Lack of curtains separating Business and Economy on 737

[Pushka]

The curtains were not pleasant for those in row 4 who might happen to be status flyers just not flying J. Sat in that row once and never again with the curtains. Irritating to say the least.. A rope would have been a good solution.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think QF thought 'well, these are short flights, and who's going to complain anyway?' (combination of companies paying the extreme J class fares, and the shackles of status mean non one is going to jump ship over the issue).

For short flights maybe I understand their thinking. You don't really get comfortable and relaxed on a flight of an hour.

But where it falls down is the introduction of the 737 on longer flights like Bali, and even PER. On those flights you do want to try and make the best of the limited comfort there is. Does that include people queuing in the aisle, with their bums in your face, for a 6 hour flight? Does it include people walking up and down, flexing the thin cabin floor, when you might be trying to snooze for an hour?

 

[Pushka]

I think QF thought 'well, these are short flights, and who's going to complain anyway?' (combination of companies paying the extreme J class fares, and the shackles of status mean non one is going to jump ship over the issue).

For short flights maybe I understand their thinking. You don't really get comfortable and relaxed on a flight of an hour.

But where it falls down is the introduction of the 737 on longer flights like Bali, and even PER. On those flights you do want to try and make the best of the limited comfort there is. Does that include people queuing in the aisle, with their bums in your face, for a 6 hour flight? Does it include people walking up and down, flexing the thin cabin floor, when you might be trying to snooze for an hour?

Yes, that sums it up well.
We are travelling the Bali flight in J in September. Queuing - never acceptable. Walking through for exercise, not acceptable. Emergency if no J passenger waiting - possible I guess.

 

[PJF]

I suspect the custom plastic divider costs more.

It also drastically improves the Row 4 (typically P1 or P flyers) exoerience by not having a big curtain covering seatpockets.

And at least in my view looks more modern.

Virgin has a little rope divider, Qantas chose not to do this.

My question is if it was that much of an issue then the easy fix would be to sit in row 5 or further back then you are closer to the rear facilities

 

[PJF]

I think QF thought 'well, these are short flights, and who's going to complain anyway?' (combination of companies paying the extreme J class fares, and the shackles of status mean non one is going to jump ship over the issue).

For short flights maybe I understand their thinking. You don't really get comfortable and relaxed on a flight of an hour.

But where it falls down is the introduction of the 737 on longer flights like Bali, and even PER. On those flights you do want to try and make the best of the limited comfort there is. Does that include people queuing in the aisle, with their bums in your face, for a 6 hour flight? Does it include people walking up and down, flexing the thin cabin floor, when you might be trying to snooze for an hour?

Yes this does sum it up well and IMHO no need to have business class at all on shorter flights. Refurb older 738s and make them all economy and run them solely on short route east coast flights. Make them just like Jetstar.

 

[PJF]

I suspect the custom plastic divider costs more.

It also drastically improves the Row 4 (typically P1 or P flyers) exoerience by not having a big curtain covering seatpockets.

And at least in my view looks more modern.

Virgin has a little rope divider, Qantas chose not to do this.

Yes QF and others let’s make the experience for row 4 much better. How dare the J customers expect to get the experience they are paying for

 

[Pushka]

Yes QF and others let’s make the experience for row 4 much better. How dare the J customers expect to get the experience they are paying for

It isn’t a matter of making row 4 experience much better as in better than the normal Y seat. Those seats were very unpleasant when the curtains were in play.

 

[PJF]

I think QF thought 'well, these are short flights, and who's going to complain anyway?' (combination of companies paying the extreme J class fares, and the shackles of status mean non one is going to jump ship over the issue).

For short flights maybe I understand their thinking. You don't really get comfortable and relaxed on a flight of an hour.

But where it falls down is the introduction of the 737 on longer flights like Bali, and even PER. On those flights you do want to try and make the best of the limited comfort there is. Does that include people queuing in the aisle, with their bums in your face, for a 6 hour flight? Does it include people walking up and down, flexing the thin cabin floor, when you might be trying to snooze for an hour?

It isn’t a matter of making row 4 experience much better as in better than the normal Y seat. Those seats were very unpleasant when the curtains were in play.

Yes agree they were bad but t was said. “ it drastically improves the row 4 experience” and that effect has downgraded the J experience that’s why this thread exists isn’t it. Also I’m travelling J to Bali soon and not looking forward to it and all the intrusions like 2 months ago.

 

[Pushka]

Yes agree they were bad but t was said. “ it drastically improves the row 4 experience” and that effect has downgraded the J experience that’s why this thread exists isn’t it. Also I’m travelling J to Bali soon and not looking forward to it and all the intrusions like 2 months ago.

Yes it improves the experience but only to the extent you no longer have a curtain hanging around your knees. It doesn’t make for an enhanced Y seat, it just makes it a normal seat.

I see no reason why Qantas doesn’t implement a rope. It sends a message, but in an emergency can be over ridden.

 

[JohnK]

The curtains were not pleasant for those in row 4 who might happen to be status flyers just not flying J. Sat in that row once and never again with the curtains. Irritating to say the least.. A rope would have been a good solution.

Would a curtain down to waist height and not extremely wide like the older curtains have been a better solution?

 

[Pushka]

Would a curtain down to waist height and not extremely wide like the older curtains have been a better solution?

Waist height would be eye level. Where would they pin it back on arrival/departure?

 

[equus]

I think that part of the issue with the removal is the lighting and ceiling on the newer 737s which precludes easily having a curtain at that location.

For reference, a photo of “the sign”. Note that there is no exception for emergencies. This was taken during boarding so the storage bin is down - when the bin is closed, the sign swings up with it.

 

[Pushka]

I think that part of the issue with the removal is the lighting and ceiling on the newer 737s which precludes easily having a curtain at that location.

For reference, a photo of “the sign”. Note that there is no exception for emergencies. This was taken during boarding so the storage bin is down - when the bin is closed, the sign swings up with it.
View attachment 125530

Thanks.

So you can’t see it when the bins are closed. And the only time you can see it is as you are making your way through the J cabin on embarkation then disembarkation, at which time you are ‘disobeying’ it. That makes sense. Not.

 

[Matt_01]

Thanks.

So you can’t see it when the bins are closed. And the only time you can see it is as you are making your way through the J cabin on embarkation then disembarkation, at which time you are ‘disobeying’ it. That makes sense. Not.

You can still see the signs when the bins are closed. That plastic thing that the has the sign is on is attached to the bottom of the bin and raises and lowers with the bin opening and closing.

 

[cwphoto]

Thanks.

So you can’t see it when the bins are closed.

Incorrect.

 

[JohnK]

Waist height would be eye level. Where would they pin it back on arrival/departure?

The same place they used to pin it before. From memory they used to pin the curtain just above eye level?

 

[Pushka]

The same place they used to pin it before. From memory they used to pin the curtain just above eye level?

Think about that. There won’t be enough material length to pin it back.

 

[Pushka]

Incorrect.

Ok. Made it sound like it disappeared.

 

[equus]

Ok. Made it sound like it disappeared.

No, it just moves around a bit.

I think the real issue is the complete change to the upper structure in these 737s. The old ones had fixed floor overheads, and he raise up doors - so a fixed structure at the top of the cabin close to the aisle and up high, allowing curtain fixings.

With the new drop down bins, the fixed part of the overhead (where the lights / oxygen etc. is located), is much further back from the aisle, leaving a problematic choice of fixing points. When it became hard (and with varying 737 structures), it was easiest to just remove them.

The same place they used to pin it before. From memory they used to pin the curtain just above eye level?

Remember that this was on the older 737s - where the fixed "floor" of the overhead was much closer to the aisle. In the newer aircraft, that pinning point would be back around the middle seat, so not practical

 

[JohnK]

Think about that. There won’t be enough material length to pin it back.

Pin it a little higher.