QF81 SYD-ADL Sky Bed?

[tscharke]

need a quick family trip (SYD-ADL) in the next couple of weeks and thought it would be a great opportunity for all to enjoy the sky beds and also to finally exercise the OW Emerald status and take a look at the SYD Flounge!

By taking QF81 I'm thinking we can do both - however there seems to be conflicting info.

In one area (awards), Qantas list the SYD-ADL QF81 as a A330-200, yet reading their info on flights with sky beds they list QF81 as being a A330-300 (with skybed) and also comment that only selected A330-200's have been updated with sky beds (QF81 not mentioned)!

Before I go and book in the next couple I days I just want to make sure that the SYD-ADL QF81 is fitted with sky beds (being either a A333 or A332)

Cheers in advance

 

[Mal]

I'm very sure Qantas only has one or two A330-200's at the moment, and they are brand new and with Skybeds.

The older ones (no Skybed) were moved off to Jetstar to help with their fleet.

All A330-300's are Skybed equipped.

So, really, I don't think you can go wrong booking the flight.

 

[littl_flier]

You're in luck tcsharke. QF81 is operated by a 333/332 so you will have a Skybed and AVOD throughout the aircraft. All 333's and the one 332 QF have at the moment (soon 2) have Skybed Mach 1's.

 

[tscharke]

great to hear - thanks guys

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Hi tscharke,

Qantas currently has 2 A330-200s in its active fleet.

I can see the date that you are referring to where the 332 is operating QF81 SYD-ADL. This appears to be a one off service, operating QF81 SYD-ADL-SIN, QF52 SIN-BNE then QF6192 (repos) BNE-SYD.

Qantas' A330-200s feature AVOD and Skybed v1.0, as featured on the A330-300. The only exception is that the 332 feature the new fabrics, curtains and carpets in Economy (there's the distinctive red seat fabrics, which is currently being rolled out across the 744 fleet) and the new fabrics in Business (not that much different from what is on the 333s currently).

That Skybed rollout table is very much dated and is litted with many mistakes, which only confuses people. I've informed the Qantas P&D team about the mistake, but I am not holding my breath, as it took them a very long time to update other errors that I pointed them to (they admitted that their workload was massive and it would take some time).

So yes, go ahead and book QF81 SYD-ADL on the date in question. You will receive a new A330-200 with Skybed and AVOD. Like with all things in aviation, due to operational reasons, the service may be operated by an A330-300 on the day you fly.

Hope you have a good flight... Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

 

[tscharke]

Hi tscharke,

Qantas currently has 2 A330-200s in its active fleet.

I can see the date that you are referring to where the 332 is operating QF81 SYD-ADL. This appears to be a one off service, operating QF81 SYD-ADL-SIN, QF52 SIN-BNE then QF6192 (repos) BNE-SYD.

Qantas' A330-200s feature AVOD and Skybed v1.0, as featured on the A330-300. The only exception is that the 332 feature the new fabrics, curtains and carpets in Economy (there's the distinctive red seat fabrics, which is currently being rolled out across the 744 fleet) and the new fabrics in Business (not that much different from what is on the 333s currently).

That Skybed rollout table is very much dated and is litted with many mistakes, which only confuses people. I've informed the Qantas P&D team about the mistake, but I am not holding my breath, as it took them a very long time to update other errors that I pointed them to (they admitted that their workload was massive and it would take some time).

So yes, go ahead and book QF81 SYD-ADL on the date in question. You will receive a new A330-200 with Skybed and AVOD. Like with all things in aviation, due to operational reasons, the service may be operated by an A330-300 on the day you fly.

Hope you have a good flight... Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

to quote Ray McCooney (Little Britain Series 1)..."Yeee know too much!"

nah seriously - excellent info, many thanks

 

[justinbrett]

As of next month QF123 (SYD - BOM) will be A330-200 and will no longer stop in Darwin (used to be a A330-300)

 

[QuikSmart]

Good to hear. I upgraded on the MLB-SYD flight on Sunday, just because it was listed as an A330-300. Never been on one, so thought I would blow the 8000 pts and have a glass of the god stuff and try them out before the DONE4.

 

[jpk]

Good to hear. I upgraded on the MLB-SYD flight on Sunday, just because it was listed as an A330-300. Never been on one, so thought I would blow the 8000 pts and have a glass of the god stuff and try them out before the DONE4.

Willing to give us a quick overview of the service level QuikSmart? Was this from the international terminals?

 

[QuikSmart]

Willing to give us a quick overview of the service level QuikSmart? Was this from the international terminals?

It's QF454 from Domestic terminal. I'm just about to board - Seat 2A. At check in they offered to move me to an earlier flight, but I politely declined. Might be able to give an report when I get to SYD, but I only have a 45 min t/around before leaving for DWN (2A on a 763). And I have to pick up some Krispy Kreme's for the kids while I'm there.

 

[QuikSmart]

Orright. Firstly - boarding. They did dual boarding so there was a priority lane for J. Nice start.

When I got on board it did not hurt at all that I was seated next to a delightful young lady who was on her way to SYD to be involved in the filming of Australias Next Top Model - I will now watch with renewed interest.

Onboard service was similar to 737 domestic service. The only quoted meal was "refreshments". I chose the ham salad. Nice.

To try them out, I kept my glass empty and it was continually refreshed with a Margaret River chardy. Once again similar to domestic J.

The exception to regular domestic J was the AVOD. It still included all the services (although the QF International In Flight News was at least 24 hours behind. It'll probably be updated over night prior to heading back O/S). I chose the O/D TV and I'm now anxious to know who won the "Tog Gear" North Pole Challenge - the dogs or the Hilux??? It ended prematurely just prior to landing.

All in all - I'm delighted with the A330 and I'm now looking forward (even more) to this years first DONE4 with with MrsSMART.

 

[Evan]

Glad you enjoyed and were not disappointed in any way.

You will i am sure appreciate the skybed even more on the log legs of your DONE4. I find them great for sleeping. (Some people not so, but i think generally nearly all would rate them on of the bust J seats)

I wonder if this young possible "next top model" was paying her own way or the TV station paying J fares or just a lucky upgrade.

E

 

[dot]

I chose the O/D TV and I'm now anxious to know who won the "Top Gear" North Pole Challenge - the dogs or the Hilux??? It ended prematurely just prior to landing.

The same thing happend to me last week (for the same show even), but I managed to catch the show again on CX107 last Thur/Fri. The HiLux won. Hammond and the dog team came close, but the flat sections nearer the pole played into the hands of the HiLux.

 

[QuikSmart]

The same thing happend to me last week (for the same show even), but I managed to catch the show again on CX107 last Thur/Fri. The HiLux won. Hammond and the dog team came close, but the flat sections nearer the pole played into the hands of the HiLux.

I was hoping to catch the end of it on the DWN flight, but they don't have the full AVOD.

I'd rate 2A on the 763 even better than the A330. Tonnes of room, and no-one next to you. It was interesting that several of the crew from the 330 were on my next flight.

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks for the Trip Report QuickSMART. It's always nice when you can jag a International Config on a domestic flight. It would be nice if QF could leave the AVOD on until after landing though.

I wonder if this young possible "next top model" was paying her own way or the TV station paying J fares or just a lucky upgrade.

Lol, I was wondering the same. I know a few people in the industry and I can tell you that the Number 1 brekky show doesn't fly in J class(although their now sponsored by JQ so definitely not) and Shelley Craft doesn't fly J for little hops like BNE-SYD. Maybe 10/the production company has plenty of cash to throw around these days.

I wonder if she might have been a little more important than a contestant? Nevertheless, I'm sure she made for good inflight entertainment.

 

[QuikSmart]

Thanks for the Trip Report QuickSMART. It's always nice when you can jag a International Config on a domestic flight. It would be nice if QF could leave the AVOD on until after landing though.

Lol, I was wondering the same. I know a few people in the industry and I can tell you that the Number 1 brekky show doesn't fly in J class(although their now sponsored by JQ so definitely not) and Shelley Craft doesn't fly J for little hops like BNE-SYD. Maybe 10/the production company has plenty of cash to throw around these days.

I wonder if she might have been a little more important than a contestant? Nevertheless, I'm sure she made for good inflight entertainment.

Daddy paid.

 

[jpk]

Lol, I was wondering the same. I know a few people in the industry and I can tell you that the Number 1 brekky show doesn't fly in J class(although their now sponsored by JQ so definitely not) and Shelley Craft doesn't fly J for little hops like BNE-SYD. Maybe 10/the production company has plenty of cash to throw around these days.

With my sucky corp Y policy, I've been wondering lately what the travel standard is for most Oz "celebrities". eg: footy teams, tv people, newsreaders etc. Do they mostly travel J or Y?

The FT BA board has a "celebrities spotted" thread, something similar for QF might make interesting reading... Having said that, I've not recognised anyone on a flight recently anyway!

 

[opusman]

With my sucky corp Y policy, I've been wondering lately what the travel standard is for most Oz "celebrities". eg: footy teams, tv people, newsreaders etc. Do they mostly travel J or Y?

The FT BA board has a "celebrities spotted" thread, something similar for QF might make interesting reading... Having said that, I've not recognised anyone on a flight recently anyway!

I had Bob Hawke and Blanche sitting across the aisle from me in QF domestic J a few years ago. The FA actually managed to spill Blanche's water on my leg. Got a free bottle of wine out of it though

 

[oz_mark]

With my sucky corp Y policy, I've been wondering lately what the travel standard is for most Oz "celebrities". eg: footy teams, tv people, newsreaders etc. Do they mostly travel J or Y?

The FT BA board has a "celebrities spotted" thread, something similar for QF might make interesting reading... Having said that, I've not recognised anyone on a flight recently anyway!

From my observations, footy teams travel in Y, and newsreaders in J.

 

[QuikSmart]

Aus sport teams will travel in Y - not enough J seats to fit the whole team.

With regards to celebs they might be upgrading themselves to J on all the pts they have from their corporate Y policy. Or maybe thats where all the Op Ups go??