Qantas 787 reviews J - Y+ and Y

[AviationNZ]

And here's the AusBT review of J class - Qantas Boeing 787 business class (Los Angeles-Melbourne)

 

[serfty]

3. It was much faster to board/collect my bags than with an A380, I've never really enjoyed competing with 400+ people at baggage claim.

Of the notes, this would not be hugely due to the aircraft - being late in arriving, maybe the ground crew at MEL were having a time with less arrivals.

 

[mviy]

Does priority baggage work any better with the 787? Or still the same issue with priority baggage not being treated with priority?

 

[RichardMEL]

Does priority baggage work any better with the 787? Or still the same issue with priority baggage not being treated with priority?

Sorry what? The a/c type is not terribly relevant it's how the bins are filled at one end, and then taken off at the other that is going to matter.. and that process will be the same more or less given the staff probably haven't changed.

And as for the toilet paper/cloth towel "issue".. I am not sure what the thing about that is but I simply do not recall cloth in the 787 J but maybe there was. I had it on the 380 in F coming back, but that's a different class. *shrug*

Maybe QF stocked it in J too. I mean if that's their standard I see no reason why it would be different on the 787.

+1 to all those about the IFE - very responsible and quick and unlike some other airlines (ahem EK) you get straight down to the show and not 5 minutes of ads at the start. The moving map display is quite useful too - better than what's on the 380, despite the lack of cool camera views.

 

[RichardMEL]

btw part of the LAX-MEL delay may well have been caused by the (almost usual) delay to QF12 ex JFK - waiting for connecting pax.

On Sunday when I did LAX-MEL in 94, 12 was late and had pushed back LAX-BNE (used the aircraft) and 12 to SYD past midnight.

94 itself was delayed, and the crew didn't shut up about it, because NZ was late out of the gate and they couldn't tow the aircraft in. Mostly good natured bashing of our kiwi cousins.

 

[TheInsider]

Paper? Doesn't J have thin cloth hand towels?

I think they are all changing to paper. Too many issues with the lav system with people flushing them down the toilets.

 

[levelnine]

The seat itself was fairly comfortable, although in terms of pitch and width I'd probably still slightly prefer an A380.

Thanks for the personal, comprehensive, informative review. Sounds like it will be a very tough ask to sit in one of those seats for 17+ hours, especially if you are seated next to a large person.

 

[mviy]

I think they are all changing to paper. Too many issues with the lav system with people flushing them down the toilets.

That is disappointing. People should use the bins for everything but toilet paper. If I get paper towel in the lavs rather than what I'm used to in long haul J I'll certainly leave QF some feedback expressing my displeasure with the change. Paper towel feels very cheap when the airfare costs thousands.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: towels in toilets: if QF isn't going to supply the high quality of hand towel EK F has then I'd prefer paper towels. The thin cloth towels QF uses in the premium cabins and the F lounges are almost a waste of time. I find I need several to many to make any good and would really just like something that works.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well I never thought I'd see the day where there was such passion over hand towels in the lav

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Well I never thought I'd see the day where there was such passion over hand towels in the lav

2018 may well see this issue surpass feet on bulkheads.

 

[thevas]

btw part of the LAX-MEL delay may well have been caused by the (almost usual) delay to QF12 ex JFK - waiting for connecting pax.

I think it was partly this reason (all the QF LAX flights were delayed about 30-60 mins), as well as an additional fault that may have been related to the later onboard issues. QF94 pushed back from our gate at 11pm, but the 787 wasn't towed in until around 1am.

 

[Kceips]

Flying Y+ later next week on QF 95. After reading AUBT review I really hope an upgrade comes through....
Just wanting commments about front row - is extra legroom and no one reclining in front worth it - or is it annoying to have thinner seat (entertainment system in arm rest) and lack of storage in front?

 

[Flying mermaid]

We travelled J on the 747 to SFO on Monday and it was paper towels.

We are flying J on the 25th and are on a 787 - I booked the tickets in rather a hurry and didn’t realise what I had booked until I cam to select seats and then thought what’s this weird looking configuration. Half thinking of trying to change to the direct flight back, but maybe it will be fun to try the 787.....

 

[Flying mermaid]

So flew lax-Mel on the 25th on the 787. It was Walzing Matilda which the crew seemed very excited about - a very new one?

First the good

- crew were super enthusiastic and we were so well looked after. The girl who did the cooking came and introduced herself at the beginning and had a chat at the end, she said she was still getting used to the ovens which were much faster. I had scrambled eggs for breakfast and they were superb - she said she really made sure they cooked slowly (which of course is the secret to soft tasty scrambled eggs )

Toilets are very small, but I could still change without issues. Cloth towels to start with, but changed to paper by the end. I actually think I prefer paper. We were in 3e and f, so used the forward toilet. Never much of a wait, even in the morning rush. Two more at the back.

As high lighted in the Ausbt review there are no storage bins over 2ef and 3ef. We only had a handbag and a small backpack between us, so we had no issues using the ones over on the side, but if you had a lot and the other passengers had a lot it could be difficult.

The rear galley had an array of snacks set up - dips, crudités, left over desserts, chips, fruit and the crew were quite busy bringing hot stuff out after people had a sleep. (Obviously supper was served after takeoff).

Mattress covers were already on the seats when we boarded, so very quick to go to sleep when you were ready.

TV screens were very crisp and clear and the user interface seemed easier to use e.g. just clicking on the plane icon brought up the map and you could bring that up and then go back to the movie.

Suites had bigger surfaces and much more inflight storage spaces. The lights were annoying. I put one on to fill in the landing cards and it threw the shadow forward, so you really couldn’t see properly.

The bed was nice and flat with no annoying droop anywhere.

The bad

Well we found it very claustrophobic- the layout makes it private, but because it is all so close together you really feel it is all on top of you. It isn’t, as you have plenty of space but it just feels unpleasant. The foot wells are what gives you the stretch space.

In order to give you a flat bed you have to lie with your feet and lower legs in the wells and that makes sleep unpleasant. I am fairly restless particularly on planes and every time I turned over I banged my feet on some part of the well and when I tried curling up so my feet weren’t in it, I then banged on all the other bits.

We are both 1.7 with Mr FM around 60kg and I am about 65kg, so we are not big, someone taller or heavier would find it even more of an issue, unless they were very peaceful sleepers.

The recline never seemed quite right - you couldn’t get your feet high enough, without the back being too reclined. Mr FM had the same problem.

As far as sleep quality goes I found the 747 on the way over was better and I would probably avoid the 787 in J again, although everything else was good. We do prefer F anyway, so maybe that coloured our view of the suite.

 

[Ansett]

Good report FM Many thanks and I agree completely re the foot well in my mind it is too narrow, based on several A330 experiences.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for the report FM. Using it for future bookings

 

[mjt57]

Folks, I’d like to know how the Qantas 787s compare to either Jetstar’s or United’s 787s in economy.

In May we flew to Hawaii from Melbourne with Jetstar. The flight home from Los Angeles was on a united Airlines 787. Both aircraft had the same seating. Neither were comfortable, unfortunately.

We are heading to Seattle via LA in August and we need to decide on our flights soon. I’m hoping that Qantas is offering a more comfortable ride.

Thanks.

 

[serfty]

QF won't be much better if at all.

I prefer EK operated aircraft out of Oz in economy. Generally better food is the main reason.

 

[davidj]

With over 600+ 787 flying today (and even some within the QF group) and MEL-LAX being an existing route, it is hard to get too excited about about number 601+ entering service without looking foolish...

A few Qantas staff and captains agree. The Qantas (and some media outlets) have their marketing spin on overdrive.

There ain't anything "revolutionary" getting the 787, considering operators such as Ethiopian Airlines were running them back in 2013