Qantas Boeing 787-9 premium economy seat

[PineappleSkip]

My attempt at reclining the seat below. It didn't look promising. The idea of a seat squab that raises when the seat reclines doesn't appeal at all.

Only Qantas hype-mongers would claim that Z sleeping position is wonderful. Give me angled-flat, or some approximation, any day.



I did think the bigger IFE screens looked worthwhile, though.

Cheers skip

 

[downgraded]

It wouldn't be the first time an airline had to change PE seat pitch (ANZ) when they completely misread customer gullibility.

Being both a QF and a PE fan I still can't see where the pax's legs will go when the seat in front is reclined. The shifting base simply reduces the 38" to even less when reclined.

 

[downgraded]

High power USB seems more relevant to most people these days than mains power based on my casual observations.

 

[DavidFlynn]

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

This pic all I got, passenger around average height for a lady.

 

[levelnine]

This pic all I got, passenger around average height for a lady.

So the seat is going to deliver 17+ hours of knee-crushing pain for an average-sized man then. I guess that is, in its own way, revolutionary.

 

[clazman]

Look how high her head is.... if she 5'10, any one taller will have there head above the seat

 

[clazman]

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

The side of the seats drop down as you recline ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

See my post 27... 8 abreast 60 inch pitch with angled lie-flats. That would give the passenger the real estate they paid for. The surcharge above that is for the extras and profit. TK offered 47 inch pitch. VS offers 41. 38 is the bare bones basic.

As for the 'cradle' seat - that harks back to the days of BA's business class in 1996.

 

[soorox]

See my post 27... 8 abreast 60 inch pitch with angled lie-flats. That would give the passenger the real estate they paid for. The surcharge above that is for the extras and profit. TK offered 47 inch pitch. VS offers 41. 38 is the bare bones basic.

As for the 'cradle' seat - that harks back to the days of BA's business class in 1996.

It would have been better to get atleast 40", but I still feel like this product will suit the market well, it won't cannibalise J and will definitely attract attention from those in the back, peeking their interest.

Well TK's market leading 47" pitch was the problem, the airline was too generous with the seat, it ate too much into J, even though Premium Economy may have been successful as a class, it certainly didn't help TK's bottom line and yields. VN's PY seat on the 787's are very similar to TK's old PY and is very similar to the old J seats VN use to have on the 772's, I wonder how it will work out for them, as the prices are definitely a steal and will be great for flights onwards to Europe.

 

[drivatruk]

It never surprises me that with all the savings on fuel and running costs the Pax are the last one to benefit. 38 inches is poor. Id prefer economy and an exit row.

 

[davidj]

what part of this is premium?

Small screens, small seats, will just have to stay in J

Urrm... since when was Business better than Economy? No premium doesn't make it better.

 

[bsb]

I've only done PE a few times on QF CX BA and QF was the hands down winner. I'd rather sit in this seat over Y any day and to me this looks pretty good, admittedly nothing revolutionary, but nice enough when your budget doesn't stretch to J

All the whiners in here should hang out in Y and leave PE to the rest.

 

[Sdtravel]

Based on the pic as im sure has been notes the person is the window is going to have a great time going to the loo.

 

[PaulST]

I've only done PE a few times on QF CX BA and QF was the hands down winner. I'd rather sit in this seat over Y any day and to me this looks pretty good, admittedly nothing revolutionary, but nice enough when your budget doesn't stretch to J

All the whiners in here should hang out in Y and leave PE to the rest.

I'd tend to agree, but the issue here is that AJ created such high anticipation with the "revolutionary" comment, we're all a little let down. If they'd just called it their new PE we would have all been happy.
My only concern is sneaking past my aisle buddy for a loo visit. Finger's crossed for a points upgrade to J when I fly one of these back from LAX in December (although I fear the first few flights will be packed since it's a new aircraft)!

 

[moa999]

Unfortunately that's the nature of publicity today..

Do you think Qantas would have got all the press they did today if they'd preflagged they were introducing a slightly changed PE seat with minor improvements.

Create headlines internally, get headlines externally, equals free marketing

 

[kermatu]

Unfortunately that's the nature of publicity today..

Do you think Qantas would have got all the press they did today if they'd preflagged they were introducing a slightly changed PE seat with minor improvements.

Create headlines internally, get headlines externally, equals free marketing

And it's only a few dozen AFFers and the like that will actually interrogate it.

The pics don't look great and my gut agrees this is a missed opportunity, but I would reserve judgment until actually sitting in it for a decent flight. Something I hope not to need to do, to be honest, but if it is an improvement to economy and more affordable than J I'm sure many will be pleased.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

....and more affordable than J I'm sure many will be pleased.

But particularly from PER - where flights to Asia are cheap - the PEY fare would need to be pretty compelling to outweigh a mixed class combination (economy to Asia then full business on VN. AY. QR, UL). And the later would give you direct access to Europe rather than a transit at LHR.

 

[downgraded]

Interesting the QF email on the subject highlights seat width as item number 1 but doesn't even attempt to address pitch or legroom (which clearly would be hard to justify).

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Interesting the QF email on the subject highlights seat width as item number 1 but doesn't even attempt to address pitch or legroom (which clearly would be hard to justify).

Whereas with the economy seats for the 787 they are emphasising pitch and hoping you don't ask about the width.

 

[moa999]

PE still 7" better than Y