JQ 787 Config and ops - domestic runs in Nov.

[markis10]

The aircraft, to be registered VH-VKA, is due to enter service on Jetstar’s domestic network in Australia in November before transitioning to international flights from December, the airline’s director of Boeing 787 program Mark Dal Pra announced at Everett on June 3. The domestic flights, likely to include services from Melbourne and Sydney to the Gold Coast and Cairns, will follow a period of crew training and familiarisation.


Dal Pra also confirmed that Jetstar’s 14 787-8s will be configured in a 335-seat configuration, featuring 21 Recaro recliner business class seats in a 2+3+2 configuration and 314 slimline Pinnacle economy seats at nine abreast (3+3+3) and Panasonic’s eX2 inflight entertainment system. Seat pitch in both classes will be similar to that on Jetstar’s A330s.

First Jetstar 787 in final assembly | Australian Aviation Magazine

 

[smit0847]

These domestic training flights will be a FANTASTIC marketing opportunity for JQ - hopefully they sell the J seats for a slight premium over Y.

I imagine some ppl on here would pay quite a lot of money to be on the first dom 787 flight in Australia!

 

[docjames]

Define "similar".

 

[drewbles]

These domestic training flights will be a FANTASTIC marketing opportunity for JQ - hopefully they sell the J seats for a slight premium over Y.

I imagine some ppl on here would pay quite a lot of money to be on the first dom 787 flight in Australia!

I know I wouldn't on JQ metal that's for sure (although we can't really call it 'metal' anymore ).

Having been one of the few (at the moment) that have flown a 787, yes, it's great but on short haul flights it's not that different. It does just feel like a new slightly more room 767 (with *huge* windows; that's the real big difference, but the electro-luminescene of the glass is not nearly dark enough, something that Boeing have acknowledged and some carriers are opting to still install a traditional window shade).

That said, i'll do a JQ35/36 run on it (but only if I can do a TT price match ).

 

[oz_mark]

These domestic training flights will be a FANTASTIC marketing opportunity for JQ - hopefully they sell the J seats for a slight premium over Y.

I don't recall them doing that when the A330s were doing domestic runs to Perth. May not be worth their while setting up their systems to do it....

 

[brad330]

I don't recall them doing that when the A330s were doing domestic runs to Perth. May not be worth their while setting up their systems to do it....

They put the A330s on CNS-MEL with a domestic flight number from domestic terminals around two years ago and J was available.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Only 3 rows of J, not much to go around....keeps fares high, I guess

Hopefully will be in the position of giving it a try, be interesting to try 9-wide...I hate those 3-3-3 configurations...so awkward if travelling as a pair. Much nicer having 2-4-2, take the window pair and all is good...

Though I guess there is an upside of so many Y seats, unlikely they'd all be filled in non-peak times, chances of a row to oneself is rather good I would suspect.

 

[oz_mark]

Hopefully will be in the position of giving it a try, be interesting to try 9-wide...I hate those 3-3-3 configurations...so awkward if travelling as a pair. Much nicer having 2-4-2, take the window pair and all is good...

I remember once being told how awkard 3-3-3 layouts were to some leisure destinations when you get a flight with lots of couples....

 

[lovestotravel]

Only 3 rows of J, not much to go around....keeps fares high, I guess

Saves them having to flog off unsold seats as ODU's for $300

Panasonic’s eX2 inflight entertainment system - Well seems that there will be seat back TV's in all classes, that is great for a real LCC

 

[lovestotravel]

While 3-3-3 is annoying, you can't do 2-4-2 as they 9 doesn't equal 8

The only other option is 2-5-2 and that is far worse! I think it was UA that had this for a while and slowly removed it ?

 

[samh004]

While 3-3-3 is annoying, you can't do 2-4-2 as they 9 doesn't equal 8

The only other option is 2-5-2 and that is far worse! I think it was UA that had this for a while and slowly removed it ?

You can't do 3-4-2?

Considering the current A330 seats 303 all up, and this new 787 will seat 314 Y on its own, that should help them make a bit more money. Although it is a 17 J-seat reduction.

Maybe I can do a run on one at the end of November before it jets off internationally.

 

[oz_mark]

The only other option is 2-5-2 and that is far worse! I think it was UA that had this for a while and slowly removed it ?

2-5-2 is only a problem for the middle seat, other than that I found it a fine layout!

 

[lovestotravel]

2-5-2 is only a problem for the middle seat, other than that I found it a fine layout!

Yep, but I don't think any airline does 2-5-2 anymore in new aircraft though do they ?

 

[Must...Fly!]

I remember once being told how awkard 3-3-3 layouts were to some leisure destinations when you get a flight with lots of couples....

Well they do charge for blankets on JQ don't they? I'm sure that would discourage some

Saves them having to flog off unsold seats as ODU's for $300

Panasonic’s eX2 inflight entertainment system - Well seems that there will be seat back TV's in all classes, that is great for a real LCC

hehe. Will be interesting to see if it is chargeable (I very much doubt it will be)....great point of difference to other LCC though to have brand new planes and brand new AVOD IFE.

 

[Flying Fox]

Interesting that JQ will only have 3 rows of J vs the current 6 rows. Clearly they are expecting less demand.

I'm assuming that since the aircraft has only just entered assembly that it will contain all the latest fixes etc.

On a related noted, the first 787-9 has just started assembly too -

Boeing begins final assembly on 787-9 Dreamliner | Cutting Edge - CNET News

 

[Aussie_flyer]

hehe. Will be interesting to see if it is chargeable (I very much doubt it will be)....great point of difference to other LCC though to have brand new planes and brand new AVOD IFE.

I very much expect it will definitely be chargeable. why wouldn't they? It's a LCC

 

[Must...Fly!]

I very much expect it will definitely be chargeable. why wouldn't they? It's a LCC

Not sure what I was thinking lol. Just thinking through of how it would be done...if they have installed it in every seat how do you charge effectively? Per flight? Per movie/show? How do you enable the screens for pre-purchasers?

Perhaps I should re-phrase to "Perhaps they won't "

 

[oz_mark]

How do they charge on the existing A330s? There are established models and mostly it seems to be per sector.

 

[lovestotravel]

I very much expect it will definitely be chargeable. why wouldn't they? It's a LCC

The current JQ IFE equipped A330's have free IFE yes ?

They can easily charge for it, either at time of seat purchase (Air NZ) or with a credit card swipe

 

[oz_mark]

The current JQ IFE equipped A330's have free IFE yes ?

They can easily charge for it, either at time of seat purchase (Air NZ) or with a credit card swipe

Main screen is bssically free. Those with seatback units have swipe facilities.