New QF A380 reconfiguration!!!

[GoldenWinger]

Not sure if this new seat map is up for the reconfigured QF A380 rego VH-OQD is up on the site but please see attached. What on earth is QF thinking with this reconfiguration?

First flight is tomorrow QF11 SYD-LAX on 18th june.

Here is a summary of the changes:

MAIN DECK

　

1. 
   [*]Nine additional Economy seats, making 341 Economy seats on the Main Deck. This is made up of two additional Economy seat rows at Door M2L and one additional row of three seats forward of Door M3L.
   
   [*]Removal of the galley unit at Door M2L - replaced by Economy rows 48 and 49 (six seats).
   
   [*]Revised meal lay-up work space for crew working in First.
   
   [*]There is no longer an Economy self-service bar unit at Door M2L.
   
   [*]Boarding process changes at M2L.
   
   [*]Additional row of three seats at Row 65.

...And the UPPERDECK


　

1. 
   [*]A reduction from 72 to 64 seats in Business.
   
   [*]The Premium Economy cabin moves forward and increases to 35 seats.
   
   [*]The introduction of an Economy cabin in the aft section of the Upper Deck with 30 new Recaro seats.
   
   [*]Two lavatories relocated from the Upper Deck Business galley to the aft of Business.
   
   [*]The above lavatories become shared between Business and Premium Economy.
   
   [*]New boarding arrangements at Door U1L.
   
   [*]Each cabin’s zonal lighting can be controlled separately via the FAP andMini FAP.
   
   [*]Two self-service bars have been removed from the Upper Deck Business galley. They have been changed to full galley units. E Zone bars remain.
   
   [*]A third espresso machine has been added to the Upper Deck Business galley. All three espresso machines are located at GU15 - aft of U1R.
   
   [*]Changes to the Upper Deck galley layout.
   
   [*]Removal of Premium Economy self serve bar bar, replaced with a galley.
   
   [*]Economy meal service remains a two-person cart operation.

And now the best part if you're seated in the newly created row 48ABC - it's like WTF???


The boarding experience at M2L and requirements for customers seated in 48ABC.

[FONT=QF Spirit,QF Spirit][FONT=QF Spirit,QF Spirit]To make sure that our customers are comfortable and safe during boarding, we need to escort them to the Business Lounge. This is can be a positive travel experience, highlight that they can enjoy all the amenities of the lounge available during boarding.

Points to remember

1. When boarding the Main Deck on this aircraft, customers who are seated on the right hand side will need to use the crossover at Doors 1 via the First galley.
   
2. Prior to customer boarding, the overhead locker above seats 48ABC will be closed by M2LP. This locker is for customers seated in row 48 to use.
   
3. The CSM and M2LP will welcome the customers seated in row 48 as they board the aircraft. M2LP will assist them stow their luggage in the overhead lockers. M2LP will then escort these customers through First to the Upper Deck Business Lounge. These customers should not take any carry-on baggage with them.
   
4. Before returning to the Main Deck, M2LP should turn on the IFE screen in the Business Lounge using the handset and select the Skycam feature to create a welcoming environment.
   
5. M1RA will offer these customers a pre-takeoff juice, water or Champagne and collect the used glassware from the Business Lounge, once these customers have left the area.
   
6. Towards the end of the boarding process, the CSM will request M2LP to collect the customers from the Business Lounge and escort them to row 48. These customers cannot bring beverages down the stairs. The CSM is responsible for advising M2LP to collect the customers and have them seated accordingly prior to final door closure.
   
7. On disembarkation once the door is open, M2RA will move to the front of row 49 to allow First customers to disembark prior to the remaining Economy customers.

[/FONT][/FONT]

So in summary all bars are removed except for J upper deck and Y bar at M5L/M5R.

And the worst part is First Class - they're gonna love having Y class so close - lots of screaming babies galore.

Other beauties of this genius reconfiguration:

Removing the coat cupboard on the upper deck - basically once you change into your jim jams in Business - no room to store your clothers.
Shared toilets J and W - not so premium is it.

QF are also having major problems even crewing these A380 flights - at the moment they are having to basically beg to get crew on the 380 flights. Most flights are going out on minimum crew only - some without CSMs with CSSs operating out of category. The new bare minimum rest slips in SIN (they get approx 19 hours) are leaving the 380 crew fatigued and overworked. Absenteeism is at its highest.

Seriously QF what a joke! you took a far from perfect A380 config and made it even worse.

 

[freepyjamas]

So row 48 is for high-status Y pax?

(doesn't sound good about the cabin crew's reluctance to work on this flight... The gulf between management and staff doesn't seem to be lessening unfortunately)

 

[GoldenWinger]

Row 48ABC will be sold as exit row as a surcharge. Free of charge only for Plat One I assume.

 

[moa999]

Row 48 procedures just bizarre for what are otherwise great seats.

From a customer perspective, PE and J dont need self-service bars, they should be serviced!

As for the changes, fact of economics - QF had one of the lowest seat count A380s, this gets them back to competitive.
Am somewhat surpised that it wasnt more PE than Y however.

==

The crew point is interesting. Apart from OQA back to full service, QF haven't added any new birds recently, and not planned to, so what has changed??

 

[Platinum A332]

- They also removed 1xY bathroom from downstairs. So make that 7 bathrooms for 341Y passengers, instead of 8 for 332.
- Previously for J passengers, there were 4 bathrooms for 72 passengers. And 2 bathrooms for 32 W passengers. Now, there are 4 bathrooms for 99 passengers. This is a joke.

Seriously, this is now the most disgusting A380 configuration in the industry. <redacted>

 

[spentan]

this is really intredasting. thanks for the info

 

[GoldenWinger]

Good point Platinum A332 - forgot about the loo situation - that is a total joke for 341Y pax. And have a look at the toilet situation for the those seats near door M3L - what a nightmare - to be avoided at all costs.

Also some other tid bits - the new Economy seats on the upper deck do not feature IFE handsets - so if someone wants to SMS or make a call they need to be escorted to the business lounge to use that handset. So that's a good loophole if any Y pax wanna sneak into the pathetic J lounge - just say you need to make a call - lol.

This is even worse than the reconfigured 747s - the seats are great but it has 5 LESS TOILETS - what a joke. If anyone has flown on he DFW services the loos for main deck business are located at doors 2 - only 2 loos and the queue is massive to change into your PJs - right next to the galley so crew are so pissed off about it.

Do they think at QF?

 

[Platinum A332]

only 2 loos and the queue is massive to change into your PJs - right next to the galley so crew are so pissed off about it.

Do they think at QF?

Was that an intentional pun? Haha.

Seriously though, this configuration looks *extremely* unappealing. My graduation trip was to cash in some points to fly the QF-380 in J or F into SIN or HKG.....I think I will use these points to fly CX now to get best value for my points....

 

[dougieboy]

I never really understood the whole A380 thing anyway - a max passenger configuration sharing a low grade travel experience now even moreso. Long live the Queen of the Skies the 744!

 

[reductionist]

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Perhaps this is one for Red Roo and friends?

I know many passengers would love to know the reasons behind why QF have made these changes. In fact, all of the most successful and profitable companies in the world make a point of telling their customer why changes are being made, so they feel part of the process and are more appreciative of the work that goes into the thought process behind it.

Until these things are clarified it will continue to be a QF-bash-fest IMO.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

What a shame for Premium Economy. It was a really lovely cabin right at the rear with the self serve bar and 2 toilets. Very comfortable and lovely cabin. Now you have a piddly amount of Y class behind you, no bar and sharing toilets with lots more people. The boarding signs at LHR will have to be changed, it was quite simple before, Upper deck business and premium, lower deck economy and first. now they will need to have a certain group of economy passengers going to a different queue, makes it more confusing.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Always thought that 72J was a bit ambitious for QF

 

[scheps]

how annoying, need to reselect my seats maybe.....

 

[Joshua]

how annoying, need to reselect my seats maybe.....

Indeed. I was in 5A but just rechecked and found 3A now empty

Won't be able to wake up in the middle of the night and go grab a chocolate anymore, will just be people looking at me weirdly -_-

 

[NM]

The boarding signs at LHR will have to be changed, it was quite simple before, Upper deck business and premium, lower deck economy and first. now they will need to have a certain group of economy passengers going to a different queue, makes it more confusing.

They could still board all economy via lower deck, and have a small number of them use the rear stairs to get to the upper deck and not having to walk through Business and Premium Ecconomy cabins to get there.

 

[brett-au]

In regards to people using toilets to change in to PJs for J, I heard that Qantas was using curtains around the doors to make quassi change rooms.

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm trying to get my head around row 48. Is this process purely to get the pax away from the door during boarding? Whilst great seats this rigmarole puts me off a bit.

Perhaps QF could create more space by removing the toilet doors. (People seem happy with this in the Sydney J lounge* )

*Yes I know it is only the main entrance door to the gents and that this is a rather feeble attempt at humour at QF's expense.

 

[richie9x]

So it sounds like passengers can't sit in row 48 while the door is open, I guess their seats are physically blocked by the open aircraft door. So they get caught up in a game of musical chairs at the boarding. So I take it row 48 would get to disembark at the same time as first class passengers.

Not sure if it is worth all the hassle.

 

[markis10]

So much for the reconfig not causing customer issues as mooted by some in other threads, will be interesting to see how this beds in over time, a rethink might be on the cards a la three abreast J seating on the domestic birds.