Narrow seats on QF B789

[nlagalle]

Mel isn't an A380 base, hence some of the parts being flown down. Given where Perth is it would be a base (and it's going to be based on what I've been told), so would have maintenance there of some description. Doubtful they'll be flying a lot of parts over given the timing

 

[dajop]

Except accommodating pax on another airline is specifically not mentioned in their terms and conditions - it's next QF flight only. If QF were to modify their terms and conditions to next available flight any airline, that would give more certainty. Perhaps under the current terms and conditions QF will make an exception and accommodate P1s on EK, but economy pax with no status?

Are you confusing bumping due to overselling with cancellation of an entire flight? If flights happen to be running at 85% load factors (not uncommon) that means you have 45 empty seats on a 300 seat plane. I really doubt that QF are going to drip feed their cancelled passengers 45 at a time over the next 5-6 days onto the same flight, especially when they are operating a JSA codeshare on the same route with a strategic partner. They will find solutions.

Aren't these just normal operational factors in running any airline, not specific reasons to not go ahead with a PER-LHR flight (there may well be other good reasons for that) If an aircraft goes unserviceable in PVG, JNB or SCL and the flight is cancelled, what happens then? Maybe they shouldn't fly to JNB or SCL because of the consequences if the flight gets cancelled and passengers might have to wait 24-48 hrs for the next flight.

 

[yohy?!]

Hurtling towards 20 pages and still a long time before the the first 787 flight even occurs, I hope QF are paying attention.

 

[katiebell]

The seat details are relevant to the many corporate types who are placed on an airline by their company's travel agent with no passenger input into the matter.

It is also important that we discuss this horrible, narrow B789 seat because if we did not, all that prospective passengers would have to go on would be the misleading spin from QF management and that company's standard bearers who get invited to hangar parties where a new paint job (big deal!) seems to be about the only attraction apart from free food and, especially, alcohol.

I agree with your comments: discussing ill-concieved ideas to literally squeeze in a few more pax is really important: if no one complains then not only does the problem persist, they go a bit further the next time.

Misleading spin is not a way to build customer trust or loyalty. Airline mangagers need to remember that most premium pax start out in Y. The experience there determines which airlines are selected when moving to a premium cabin.

Those who book their own fares only on cost will go with LCCs & Chinese airlines as these are usually cheaper than FSCs. Pax stuck with corporate travel policies can be in a real bind unless they can find a convincing reason to do otherwise.

Alcohol at promotional events aways makes things look better. In the air it increases air rage in unhappy/uncomofrtable/in pain pax...

 

[katiebell]

I don't think this is true - Non stop flights PER-LHR is bigger than Perth Airport. But one of the bones of contention that I have read is that Qantas want international facilities at their domestic terminals. This is absolutley contrary to 30 years of planning at PER which has envisaged that all operations would be consoilidated at the International Terminal. The last master plan had Qantas moving over there in the early 2020s. Qantas should just go with that - Qantas is being the difficult one here in wanting to go against all hthe planning that has been done.

If QF and PER management have been arguing over operations, could the cessation of QFi from PER have been strategic in its dealing with PER management?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you confusing bumping due to overselling with cancellation of an entire flight? If flights happen to be running at 85% load factors (not uncommon) that means you have 45 empty seats on a 300 seat plane. I really doubt that QF are going to drip feed their cancelled passengers 45 at a time over the next 5-6 days onto the same flight, especially when they are operating a JSA codeshare on the same route with a strategic partner. They will find solutions.

Aren't these just normal operational factors in running any airline, not specific reasons to not go ahead with a PER-LHR flight (there may well be other good reasons for that) If an aircraft goes unserviceable in PVG, JNB or SCL and the flight is cancelled, what happens then? Maybe they shouldn't fly to JNB or SCL because of the consequences if the flight gets cancelled and passengers might have to wait 24-48 hrs for the next flight.

Any way - cancellation, overselling, long delays... why not say you'll uplift on the next available service - any airline? As it stands, QF will only undertake to uplift you on the next QF flight, or refund you. If you are a P1 or platinum your business is probably worth it for them to put you on another airline. The bronze in row 59?

Ex London of course they have a heavy financial incentive to put you on other carriers.

 

[katiebell]

Re seat width of 17.2 inches: this is the same as the dom B737. I find that cramped on short flights where I am ofter touching shoulders with the pax next to me (& I am not over-sized). It would be awful on long haul.

Interestingly the QF website says a usable width of 17.4": doe sthat mean these seats are tardises?

BTW why massacre the poor flying red rat again? the change for the A380 was 'because the old logo would not fit the tail" and defintely not an improvement. Leave the roo alone. Changing logos does not change perceptions of hteairline.

 

[dajop]

Any way - cancellation, overselling, long delays... why not say you'll uplift on the next available service - any airline? As it stands, QF will only undertake to uplift you on the next QF flight, or refund you. If you are a P1 or platinum your business is probably worth it for them to put you on another airline.

I'm sure I've heard of QF transferring passengers to EK when cancelled, since the JSA has been in place. Both MEL-SIN and MEL-DXB. At other ports it may be different. Out of LAX, for example, its more problematic, because there really is only one window for LAX to Australia departures on all five carriers,you miss that and it's 24 hrs regardless of the airline (even rerouting on the morning departures via Asia won't help you get back to Australia much earlier), so understandable they don't transfer you to other carriers. Also, this is not a QF specific issue either, if CX or SQ despite their four services a day are running at or near to capacity there could be long waits for those on the affected services. And of course high value passengers (F, J, high tier) will be looked after first.

In any event, I still don't see this as a 787 or PER-LHR specific issue. There are many routes, as I suggested, where this could be equally problematic.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF has transferred to UA due to a unserviceble aircraft. Friend was a CLPO

 

[downgraded]

Slightly OT but sitting here on a domestic ANZ A320 it is striking how poor QF seating is. There's more legroom here than a QF A380 and add one inch, presumably still more room than the proposed 787. And that's down the back - not in one of their extra legroom seats at the front!

 

[offshore171]

For long haul, if it's a choice between an inch extra width or length, I think they made the right call. From a practical perspective, it means there's improved ability to eat a meal, do DVT exercises or use a laptop or tablet.

People have no control over their height, but to an extent can control their girth other than the shoulder area.

 

[Mr_Orange]

For long haul, if it's a choice between an inch extra width or length, I think they made the right call. From a practical perspective, it means there's improved ability to eat a meal, do DVT exercises or use a laptop or tablet.

People have no control over their height, but to an extent can control their girth other than the shoulder area.

My girth is under control and I would still rather the extra width.

 

[moa999]

To be honest id probably prefer 3x4x3 at 35" (about the same seat density) -- although my shoulders may not

 

[levelnine]

People have no control over their height, but to an extent can control their girth other than the shoulder area.

People cannot control the girth of their seat neighbours, however.