New QF A380 reconfiguration!!!

[geordieladinoz]

Just checked our booking for this Thursday's SYD - HKG and it has changed to the reconfigured flight and seats 48B & 48C were available so have snapped them up at the $80 upgrade fee to give us some extra space and some honest feedback. We made the decision to do this trip Y class as we are travelling back to the UK at Christmas so ideal for these seats to crop up. Watch this space . . .

I'm new to this and have to say that the reconfiguration seems utterly bizarre. Had 2 380 trips so far, J from SIN - LHR and F from LAX - SYD on a round the world trip last Christmas visiting friends and family in the UK and US. Very impressed with both trips and now have a fondness for all things 380. Doing a return SYD - HKG in a weeks time and return SYD - LHR in Dec 12 / Jan 13 and all still showing old configuration 380 but I guess this could change right up to departure. Will be interested to see if a reconfigured cabin changed my opinion but I don't envisage so. I'm after comfort on the flight and all the extra gimmicks i.e. lounge, bar etc. are not what I am travelling for. Think the toilet status will be the one to make it or break it for me!

 

[GoldenWinger]

No surprises the 48ABC special boarding process has been stopped. This is the latest advice given to crew:

REVISION A380
A380R 22 CREW COMPLEMENT WORK POSITIONS Background:
Based on feedback from you and our customers we’re making changes to the ‘Introducing the A380R’ guide. The changes effect the Economy boarding process (48ABC) at M2L and the service flow for Premium Economy / Upper Deck Economy breakfast and supper services.
Boarding requirements for M2L at row 48:
Originally M2LP escorted customers seated in 48ABC to the Upper Deck Business Lounge when they boarded the aircraft. This was so as not to disrupt the flow of boarding or cause congestion at door M2L due to the close proximity of row 48 to the door. The process disturbed customers seated in First and caused significant distraction for the CSM during a very busy time.
Policy:
Customers seated in 48ABC (LHS) are no longer required to board the aircraft last or for M2LP to escort them to the Upper Deck Business Lounge. These customers can now board the aircraft within the normal customer flow and take their seats.
Service Flows
The service flows for Premium Economy and Upper Deck Economy outlined in the ‘Introducing our A380R’ guide have now changed. The changes are as follows:
Supper:
It's no longer necessary to offer the after-takeoff tray of Champagne, juice and water to our Premium Economy customers prior to Supper.
Start meal tray delivery in Premium Economy prior to meal tray delivery in Upper Deck Economy
Breakfast:
Deliver the Upper deck Economy breakfast and collect meal trays prior to turning the lights up in Premium Economy for the start of the Premium Economy breakfast service

 

[markis10]

It's no longer necessary to offer the after-takeoff tray of Champagne, juice and water to our Premium Economy customers prior to Supper.

Sacrebleu !

 

[TonyHancock]

Well that's my entertainment ruined this weekend. I was hoping to enjoy the spectacle of Y pax being escorted through the F cabin. I was planning on taking bread rolls from the F lounge to throw.

 

[docjames]

Supper:
It's no longer necessary to offer the after-takeoff tray of Champagne, juice and water to our Premium Economy customers prior to Supper.
Start meal tray delivery in Premium Economy prior to meal tray delivery in Upper Deck Economy

/first world problems/

Argh, what a disaster!! These are the touches that make it feel "premium".

Breakfast:
Deliver the Upper deck Economy breakfast and collect meal trays prior to turning the lights up in Premium Economy for the start of the Premium Economy breakfast service

I would have thought that should have made it to v1 - it seems sensible to allow the premium pax a little longer to sleep...

 

[anat0l]

No surprises the 48ABC special boarding process has been stopped.

Well, common sense prevails. Thank goodness.

It's no longer necessary to offer the after-takeoff tray of Champagne, juice and water to our Premium Economy customers prior to Supper.

I didn't even know W had a pre-meal drink tray. J and F I can understand; why W? In any case, if you're going to offer a pre-meal drink then you might as well take full orders rather than passing out a tray. Sparkling wine, juice or water? Poor excuse just to have the feature; get rid of it or do it properly.

And what the hell is it with the wording, "It's no longer necessary..."? You do or you don't do it?

Someone tell Qantas that if they are offering Chandon NV from Victoria, that is not Champagne. Jacobs Creek Sparkling is not Champagne and only technically makes the definition of sparkling wine (the 'wine' part, that is). It's bad enough that the Americans insist that they produce "Champagne" (as do the Kiwis with their "Method Traditionalle"); get the bl**dy fact right - Champagne is from France. So at least roll out some minimum Charles Heidsieck NV, or even Monopole Blue Top (brutal stuff IMO, but it can work), or... *shudder* Deutz.

Had W gotten rid of the pre-takeoff drink, then that'd be a real riot.

Start meal tray delivery in Premium Economy prior to meal tray delivery in Upper Deck Economy
Breakfast:
Deliver the Upper deck Economy breakfast and collect meal trays prior to turning the lights up in Premium Economy for the start of the Premium Economy breakfast service

In other words, let W have the longest sleeping time possible. Well, that's hopefully how I read it. Makes sense.

It does imply that the poor FAs in that area are responsible for both W and UD Y; they have to swap catering carts halfway through the service (i.e. W get their meals; Y get their meals).

Well that's my entertainment ruined this weekend. I was hoping to enjoy the spectacle of Y pax being escorted through the F cabin. I was planning on taking bread rolls from the F lounge to throw.

I would've thought that by the time that could happen, you would've plied yourself with enough Champagne that you'd have an awful aim. :mrgreen: Now that's entertainment!

 

[MelUser]

I have a QF93 in November and I notice that J has shrunk - this will mean the new aircraft.

94 back (also Nov) seems to be untouched.

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Just returned from London on the 380 First ...

and it's funny the flight crew where talking to me about it

... and said it's stupid some of the London based crew are heading to Aust to work domestic as they refit the fleet ...

they would be better off spending the money on a new first lounge in Singapore it was a disaster on the way there and home it took me 20 min to find a seat and I payed full fare First.

The other comment made to me by the manager on my flight was that Qantas is the only airline that flys nowhear

 

[Blackadder]

Just grabbed the seats maps to check this.

Old config

Four toilets (3B and 1H) in galley section between Emerald City and the rest of J. Pax in row 25 Have to walk forward eight rows to use the facilities.
Two toilets in whY+ (2B)

New Config

Two toilets (2B) at back of Emerald City. One H and One T at back of J - curtained off from whY+
One B in the whY section

Seems like the worst off will be whY+ as they are curtained off from both sets of loos.

In J I can't see it being to bad.

I travelled Y+ on the new config ex LAX, and whilst the curtain seperates Y+ from the toilets ar the rear of J, there is nothing to stop you going through the curtains and using the toilets and I wasn't told anything to the contrary and no others from Y+ were turned back.

 

[simongr]

Isnt the key problem with the SIN F lounge at the moment because they are spending more to refurb it?

 

[JohnPhelan]

they would be better off spending the money on a new first lounge in Singapore it was a disaster on the way there and home it took me 20 min to find a seat and I payed full fare First.

The other comment made to me by the manager on my flight was that Qantas is the only airline that flys nowhear

QF is currently building a completely new First lounge in SIN. That's why the current facilities are a bit cramped. I'm quite surprised that a QF Plat didn't know about this, as QF has sent out a lot of info to people on this subject. But certainly, people travelling on a paid First class ticket should get priority over everyone else for access to a First lounge.

The final line of your post makes no sense - what did the person say to you?

 

[Pushka]

It's no longer necessary to offer the after-takeoff tray of Champagne, juice and water to our Premium Economy customers prior to Supper.

Well, that's just plain cheeky. No longer "necessary"? According to whom!

And yes, it's sparkling white unless it is from the Epernay and surrounding areas of France.
Just returned Tuesday from the old A380 Y+ from Heathrow. Our prized 38J and K were very much enjoyed on our 30 hour marathon from Barcelona, LHR, Singapore, Melb and Adelaide. A shame to see it disappear.

We had brilliant service on all A380 legs, especially the crew based in London, for LHR to Singapore. Great fun. And offers of lots of wine.

 

[mannej]

Can anyone spot the error on this page?

The Qantas A380 implementation schedule

 

[anat0l]

Can anyone spot the error on this page?

The Qantas A380 implementation schedule

Is this it?

You will continue to enjoy our A380 flying experience

 

[mannej]

Is this it?

I like that

All 12 Qantas A380 aircraft will be reconfigured. The first reconfigured aircraft (registration VH-OGD) entered service on 20 June 2012, with all aircraft completed by April 2013.

oops

 

[medhead]

Well IM[limited]E they don't offer a pre-dinner drink in J on the A380. Why should PE be any different?

 

[TonyHancock]

Well IME they don't offer a ore-dinner drink in J on the A380. Why should PE be any different?

You got me thinking about that and I don't recall pre dinner drinks on my last QF J long haul. I'm on a 747 this weekend so I'll see what happens.

 

[amaroo]

You got me thinking about that and I don't recall pre dinner drinks on my last QF J long haul. I'm on a 747 this weekend so I'll see what happens.

They'll probably give you two.....as compensation for not being on the A380*

* this only applies to non-refurb'd 747's

 

[serfty]

Interesting - a flight I have in November is now showing the new configuration - row 48 costs an extra $160 per seat being an exit row - so that Champers was paid for in a way.

As for me, in the interests of research I have moved myself from 50C¹ to 32A ... l will report back ...

¹ (the 3 'good' seats, 80A/K, 71D had already been snared by the time I booked)

 

[anat0l]

Well IME they don't offer a ore-dinner drink in J on the A380. Why should PE be any different?

You got me thinking about that and I don't recall pre dinner drinks on my last QF J long haul. I'm on a 747 this weekend so I'll see what happens.

A bit O/T here...

I thought J gets pre-meal drinks, usually with the standard issue almonds (and sometimes cashews) by Santos snack supplies. Maybe it's a time dependent or something else factored in. For example, I'm sure I've had the experience on domestic (except for short flights) that J gets a pre-meal drink. I've also had it on Trans-Tasman services. On the other hand, my only other experience on QF J is BNE-HKG on the 333: that one I think may have had no pre-meal drink, but rather they took your order and when your tray was presented the drink was ready on the tray. (This is now recalling from memory so this could be wrong - note carefully!) This was also a supper service (damn short flight for sleep, so probably a good thing!)


You'd think that on longer flights, especially where the meal is not supper (viz. lunch or dinner), a pre-meal drink service in J should be standard. After all, what else do they do whilst waiting for all the meals to heat up? (Actually, don't answer that.......)


Perhaps milehighclub can confirm what is the standard service for J in this case...