Qantas' New A321XLR

[sevenfourtyseven]

But then, QF747 SYD-ADL is flown by a B737

That’s even worse!

 

[DejaBrew]

That’s even worse!

At least it’s being serviced by a Boeing frame (vs Airbus)

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

At least it’s being serviced by a Boeing frame (vs Airbus)

That’s true!

 

[travellerqff]

XLR will eventually get a batch with lie flat J cabins, but the first batch is the standard recliner.

It irritates me that it’s fuel efficiency will likely see it on regular BNE/SYD/MEL-PER flights, but these are the exact flights where we want a lie flat seat!

 

[mviy]

Unless Virgin puts the pressure on by offering lie flat to PER, QF has little incentive to do so.

 

[moa999]

Whereas it lists this 2nd flight for Jetstar 320N as a customer acceptance flight. (To be VH-A5D)

https://aviation.flights/aib/A320/12545

The JQ A320N VH-A5D now on delivery flight as JQ8991.
Seemingly TLS -MCT (probably -KUL -MEL)

 

[markis10]

Will be here July 2 apparently

 

[moa999]

I’m hearing the first A321XLR will arrive in Sydney on 2 July.

Seems @Mattg was on the money.

The JQ 320N is due into MEL tonight, so about 48hrs TLS -MCT -KUL -MEL.

So probably means a Sunday evening departure from Hamburg (or maybe Monday morning if one stopping) for VH-OGA.

 

[pauly7]

I've got hope the seats are nicer than the 737. I notice a difference on NZs A320s compared to the 737s.
Mind you I also notice a difference on VA and like those better, but it's really just the hope!

Hopefully they are similar to the new QF A220 fleet which I find really comfortable (for Y).

The new VA737 seats I find very very hard and on a slightly odd angle for me.

I haven’t flown NZ Y for a very long time so couldn’t compare!

 

[moa999]

Some details from airliners.net on the delivery flight.

VH-OGA (The first QF A321 XLR) is planned for her delivery flight ex Hamburg (Finkenwerder) on 30June as QF6041 departing 0800LT.

The plan is to to arrive into BKK at 0015 01 July.

Then the plan is to depart from BKK 2115 01 July and arrive into SYD 1000 02 July still as QF6041

It is a fast turn around, where at 8am 03 July it is planning to depart SYD at 0620 and fly to BNE, arriving at 0750LT under flight number QF6111.

So possibly a customer acceptance flight Friday or Saturday Europe time

 

[RooFlyer]

Can anyone suggest a motivation for Qantas to install J lie flat beds on these aircraft? Serious question.

Their loyal lemmings will fly sitting up to Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong or wherever they assign the planes to. They already happily flock to QF on flights to London and North America on demonstrably inferior product and pay high fares.

 

[lovestotravel]

Can anyone suggest a motivation for Qantas to install J lie flat beds on these aircraft?

Their loyal lemmings will fly sitting up to Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong wherever they assign the planes to. They already happily flock to QF on flights to London and North America on demonstrably inferior product.

They won't install lie-flat

 

[Qantas747]

Think one of the morning MEL-PER A330 flights QF767 often also does PER-SIN return.

As an example, VH-EBL has only had two routes in the past week (MEL-PER-MEL and PER-SIN-PER): Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

On another note, those titles are looking very faded...

 

[SYD]

Can anyone suggest a motivation for Qantas to install J lie flat beds on these aircraft? Serious question.

They’re on record as saying they are looking at it. Will it happen is another thing.

Their loyal lemmings will fly sitting up to Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong or wherever they assign the planes to. They already happily flock to QF on flights to London and North America on demonstrably inferior product and pay high fares.

I wouldn’t…

 

[evanb]

They’re on record as saying they are looking at it. Will it happen is another thing.

Agreed. The potential decision on this is much further down the line than we might wish. While they're conceptually replacing the B737-800s, it's not clear as to whether only XLRs will replace them as the A220 order now exceeds the size of the underlying B717 fleet it was replacing.

Order was originally for 20x XLR and 20x A220 plus 94 option to replace 95 aircraft, so significant scope for growth (it's now 28x XLR and 29x A220 plus 77 options). Given the delivery delays that scope for growth has likely been pushed down the line since the retirement dates of the B737s are somewhat fixed by heavy maintenance intervals (Qantas aren't going to go to a 4th D-check on these aircraft).

 

[moa999]

^ And the replacement of a handful of domestic 332s if one assumes the refurbed 10 will be mostly international focussed.

 

[moa999]

anyone suggest a motivation for Qantas to install J lie flat beds on these aircraft? Serious question.

Already widely covered. Just won't happen in the first batch will mostly be on domestic routes, maybe with some NZ and Bali mixed in.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-airbus-a321xlr

 

[RooFlyer]

Already widely covered. Just won't happen in the first batch will mostly be on domestic routes, maybe with some NZ and Bali mixed in.

sure, but I was talking about the plane in general and thinking of those up thread who keep insisting that the beds will appear

 

[SYD]

sure, but I was talking about the plane in general and thinking of those up thread who keep insisting that the beds will appear

That's what peeps are hoping in due course but it's going to be a long time to replace the older 737s first (and the domestic/TT runs they're doing).

I can see these new planes doing the SYD<->MEL peak slots that aren't A330 anymore so they've at least got a few extra J seats (albeit still recliners). Possibly TT also.

VA failed miserably trying to do HND with a 737 with recliner seats (one stop didn't help). No doubt, QF would have looked at that and know they need something better up front for those potential long thing routes? They have to be competitive?

 

[RooFlyer]

No doubt, QF would have looked at that and know they need something better up front for those potential long thing routes? They have to be competitive?

That was my point. I don't think they would feel they would need to be competitive, given the cost of the units and their loyal customer base who already put up with 'uncompetitive' product. And they will be shiny new aircraft, with the hype that the A220s generated.

Anyway, I was just wondering why those who thought beds might be installed (or hoped for it) thought this might be the case.