QF SYD-SIN: aircraft choices - 777 (*EK)/ 333/ 744

[legroom]

Hi AFFers

On the SYD SIN route, QF offers up to 3 different aircraft choices: 333, 737 and 744.

Ignoring departure times and domestic connections, which one would be relatively "comfortable" in J and in Y respectively considering the 7-8 hrs flight ?

Which one would have a "better" IFE systems / screens ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

744 hands down - although it might not be refitted yet so is a bit of a gamble. Other thing to consider is those 747 are not the ER version and are very old!

 

[yohy?!]

Hi AFFers

On the SYD SIN route, QF offers up to 3 different aircraft choices: 333, 737 and 744.

Ignoring departure times and domestic connections, which one would be relatively "comfortable" in J and in Y respectively considering the 7-8 hrs flight ?

Which one would have a "better" IFE systems / screens ?

Thanks in advance.

737? which flight is that?

 

[harvyk]

A 737 flying SIN-SYD?
I thought all SIN-SYD flights where strictly A330's with the only B747's from SIN all going to BNE?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

There are no 737 flights to SIN must be a typo.

I've been told the newer IFE in the 330s trumps the ever-failing older IFE of the old 747 but to me an international flight just feels that more special in a jumbo!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

A 737 flying SIN-SYD?
I thought all SIN-SYD flights where strictly A330's with the only B747's from SIN all going to BNE?

QF5/6 is a 747 most days and an A330 the other days at the moment

 

[legroom]

This is what I saw from EF

Should have been 777-300ER (EK codeshare). My bad

Thanks

 

[bertflyer]

Good timing for this thread
I am on QF5/6 in the next couple of weeks on the 744 and based on the seatmaps it will be one of OJA, OJC, OJE or OJI. From what I can find these are the non-refurbed 744 slated for the next lot of retirements?
The Y mini-cabin in the front looks good though, see if I can snag 38 A or C at T-80! Otherwise I'll stick to 71 A/B.
So to the OP, I guess the IFE would be better on the 333, but as per Mrmaxwell, I have also chosen the 744 for the same reason

I've been told the newer IFE in the 330s trumps the ever-failing older IFE of the old 747 but to me an international flight just feels that more special in a jumbo!

 

[legroom]

...So to the OP, I guess the IFE would be better on the 333, but as per Mrmaxwell, I have also chosen the 744 for the same reason

I was impressed with the gate-to-gate IFE on EK plus a wider range of materials compared to what QF is offering.

Would that sway you from a jumbo to EK's 777 ?

For example, I was able to watch some subtitled German / French / Asian movies on my last EK trip. Could not remember if QF has such esoteric collection or not.

***

Further, leaving IFE / "jumbo" factor to one side, how about the seating comfort ?

Any comments on your preferences, or it's all the same between the 777 / 330 / 747 ?

 

[bertflyer]

All my comments refer to Y seating, I'll leave it to others to comment on J except to say that if you can get a refurbed 744 with MKII skybed then should that should be much better the old 744 or 330. I don't know what the EK J seats are like.

I haven't been on an EK flight for over 5 years so can't compare the IFE but I do remember that their seat pitch in Y is 33-34" in the 777 so slightly extra legroom vs the 31" for QF for the 330/744.
My preference for seating comfort would be: 744 (refurb)> 744 (non-refurb) > 330 for non-bulkhead seats. For bulkhead seats I am a fan of row 23 on the 330, I haven't snagged a bulkhead seat on the 744 previously (I was PS then) and a lot of my recent QFi trips have been on the 388 (which of course introduces row 80A/K, upstairs Y etc into the the mix). But to be honest I did chose the 744 flight on this trip just because I haven't been on one for a while.

I guess if you like the EK IFE offering and get the extra leg room then that would be the choice to make?

 

[dajop]

Any comments on your preferences, or it's all the same between the 777 / 330 / 747 ?

Except ex-SYD, one has to divert via MEL to fly on the EK 777, but I guess it is a later departure (effectively 2 hrs later, if you consider airport cutoff times of dom vs intl). There is also for OW flyers the option of BA 77W now to (obviously no longer on a QF code).

Comparing 330 & 777 I did return QF/EK last month on SIN/MEL using QF out and EK return, and I'd say in Y at least I liked the 777 better, despite squeezing 10 seats into a space many airlines only put 9 seats, it felt better than the A330 (interestingly seatguru indicate same width as QF A330). The screen was much bigger, and IFE selection greater too. I think I preferred 747 to both, although it has been a while since travelling on a QF 747.

 

[legroom]

Except ex-SYD, one has to divert via MEL to fly on the EK 777, but I guess it is a later departure (effectively 2 hrs later, if you consider airport cutoff times of dom vs intl). There is also for OW flyers the option of BA 77W now to (obviously no longer on a QF code).

Comparing 330 & 777 I did return QF/EK last month on SIN/MEL using QF out and EK return, and I'd say in Y at least I liked the 777 better, despite squeezing 10 seats into a space many airlines only put 9 seats, it felt better than the A330 (interestingly seatguru indicate same width as QF A330). The screen was much bigger, and IFE selection greater too. I think I preferred 747 to both, although it has been a while since travelling on a QF 747.

Excellent feedback !

Many thanks

It looks like many AFFers prefer the 747 followed by 777 with the 330 bringing back the rear !

 

[dajop]

Excellent feedback !

Many thanks

It looks like many AFFers prefer the 747 followed by 777 with the 330 bringing back the rear !

And if extending beyond QF on SYD-SIN in Y I would take the SQA380>SQ777/SQA330 >QF747>EK777>QF330. Not sure where I'd put the BA 77W, as haven't experienced it, and JQ A330 is level pegging with QFA330.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'd rather a QF A330 seat in Y than an EK 777 seat in Y due to the 10 abreast seating, especially if traveling in a pair.

 

[elbarto]

I'd rather a QF A330 seat in Y than an EK 777 seat in Y due to the 10 abreast seating, especially if traveling in a pair.

EK 777's have more legroom which is a big plus in my opinion. The width they've shrunken the seat to get a 10 abreast config makes it no worse than a QF 737.

 

[legroom]

One thing against EK 777 is the absence of any QFF points upgrade.

Currently, I am EK Gold so it might be of some help dreaming of an op up (Y to J).

I read somewhere that EK tends to have a (relatively) higher op up rate for high tier pax than QF but I have not flown EK since the Gold card arrival so I cannot vouch for that.

 

[markis10]

One thing against EK 777 is the absence of any QFF points upgrade.

Being BNE based I see another positive being the flight being not a red eye on the way back!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

EK 777's have more legroom which is a big plus in my opinion. The width they've shrunken the seat to get a 10 abreast config makes it no worse than a QF 737.

well then the 2 seats together appeals rather than a 3-4-3 when traveling as a pair. I just don't like EK 777's in Y, I like them otherwise

 

[dajop]

EK 777's have more legroom which is a big plus in my opinion. The width they've shrunken the seat to get a 10 abreast config makes it no worse than a QF 737.

According to seating websites both EK 777 and QF 330 have 17" wide seats, and travelling in both it felt the same. The extra legroom and bigger screen and superior IFE on EK made it feel better.

well then the 2 seats together appeals rather than a 3-4-3 when traveling as a pair. I just don't like EK 777's in Y, I like them otherwise

For me, it makes no difference, as I travelling solo I will look for a XXOO or XOOO and take the aisle - or if travelling in a pair look for XOOO and take the the two seats together alongside the aislie, as if there is an empty seat on the plane, there's a very good chance it on of the middle seats in the bank of 4 - whether 777 or 330. For some reason on 3-4-3 configured aircraft the empty middle seats in the 3 seat banks go before empty middle seats in the 4 seat banks.

 

[HarryB]

Does anyone know if every window seat in Y on the 777 has the box under the seat for the entertainment system? Haven't been on a 777 since about 2008 so can't remember