New Qantas First class

[maninblack]

According to channel 7 the new Qantas first class was unveiled at a "Galah" function in ... where else... Sydney last night. Did anyone get an invite? The TV story didn't show anything about the seat or cabin, just lots of shots of Colette Dinnigan, models in bikinis, kids singing you know what and a bunch of tipsy freeloaders.

I wonder if the story was accurate and maybe all they were unveiling was new ammenity kits and PJ's.

 

[simongr]

Maybe unveiling the new lounge?

 

[dot]

I agree with simongr - it would be the lounge announcement - see this page on the Qantas site

 

[oz_mark]

And on News

Qantas' first-class soars | NEWS.com.au

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Opening on May 23, they have been described by Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti as "simply the best in the world".

NM should be happy then - more than the 50+ whiskies of LH FCT at FRA.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Ms Hudson said she hoped passengers would arrive early for flights and spend upwards of 45 minutes in the lounges, to experience the spa, dining and other facilities. The Sydney lounge is designed to fit 220 people – an increase of 69 per cent on the previous lounge – but she admits they probably won't "see that peak".

Ms Hudson obviously doesn't read FT or AFF.

I wonder if QF will experience the surge in F lounge useage that LH FCT? They are already looking into expanding.

 

[maninblack]

Aha.

New first class lounge. New first class ammenities kit. New first class pyjamas. But no new First class.

"Smoke and mirrors" one could say, or "putting the cart before the horse"

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Those are some of the cheaper improvements one could make to F experience.

 

[NM]

Aha.

New first class lounge. New first class ammenities kit. New first class pyjamas. But no new First class.

"Smoke and mirrors" one could say, or "putting the cart before the horse"

And don't forget the new First Class Plastic Knives .

 

[dot]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there... They are probably feeling increased preasure with both SQ and CX introducting new J and F classes (and with BA about to introduce theirs), but cant afford (or justify the cost) of upgrading the QF metal.

BTW - I am not suggesting that the new lounges, PJs, amenities kits etc are no good, but it's probably cheaper to do all of those things than upgrade the aircraft (and with less disruption to service)

 

[NM]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there... They are probably feeling increased preasure with both SQ and CX introducting new J and F classes (and with BA about to introduce theirs), but cant afford (or justify the cost) of upgrading the QF metal.

Its not so much a cost issue as one of aircraft availability. A cabin upgrade, even just the F cabin, requires the aircraft to be on the ground for an extended period of time, and at the moment QF does not have sufficient spare 747-400 capacity to do the upgrades now. They only have the capacity for maintenance schedules.

So until they can get some capacity relief by way of A380 deliveries, the 744 upgrades are all on hold.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Its not so much a cost issue as one of aircraft availability. A cabin upgrade, even just the F cabin, requires the aircraft to be on the ground for an extended period of time, and at the moment QF does not have sufficient spare 747-400 capacity to do the upgrades now. They only have the capacity for maintenance schedules.

So until they can get some capacity relief by way of A380 deliveries, the 744 upgrades are all on hold.

It is a trade-off between falling behind in product vs rearranging schedules (downgauges, dropped flights etc) during the time it takes to refurbish (a long time in total across the fleet). QF has decided one way, NZ decided differently, & SQ yet another way.

NZ was smart in doing its 747s when they did - a time of lower demand and together with some selectively pulled flights meant they managed the 18 month process well (IMO).

 

[maninblack]

Its not si much a cost issue as one of aircraft availability. A cabin upgrade, even just the F cabin, requires the aircraft to be on the ground for an extended period of time, and at the moment QF does not have sufficient spare 747-400 capacity to do the upgrades now. They only have the capacity for maintenance schedules.

So until they can get some capacity relief by way of A380 deliveries, the 744 upgrades are all on hold.

Indeed. The new First class product has been designed, this is certain, and possibly even manufactured.

The QF timeframe gets more interesting. Once a substantial number of A380's join the fleet and then the 787 comes in too, a significant number of 744's will be headed for retirement, OJB, C, D etc will be over 20 years old, though they don't carry first class cabins anymore.

That old A380 problem again, and bad planning...but we've had this discussion here before

 

[NM]

It is a trade-off between falling behind in product vs rearranging schedules (downgauges, dropped flights etc) during the time it takes to refurbish (a long time in total across the fleet). QF has decided one way, NZ decided differently, & SQ yet another way.

NZ was smart in doing its 747s when they did - a time of lower demand and together with some selectively pulled flights meant they managed the 18 month process well (IMO).

Yes, but SQ has plenty of capacity to manage such upgrades, and also had a new aircraft entering the fleet to use as the introduction of the new cabins. QF had originally expected to have new fleet entries (the A380) by now and that would provide the new cabin intro and the capacity relief to allow the 744's to be upgraded.

I just hope that when they do get the upgrades introduced that they are half a generation ahead of the rest since they will be half a generation behind the roll-out schedule. But QF is not known to be a leader when it comes to cabin innovation.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yes, but SQ has plenty of capacity to manage such upgrades

No it doesn't. SQ sold their 747s to match planned deliveries of A380 and 77W (ie several have already gone from the fleet and rest to follow in short term). Since A380 been delayed so long they are badly short of a/c, cutting capacity on some routes as a result. Originally new product was to be launched on A380 to be followed by 77W.

 

[simongr]

Wasnt the Skybed quite a cutting edge seat when first introduced? I am still disappointed - I thought they had opened early

 

[maninblack]

Still think that if they had ordered A340-300's and/or 500's instead of the A330's as part of their Airbus deal they wouldn't be in their current fleet problem, the increased cost would have been easily made up in greater flexibility...but we have had this discussion before too.

 

[JohnK]

I am still disappointed - I thought they had opened early

Don't worry about it too much. You can sample the new F lounge next trip.

 

[simongr]

Sadly not This trip is paid F - the next trip I will still be AA Plat until midway through my trip - will hit EXP on flight DXB-LHR - so if I can get a fax from AA I might be able to access the F lounge at LGW four days later on my LGW-BGI-JFK flight

 

[Dave Noble]

Wasnt the Skybed quite a cutting edge seat when first introduced?

Nothing cutting edge about the sky bed when it came out imo

Dave