Qantas boosts international capacity, wet lease Finnair aircraft

[jase05]

They’ll need to sell them first!

They can’t just chuck a PE fitted plane on a route they’re not selling PE. Similarly, subbing a non-PE aircraft on a flight sold with PE is a good way to p’off PAX.

That’s one of the downsides of PE - inconsistent fleet configs can lead to involuntary downgrades - as we discovered a few months ago ex HNL…

Having never flown PE just out of interest what routes are the most popular for PE on QF?

 

[RSD]

Having never flown PE just out of interest what routes are the most popular for PE on QF?

I must admit I've never flown PE - its kind of the "lucky losers" prize when missing out on a J upgrade request - but I'm so unlucky that I never get PE either...

 

[justinbrett]

I must admit I've never flown PE - its kind of the "lucky losers" prize when missing out on a J upgrade request - but I'm so unlucky that I never get PE either...

Upgrading to PE is a terrible deal IMO, it’s almost the same points as J yet the revenue fares are usually max 50% of J. I never select PE for upgrades.

For cash bookings it’s a good deal, reduces your points for a J upgrade considerably and still a good option if you miss out. For a day flight I have no problem flying PE but it’s no substitute for J on an overnight flight.

 

[SYD]

Upgrading to PE is a terrible deal IMO, it’s almost the same points as J yet the revenue fares are usually max 50% of J. I never select PE for upgrades.

For cash bookings it’s a good deal, reduces your points for a J upgrade considerably and still a good option if you miss out. For a day flight I have no problem flying PE but it’s no substitute for J on an overnight flight.

Yep, we had a cracker fare SYD-HNL (return). J upgrade on points over and we were happy to do PE on the “day flight” home. Alas, the equipment swap meant we were in whY - which wasn’t awful.

RE where’s PE sold: anywhere there’s an A380, B787 and an AY A330.

 

[elanshin]

Having never flown PE just out of interest what routes are the most popular for PE on QF?

I'd say if QF had the aircraft almost all of their long haul and some of the medium haul would be prime targets. 8h+ and PE is a solid option to fly in when you don't have access to J easily. Lots of medium or slightly budget conscious companies would also allow PE but not J for longer travel.

So essentially all the US /Europe routes. On the medium haul routes, HKG and TYO are both traditionally had PE that don't now and can support it. I'd even say SIN should ideally have more PE too so that the QF1 /2 connection can be PE the whole way from the other cities.

 

[Himeno]

I'd say if QF had the aircraft almost all of their long haul and some of the medium haul would be prime targets. 8h+ and PE is a solid option to fly in when you don't have access to J easily. Lots of medium or slightly budget conscious companies would also allow PE but not J for longer travel.

So essentially all the US /Europe routes. On the medium haul routes, HKG and TYO are both traditionally had PE that don't now and can support it. I'd even say SIN should ideally have more PE too so that the QF1 /2 connection can be PE the whole way from the other cities.

They should have installed a small 14 seat PE cabin on the A330s when they changed out the J skybeds. Then all widebodies would have PE cabins and on the odd shorter routes where they don't want to sell PE, they could just sell that mini cabin as Y with the extra leg room surcharge which they already charge for selected seats.

 

[tdimdad]

Whether PE is great or a no-go really depends on your expectations and needs. Having bummed in the rear cabin too many times, my first PE was HND-HEL over Alaska & Greenland (and eventually back). That was a massive step up in seating comfort and I felt like a human on arrival. Admittedly, it's a far cry from a lie-flat business but PE has become my happy middle ground if I can get it - rather there than in an old, cramped Y.

 

[AuSammy]

Seems I am in the minority here.

Have travelled PE on LH and on QF and not a fan in fact hated every minute.

Seat seems narrower. The tray in the hard high armrests that prevent comfortable slight side seating as a side sleeper.

The steeper full recline of the seat in front on LH prevented me getting out of my seat to go to toilet unless I stood on my seat .

If PE is near double the price of Y, I would prefer to buy 2 x Y seats side by side. Far better value in my book.

 

[dairyfloss]

Seems I am in the minority here.

Have travelled PE on LH and on QF and not a fan in fact hated every minute.

Seat seems narrower. The tray in the hard high armrests that prevent comfortable slight side seating as a side sleeper.

The steeper full recline of the seat in front on LH prevented me getting out of my seat to go to toilet unless I stood on my seat .

If PE is near double the price of Y, I would prefer to buy 2 x Y seats side by side. Far better value in my book.

I’m with you - only flying J nowadays, but if I wasn’t, and unless I could guarantee a front row W seat (which are often the domain of the bassinets), I would rather Y with a comfort seat for probably less money (edit: and more SCs!)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m with you - only flying J nowadays, but if I wasn’t, and unless I could guarantee a front row W seat (which are often the domain of the bassinets), I would rather Y with a comfort seat for probably less money

Bulkhead wins for sure, but aisle seat in the centre block is next best thing! And hope the couple of pax next to you are travelling as a couple so they use the aisle on the other side

I sat in a window seat to YVR last year, the passenger in the aisle didn’t get up to go to the loo for 12 hours

 

[stm1sydney]

Seems I am in the minority here.

There are plenty in the same boat. I also think PE at twice the price of Y is not good value.

 

[SYD]

There are plenty in the same boat. I also think PE at twice the price of Y is not good value.

What if it’s less than half the price of J? (which it can be if you pick the right Sale).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are plenty in the same boat. I also think PE at twice the price of Y is not good value.

More often approaching 3x the price on some top tier PEY products! But you are getting ‘business lite’ instead of economy ‘plus’.

For carriers that have a more reasonably priced offering, the service is usually only barely above economy, and sometimes it’s only the seat that’s different. Which isn’t always conducive to a relaxing journey when you still have to do things like wait 30-40 mins for your tray to be cleared, or don’t have dedicated WCs, etc.

What if it’s less than half the price of J? (which it can be if you pick the right Sale).

Business is really about the seat/bed, including direct aisle access. If that’s important for my flight I’d rather take a 2nd or 3rd tier airline where I can bed down, rather than 24 hours of interrupted sleep and arriving bedraggled.

People say ‘but you’re doing three flights instead of two’… yes, but if I’m asleep for a good portion that time it’s better than having to sit up.

 

[SYD]

Business is really about the seat/bed, including direct aisle access. If that’s important for my flight I’d rather take a 2nd or 3rd tier airline where I can bed down, rather than 24 hours of interrupted sleep and arriving bedraggled.

People say ‘but you’re doing three flights instead of two’… yes, but if I’m asleep for a good portion that time it’s better than having to sit up.

Yes, ditto for me. But for the time poor who can’t spring for J, IF (and yes big IF) there’s a good deal on PE, why not.

 

[NSun]

One perk I appreciate for Y+ with QF (if nothing else) is the ability to bring on 2 carry-on bags rather than 1 for regular economy which means I don't have to check in bags. The food itself usually isn't too different than regular economy except with proper cutlery and if it is a light cabin, you cannot sleep over a row of 4.

Another observation. Pre-COVID, all Y+ passengers got a greeting from the CSS who'd mostly look after economy. Now it is only Platinums and above who do, and not on all international flights.

 

[Aeryn]

I sat in a window seat to YVR last year, the passenger in the aisle didn’t get up to go to the loo for 12 hours

I don't think that's weird, just someone with good bladder control. I've flow LAX/SFO to SYD multiple times without using the loo - go in airport toilets before boarding and immediately after landing; nothing about plane toilets is a pleasant experience so use best minimised imo.

IME PE is ok on a day flight, but sleeping in PE is no easier/better than a whY seat.

I wouldn't pay cash for a PE seat nor use points upgrading to PE (especially as you may end up in a dreaded middle seat), but have booked PE award seats when nothing was available in J or whY; and have been upgraded to PE on domestic flights when QF were training crews on new aircraft i.e. when the 787 was bought into service.

I enjoyed my day PE flights; but on over night flights I found it just as uncomfortable as whY, as even though I had a row to myself I couldn't stretch out due to the solid armrests whereas 3 seats in whY makes a decent bed as the armrests can be raised.