New J Seats Not Being Fitted Into A380

[Princess Fiona]

QF has confirmed that the new Business suites on the A330 will NOT be fitted into the A380
Qantas Airbus A380 Business Suite business class seats - Australian Business Traveller

Personally I think this is a poor decision as the Mk II Skybed and 2-2-2 layout are years behind QF's competitors.
Hopefully they will re-think this one

 

[straitman]

QF has confirmed that the new Business suites on the A330 will NOT be fitted into the A380
Qantas Airbus A380 Business Suite business class seats - Australian Business Traveller

Personally I think this is a poor decision as the Mk II Skybed and 2-2-2 layout are years behind QF's competitors.
Hopefully they will re-think this one

I understand their logic but cannot agree.

Crazy decision IMHO.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Oh yes, I meant to share that snippet as I asked at the BNE event this week. When the person I was speaking to starting spruiking the Mk II, I told him that they were really no better than the Mk I when you consider the droop and that the CX J product was light years better. There was a somewhat surprised face on the other side of the conversation.

 

[yohy?!]

Oh yes, I meant to share that snippet as I asked at the BNE event this week. When the person I was speaking to starting spruiking the Mk II, I told him that they were really no better than the Mk I when you consider the droop and that the CX J product was light years better. There was a somewhat surprised face on the other side of the conversation.

Good one, I think this is something QF suffers from a lot of the time in their product development (possibly due to overuse of consultants).

Its particularly important now that CX is showing willingness to send the 77W to Oz as its J seat dimensions and larger cabin are a further step above the Mk II.

 

[moa999]

Makes sense to me.
QF A380s delivered 2008-2011.

Given QFs history of keeping its longhaul widebodies for 20+ years with mid-life refurb, this means these jets aren't due for refurb until at least 2018.'
(which is also my estimated timeframe +/-1 when the non-refurbed 747s leave the fleet and QF takes 787s/more A380s/777Xs)

By which time we will probably be onto Skybed IV's and enable QF to have a common product amongst its ultra long-haul planes

 

[smit0847]

They never planned to put the A330 seat in the A380 - I'm not sure why anyone is surprised? This will mean they may end up having a better domestic product than international which will be quite bizzarre.

I suspect the reason is the width of the A380 vs an A330 - isn't the cabin a fair bit wider? They can probably pack a lot more MK2s into that space than the new J suite hence making more revenue.

 

[JohnK]

Personally I think this is a poor decision as the Mk II Skybed and 2-2-2 layout are years behind QF's competitors.
Hopefully they will re-think this one

Could it be that the A380 business product is already popular so why change?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Could it be that the A380 business product is already popular so why change?

Could be JohnK but I seriously doubt it.
Much more likely that it's too expensive and will result in a smaller J cabin unless PE/Y re-configured.
The Sky Bed MkII was IMHO a product behind the times from the moment it was installed.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Could it be that the A380 business product is already popular so why change?

As ever, it makes whY look like whY which is good, but, it is still behind their most direct competitors who generally also charge less.

 

[DC3]

No surprises here. Just a J product on the A380 that is falling further behind.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I haven't flown in J on a QF A380 yet.
I was due to fly twice on my recent trip to Europe (SYD-DXB and DXB-SYD).
However, I was upgraded to First on the SYD-DXB sector (THANKS QF!) and had to change my return flight to a QF flight number on EK metal.

I have spent some time sitting in a Skybed Mk 2 though. I would have to say that the EK business class seat/suite on the A380 is far superior.
There is real room to spread out, plenty of space to stow all your things within easy reach, and even a small minibar.
Also, as someone who frequently flies alone, the 1-2-1 layout of J class on the EK A380 is a major drawcard.
I really appreciate not having to try to sleep right next to a stranger.

The real bar on the EK upper deck is also much better than the small lounge at the front of the QF aircraft. I did wander upstairs on the DXB-SYD flight to check it out. Although the J class flight attendant expressed surprise when I asked her for a champagne and reminded me that I could get better quality downstairs!

I do prefer the QF service but I feel the fit out of the A380s has let them down. They missed an opportunity to take full advantage of the aircraft. There is no "wow factor" such as the shower in first class on EK or the super suites which EY will soon be offering, or the bar EK have on their all-premium upper deck. Even Virgin do the bar better than QF on their 777s and I gather this will be upgraded to a similar standard as the EK bar in the imminent 777 refit.

To return to the topic, the partnership with EK should put some pressure on QF to keep its product up to date and comparable with what EK is offering. Otherwise PAX will simply vote with their feet (or fingers) by booking on QF flights on EK metal wherever possible, resorting to QF aircraft when they want to use points for upgrades.

 

[SQ421]

Oh yes, I meant to share that snippet as I asked at the BNE event this week. When the person I was speaking to starting spruiking the Mk II, I told him that they were really no better than the Mk I when you consider the droop and that the CX J product was light years better. There was a somewhat surprised face on the other side of the conversation.

Had the exact same discussion with a QF Staffer yesterday except this person begrudgingly acknowledged (having flown it themselves) that CX J seat might actually be a better product.

As for QF sticking to SkyBed Mk II on the A380, guess all I can say is, "keep digging".

 

[Ansett]

Having flown The NEW CX J MEL-HKG recently I have to say I was not that impressed. The tray table was disappointing in that it was small and could not pushed away or brought back towards you, only adjustment was in or out. The Skybed MK11 is far more adjustable than the CX product. The CX suite was definitely more private then the QF. Seat comfort IMHO is better on QF. I felt some what trapped when laying on my side with a slight bend at the knees.

Food on CX was OK but not that special. the rough paper towels in the J Toilet was a surprise.

Over all I would prefer to fly QF on a Skybed MK1 or MK11, each of us are different and require different things from the seat.

I would like to try the new business suites before declaring them better than the current as each seat has different unique features that may or may not be important to each individual.

 

[kermatu]

I too would wait to see new seats in practice before saying which is better. I'm not that familiar with J in too many airlines of late, mainly QF (Mk 1 and 2), and EK.
I actually find the QF seats very comfortAble and they feel roomier on the sides. But EK configuration affords much better privacy and aisle access from the window seat with excellent storage, so wins marginally in my book.

always had excellent service in J on both airlines. Food can be a bit hit and miss on either. Qantas consistently good to very good. EK has ranged from average to outstanding in my experience.

i agree with the comment that QF missed an opportunity with the A380s to design the cabins better, but maybe it works for them financially. I also agree everyone is different so diff seats will suit diff people. One of the benefits of choice!

 

[opusman]

I find EK J seats on the 380 very claustrophobic. Too much bling and infrastructure. Particularly with the tray table down.

 

[straitman]

I find EK J seats on the 380 very claustrophobic. Too much bling and infrastructure. Particularly with the tray table down.

I don't necessarily find them claustrophobic but I certainly agree with the "Too much bling and infrastructure" part of the comment. I have had several crews who have made the same comment.

 

[Economy_Gold]

I find it very hard to compare seat types that noone here has actually used and I personally very much enjoy the Skybed Mk II on the A380s due to its "shell" that is great when sleeping and overall very comfortable seat position, even for a very tall passenger like myself. Only real downside I see is no direct aisles access for the window seats, but that does not affect me as I always go for an aisles seat.

 

[ermen]

I think on the routes that they compete on now their A380 product wins the competition.


​

 

[Nizar]

Having flown The NEW CX J MEL-HKG recently I have to say I was not that impressed. The tray table was disappointing in that it was small and could not pushed away or brought back towards you, only adjustment was in or out. The Skybed MK11 is far more adjustable than the CX product. The CX suite was definitely more private then the QF. Seat comfort IMHO is better on QF. I felt some what trapped when laying on my side with a slight bend at the knees.

Food on CX was OK but not that special. the rough paper towels in the J Toilet was a surprise.

Over all I would prefer to fly QF on a Skybed MK1 or MK11, each of us are different and require different things from the seat.

I would like to try the new business suites before declaring them better than the current as each seat has different unique features that may or may not be important to each individual.

Which is the NEW CX ? I thought they've been running with the 333 current J for a few years now ex-Aus ?
Or do they have a newer one than this ?

 

[kermatu]

I agree the bling in EK is silly and a waste of space. It's even more over the top in F! But privacy, aisle access, ability to use the entertainment for the entire flight make it a slightly better product, in my opinion.