Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[RSVKanga]

It would absolutely seem so - maybe they could think outside the box and buy some second hand ones...

QF far more likely to get second hand/unused 787s than buy second hand A380s.

 

[RSD]

QF far more likely to get second hand/unused 787s than buy second hand A380s.

I try to avoid 787's - the y config of 3-4-3 makes the seats far too narrow.

 

[D747]

I try to avoid 787's - the y config of 3-4-3 makes the seats far too narrow.

It think its 3-3-3.

 

[moa999]

Correct.. but it's a narrow config either way. Not good for those with big shoulders

(Hence why almost all legacy carriers and LCCs have the same config.. whereas on the 330 it's only the LCCs like Cebu and AAX that run 3-3-3)

 

[Lynda2475]

I love the A380 and will be great when refurbs completed on all of them, so no lottery of getting the old dud J seat.

 

[jase05]

I love the A380 and will be great when refurbs completed on all of them, so no lottery of getting the old dud J seat.

Been a long time since I’ve travelled on a QF A380 but they are my favourite aircraft so need to give them another go at some stage

 

[Kangol]

I try to avoid 787's - the y config of 3-4-3 makes the seats far too narrow.

It's the Y part that makes it narrow, not the number of seats across

 

[RSD]

It's the Y part that makes it narrow, not the number of seats across

Yep that too! I only ever made the mistake of flying a 787 once - most horrible flight that I ever had - pre-COVID late night departure from MEL-LAX - they had only just introduced that second MEL-LAX service and I thought that I would try it - can't remember specifically why I was flying to the U.S. - it might have been the trip where AA put me on a plane in Charlotte at the last minute without telling me that it wasn't going to the city that I was booked to! Was rather a shock when the Captain came on after departure and said "Ladies and Gentlemen welcome aboard our flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport..." What the fark American??? I'm supposed to be going to Norfolk???

 

[serfty]

It's the Y part that makes it narrow, not the number of seats across

Well, I have been know to select from QF787 economy options based on the availability of the A/K seats in the last row.

 

[RSD]

Well, I have been know to select from QF787 economy options based on the availability of the A/K seats in the last row.

Ate they good ones are they?

My selection is always based on avoiding 787's all together. I may get to try the reportedly fabulous JAL 787's later this year as I have now found a reason to visit Japan for the first time.

 

[serfty]

Ate they good ones are they?

Is 59A really bad on a 787-9?

Looking to book my flight to JNB and I can select 59A and B for me and bAlt. Seat Guru marks the seat as red. Limited recline and proximity to loos. I like the idea of a two and row 59 is our only option. We used to pick these twos once upon a time on 747s and loved them. Does anyone have any...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RSD]

Th

Is 59A really bad on a 787-9?

Looking to book my flight to JNB and I can select 59A and B for me and bAlt. Seat Guru marks the seat as red. Limited recline and proximity to loos. I like the idea of a two and row 59 is our only option. We used to pick these twos once upon a time on 747s and loved them. Does anyone have any...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Many thanks Serfty - they might be my saviour if I am forced through lack of any other choice on a route to take a QF787 again.

We can always live in hope that Vanessa decides that the 787 Y seats are just not up to Qantas's standard in her view and changes them to a 2-4-2 when the 787's go in for a refurb.

 

[MELso]

It's the Y part that makes it narrow, not the number of seats across

Ate they good ones are they?

My selection is always based on avoiding 787's all together. I may get to try the reportedly fabulous JAL 787's later this year as I have now found a reason to visit Japan for the first time.

It's slightly OT given that QF only runs ratty A330s or squishy 787s to Japan, but you do need to try JL's 787. It's a very comfy config at 18.9" width and a decent seat pitch too, which I don't think is too far off Qantas' premium economy seat width on the A380 (19.5"?).

As an aside, I wish there was as much of a focus on width as there is on pitch. A 17" seat width on a 737, 787 or 77W is typical but very cramped while Airbuses seem to be able to manage ~18" seat width on most aircraft, A380 included. Add to this the quietness of the A380 and it's a nice way to fly if one must do Y (based on my experience on EK anyway).

 

[jb747]

Even then, QF11 on 2/3 had an APU that was not working, and the pilot blamed a worldwide shortage of parts—so I'm not sure if that strategy even worked as intended.

APU parts supply always seemed to be an issue. Perhaps the company making them used the airline trick of restricting supply to keep the price high. In any event, it shouldn’t be all that evident to passengers from a first world airport

 

[kpro]

We can always live in hope that Vanessa decides that the 787 Y seats are just not up to Qantas's standard in her view and changes them to a 2-4-2 when the 787's go in for a refurb.

No chance. Qantas is a follower, not a leader in this kind of area. 3-3-3 in a 787 is the industry norm.

 

[SYD]

No chance. Qantas is a follower, not a leader in this kind of area. 3-3-3 in a 787 is the industry norm.

Also the plan for the QF A350s….

 

[KSC]

Alan always hated the 380s, probably because he couldn't give them to Jetstar. Rather sad that two perfectly good ones were broken up as his parting gesture. I'm sure they could use them now.

Imagine AJ having a crystal ball during peak covid and instead of scrapping A380's they went ahead with accelerating refurbs to be done on the A380's, managed to get a few more 787s and kept more core staff on the books instead of firing, made Qantas credits available to use as cash (not some funky alternate website) and minimized cancellations.

AJ would be a celebrated hero, but also I would not be lurking these forums as I would be too busy on the private jet forums (with my covid share market shorting money) complaining about the way the caviar was not served on a pearl spoon on my ACJ350 and the lead time it took Airbus to install a super king mattress that was aviation compliant.

 

[MelbFlyer]

3-3-3 in a 787 is the industry norm.

I've flown to Japan and Thailand (both ~10hrs from MEL) in economy on Jetstar's 787-8 with its 17" (43.2cm) seat width and 30" (76.2cm) pitch, no problems and I'm >6' (>183cm) too, with a little bit of baggage on me.

I've also flown on Scoot's 787 product which is very similar to Jetstar's - same thing, no problems or complaints either.

I'd imagine with the QF 787s with its slightly wider seats (17.2" / 43.7cm) and slightly longer pitch (32" / 81.3cm), this shouldn't be too much of an issue either?

I know it's budget vs non-budget, but I could hazard to say that the majority of members here have flown in (or perhaps are too used to) business class and therefore maybe have unrealistic / skewed expectations of economy?

I understand that everyone wants a nicer seat - this is a given, but it is economy and the expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

It's been a while since I travelled on a QF A380, but with the same pitch and slightly wider seat (by half an inch / 1.3cm) compared to the 787s, the only real difference should be the slight bit more horizontal space.

 

[RSD]

I've flown to Japan and Thailand (both ~10hrs from MEL) in economy on Jetstar's 787-8 with its 17" (43.2cm) seat width and 30" (76.2cm) pitch, no problems and I'm >6' (>183cm) too, with a little bit of baggage on me.

I've also flown on Scoot's 787 product which is very similar to Jetstar's - same thing, no problems or complaints either.

I'd imagine with the QF 787s with its slightly wider seats (17.2" / 43.7cm) and slightly longer pitch (32" / 81.3cm), this shouldn't be too much of an issue either?

I know it's budget vs non-budget, but I could hazard to say that the majority of members here have flown in (or perhaps are too used to) business class and therefore maybe have unrealistic / skewed expectations of economy?

I understand that everyone wants a nicer seat - this is a given, but it is economy and the expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

It's been a while since I travelled on a QF A380, but with the same pitch and slightly wider seat (by half an inch / 1.3cm) compared to the 787s, the only real difference should be the slight bit more horizontal space.

I mainly used the QF A380's to get to LAX - in Y, but the one time I flew on a QF 787 in Y it was a miserable experience due to the seat.

 

[downgraded]

but with the same pitch and slightly wider seat

QFs 787 has an inch more pitch than the A380 and with a newer model seat I think there's actually more usable space than that. The 787 width issue is very real and not an exclusively QF thing. Without a neighbour the 787 Y seat is quite comfortable, but when adults can't sit upright next to each other in the allotted space (irrespective of the "seat width") you know it is a design fail. With a mix of smaller adults and kids on a flight it is going to be the case that many people won't notice the issue, but as soon as you have broad shoulders sitting next to each other it is a bad experience.