Qantas Boeing 787-9 premium economy seat

[NZflygirl]

Seat pitch grabbed my attention:shock:. Especially as a window flyer. I've been able to get out of NZs PE seats but with QF I'll definitely be waking not only my neighbour but the 2 reclined in front to go loo. They'll need to put their seats up!

Otherwise looks ok. Lazy Z and all and if they can hook up those actual pillows that would be superb! One of the things I love about NZ J is they give you 2 smaller sized but REAL pillow type quality pillows whereas some other airlines give you a pillow which is really more of a seat cushion type quality.

I'll give it a whirl if I can catch it on domestic before it goes international! And depending on price would maybe try it anyway?

Any pics of the power outlet? I have an adaptor with room for 2 plugs but it's long so if the outlet is too close to the floor it doesn't fit:evil:.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Looks ok, certainly not revolutionary.

the entire 787 is incredibly underwhelming, the awful 9 abreast economy, the scramble of an extra 28 premium economy pax going through business class to get to toilet, there's nothing too exciting to rave about from what I have seen.

When are we getting an announcement on an A380 product update? The A380 is a better travel experience by far than the B787. Still wish QF had gone with the A350 in lieu of the B787...

 

[samh004]

Re: QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

Not sure who started that narrative, but it wasn't the airlines!
In any case, the seats look not too unlike J used to be, back before there was a Skybed.

While that may be so, I can't imagine PE/PY ever advancing to what J became (angled and what not) unless they work out how to fit the same number into the space. Otherwise the price would increase as the features increased and suddenly PE/PY would cost what J cost, and therefore not be PE/PY anymore. There's probably a way, but it's also probably not able to be certified...

Eg. Pods similar to a capsule hotel in Japan I imagine would fit the bill by taking the comfort (on ULR) route over the service (better food/beverage) route, but you can't take-off or land fully reclined (as it were) and might be hard to get out in an emergency. It would fit the density requirement though.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

While that may be so, I can't imagine PE/PY ever advancing to what J became (angled and what not) unless they work out how to fit the same number into the space. Otherwise the price would increase as the features increased and suddenly PE/PY would cost what J cost, and therefore not be PE/PY anymore. There's probably a way, but it's also probably not able to be certified...

I can't see it happening either. If it did, you'd end up having tp come up with something else to slot in between that and economy.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

If the circumstances were right, I would be happy with this seat to/from Asia or other similar length flights and would be prefer it over risking Air Asia/Scoot etc "J" products. Also good if flying with little kids as J is a bit of a waste and all the good new J products keep you a bit far away from them. 2 rows with parent/child would work well to lock them in.

It all comes down to the price I suppose. I doubt I would burn points on it given the other options

You wouldn't see me in this seat PER-LHR, however. I would give the route a go in J if it worked for me.

Edit: The hyperbole of "revolutionary" aside, I think they've done alright with straddling the Y plus/J minus fine line

 

[samh004]

Re: QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

I can't see it happening either. If it did, you'd end up having tp come up with something else to slot in between that and economy.

I think the ultimate destiny for PE has to be that the seats become a shell so reclining does not interfere with the person behind you. Even if this resulted in less recline in the first version, the major selling point would be more personal space and easier access to the aisle, which on a ULR flight would be much preferable to waking the seat mate and 2 people in front just to go to the lavatory.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

While that may be so, I can't imagine PE/PY ever advancing to what J became (angled and what not) unless they work out how to fit the same number into the space. Otherwise the price would increase as the features increased and suddenly PE/PY would cost what J cost, and therefore not be PE/PY anymore. There's probably a way, but it's also probably not able to be certified...

Eg. Pods similar to a capsule hotel in Japan I imagine would fit the bill by taking the comfort (on ULR) route over the service (better food/beverage) route, but you can't take-off or land fully reclined (as it were) and might be hard to get out in an emergency. It would fit the density requirement though.

it all depends on airlines being realistic about the price. If they charge double the economy fare, giving double the space ... you could essentially remove a row of seats. That would give 64 inches of legroom, more than enough for an angled lie flat. Now you can't really have the same number of seats across as economy and offer lie flats, so let's say you go to 8 or 7 abreast, and lose a bit of leg room. Still possible to have angled lie flat in as little as 58-60 inches.

And that's at double the fare... which it's not... QF is charging 3, 4, or 5 times the economy fare. So really no excuses, exceptpure profit, for not being way more generous with legroom. Compared to business class, premium economy loses out big time in terms of real estate in relation to fare paid.

 

[Daver6]

Any pics of the power outlet? I have an adaptor with room for 2 plugs but it's long so if the outlet is too close to the floor it doesn't fit:evil:.

The bigger issue might be how much power one outlet can actually supply. Aren't there already issues with the current ones not being able to supply sufficient current to some beefier laptop chargers?

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

One noticeable improvement is the seat back Entertainment screen as opposed to the TV screen that folds up in the arm rest.

Not being able to start watching a movie until the seat belt sign is off , along with the gentle twisting of the neck to see the TV screen in the current PE setup is a big bug bear of mine and many other QF pax I've spoken with.

Great to see this element improved.

I'm hoping the padding is adequate and makes for a comfy seat.

 

[Katie]

One noticeable improvement is the seat back Entertainment screen as opposed to the TV screen that folds up in the arm rest.

Not being able to start watching a movie until the seat belt sign is off , along with the gentle twisting of the neck to see the TV screen in the current PE setup is a big bear of mine and many other QF pax I've spoken with.

Good point! My Little Miss 10, and I, will be happy with this change.

Now can we get Y+ on flights to Asia, QF???

 

[Quickstatus]

Well at least the price tag will match the hype.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Any pics of the power outlet? I have an adaptor with room for 2 plugs but it's long so if the outlet is too close to the floor it doesn't fit:evil:.

It's raised a few cm's from the floor, but I'd suggest a double-adaptor which runs lengthwise rather than vertically.

 

[njba]

I should not be surprised. I should learn from the past. But I am: this is a lacklustre, middle of the market option. Qantas has missed a chance to do something with the 787 that reflects their brand image as a premium full service carrier. Instead, they seem to prefer to become jetstar plus.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Yep, the AUSBT article is informative and a good review. The other news sites are just prepared things. Perhaps AUSBT was given a pre viewing of the product before the rest? Or you think everyone got the same viewing and the other news agencies just didnt bother to do the detail that AUSBT did?

A bit of both.

 

[Daver6]

So other than greater seat pitch, what else could have been done to make this better?

 

[njba]

Oh boy, the copy in the email announcement is dreadful: "the unique recline - with shifting segments that adroitly support and relax the body" *vomit emoji*

 

[DavidFlynn]

Also, here's a pic of an actual person in the reclined premium economy seat (from today's launch event).

 

[blackcat20]

Also, here's a pic of an actual person in the reclined premium economy seat (from today's launch event).

Yikes, she looks like she'll lose her knees if the seat in front goes back...

 

[docjames]

Well they didn't choose a 6'4" / 100kg model and it's convenient the front seat isn't reclined.

So basically the new Y+ has bigger screen, better pillow setup but is otherwise pretty much no better than existing.

 

[jpk]

Also, here's a pic of an actual person in the reclined premium economy seat (from today's launch event).

Thanks for the pic. Be great to see one with the seat in front fully reclined as well... And how tall was the passenger?