QF removes First from 747s and selected 380s

[Jon Harris]

Just read in today's Travel Daily:

Subject to QF board approval:

* removal of First on all 747s
* First will remain only on 12 380s for LAX / SIN / LHR flights only
* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

[Brad Myer]

Its apparently a $450mil intl product revamp which will apparently see:

All B744s in a 3 class config (J,Y+,and Y) featuring the A380 style seats and IFE.

Apparently the Intl A333 and A332 fleet will also recieve the A380 Y class seats and the new A380 style IFE.

Full details to be announced in the next few weeks.

Anyone know more?

[Rhys Xanthis]

Well the new A330's for transcontinental with IFE is the a380 system, so that makes sense.

[Montague S]

Originally Posted by Jon Harris

* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

would have made sense to do it in the first place...

[D Chan]

Originally Posted by Montague S

would have made sense to do it in the first place...

but times were good before the GFC

[Montague S]

Originally Posted by D Chan

but times were good before the GFC

times are still good, just that people are spending a little less...

For several Asian cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York and Tokyo I think the loadings for F should be positive, so I do wonder whether it is that worth for Qantas to remove the high revenue service to those cities with high demand.

Arthur, QF doesn't send aircraft with First Class to Tokyo.

[Philip Argy]

I hope the A380 IFE is fixed in J class before it's rolled out too extensively. It was shocking when I went to London and back last October - a very user friendly system plagued by a hardware or software bug that damaged the otherwise great A380 experience:
http://yssyforum.net/board/showpost....9&postcount=21

[NickN]

Furthermore, I feel angry and frustrated that Qantas still haven't learn the lesson from those aging and poorly maintained Boeing 747s (and that's why I am so scared about them), especially after the QF30 incident. Rather to waste money renovating the dangerous and aging B744s I think phasing them out and replace with A380s will be smarter and money saving move than renovating them.

Just about every carrier deploying 744's have aircraft of the same age which are still flying day after day with no issues.

Again, someone bandering about crticism and "poor maintenance", yet nothing to back up your claims. As far as I am aware QF don't have the worst maintenance programme going around, in fact it appears to be relatively decent.

Further to that you sunk to the level of calling the 744 "dangerous". If that's the case why are they still in service?

QF cannot replace ALL 744's at this stage with A380's as it would not be viable economically, add to that the fact that Airbus can only squeeze out around 20-30 or so A380's a year to accommodate all customers you wont see an ALL A380 fleet for a very long time to come.

I suppose you better get used to the idea of flying the "Dangerous and poorly maintained" 744 for a while longer.

[Andre H]

Originally Posted by Jon Harris

Just read in today's Travel Daily:

Subject to QF board approval:

* removal of First on all 747s
* First will remain only on 12 380s for LAX / SIN / LHR flights only
* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

It´s a great idea, economy class in the upper deck. it´s a better seat configuration 2-4-2 ( like SQ ) instead of 3-4-3 if you are travelling as a pair.

[Ash W]

Andre I think you will find premium economy will be extended on the upper deck rather than conversion to economy.

Have a look at the Qantas seat map for the A380 and you will see 12 J seats in rows 24 and 25. Take these out and replace with 21 premium Y seats, adjust some of the awful seats at the back of the Y+ for crew use and you have your 60 J and 48 Y+ config.