Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[levelnine]

The A380 currently get rotated through all the routes, so if they remove F seats on some it then becomes more difficult to offer F on any of the flights. That's probably the strongest case to just keep the F seats.

The A380s aren't going to get another refurb, are they? This second refurb will last 10 years then the aircraft will be 20 years old and presumably start being retired.

 

[NoName]

Just reinforces my thoughts that next time I travel to the US I won’t bother with F. Unless they were to significantly upgrade the F food offerings then J would be sufficient.

 

[kpro]

The A380s aren't going to get another refurb, are they? This second refurb will last 10 years then the aircraft will be 20 years old and presumably start being retired

A few of the 747's went through 3 J products didn't they? Delivered prior to 2004 with Dreamtime seats, Retrofitted to Skybed MK1 and then again to Skybed MK2? Does this include the ER's, or only the few non ER's which got the MK2's?

 

[moa999]

This refurb will be the 3rd iteration for some of the A380s. The initial config also only had J and PE upstairs, the mini-Y cabin was added later.

Replacing F with Y wouldn't be a big exercise I suspect. Equally they could put in whatever product is used for Sunrise in smaller number (though depends on remaining life of the A380s)

The reason I suggested it is that any Sunrise F is likely to take the bulk of F demand away (though may also draw from other carriers) from LHR, and partially from LAX. Don't think substantial F demand on the HKG route given historically QF hasn't sold it.

 

[mviy]

Sunrise could very well get delayed and/or take quite a while to fully roll out.

On some routes e.g. to DFW they can’t fill the A380 anyway. I’d see very little reason for them to redo the seating again before retiring the planes unless they thought they could make more revenue by putting in extra J seats (more than the 14 F seats) but they’d want to be pretty sure they could sell them often enough to justify it over a short time frame (maybe less than five years)

 

[jpp42]

On some routes e.g. to DFW they can’t fill the A380 anyway.

I think it can be filled *to* DFW, just not the return DFW-SYD

But I agree, I'm surprised this route isn't already replaced with a 787. It must be in the cards soon to avoid this issue, with the A380 going somewhere the 747's currently are used (JNB? HND?).

 

[moa999]

I think it's a general question as to where the 380s fly in the future.
I believe there are restrictions at HND, and would think 787 more likely to JNB, with a 330 from PER (if QF and airport ever get past their issues)

 

[JohnM]

Just reinforces my thoughts that next time I travel to the US I won’t bother with F. Unless they were to significantly upgrade the F food offerings then J would be sufficient.

I agree - and it completely reinforces my thoughts that the next time I travel to LOTFAP, it's westwards on QR (or EK if on an Award) - even if I position from PER to the E coast first . The F Champagne is good, but the wines have become ordinary and the food even more so.

Now that it is easy to book a DONEx out of Australia without even including a QF flight, I'm starting a DONE4 in May next year from CBR on QR in QSuites. It will be my 16th successive annual DONEx - and the first not to include a QF-metal flight . Sorry, QF, the NP grass, picnic cutlery and tilting plates has done it for me - and certainly the 'new' F does not tempt me in the slightest for the UPGs I've generally had in the past . See ya!

 

[moa999]

Looks like VH-OQK is operating QF7 to DFW today.
First time since the refurb that it hasn't been on LHR/LAX duties as QF1/2/11/12.

Also operating QF94 LAX-MEL Oct 30

 

[sudoer]

with the A380 going somewhere the 747's currently are used (JNB? HND?).

HND has operating restrictions on the A380

 

[woodborer]

I think it can be filled *to* DFW, just not the return DFW-SYD

But I agree, I'm surprised this route isn't already replaced with a 787. It must be in the cards soon to avoid this issue, with the A380 going somewhere the 747's currently are used (JNB? HND?).

I've heard Joburg is well on the cards for an A380.

 

[Brettmcg]

Might be a bit of a case of being careful what you wish for with the refurbed bird (OQK).

I've heard very reliable reports from crew friends who have operated on this aircraft that on the QF7 to DFW the other day, five F seats became inoperable during the flight, some of the J seats had bits falling off, and there were major IFE issues in all cabins throughout the flight.

 

[JohnM]

I can handle IFE failures. I collected a bottle of Dom for my troubles with 2A's IFE some years ago LAX-MEL.

But the funny thing about it is that I very seldom use the IFE, except to look at the flight path. I only told the FA about 2 h out of MEL so it could be logged for the the tech peeps to check once on the ground.

Happy days...

 

[NotThatFrequent]

Missed a new one in business from DFW to Sydney by one day... my bags got a ride on it though courtesy of bad weather at DFW...

 

[cove]

I do hope the fix of the A380 J seat is being properly done this time around.

 

[TheInsider]

I do hope the fix of the A380 J seat is being properly done this time around.

meaning what?

 

[cove]

Meaning the A380 business class seat is currently very uncomfortable and I avoid it.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The F refresh can’t come soon enough.
This was my ride home last night

 

[cpatters]

Which A380 rego was this?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Which A380 rego was this?

VH OQI