Qantas reveals A321XLR cabins

[Cognac]

What's going to take the place of the extra three seats in subsequent deliveries? More galley space I suppose?

J seats are pretty average. Even Y+ on QF has more legroom and IFE!

It would be nice if they recognised that this is effectively a premium economy seat, and sold it as such. But I doubt that's ever going to happen.

I don't mind if domestic business and international business have different standards, but pricing them as if they were the same product seems a little much.

 

[elanshin]

I would suggest that while the initial batch of A320 aircraft are 321XLR, later orders may be different variants

But then why is the order setup this way. NEOs can be delivered today (and indeed QF group is accepting 320NEOs for JQ). Why wait until after XLR (which technically as still have unconfirmed delivery time frames having just been certified)?

 

[ric_melb]

Executive Traveller reports that the 3 seats removed from plane 4 onwards with be replaced by an extra toilet. So that should make 3 for economy and 1 for business. Hope so. Airlines seem to have too few toilets, and ones that lack space.

 

[jrfsp]

Executive Traveller reports that the 3 seats removed from plane 4 onwards with be replaced by an extra toilet. So that should make 3 for economy and 1 for business. Hope so. Airlines seem to have too few toilets, and ones that lack space.

Hopefully 1 mid cabin

 

[ksksks]

Doesnt it lose freight capacity vs 321NEO which has more than enough range to do everything domestically and transtasman.

The 321XLR gains freight vs 321LR, but both lose freight capacity vs 321NEO because of the extra fuel tanks.

That's the part that I'm confused about. The 321XLR is extremely versatile but is there a need to get the XLR to run Syd - mel or even transcon to PER.

Looking through the Airbus planning documents, East Coast to Perth (westbound) is at a length where the XLR's flexibility would come into play.
A standard A321neo in comparison is typically at or near MTOW, and for each additional knot of overall wind component (headwind) quickly reaches the point where you can no longer (proportionately) trade payload for fuel, then instead requiring much larger payload reductions per additional knot of headwind.

I agree, I flew the CX A321neo last week HAN to HKG and they offer a very good product in Y and J - good seats, IFE with bluetooth connectivity etc.
I was really hoping that is what we'd see at QF...

Agreed. Having flown the various Cathay shorthaul configs, was hoping the QF seats would be more in line with CX's offering.

 

[samh004]

That top photo sure looks like a curtain across the aisle, if so is that physical enough?

Didn't they previously have a curtain? I recall a curtain at some point in the past decade or so. Regardless, a curtain doesn't do much

 

[SeatBackForward]

Regardless, a curtain doesn't do much

Like a good fence, it only keeps the honest people out.

 

[Doctore1003]

ET reports Qantas is considering flatbeds in J for a possible "international fleet". Seems necessary to be competitive on longer international routes!

 

[thrillho]

I truly do not understand why Qantas bought the XLR only to fit them with these regional business class seats. Surely the regular A321 NEO or the LR would have been perfectly suitable for what they want to do. I truly worry that these will end up on long legs like Adelaide to Singapore or Melbourne to Bangkok with a substandard J product. What a step backwards... will prices go backwards? I think not...

 

[elanshin]

I truly do not understand why Qantas bought the XLR only to fit them with these regional business class seats. Surely the regular A321 NEO or the LR would have been perfectly suitable for what they want to do. I truly worry that these will end up on long legs like Adelaide to Singapore or Melbourne to Bangkok with a substandard J product. What a step backwards... will prices go backwards? I think not...

Thr 321NEO is what these should be equipped on. I can understand wanting the XLR vs the LR but yes for domestic 737 replacement the standard NEO should've been the go to unless they're running the XLR for transcon.

 

[Doctore1003]

I feel most those ET articles are pure speculation and nothing more. I noticed they had some articles about BKK express lanes for F and J. All their articles were, were reports from another travel website (they at least quoted the other site as the source). However, in what world is an entire article with no original content an article?!

Agree with your thoughts largely. This point about flatbeds in J was based on an interview with Qantas execs though, who say they are actively considering it for a portion of the new fleet.

Here is Qantas’ new A321XLR business class

Qantas’ latest jet comes with a ‘same but different’ take on domestic business and economy class…

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[AFF Editor]

Agree with your thoughts largely. This point about flatbeds in J was based on an interview with Qantas execs though, who say they are actively considering it for a portion of the new fleet.

My understanding based on conversations with relevant people is that Qantas could eventually use A321XLRs to fly more "thin" routes into Asia like ADL-SIN or CBR-SIN, which are not currently served. If this happens, Qantas would not serve those routes with recliner J seats - there would be a different configuration. The first batch of A321XLRs won't be used for that, so this would be at least a couple of years down the track.

 

[CaptJCool]

Hopefully 1 mid cabin

Well that would be a long drop …

 

[elanshin]

The other thing i hope Qantas actually adopts from US is having more rows of extra leg room. I think even here VA and Qf's own row 4 has proven that it's something people actively want.

Whether they can get the cost/ price/benefits right is a different story but first thing should be having it on board.

 

[MelbFlyer]

This is a 100% fail by QF.

Honestly could have been their chance to step up and compete with the likes of SQ with their narrowbody business class product, especially if they'll be using this plane from PER to SIN, or even transcontinental runs.

 

[moa999]

especially if they'll be using this plane from PER to SIN, or

But they won't be using this initial set of deliveries for that.. this is to replace 22yo 737s on the golden triangle with a nice capacity (particularly in J) bump.

 

[elanshin]

But they won't be using this initial set of deliveries for that.. this is to replace 22yo 737s on the golden triangle with a nice capacity (particularly in J) bump.

But thats the fail part. Why XLR then? Why not just use the a321NEO which has just about everything the XLR has except the new fuel tank + range and you don't need that for the majority of the 737 ops.

In fact could've had a handful 321NEOs on hand already. They're the stretched version of the planes QF already receives for JQ.

 

[encryptededdy]

Why XLR then

As I understand, the regular 321N will be a bit limited for transcon ops (and maybe Queenstown/Wellington etc.?) when taking into account freight etc. The LR has reduced freight volume due to the fuel tank placement, hence Qantas deciding on the XLR which doesn't have this limitation.

 

[elanshin]

As I understand, the regular 321N will be a bit limited for transcon ops (and maybe Queenstown/Wellington etc.?) when taking into account freight etc. The LR has reduced freight volume due to the fuel tank placement, hence Qantas deciding on the XLR which doesn't have this limitation.

That desnt seem right. the a321NEO specs easily beat out the 737-800NG and has theoretical max range of double the transcon to PER from the east coast. So even factoring in the worst case theres more than enough room to do the routes. The a321 (non neo) might have run into this problem but not the NEO.

 

[encryptededdy]

That desnt seem right. the a321NEO specs easily beat out the 737-800NG and has theoretical max range of double the transcon to PER from the east coast. So even factoring in the worst case theres more than enough room to do the routes. The a321 (non neo) might have run into this problem but not the NEO.

I'm basing this on what analyticflying has claimed in their article here and they seem to know what they're talking about. I think @evanb is the writer there so could comment more here.