Perth-Syd on Qantas -__-

[zanuelLjackson]

This is so stupid. I'm only going back for 5 days, Monday through Friday, so to make the most of my time I was going to book a midnight flight Monday, and the latest flight on Friday, but they only run A330s and 737s at the best hours =/

Why the **** would I pay so much more to book with Qantas if I'm going to get a worse quality product than if I was to fly with Virgin? At least on Virgin I'd get a PTV, granted at a cost, but I'd happily pay the 9 dollars to watch telly on a 5 hour flight. Why aren't they using the 743 on EVERY flight between, or at least installing entertainment systems for their looong haul domestic flights? >=[

Stupid, stupid Qantas! T__T

 

[NM]

Why aren't they using the 743 on EVERY flight between, or at least installing entertainment systems for their looong haul domestic flights? >=[

Because a 743 has a seating capacity of 450 and they don't have the demand from paying passengers to manage to sell close to 450 seats for each flight. people want (demand) schedule flexibility which means operating a number of flights at different times. That means the number of paying passengers for any particular flight dictates the type of aircraft they use to operate the flight. A 743 costs a heck of lot more to fly between SYD and PER than an A330, which costs more than a 767, which costs more than a 737. But each has a different potential revenue profile as well.

Would you want to pay twice as much to get to travel on a 743? I know some members here would rather pay twice as much to avoid the 743 .

If you perceive Virgin Blue has a better product for a cheaper price, then why on earth would you consider using anyone else? DJ is a good airline with a decent product. Include the extra costs in the comparison and in many cases they work out to be very good value.

 

[docjames]

Uh, QF 737s have overhead screens (for free) on all jets.

I'd rather be on the A330 than the 737.

You'll be on a 737 on Virgin.

I think you'll find the qualiy of the product similar. With QF you get free snack (or meal) and free soft drink. On virgin, you'll pay for all.


Not sure why you're ranting about QF - fly virgin, noone's making you fly QF. Your money, choose where you sepnd it.

 

[zanuelLjackson]

Thank you for that basic economic theory you outlined, but I'm not saying they should fly the 747 simply because it is a 747, lol :S

I only prefer it as it is equipped with personal tv screens. It's a long flight and tiny overhead screens for 5 hours is hardly comparable... Am I wrong? =/ Qantas has horrible entertainment systems in comparison to other airlines, and it's our national airline. I expect more, that is all... They've gone a long time running old aircraft with ugly interiors.

Virgin, on the other hand, does provide personal tv screens on long flights. At a cost, yeah, but surely anyone would be happy to pay to keep distracted in a cramped economy class seat. And surprise surprise, I'm quite aware I'm not being forced to fly on any airline!
haha, this being a forum, I thought it the appropriate place to discuss the matter.

 

[hedge]

I will be doing this trip soon and my manager told me to pick the international flights rather than the domestic flights for the very reason mentioned above (avoiding 737s). I assume 747s are the only international jets that fly from SYD-PER with the individual tv screens?

 

[oz_mark]

I will be doing this trip soon and my manager told me to pick the international flights rather than the domestic flights for the very reason mentioned above (avoiding 737s). I assume 747s are the only international jets that fly from SYD-PER with the individual tv screens?

The best aircraft making the journey are the 333's if you can find one on the day you want to travel (they usually on one of the Monday or Tuesday morning flights). This will give you AVOD.

Next in line is the 743, which is on the loop system, and on a lucky day you might get a 744

After that the A332's, 767's and 737's are the normal main screen/overhead type displays, which unfortunately is the normal Qantas domestic offering

 

[hedge]

Thanks, im mainly concerned about legroom. I always bring the PSP for flights, but there are always good movies to be seen on the onboard av

 

[Dave Noble]

Virgin, on the other hand, does provide personal tv screens on long flights. At a cost, yeah, but surely anyone would be happy to pay to keep distracted in a cramped economy class seat. .

Um. Not me. I v rarely pay any attention to airlines in flight entertainment systems. I use my laptop to watch stuff or I may read a book. I do quite like the movie titled "moving map" to see how long to go though but do find that Qantas does seem to often cut if off before the climactic ending

Dave

 

[bambbbam2]

I've always wondered about the FlightPath - does it show height above the ground, or height above sea level?

It's just when the plane is on the ground I have seen flightpath offer '20 feet altitude' etc.

 

[Jobu]

I only prefer it as it is equipped with personal tv screens. It's a long flight and tiny overhead screens for 5 hours is hardly comparable... Am I wrong? =/ Qantas has horrible entertainment systems in comparison to other airlines, and it's our national airline. I expect more, that is all... They've gone a long time running old aircraft with ugly interiors.

Zanuel I agree with you.

You pay the same price yet on the one flight you get AVOD and another flight you get nothing. This irks me especially when it comes to the large variance in comfort/amenities e.g. flying J on a 333 skybed with AVOD vs on the millenium or dreamtime seats with limited entertainment... there's no comparison yet the fare is the same.

What also bugs me is paying for a business class seat and then getting an economy seat with orange juice before take off! This happened to me recently on a BA flight out of London to eastern Europe. Business class was basically the first four rows in economy. I think the price should really be adjusted for different planes / fitouts (down not up )

Cheers,

J

 

[hedge]

I've always wondered about the FlightPath - does it show height above the ground, or height above sea level?

It's just when the plane is on the ground I have seen flightpath offer '20 feet altitude' etc.

I imagine it would be sea level as it would just be showing the gps data which is always 'above sea level'

 

[oz_mark]

Zanuel I agree with you.

You pay the same price yet on the one flight you get AVOD and another flight you get nothing. This irks me especially when it comes to the large variance in comfort/amenities e.g. flying J on a 333 skybed with AVOD vs on the millenium or dreamtime seats with limited entertainment... there's no comparison yet the fare is the same.

Leaving aside the fact that I think J fares PER-SYD are a rort, Qantas would probably argue that the international aircraft are a bonus, and would be more likely to hit you with a skybed surcharge

Yes, the variation in product is annoying, but the best you can do is look for the international config aircraft!

 

[Dave Noble]

What also bugs me is paying for a business class seat and then getting an economy seat with orange juice before take off! This happened to me recently on a BA flight out of London to eastern Europe. Business class was basically the first four rows in economy. I think the price should really be adjusted for different planes / fitouts (down not up )

On the BA flight in Club Europe , there are differences in seat between business and economy. In business class the seats are wider in a 2-3 configuration than in economy where it is in 3-3.

For those with sapphire or higher status the benefits overall of Club Europe over economy are not that great ( since will have J check in and lounge access anyway) but the pricing of CE is typically that the price starts below that of a full economy ticket and for those wanting fully flexible, CE can be cost effective

BA does price Club Europe quite differently to Club World as a rule though there are exceptions

Dave

 

[simongr]

I always aim for 1D on CE - basically 1 1/2 seats per pax .

 

[ANstar]

Why aren't they using the 743 on EVERY flight between, or at least installing entertainment systems for their looong haul domestic flights? >=[

Stupid, stupid Qantas! T__T

The 743's leave the fleet at the end of this year (ie end of DEC) then all transcons are due to be on A330/767 or 737 aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

The 743's leave the fleet at the end of this year (ie end of DEC) then all transcons are due to be on A330/767 or 737 aircraft.

Which means we have to hunt down the 333's in the timetable, and these are much more sparsely distributed!

(I believe that Boxing Day has the final scheduled flight)

 

[straitman]

This is so stupid. I'm only going back for 5 days, Monday through Friday, so to make the most of my time I was going to book a midnight flight Monday, and the latest flight on Friday, but they only run A330s and 737s at the best hours =/

Why the **** would I pay so much more to book with Qantas if I'm going to get a worse quality product than if I was to fly with Virgin? At least on Virgin I'd get a PTV, granted at a cost, but I'd happily pay the 9 dollars to watch telly on a 5 hour flight. Why aren't they using the 743 on EVERY flight between, or at least installing entertainment systems for their looong haul domestic flights? >=[

Stupid, stupid Qantas! T__T

zanuelLjackson,

Welcome to AFF.

Interesting little rant.

From your post I can't quite work out which way you are travelling PER-SYD-PER or SYD-PER-SYD though it really does not matter. I'm guessing the first by your mention of a midnight flight.

Just a few things for you including some that other posters have not touched upon:

1. Gate to gate the trip is 4hr 55min to PER and 4hr 10min from PER so less than 5hrs either way. Thus a little better than you mention.
2. You don't want a QF B737 but a DJ B737 is OK. Seems strange to me. Both have variations upon IFE which are adequate for short flights such as this.
3. The B743 has become so unreliable in recent months we would have you here complaining about your late flight if you went that method.
4. The B743 is being retired shortly.
5. QF has the option for a midnight A330 flight from PER-SYD so I don't see your problem with this. (QF568)
6. QF have both A330 & B767 options if you want a wide bodied aircraft.
7. DJ or QF will be the cheaper depending upon when and what you book.

 

[comint]

You don't want a QF B737 but a DJ B737 is OK. Seems strange to me. Both have variations upon IFE which are adequate for short flights such as this.

Recent poll results (http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/poll-a-167.html) demonstrate more than a quarter of AFF respondents disagree with your position on PTVs. (In fact, as of today, only 15% of poll respondents believe the physical differences on 737s are not significant, and share your view! )

 

[straitman]

Recent poll results (http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/poll-a-167.html) demonstrate more than a quarter of AFF respondents disagree with your position on PTVs. (In fact, as of today, only 15% of poll respondents believe the physical differences on 737s are not significant, and share your view! )

comint,

Maybe I'm having a slow morning but I've missed the point you are making.

 

[Jobu]

On the BA flight in Club Europe , there are differences in seat between business and economy. In business class the seats are wider in a 2-3 configuration than in economy where it is in 3-3.

I'm sure this is true for most flights but my BA flights from London to Kiev were on a single class plane with 3-3 configuration where they sold the first 4-5 rows as J class and kept the middle seat empty. But I can assure you there were no differences in the seats between J and Y.

Cheers, J