737-800 on Trans Tasman

[moa999]

From a post hidden away on FT.

Appears that QF is launching the 737-800 on the TT routes next week.
Previous comment suggested this would be an International Config plane with IFE in economy to compete with EK, proabbly A380 seats.
Unsure what J class seats it will get.

Having done a scan of flights.

A 737-800 appears to have first entry on the TT route on QF025 MEL-AKL 0600-1130 on Wed 9/9 and be based out of MEL.

Then appears to do the following loops each day
QF025 MEL-AKL 0600-1130
QF114 AKL-SYD 1230-1400
QF113 SYD-AKL 1500-2005
QF134 AKL-MEL 2105-2310

A pretty tight schedule.

 

[harvyk]

TT on a 737 doesn't seem right, although I'm glad they have something with IFE...

That said, all QF have to do to win my TT business back again is do a token 747 flight (like they used to do with QF25 \ QF26) and I'll be more than happy to fly the red rat TT. (Not a fan of narrow bodies and will use other types when ever the option is there)

 

[docjames]

Why is it tight with 1hr on the ground each time (and a 7hr rest overnight)?


Glad to see QF are finally updating the 738 to international spec. Be good to see them do this for all their 738s but there;s no chance in hell of that happening.

Anyone know if it'd got the same number of seats as the domestic configured ones?

 

[Bundy Bear]

As the plane is starting in Melbourne; I wouldn't think that the new IFE would be installed just yet; would be happy to be proven wrong though.

 

[Saab34]

IFE is fitted on all new 738's before delivery.

 

[docjames]

IFE is fitted on all new 738's before delivery.

Sorry, to be clear, every 738 delivered from now is fiitted a la the 388 seating? I sure hope so, and I sure hope this filters down to the domestic fleet.

 

[Danger]

Why is it tight with 1hr on the ground each time (and a 7hr rest overnight)?

I would have thought that was pretty tight, considering you have less than an hour to disembark, clean and cater the aircraft and board passengers for the next flight.

 

[moa999]

from workflyer on ft

The seats are the same as planned for the 787 in economy with 9" seatback touch screens. The Business seat is much larger than the millenium seat with a seat width of 22" and has a very wide and high seatback and 10.6" in arm entertainment screen. It also features a 4 way adjustable headrest, ergonomic cushions, extedable leg and footrest and personal side stowage.

Obviously both cabins have PC Power (offered as 2 between every 3 passengers) and USB ports.

 

[straitman]

I would have thought that was pretty tight, considering you have less than an hour to disembark, clean and cater the aircraft and board passengers for the next flight.

I would have thought it was pretty normal.

 

[djfuzz]

Haha, next week - that'd be right!

*Goes to sleep in order to make crazy run to MEL tomorrow morning for QF25*

 

[Standby]

from workflyer on ft

Any indication if the 738 has the new Boeing 737 interior(differnt overhead bins,LED lighting etc)?

 

[docjames]

I would have thought that was pretty tight, considering you have less than an hour to disembark, clean and cater the aircraft and board passengers for the next flight.

Frequently do the same (or shorter) turn arounds on domestic flights.

Boarding is 20mins, disembarking usually less (let's say 15mins for a 738) so that leaves 25mins to clean and restock. That's plenty.


1hr would be tight for a 744 and probably only just do-able for a 763 but should be easy enough if done right for a 738 or A322.

 

[serfty]

Any indication if the 738 has the new Boeing 737 interior(differnt overhead bins,LED lighting etc)?

Here's the FT thread:

Qantas "JetConnect" weirdness... - FlyerTalk Forums

(workflyer is a Jetconnect FA)

 

[Anna]

QF043 yesterday was a 737-800 operated by Jet Connect for Qantas.

No in-seat screens

Even worse, only 1 of the 2 economy toilets was working and the crew were not happy about economy passengers going into the J cabin to use that toilet.

When this threatened to cause an incident, they started to allow people to queue at the front of economy for the J toilet. The pilot made an announcement that they had been aware before take-off the toilet was not working but elected to take off on time rather than delay the flight while the toilet was fixed. He said this in a tone that suggested he thought he had done something pretty good.

If I had wanted to fly with an LCC with no spare planes to replace unserviceable ones, I would have booked with an LCC. Not good enough, Qantas.

Apart from that, the crew was friendly and the service in Y was pretty good. Y was fairly full and there were no spare seats in J.

 

[oz_mark]

If I had wanted to fly with an LCC with no spare planes to replace unserviceable ones, I would have booked with an LCC. Not good enough, Qantas.

Very few airlines have spare planes just sitting around in case one goes u/s. Having said that, on the longer flights they should have more than one available toilet for all the Y pax.

You would have thought there was a toilet to passenger ratio specified somewhere, but it does seem from my searching that it is up to the airline.

 

[Dave Noble]

I agree that it is unreasonable to expect an airline to keep a spare of every type of aeroplane on standby in case one goes faulty

In this case, there had to be a decision to either fly with 1 non-functioning toilet or to delay the flight ( and the subsequent inbound journey ) whilst it is repaired. The flight is not that long at 3 hours and can understand the choice to fly with the aeroplane in that state

They then had 2 hours in AKL to try and fix it for the return trip

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

In this case, there had to be a decision to either fly with 1 non-functioning toilet or to delay the flight ( and the subsequent inbound journey ) whilst it is repaired. The flight is not that long at 3 hours and can understand the choice to fly with the aeroplane in that state

The problem, as I see it, was more the crews initrial refusal to let Y pax use the front toilet. If you are on a 737 with one Y toilet inoperable, is there any point doggedley sticking to procedure about who can use the J toilet?

 

[serfty]

The new 738 is due to commence opartion on Wednesday.

As for the toilets, the FA's were following procedure. I guess sanity prevailed eventually.

 

[djfuzz]

from workflyer on ft

The September edition of Qantas' inflight magazine had a brief column about the new 738s - the description of the J seats (and the Y seats) sounded a lot like the PE / Y seats on the A380, respectively - without having seen any photos of the design, does anyone know if this may be the look of the new TT J seats? I'm guessing they're not going to feature the Skybed shells, so this would make sense, unless they're an entirely new design.

In any case, will be interesting to see what they're like post-Wednesday - just a shame that we've used our TT DONE4 flights and won't get to check them out ourselves.

 

[serfty]

Here's the page: http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/inflightMagazine/upfront.pdf#page=4