Qantas announces A380 refurbishments

[JohnPhelan]

You raise an interesting point. This could possibly be the last Qantas F cabin ever. A very real possibility: In 10 years time when the A380s are due for retirement, Qantas decides to drop F and the QF lounges in SYD and MEL are shuttered forever and the HKG/SIN/BNE combined lounge becomes the only game in town. Indeed, as I've speculated before, the MEL F lounge may not even last that long as the A380 routes out of MEL are gradually replaced with 787s.

I suspect the F lounges would be kept, but renamed and be available for passengers travelling in J and Plats. J pax getting lumped in with Golds and QC members really isn't ideal. I've suggested for some time that QF needs 3 lounges at SYD and MEL int - one for F/CL, one for J/Plat, and one for Gold and QC. This would allow for more appropriate differentiation of service - especially if J becomes the highest class of service.

 

[mviy]

I've suggested for some time that QF needs 3 lounges at SYD and MEL int - one for F/CL, one for J/Plat, and one for Gold and QC. This would allow for more appropriate differentiation of service - especially if J becomes the highest class of service.

I think if that happened P1 would get access to the F/CL lounge. Though if other OWE can access that Lounge WP would probably be quite annoyed to not have access to it. Three lounges would be quite a bit for them to run.

 

[michaele]

re "dumbing down of F" - as I posted earlier, QF have done this for years.. with really a J+ soft product.

I suspect they have stuck with 14F for a number of reasons.

Assuming they wanted to keep it in Zone A, they couldn't easily reduce the seat count and make use of the space with other seating.

Like you said, Zone A might be a bit small for the desired W cabin.

 

[moa999]

I think you could fit 7 rows of PE in Zone A (based on the current A380 pitch upstairs) if the stairs were moved (as was rumoured)
But because the fuselage is wider you'd have to lay it out 3x3x3 - so 63 W seats (slightly more than the 60 proposed)

But 3x3x3 doesn't sound or look nearly as premium as the 2x3x2 upstairs

 

[RichardMEL]

Assuming they wanted to keep it in Zone A, they couldn't easily reduce the seat count and make use of the space with other seating.

Like you said, Zone A might be a bit small for the desired W cabin.

Sure they could, but QF has clearly signaled their intent to do as little as possible when it comes to F. To them, the investment in a new seat/suite vs a "refurb" (like the single remaining 744 old F seat, of the current design is both easier, quicker and above all cheaper.

I really think QF feels they "need" to have an F cabin on these legacy routes out of "pride" or "obligation" as the flag carrier, but they don't really *want* to have it given the yield they'd extract would be pretty smal what with most pax on FF or upgrade tix so it's likely not worth the investment $$$ to make major changes here for the return, vs the far bigger cost/benefit of replacing J with the current suite, and updating PE.

If they made a lot of $$$ out of the F product they'd invest in it and make it amazing. They don't, therefor they won't.

 

[mviy]

If they made a lot of $$$ out of the F product they'd invest in it and make it amazing. They don't, therefor they won't.

Chicken/egg. If they invested a lot in the product and made it amazing then they could make a lot more $$$$ out of it.

 

[RichardMEL]

Chicken/egg. If they invested a lot in the product and made it amazing then they could make a lot more $$$$ out of it.

Back in the day when the 380's were launched, the product was pretty good. No, not SQ Suites, or EK bling, but 10 years ago it was a very nice product and competed well, specially on the main routes to LAX, where the competition was UA(ie: nothing) and they did well.

There are reasons over time why QF (along with many other carriers) downsized or ditched F cabins. Only the ME3 with deep deep pockets can afford them, or state supported entities like AF... even SQ, the long bastian of F travel are downgrading the F space on their 380's, A350's don't have it, and so on.

If the bean counters saw a market they'd invest. Clearly since the product was launched 10 years ago it has not given the return on investment they wanted.

Also consider, why does QF not bother to sell a F fare/product when they sub in the A380 to HKG? You'd think there'd be a market there since nobody else flies an F product on a 9-10 hour sector. But wait, CX upguaged SYD flying to 77W, but 3 class with no F). None of them see a market. TG offer F service to SYD on 744's and it's about the easiest sector to get F award tickets on on a regular basis because guess what.. next to zero revenue pax (they use the 744 for Y lift).

This is simple economics. IMHO.

Again, re the chicken and the egg.. there are reasons QF is not bothering to make a major change to F on the 380's... there's no market and thus little ROI as the see it. They have the history of decade(s) of travel and booking patterns behind that. I don't need to see the commercial data to know the yields would be terrible in F(but pretty darn good in J and W) to see why they focus there....

Would we as customers all like a much more modern product? Absolutely. Best go the long way via DXB/DOH/AUH for it.

IMHO.

 

[TomJones]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this / bumping an old thread.

The first of the A380s to be repainted (VH-OQF) has rolled out of the paint shop, and I reckon it looks fantastic.

Will be back in SYD on 12/4 in the morning according to a post on 'airline secrets exposed' on facebook (photo source).

 

[pauly7]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this / bumping an old thread.

The first of the A380s to be repainted (VH-OQF) has rolled out of the paint shop, and I reckon it looks fantastic.

Will be back in SYD on 12/4 in the morning according to a post on 'airline secrets exposed' on facebook (photo source).

Wow thanks for posting she looks very very smart!

 

[travellerqff]

For what it’s worth.. AJ has previously stated he wants 4 cabin classes on the ‘project sunrise’ aircraft. And I’ve heard industry rumours on the next batch of 789’s being reconfigured with a higher premium seat count. So I think it’s safe to say QF will keep both F class cabins and lounges, even if it is only on 2 - 4 flights a day from Australia.

Other OW airlines have 4-8 seat F cabins tucked away at the pointy end before the J cabin - QF could be looking into this. Decrease seat count but increase luxury and pricing for the pax that really pay for it.