New QF A380 reconfiguration!!!

[Dalek]

Hi MrTed,

Welcome and good luck. My wife and I came back on QF2 from LHR yesterday and also had originally reserved 38e and 38f. Unfortunately the plane was switched to the new config and we were moved to 25d & e.
It is my understanding that there is no charge for exit seats in PE but you might find the ones on the side are blocked for higher status passengers.

 

[MrTed]

Hi Dalek!

How unfortunate...I'm sure you both were understandably peeved. I'll be honest, it all seems to good to be true; me getting a roomy seat just like that; I am just going to expect a standard seat (which is fine, considering what the economy alternative is!), and anything beyond that is a bonus.
How was your flight, anyway? How were the seats?

 

[Dalek]

Hi Dalek!

How unfortunate...I'm sure you both were understandably peeved. I'll be honest, it all seems to good to be true; me getting a roomy seat just like that; I am just going to expect a standard seat (which is fine, considering what the economy alternative is!), and anything beyond that is a bonus.
How was your flight, anyway? How were the seats?

Hi MrTed

The flights, both legs, were very comfortable. The seats are good, the cabin crew were excellent, overall a good experience which overcame any disappointment about being on the new config.

 

[banger2]

What flights are they if you don't mind me asking? Are any of them ex-MEL?



What do you mean by "lack of storage", are the overhead bins smaller?

I didn't note the bin sizes forward of row 35, but the bins above 36k&j are tiny (call it small/medium backpack size), and the bin overhead 35k&j isn't much bigger. Row 35&36 centre seats have very little available overhead, especially as I didn't note any overheads on one side due to a partition, the other side is still quite small. If you are in a window seat the underwindow bin does help to a certain extent.

I'm not sure if these photos show what I mean.....


I love this new layout for economy! Ive only had 3 A380 flights to date (all within the last 3 months) and I am disappointed when I don't have access too the upper deck economy cabin. 2 of the flights I was on the upper deck, 1 of them on lower deck (all economy)....I didn't enjoy the lower deck particularly...felt very cramped with the masses! My impression on upper deck is the economy seating has more personal space but less storage, the opposite downstairs.

 

[banger2]

And slightly off topic.....do the cabin crews on the A380 seem happier than those on other aircraft in the Qantas fleet? Just a casual observation that they do....

 

[simongr]

And slightly off topic.....do the cabin crews on the A380 seem happier than those on other aircraft in the Qantas fleet? Just a casual observation that they do....

All the crew I have had on A380s have been excellent - mind you so were the crews on my last three int'l QF flights (A330 and 738).

 

[mannej]

Although the overall width of the bins may be normal, the bins are not very deep.

I had a small sports bag which was ok, but if I had my legal sized carry on, I'd think it wouldn't think. The crew seemed aware to this problem as they were proactive in offering space to those who couldn't find it.

 

[banger2]

Just a thought....are all the upper deck overheads of smaller dimension to the lower deck? I haven't ever been in the new PE or Business cabin on the A380...

 

[yohy?!]

And slightly off topic.....do the cabin crews on the A380 seem happier than those on other aircraft in the Qantas fleet? Just a casual observation that they do....

The A380 crew are for the most part on a new agreement I believe, so to them the whole industrial action and looming redundancy issue isn't a factor like it is for the 747 cabin crew.

 

[lovestotravel]

The A380 crew are for the most part on a new agreement I believe, so to them the whole industrial action and looming redundancy issue isn't a factor like it is for the 747 cabin crew.

While I haven't flown a QF A380 for quite a while, this makes full sense!

I feel sorry for the 747 crews

 

[chrisb]

Looking at these pics, can the person in 36d actually get out without crawling over EF? What about if 35 reclines?

I have 36ef allocated at the moment and someone is in 36d. (I assume. Expert flyer won't show me these rows on the seat map)

 

[TheInsider]

36d is generally blocked out until the last minute.

 

[NM]

When I sat in 32A, I found the window-side locker was significantly larger than those on the 747 upper deck and was large enough for my carry-on backpack that contains laptop, iPad, chargers, 1 change of clothes etc. So when seated in a window seat I found no need to use the overhead bins, leaving them available for the aisle passenger.

 

[chrisb]

36d is generally blocked out until the last minute.

Hmm. Good to know. I might take the risk and stay put. although with Y2W4J8 two months out maybe it'll be taken. Yay Christmas.

 

[TheInsider]

Hmm. Good to know. I might take the risk and stay put. although with Y2W4J8 two months out maybe it'll be taken. Yay Christmas.

Generally it will be a lucky staff member

 

[serfty]

36d is generally blocked out until the last minute.

I could have selected it for my QF93 next month (not that I would - I already have 32A currently).

 

[ozmille]

Just a thought....are all the upper deck overheads of smaller dimension to the lower deck? I haven't ever been in the new PE or Business cabin on the A380...

Have not sat further than row 18 on an A380 but have not had trouble with overhead storage for my carry on wheelie

 

[under the radar]

i think after all the 'post introduction' comments of the new config a380 it seems not to be such of a 'disaster'!!.. yes there are a couple of niggling isues for some pax concerning the changes to the upperdeck layout...but on the whole i think majority have 'adapted' to the new layout

 

[Kangol]

I didn't note the bin sizes forward of row 35, but the bins above 36k&j are tiny (call it small/medium backpack size), and the bin overhead 35k&j isn't much bigger. Row 35&36 centre seats have very little available overhead, especially as I didn't note any overheads on one side due to a partition, the other side is still quite small. If you are in a window seat the underwindow bin does help to a certain extent.

Thanks for the photos, it looks like the reconfig didn't change the overhead bins (photos look just like the old PE cabin with diff seats) so I guess the addition of a few extra seats does make the space appear to be smaller.
I also note the normal Y pillow and blanket (previous photos of the new config showed them with J/PE blankets, may have been an initial oversight by the staff at the time).

 

[under the radar]

Thanks for the photos, it looks like the reconfig didn't change the overhead bins (photos look just like the old PE cabin with diff seats) so I guess the addition of a few extra seats does make the space appear to be smaller.
I also note the normal Y pillow and blanket (previous photos of the new config showed them with J/PE blankets, may have been an initial oversight by the staff at the time).

the blanket thing has come up in this thread..but with 48pages i'm not sure if there was an answer..maybe an oversight...or maybe because U/D Y/C is being considered the 'emerald city' of Y/C...the J/PE blankets/pillows are an 'added feature'... hope so!!