Qantas A380 refurbishment news and updates

[docjames]

Something someone has passed on to me, don't know how old or inaccurate it may be.

Lower deck as per announcements won't change, besides new seat covers for Y, and updated F seat covers and IFE.

Great graphic, thanks for posting.

The two interesting bits for me - I thought all seats now had to be located between doors (ie. you couldn’t build an aircraft with seating forward of the first exit door - hence zone A is behind the first doors on the 380 as opposed to the older 747 design, and that graphic also doesn’t show the rear stairs (are they staying or going??). I also wonder what regulatory hurdles are needed to be appeased to permanently block the Right rearmost Upper door?

 

[moa999]

Another report on airliners that while OQE is indeed going to DRS Dresden, it's only going for maintenance, not a refurb

 

[TheInsider]

Another report on airliners that while OQE is indeed going to DRS Dresden, it's only going for maintenance, not a refurb

From my info OQE won't be done until November.
Should be K, then L, then J, then G with K starting 30th May. (but like i said this info is from March)

 

[pm3207]

OQK is currently enroute as QF93

 

[jakeseven7]

Can’t wait to see the first big bird refurbed!

 

[defurax]

Can’t wait to see the first big bird refurbed!

J will be better indeed, but PE will be worst and no more upper deck in Y. Minimal changes in F. So I'd say it's only good news for J flyers.

 

[kingzac]

I'm in F on QF8 next Feb, what do you think the chances are of getting a refurbed bed/screen will be?
I'd be thinking the DFW routes will be one of the last?

 

[TheInsider]

I'm in F on QF8 next Feb, what do you think the chances are of getting a refurbed bed/screen will be?
I'd be thinking the DFW routes will be one of the last?

Nothing to do with the route, all got to do with the a/c rotation.

 

[samh004]

I also wonder what regulatory hurdles are needed to be appeased to permanently block the Right rearmost Upper door?

On that note, do you reckon the seats near the plugged door will still be as chilly as other exit rows usually are?

 

[moa999]

I'm in F on QF8 next Feb, what do you think the chances are of getting a refurbed bed/screen will be?

I'd guess 4 or 5 out of 11.

OQE off on QF5 as scheduled.
Guess we will find out what happens in about 5 weeks

 

[docjames]

On that note, do you reckon the seats near the plugged door will still be as chilly as other exit rows usually are?

I assume that will totally depend on how the door is “plugged” but if they go to the trouble of taking the door mechanism out, then it’ll probably have to be reasonably pressure sealed. If the internal door skin is removed and just a flat “blank” over the top then that would mean no change to current level of “sealing”.

Might be a good an for ask the pilot (?ask the aircraft engineer???) along with the certification requirements for doing such a change.

 

[kingzac]

Nothing to do with the route, all got to do with the a/c rotation.

Interesting. I'm not as up on how each the metal is aligned to routes etc. I was just getting the vibe from the discussion that the DFW flights weren't as utilised as much as other routes so might not get the refurbed planes. I'll have to study up more. Thank you

 

[moa999]

In general the QF aircraft aren't dedicated to a route, rather fly patterns to minimise ground time and to ensure sufficient time at maintenance points (mostly SYD and LAX) for the minor services and checks.

 

[Fergo747]

I was just getting the vibe from the discussion that the DFW flights weren't as utilised as much as other routes so might not get the refurbed planes

Whilst that might be true for Y on the DFW route, the premium cabins are typically quite full (even in F). I've done two return DFW flights in the last couple of months and can tell you that at 7 days out both the J and F cabins have only had a couple of seats remaining and have subsequently been full for the flights themselves. So one might think that the given the increase in premium seating in the new config, the DFW route may actually be one of the first routes to get a refurbed aircraft.

 

[kingzac]

So one might think that the given the increase in premium seating in the new config, the DFW route may actually be one of the first routes to get a refurbed aircraft.

And this kind of info is why I like it here. Always interesting to know this stuff and I've got a glimmer of hope

 

[milehighclub]

Guess we will find out what happens in about 5 weeks

Probably nothing. Crew don't even start training until the end of June with everyone having it done by early August. So I dare say the first aircraft won't be flying until at least after then.

 

[moa999]

Interesting. Assume that's new emergency exit procedures for the upper deck plus the new J and PE seats plus any new galley equipment etc.

 

[serfty]

J will be better indeed, but PE will be worst and no more upper deck in Y. Minimal changes in F. So I'd say it's only good news for J flyers.

I actually prefer Skybeds with the side storage on the A380 than the Qantas Business suites - so for mine it will be a loss except if in First.

 

[Berlin]

I actually prefer Skybeds with the side storage on the A380 than the Qantas Business suites - so for mine it will be a loss except if in First.

There's something to it, actually. ESPECIALLY if traveling with my partner, I'd prefer the old Skybeds any day.

And the Qantas Business SEATS are SEATS and not even remotely akin a Suite. Not even the First Swivel seats are suits, no matter what Qantas marketing tries to tell us. Qatar Qsuites are SUITES and that's en entirely different ballgame.

 

[amaroo]

Happy to see the droopy sky beds ripped out. Those things should have a warning sticker "maybe harmful for your back"