Qantas' New A321XLR

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @BM7500 .

Good to get observations from someone who is actually on the aircraft, including the toilet situation, rather than from the usual ‘problem? What problem?’ QF cheerleaders we have on AFF.

 

[Layslow]

Who ever put in fabric seats into the A220 + A321 should be fired. Today my A220 seat base and magazine rack were both deeply stained and the velcro strips coming apart. The 717 fit out was like a private jet compared to this.

 

[downgraded]

Makes sense for passenger circulation, particularly during meals.

But equally a negative for visibility of pax and exits in a safety scenario..
Plus whatever impact extra plumbing/ tanking has.

Overall it seems less favoured among the airlines ordering 321s versus an extra toilet at the back.




As above, the error being that these initial XLRs were destined for JQ and meant to be delivered in 2024, before

"Common" sense from a PAX circulation perspective would say a toilet is required towards the front of Y, especially as these aircraft get stretched in the Y section. Hey, a front toilet would even provide a separator from J and divert those who might have thought about heading to the J cubicle as well. A bit of extra plumbing and a few lost inches of seat space, but seriously, how many flights have less than 3 empty Y seats in them that they couldn't fore go those 3 seats. Pretty similar issue with 9 across 787, load factors on QF flights would suggest that 8 across 787 y would actually cost very little in actual lost seat km revenue and would have provided a layout that was genuinely worth paying a premium for.

 

[Himeno]

Pretty similar issue with 9 across 787, load factors on QF flights would suggest that 8 across 787 y would actually cost very little in actual lost seat km revenue and would have provided a layout that was genuinely worth paying a premium for.

And they could follow JAL as the only other airline using 8 across in a 787 as designed.
JAL markets their 787 Y seats as a premium offering because they are better seats than the rest of the market.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

BA’s 321s have a seat capacity of 218/220 pax. The forward rows and WC is for club, but theoretically you could have 200 or more in the main cabin using the two WCs at the back.

I’ve flown them plenty times and don’t recall any particular issues. Although there’s no meal service in economy, so maybe WC time is more spread out.

 

[moa999]

Qantas have more A220s than A321XLRs on order

Thought QantasLink had 29 220s on order (7 delivered) versus Qantas with 48 321 XLRs (2 delivered, with 16 flagged as a long haul config), (and Jetstar with 12 firm XLRs) though the group holds various options for at least 50+ more 32Xs.

 

[leesionn]

Thought QantasLink had 29 220s on order (7 delivered) versus Qantas with 48 321 XLRs (2 delivered, with 16 flagged as a long haul config), though the group holds various options for at least 50+ more 32Xs.

They have options for 90+ across the two families is what I thought (prior to converting those 20 to firm for the last XLR order). But yes I was under the same impression re the firm orders.

 

[markis10]

Thought QantasLink had 29 220s on order (7 delivered) versus Qantas with 48 321 XLRs (2 delivered, with 16 flagged as a long haul config), (and Jetstar with 12 firm XLRs) though the group holds various options for at least 50+ more 32Xs.

My figures were excluding the 20 ordered in Aug as I am expecting them to be significantly delayed beyond the 2028 date.

 

[anat0l]

If maybe there's only one thing that marks this as a gamechanger, is that QF is starting its significant shift away from Boeing to Airbus, particularly of its workhorse domestic fleet.

They might have been better to anchor the announcement on that, though that might have been too much of two middle fingers to Boeing and anyone who is still firmly in the "if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going" camp.

 

[SYD]

If maybe there's only one thing that marks this as a gamechanger, is that QF is starting its significant shift away from Boeing to Airbus, particularly of its workhorse domestic fleet.

They are supposed be much quieter, lower pressure and yes the bigger OH bins.

I just flew in an AA A321T for the first time today and it was noisy as… I don’t recall the BA planes being that bad.

But where the AA planes are impressive is the seperate full flat F (1x1) cabin, sloppy J cabin (2x2) but shell seats better than any QF/VA Dom seat, MCE (extra legroom) and then last few rows of whY. Only two loos down back but F and J cabins have seperate loos and seperate galleys.

First row of whY had adequate legroom!

 

[Daver6]

I just flew in an AA A321T for the first time today and it was noisy as… I don’t recall the BA planes being that bad.

That was just more yanks on the plane

 

[BM7500]

Welcome to AFF @BM7500 .

Good to get observations from someone who is actually on the aircraft, including the toilet situation, rather than from the usual ‘problem? What problem?’ QF cheerleaders we have on AFF.

Thanks RooFlyer.

Long time lurker, but thought I'd contribute to this thread given my actual experience of the product.

Cheers

 

[elanshin]

Seems only row 6, 15,16 costs extra as extra legroom/emergency exit rows.

Although 7, 17 and 18 also seem to be extra leg room seats as well which is interesting since i believe row 17/18 might be open early.

 

[elanshin]

Seems only row 6, 15,16 costs extra as extra legroom/emergency exit rows.

Although 7, 17 and 18 also seem to be extra leg room seats as well which is interesting since i believe row 17/18 might be open early.

Well I've been bumped up to 1F. I kind of wanted to stay down back but I'll take my free upgrade. I'm sure ill find more 321XLR flights bouncing between SYD and MEL. Flight pushed back about 35-40mins late due to late inbound.

Engines are VERY quiet in 1F and the P&W GTF engines have significantly more power than the NGs. Definitely felt us zip down the runway as the engines spooled up although we're probably aren't at a full load.

Interestingly theres a curtain in front of the J cabin. A much bigger closet is in front of 1A/C (doesn't affect leg room) that I can spot the cabin crew has their bags stowed in. Dividers like the 737s are still there after row 5. Overhead bins are definitely bigger but I'll see how full it gets when I have a flight down back.

2USB A and C ports in J, my earbuds picked up the wireless charger as well. Phone picked up 40% charge in the 30mins on board from the c port. 2 crew in J doing service had everyone done in 10 mins flat (about 18 J PAX). Interestingly whilst I was both greeted by name and offered choice of food, my seat neighbour was not (although the CSM was very charming about explaining the pros of salad).

Overall nothing crazy about the XLR and if the 737s got refurbished I don't think the average irregular flying joe would notice the subtle differences. Feels very QFish in that its definitely an upgraded but all very safe, small incremental things rather than a bold statement.

 

[Daver6]

Well I've been bumped up to 1F. I kind of wanted to stay down back but I'll take my free upgrade. I'm sure ill find more 321XLR flights bouncing between SYD and MEL. Flight pushed back about 35-40mins late due to late inbound.

Engines are VERY quiet in 1F and the P&W GTF engines have significantly more power than the NGs. Definitely felt us zip down the runway as the engines spooled up although we're probably aren't at a full load.

Interestingly theres a curtain in front of the J cabin. A much bigger closet is in front of 1A/C (doesn't affect leg room) that I can spot the cabin crew has their bags stowed in. Dividers like the 737s are still there after row 5. Overhead bins are definitely bigger but I'll see how full it gets when I have a flight down back.

2USB A and C ports in J, my earbuds picked up the wireless charger as well. Phone picked up 40% charge in the 30mins on board from the c port. 2 crew in J doing service had everyone done in 10 mins flat (about 18 J PAX). Interestingly whilst I was both greeted by name and offered choice of food, my seat neighbour was not (although the CSM was very charming about explaining the pros of salad).

Overall nothing crazy about the XLR and if the 737s got refurbished I don't think the average irregular flying joe would notice the subtle differences. Feels very QFish in that its definitely an upgraded but all very safe, small incremental things rather than a bold statement.

Where the bins above row 1 full of emergency and crew related stuff like on the 737s?

 

[elanshin]

Where the bins above row 1 full of emergency and crew related stuff like on the 737s?

Half Bin above 1D/F was emergency stuff, but no other crew baggage, I used row 2s Bin. 1A/C side had a similar half sized empty bin that the person in 1A put a carry-on suitcase in.

 

[lazblue]

Seems only row 6, 15,16 costs extra as extra legroom/emergency exit rows.

Although 7, 17 and 18 also seem to be extra leg room seats as well which is interesting since i believe row 17/18 might be open early.

Was able to select row 7 for free as WP at T-80 - legroom was very good!

Agree with how noticeably quieter it was on the A321XLR compared to the 737 even at row 7 - also liked the mood lighting during take-off and landing.