New QF A380 reconfiguration!!!

[cmon0005]

Why fix it if it ain't broken??

 

[haydensydney]

I'm not terribly bothered because I don't fly Qantas... but...

1. The row 48 rigmarole is just an awkward process from beginning to end.
2. The toilet situation is just a shambles, particularly with J pax wanting a feeling of exclusivity and no longer getting that due to the Y+ impostors.
3. Economy on the top deck will just be confusing for pax during boarding.

In saying that though, it's obvious that QF need to make money - and if they think these 'enhancements' will bring revenue in... good for them.

 

[GoldenWinger]

GoldenWinger - your information sounds extremely 'insider', which I think means you would struggle being a WP1. Another round of Qantas bashing if you ask me...

as for QF bashing call it what you want...the the product is just wrong on this A380 - and most people are agreeing.

How convenient that you've just joined - I see you only have two posts thus far.

 

[SeatBackForward]

In saying that though, it's obvious that QF need to make money - and if they think these 'enhancements' will bring revenue in... good for them.

These changes are awkward, and it'll be the Flight crew that bear the brunt of the frustration, not the beancounters making these decisions. Would've been easier to bump up the CC fee or the Fuel Levy instead..oh thats right they are "operational" costs..

 

[cmon0005]

In saying that though, it's obvious that QF need to make money - and if they think these 'enhancements' will bring revenue in... good for them.

People will only fly with them if they are happy with the product, and when you strip down a good product people will vote with their feet and go elsewhere.

 

[sydfflyer]

I'm simply a WP who doesn't appreciate gratuitous Qantas bashing. Some people find any excuse...

 

[markis10]

as for QF bashing call it what you want...the the product is just wrong on this A380 - and most people are agreeing.

How convenient that you've just joined - I see you only have two posts thus far.

Psst its 2012, a member since 2010 is hardly a newbie, not that it makes a difference given many lurk first, all are welcome to post their news and views!

 

[GoldenWinger]

I'm simply a WP who doesn't appreciate gratuitous Qantas bashing. Some people find any excuse...

then don't read it. All posts on here have been backed up and justified and people are entitled to their opinion just like you are yours.

 

[drewbles]

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!

Have you flown an A380? It's streets ahead comfort wise. I did QF7 not that long ago in a 747. I was wanting to rip my hair out after around 2 hours in economy (100% full economy too).

 

[Pushka]

they don't - it will have a flow on effect - the QF1 SYD-SIN-LHR is likely to either be cancelled or re-timed. It's all fun and games. at the moment I wouldn't touch QF long haul anywhere especially A380 flights if you need to be somewhere on time. The reliability is pathetic.

Not really all that helpful as I've had my A380 July flights to LHR booked for almost a year.

 

[TonyHancock]

Is the new config showing up on anyone's future flights to the UK? Just checked mine for October, December, March 2013, and May 2013 and nothing has changed yet. I'm hoping QF can dress the occupants of row 48 up in jester's outfits to entertain the F pax as they are led through the F cabin. Should be tremendous sport. Got three F's coming up so will bring my own bread rolls to throw at the Y pax. After that I'll be looking forward to the F pax throwing the rolls at me!!!!

It's not ideal, but it won't change my travel plans. I'm still pretty happy with 12E in J, and providing folk lock the toilet doors in F I'll be relatively happy. As for Y I'll probably try for row 48. I suspect QF will iron out the obvious issues quickly. Could be huge fun.

I'm enjoying flying QF on international routes at the moment.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

In saying that though, it's obvious that QF need to make money - and if they think these 'enhancements' will bring revenue in... good for them.

Culling business seats means that QF are either:-

a) Not selling enough paid seats
b) Want to make them more exclusive / charge more
c) ..??

If QF are not selling enough seats, removing them won't improve profitability - and it only makes it worse. Last time I checked a Y pax was worth substantially less than a discounted biz pax. Additionally, QFi need to think about WHY they are finding it difficult to fill these seats. As an outsider I've got a long list of reasons why and how they can be fixed.

Considering QF are already the most expensive airline to most detinations (by a long way too) - let's cancel possibility (b) out too.

Personally I feel QFi should stop wasting cash on revenue losing exercises like this reconfig and start focusing on things that will directly improve the bottom line.

 

[muppet]

All the current A380 fleet are getting a reconfig.

Good lord.... Now I'll post!

This is rubbish. I was willing to suck it up for future deliveries, but ruining all the existing aircraft? Geeze.

I always buy PE - but never have flown PE, always end up in J somehow (leisure times I guess). This idea of a PE cabin with no bar and no dunny is just a shambles. Having everying crammed in like that will ruin the feel of personal space. The row 48 seems a bit like those DJ planes without the bulkhead at row one - people walk into the overhead thing and your legs. Muppets will hang around there during the flight as well, I don't think they'll end up being awesome seats.

For 15 hours, it just doesn't seem like there's enough loos - particularly with the curries and what not QF slap on the table.

</rant>

So what will be the best PE seats now? I guess emerald city is still prime for J. Upper deck for Y?

 

[Pushka]

Is the new config showing up on anyone's future flights to the UK? .

They haven't changed for my flights Melb-LHR for early July. I am paranoid, well, more than I normally am, now!

PE - 38J and K.

 

[rechoboam]

I can't visualize it. Isn't there a safety issue if row 48 has an issue with the door?

My biggest issue with the J cabin was cabin traffic including people walking through my row (even when I was sleeping- well until they woke me up). Also hearing noise when sitting in an aisle row. Removing toilets will potentially increase that problem.

The row 48 issue is just totally stupid. If its so important to get 3 more seats charge an extra 1% for the fares, it's not exactly a cut-price product internationally anyway. How the rigmarole could possibly be worth it I don't know.

And the idea of leaving board papers and confidential medical/legal reports in a locker while i go to watch infomercials in a "lounge" is obviously totally unworkable.

 

[Bugalugz]

Thankfully my seat map hasn't changed in October out of LHR......yet!

Having flown Y+ on the A380 and now looking forward to J, I enjoyed the Private feel Y+ had with the bar and 2x toilets and to me it was worth the extra money, but now???? kinda takes away the whole exclusive feel and ends up being like the Y+ on the 747 which is a shambles. Least you don't have to venture back to 'Hell' and fight for those toilets.

Between the loss of the J self serve (not that you should really need them, but they are an 'extra') and Y+ being shafted the 2 premium money making cabins have been shafted.

Good job Qantas, way to go pissing off your frequent flyers and all flyers..........you wonder why people don't want to fly on the airline, stupid decisions like this.

 

[MarcB]

I don't want to start a riot as some people seem very outraged by this change, but how often does the average person use a toilet on a 12 hour flight anyway?? Once, twice, maybe 3 times??

IMHO, I find that there is always a queue for the loos after meal service or from about 1-2 hours before landing - irrespective of how many toilets there are on board. I simply just make sure I try to use them outside of those peak times. I know sometimes it's unavoidable and you've just got to go, but I really don't think one less loo will cause that much inconvenience if people just time their use of the conveniences better.

It's clear other's disagree, but I am really struggling to see how this devalues the Qantas offering. I haven't flown other carriers, but can anyone rattle off the pax-toilet ratios for other carriers? I'd be intrigued to know how different they are...and then whether this, as opposed to other factors would sway you to fly elsewhere. For my 2-3 loo trips, its not enough to sway me.

As for the row 48 boarding, I agree that it seems coughbersome, but it's 3 pax. Again, unless you are in those seats, I fail to see how this will inconvenience the majority of people. And if you don't like the idea of late boarding or a free drink in the J lounge, then pick another seat. Simple.

There's been a lot of focus on the negatives of this reconfiguration, but does anyone see any positives of the change? I see that potentially there will be some lucky Y pax upstairs are probably going to get a more premium experience than the masses downstairs for example - seems like it will be a very exclusive Y cabin.

 

[spentan]

What really annoys me, is that being 6ft9in tall and 170+kgs I used to love the one bathroom on the plane (in the middle of the J upper deck) that I can fit in comfortably.

My A380 flights from SYD-LAX-MEL in Aug haven't changed (yet),

I'm hoping they don't, otherwise I'm gonna be really annoyed. And I will make my opinion heard.

 

[orangehenry]

How I feel about the new changes...

 

[JohnPhelan]

Have you flown an A380? It's streets ahead comfort wise. I did QF7 not that long ago in a 747. I was wanting to rip my hair out after around 2 hours in economy (100% full economy too).

I have flown the A380, and never again if I can help it. Their on-time reliability is awful because of the coughpy RR engines.

I choose my flights specifically to avoid the A380 - gve me a reliable 747 any day!