First Qantas A220 revealed

[RooFlyer]

Charging WP for seats? You are effing kidding me. There I was in another thread saying I was giving the new CEO credit for a good start. Absolute BS.

My existing bookings and seat selections had better stick.

 

[encryptededdy]

Charging WP for seats? You are effing kidding me.

Not that I think it's good (it's not), but I'm pretty sure extra legroom seats have always been chargeable for WP. For instance exit row on the B737. They become free at check-in.

It was nice though that Row 4 on the B737 wasn't chargeable and could be selected at T-80 though, whereas these seats since they're marked as extra legroom will still be chargeable even at T-80. I would assume they'd become free at check-in though (like what happens now with exit row seats).

 

[RichardMEL]

Plat and Gold had free exit row seat selection til 2017 iirc, and pkat used to have free preferred seat selection.

It definitely changed.

 

[encryptededdy]

Plat and Gold had free exit row seat selection til 2017 iirc, and pkat used to have free preferred seat selection.

It definitely changed.

2017 was before my time, but whilst I'm sure it changed back then, I guess I'm saying nothing has changed with the introduction of the A220 (other than the fact that it has way more extra legroom seats than the 737). Plat still does have preferred seat selection, but it mostly useless (isn't the preferred seat row on the B737 the row with no windows?).

The only real seating benefit of SG/WP now is you can access a few more of the front rows before T-80.

 

[dylarr]

QF posted some decent pics on their Insta earlier on - better than what they used in the media release including bonus flight deck shot:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[docjames]

At least domestically, exit rows are charged for WP until T-80 when the seat map opens up (incl rows 4+5 and 13-14 on the 738). Similar with the 330s and rows 23-24 typically.

I assume a similar apporach will apply on the A220.

 

[encryptededdy]

At least domestically, exit rows are charged for WP until T-80 when the seat map opens up (incl rows 4+5 and 13-14 on the 738).

Are you confident? IIRC Rows 4 + 5 aren't selectable by anyone other than WP1 until T-80 and are not designated as extra legroom seats (which is why they're free after T-80). Rows 13-14 I think remain chargeable (as they are designated extra legroom) until after check-in for everyone except WP1.

 

[docjames]

Are you confident? IIRC Rows 4 + 5 aren't selectable by anyone other than WP1 until T-80 and are not designated as extra legroom seats (which is why they're free after T-80). Rows 13-14 I think remain chargeable (as they are designated extra legroom) until after check-in for everyone except WP1.

Travelling today on a 738. 4&5 and 13&14 opened at T-80 for me.

 

[dairyfloss]

At least domestically, exit rows are charged for WP until T-80 when the seat map opens up (incl rows 4+5 and 13-14 on the 738). Similar with the 330s and rows 23-24 typically.

I assume a similar apporach will apply on the A220.

I do hope so. QF Revenue Management seems to have slipped one through the covers, here, whilst the new Loyalty boss is still getting ready to start. It won't take much of this type of thing before flown revenue declines start to exceed any ancillary gains.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jrfsp]

As far as I'm aware this is the first time QF have provided extra legroom seats in Y (other than those which are there by default ie bulkhead/exit rows).

This has become standard practice across most legacy airlines with economy + sections. BA's shorthaul aircraft have more legroom in front half without a separate designation which seems to be what QF have done. Even BA/AA etc allow their own (and partner) frequent fliers to select these for free. VA allow their plats to select economy X for free.

I wouldn't be surprised if the A321s follow suit and the refurbed A330s. If this does become standard it will really be a middle finger to WPs.

Will other OW emeralds be able to select the extra legroom rows?

 

[encryptededdy]

I think if they really do become free after T-80, then it would only be fair if they became free for WP first, then everyone else at T-24.

This is what some airlines do for their lower status tiers (again though, most airlines provide free extra legroom seat selection for their WP-tier fliers)

 

[Birdblack]

Unless I've missed it, I can't see any mention of David Caon or any other designer for the A220 fitout on Qantas collateral, which is interesting because the Qantas page on the 737 talks about the 'Marc Newson styled seat' etc. Maybe they're keeping the posh design stuff for mainline but I have noticed a pull back on Neil Perry and Caon's profile on things of late.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Row 4 on 737 not chargeable.

Now extra legroom WP must pay, quite a difference from previous. WP lost half the front half of the plane now.

This will have to change.

Oh I think I'm thinking of opening up for selection - agree I've never had to pay for Row 4, but it's never been available for selection before T-80 either, except on internationals.

 

[moa999]

wouldn't be surprised if the A321s follow suit and the refurbed A330s.

Seems to be a function of the design of the plane with the staggered J seating.
Would think the 321XLRs would have a more classic galley.

 

[lovestotravel]

MEL-BNE is interesting as its currently all mainline 737 whereas all the other routes are 717 replacement.

Looks like 2 return flights on the A220 from March, but i wonder how many mainline flights will be swapped out when more get delivered.

As many as they can, as it's another great bargaining tool to scare the current 73 pilots...

 

[RooFlyer]

Not that I think it's good (it's not), but I'm pretty sure extra legroom seats have always been chargeable for WP. For instance exit row on the B737. They become free at check-in.

okay, my bad. i’m used to sliding into row 4 at T -80 and then of course there’s always business.

But to have the first six rows of economy payable to select those seats for WPs is just crook. Definitely a plus for Virgin in allowing their platinums to select from 3 rows of economy X for free.

Just another devaluation of WP, continuing the trend we’ve seen over the past year or two.

 

[TY24]

Just another devaluation of WP, continuing the trend we’ve seen over the past year or two.

To be fair, that's probably just about the only good thing VA WP has over any QF tier.

Trust me when I say that VA WP is more or less the same as QF SG, and the free seat selection is just about the only benefit I've noticed since I went from VA SG to VA WP.

I value my QF SG MUCH higher than my VA WP.

 

[RichardMEL]

Do you mean PS aka AFF acronym for Silver ratger than SP?

 

[TY24]

Do you mean PS aka AFF acronym for Silver ratger than SP?

Meant SG, which is AFF for Gold isn't it?

 

[RichardMEL]

Meant SG, which is AFF for Gold isn't it?

Ah I see, you edited. All good. And yes