RichardMEL]

Minor dilemma.

Am in 3A, 1K has opened up.

flight to LAX

now 1K has a lil more privacy and should be a lil more quiet after first service, though there is a closet there IIRC.

Post departure, Sun will be on the A side and come in on that side for a few hours, though K side will get similar in the morning.

1K has a bit more foot space but I tend to sleep on my left side, which means I'd be facting, more or less, the aisle (where as it would be more the window sitting in A)

I'm split 50/50. #FirstWorldProblems

opinions valued

 

[coriander]

Minor dilemma.

Am in 3A, 1K has opened up.
fight to LAX
1K has a bit more foot space but I tend to sleep on my left side, which means I'd be facing, more or less, the aisle (where as it would be more the window sitting in A)

I'd go for 3A and sleep with my back to the aisle. Your head will be below window level when sleeping anyway.
Hope it's a flight without a fight.......