Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[straitman]

Hi All,

Newbie here so apologise if in the wrong thread

Qantas Gold Status and travelling with Family end Dec, just noticed I have been bumped from Economy Upstairs Section and Split over random Seats Downstairs ( Assuming due to Refurb Plane Swap) ... Even lost my extra leg room seats that were payed for

Qantas customer service offered a refund of the extra leg room and give me 4 seats down the back of the plane ( row 80+)

Feeling pretty hard done by, what is the best way to escalate this or alternatively do I just have to accept and move on...

Love your thoughts or feedback from others that have been impacted

Also what flight are you on?

We are flying QF8 on 31/12 and it is old configuration.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

We are flying 31/12

I meant date/flight so to check seating

 

[DavidW]

I meant date/flight so to check seating

We are on QF 11 Syd/LAX departing sydney 31/12 we are a group of 4

 

[OATEK]

QF 11 definitely the new config, and the only sets of four together are down the back. Demonstrates that it will be a bit of a lottery when a flight changes to the new config. Here is the seat map:

 

[DavidW]

Awesome Thanks OATEK, just got off the phone to customer service and was able to get 4 seats together in 66 ... Probably as good as I will get

 

[moa999]

Demonstrates that it will be a bit of a lottery

But on a full flight they will have to upgrade about 30 people from Y.

 

[Katie]

Just flew VH-OQK back from LAX (QF12). As it was a night flight, there weren't many people going up there, of the ones that did it was mainly individuals rather than couples or groups, so not noisy at all. The curtain between the mini cabin and bar area did a good job of blocking out light and noise.

A few interesting things I observed on the refurbished aircraft was that the moving map and 'time until arrival' countdown weren't showing/operating, as well as no access to the aircraft exterior cameras; minor little things, I know. Also, the remote for the screen in the bar/lounge area has been moved inside one of the cupboards, unlike on the unrefurbished aircraft where its beside the red couch. Was not allowed to play 'Who wants to be a millionaire' on the big screen (Woe is me).

Those IFE functions were both operational in my Y+ seats (and presumably the rest of the plane) on VH-OQK and VH-OQJ.

 

[KSC]

But on a full flight they will have to upgrade about 30 people from Y.

moa999 is it safe to assume that many of the Platinums in the blocked Y+ seats would be bidding to goto J ?

 

[kookaburra75]

QF1 on 31 Dec has just been switched over to a refurbished aircraft. I noticed when my seat went from 33G to 50C - certainly not sitting there. I've gone for a seat down the back in an 'empty' block of four with my fingers crossed for either my points upgrade comes through, or I get a block of four seats to myself being WP.
In theory, with more J seats I should have a better chance of an upgrade - still showing J9 C9 D9

 

[DMar86]

QF1 on 31 Dec has just been switched over to a refurbished aircraft. I noticed when my seat went from 33G to 50C - certainly not sitting there. I've gone for a seat down the back in an 'empty' block of four with my fingers crossed for either my points upgrade comes through, or I get a block of four seats to myself being WP.
In theory, with more J seats I should have a better chance of an upgrade - still showing J9 C9 D9

I'm in a similar situation on QF127 on 03/01. Noticed my option to reserve Y seating in the upstairs mini-cabin has disappeared. Also hoping my points upgrade request comes through, even though only SG.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

When these configs are changed to refurb it seems QF are not actually selling these extra seats in Y+ and J...so many of these flights are flying less than full over peak season

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

When these configs are changed to refurb it seems QF are not actually selling these extra seats in Y+ and J...so many of these flights are flying less than full over peak season

There is a risk of aircraft substitution - selling a seat that then doesn't exist due to switch to non-refurb isn't a good outcome. In any case Y is likely to be fairly full so will need some spare seats in Y+ and J for upgrades (supported or op-up).

 

[muppet]

There is a risk of aircraft substitution - selling a seat that then doesn't exist due to switch to non-refurb isn't a good outcome. In any case Y is likely to be fairly full so will need some spare seats in Y+ and J for upgrades (supported or op-up).

Lol you think Qantas is keeping premium seats free for op ups?
Qantas has demonstrated in other threads it has no drama denying boarding or downgrading people. An oversold Y cabin would be of little concern.

 

[moa999]

no drama denying boarding or downgrading people. An oversold Y cabin would be of little concern.

A couple here and there maybe..
This would be 6 J and 30 PE seats

 

[TheInsider]

Lol you think Qantas is keeping premium seats free for op ups?
Qantas has demonstrated in other threads it has no drama denying boarding or downgrading people. An oversold Y cabin would be of little concern.

You say it like no other airline does it. I can tell you for a fact, they do, many do.

 

[Himeno]

Lol you think Qantas is keeping premium seats free for op ups?
Qantas has demonstrated in other threads it has no drama denying boarding or downgrading people. An oversold Y cabin would be of little concern.

They are going from 14F/64J/35W/371Y to 14F/70J/60W/341Y. Until most of the fleet is done, they would have flights where the aircraft has changed to the refit, but been sold as the original. Which means they'll have up to 30Y pax that won't have seats on the refit who otherwise would had the aircraft not changed, yet up to 6J and 25W seats which they wouldn't have had.

While they are in the refit process, they will need a way to accommodate extra Y pax who now won't fit in Y after the seats they planned to operate with no longer exist. Part of that will be points upgrade requests. If they still have free seats in the higher cabins after processing requests and still have extra Y pax without seats, they'll op up people.

They won't be "keeping premium seats free for op ups". There will be premium seats available because said seats didn't exist in the aircraft when the flight was being sold.

 

[KSC]

W

They are going from 14F/64J/35W/371Y to 14F/70J/60W/341Y. Until most of the fleet is done, they would have flights where the aircraft has changed to the refit, but been sold as the original. Which means they'll have up to 30Y pax that won't have seats on the refit who otherwise would had the aircraft not changed, yet up to 6J and 25W seats which they wouldn't have had.

While they are in the refit process, they will need a way to accommodate extra Y pax who now won't fit in Y after the seats they planned to operate with no longer exist. Part of that will be points upgrade requests. If they still have free seats in the higher cabins after processing requests and still have extra Y pax without seats, they'll op up people.

They won't be "keeping premium seats free for op ups". There will be premium seats available because said seats didn't exist in the aircraft when the flight was being sold.

Seems W will be a full load then.

 

[muppet]

They are going from 14F/64J/35W/371Y to 14F/70J/60W/341Y. Until most of the fleet is done, they would have flights where the aircraft has changed to the refit, but been sold as the original. Which means they'll have up to 30Y pax that won't have seats on the refit who otherwise would had the aircraft not changed, yet up to 6J and 25W seats which they wouldn't have had.

While they are in the refit process, they will need a way to accommodate extra Y pax who now won't fit in Y after the seats they planned to operate with no longer exist. Part of that will be points upgrade requests. If they still have free seats in the higher cabins after processing requests and still have extra Y pax without seats, they'll op up people.

They won't be "keeping premium seats free for op ups". There will be premium seats available because said seats didn't exist in the aircraft when the flight was being sold.

The quote I replied to suggested that Qantas would intentionally not sell all premium seats on a flight with a refit cabin because it may be switched back to a non-refit, not as you suggested the reverse where a non-refit becomes a refit which leads to upgrades for an oversold Y and now undersold premium.

None of us really know, but I stand by my view that Qantas will sell every available premium seat and not hold them back to upgrade a "fairly full Y cabin" just in case it gets switched back.

 

[muppet]

You say it like no other airline does it. I can tell you for a fact, they do, many do.

Nope, not suggesting QF is alone at all. Just we were talking about Qantas. Is something okay just because everyone else does it?

However, I also have direct experience on other airlines doing it much better and fairer for the paying customer. (i.e. being upgraded rather than downgraded, hearing them be honest and call for volunteers) (Also a fact)

 

[JohnM]

I'm starting to plan 2021 travel. Does anyone know off the top of their head when all the birds are due to be refurbished by?