How will QF compete against DJ with domestic J flatbeds from MEL?

[Bugalugz]

Virgin Australia readies new Airbus A330s with lie-flat seats - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

So how can/will Qantas tackle Virgin with flatbeds? I know for sure as someone who pays for J out of my pocket, I would be flying DJ if the product is better value for money and hell it has to be better than running around in a 20+ year old clunker with an okay seat!

Anyway with a few self funded J trips across the country I'm interested to watch this develop, last time QF put the 747 on the PER-SYD flights which has now been revoked

Wonder if DJ with flatbeds and proper IFE could be the catalyst for QF to upgrade the product on the 767's and standardise the product on the A330? (Yes I am a very hopeful person!!)

Hell it'd be nice to see my MEL-PER changer from a clunker to a A330 but dreams are free!!

Thoughts on how QF will tackle this, as it's the first time QF will actually have competition 2x2x2 seating and beds?

 

[markis10]

The article quoted is idle speculation and a rehash of what's been expected but not yet announced for some time, if it turns out as expected then DJ are simply catching up to QF, with only two aircraft I cannot see any issue with QF competing. At least it's finally been reported correctly that there will be no more second hand A330s for DJ.

 

[nlagalle]

Virgin Australia readies new Airbus A330s with lie-flat seats - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Hell it'd be nice to see my MEL-PER changer from a clunker to a A330 but dreams are free!!

Thoughts on how QF will tackle this, as it's the first time QF will actually have competition 2x2x2 seating and beds?

I can't remember the last time I caught a 767 to PER, I always got the 330.

Also I doubt they will re hash the 767's either as they are on the way out. They may throw more 747's etc at it.

 

[pauly7]

I can't remember the last time I caught a 767 to PER, I always got the 330.

Also I doubt they will re hash the 767's either as they are on the way out. They may throw more 747's etc at it.

Yeh I agree there seem to be a stack of QF A330's flying around the Perth routes.

As I've said before I think skybed/lie flats are totally OTT for these routes. VA would have to extract a significant premium to justify which is probably out If their reach. I also don't think QF need them either. Of course I'm not complaining when I land a domestic QF skybed but I certainly don't shop for them.

If this speculation has any truth I think DJ should just be concentrating very hard on improving their existing J class which still has a way to go before they go crazy on domestic lie flats....

 

[under the radar]

i'd like to see qf standardize ALL their a333/332 a/c to a 'regional/transcontinental' product.. skybed mk1 is the perfect seat for both markets and would allow greater a/c utilization of the a/c type as the same seat would be on EVERY a330!..on a side note..the a332 wouldnt need to have 36 skybed mk1's (forward/aft of J/C galley area) as is currently on international config a/c.. this could be decreased to maybe 18 (ie..only between doors 1 and 2) thus taking Y/C up to doors 2 as well.. and saving weight due to the reinforcement required to the flooring under the skybed seats!..just a thought

 

[mannej]

Are flat beds necessary domestically? Apart from the red eye flights I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[under the radar]

Are flat beds necessary domestically? Apart from the red eye flights I wouldn't have thought so.

i actually dont think they are necessary..but reading through various posts/forums/topics it seems that domestic J/C pax expectations have increased and they are quite dissatisfied/disappointed when they get on an a/c with 'normal' domestic J/C seating..was trying to please the masses with my suggestions..

 

[markis10]

Having skybeds makes sense, it allows for aircraft subs with the SIN services and keeps fleet commonality, giving them more flexibility.

 

[mannej]

Talking about fleet consistency, how many different variations of the 330 do QF have in terms of seating.
Doesn't make sense does it Markis?

 

[dk4]

Thoughts on how QF will tackle this, as it's the first time QF will actually have competition 2x2x2 seating and beds?

One is still hoping for (although not at all expecting) 5 rows of “reverse herringbone horizontal lie flat” 1x2x1 on Virgin’s new A330s.

 

[PLANT]

My two bits is that Virgin need to add Flat beds for all the FLY IN\FLY OUT miners that will pay to sleep MEL\BRNE-PERTH!

 

[under the radar]

Talking about fleet consistency, how many different variations of the 330 do QF have in terms of seating.
Doesn't make sense does it Markis?

the 'domestic' product has 2 variations on qf....and when virgin begin flying their new a330s they will also have 2 variations (until they 'retire' the ex-emirates a330's) so BOTH carriers will offer inconsistent seating! :shock:

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Talking about fleet consistency, how many different variations of the 330 do QF have in terms of seating.
Doesn't make sense does it Markis?

QF A330 (Dom config 2-3-2) - l think the J seating is more like Y+

 

[markis10]

Of course the one minor issue with Skybeds is the loss of 70 or so Y seats!

 

[nlagalle]

QF A330 (Dom config 2-3-2) - l think the J seating is more like Y+

They don't seat anoyone in the middle seat on the 2-3-2 ones anymore, and from memory only 2 aircraft are fitted like that.

 

[eastwest101]

If QF and VA want to compete on J class transcon PER-MEL and PER-SYD then they can only do it with the inconsistent product that they both have.

The only other variables are cost competition and changes in capacity. Both can cut costs but lose revenue, capacity is a tricky one to work out but you would expect that QF have more capacity to throw at the market at the moment if they wanted, but its ageing/expensive and unreliable capacity.

BFOD policies, FF schemes and locked business contracts/agreements can have an effect, as can Y fares and capacity because J class is not an island and interacts with Y fares and capacity.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

They don't seat anoyone in the middle seat on the 2-3-2 ones anymore, and from memory only 2 aircraft are fitted like that.

Yes, the middle seats are blocked out, but on a red eye, I'd prefer the Skybed's...It's just disappointing to get on a plane and see the 2-3-2 config...

 

[NM]

Personally, I think lie-flat seats for a domestic flight just means there are less seats available to fit into the cabin. I would prefer to see something like 5 rows Dreamtime seat at 50 inch pitch rather than 3 rows of Skybeds at 80 inch pitch (substitute appropriate number of rows for aircraft type). This is for 4-5 hour max flight duration. I don't need a lie-flat bed for that duration flight. Obviously things change when we start talking about 8+ hours.

Gee, it doesn't seem that long ago that we looked for 747s with the Dreamtime "upgrade" for trans-Pacific flights and thought that was great. Perhaps we are becoming a little soft these days?

 

[serfty]

They don't seat anoyone in the middle seat on the 2-3-2 ones anymore, and from memory only 2 aircraft are fitted like that.

But the pitch is shocking for a business product whether 2x2x2 or 2x3x2. International PE has more room.

Originally Posted by tom911
I flew the new configuration from Sydney to Perth yesterday. I found the large TV screen, which hung over the tray table, a little too close to my eyes for comfort. Would have been nice if it could be placed a few inches further back. I just could not find a comfortable angle to view it from. The designers did not have a lot of room to work with as the seats are very close.

I started my flight off with Proud Mary by Tina Turner on the IFE. Perfect song to start off any flight!

Some more photos in the middle of this gallery.

 

[UP4014]

I didn't read in the article it was going happen. I'm personally not fussed about it on domestic runs, will just ad more cost to the ticket.

Matt