Article: Qantas’ First A321XLRs Won’t Have Lie-Flat Business Seats

[AFF Editor]

Qantas’ First A321XLRs Won’t Have Lie-Flat Business Seats is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Qantas' First A321XLRs Won't Have Lie-Flat Business Seats

Qantas' first Airbus A321XLRs will be delivered with 20 Business and 180 Economy seats, giving a total seat count of 200 seats.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[1022]

I wonder if they will have two FAs doing J meal services with the seat increase. Even with 12 meals to serve, sometimes 3F doesn’t get fed and watered until top of descent on triangle routes.

The other alternative is of course that QF will simply enhance domestic business class catering so that 20 boxes of party pies can be delivered by the CSM in the available time.

 

[TheInsider]

I wonder if they will have two FAs doing J meal services with the seat increase. Even with 12 meals to serve, sometimes 3F doesn’t get fed and watered until top of descent on triangle routes.

The other alternative is of course that QF will simply enhance domestic business class catering so that 20 boxes of party pies can be delivered by the CSM in the available time.

Based on the 1 to 50 rule. Then there should be 5 cabin crew.

 

[jpp42]

Based on the 1 to 50 rule. Then there should be 5 cabin crew

Didn't they say 200 passengers? I assume this number is strategically chosen to still require only 4 crew, the same way that many US airlines run A320's with exactly 150 seats and 3 crew.

 

[OZDUCK]

Didn't they say 200 passengers? I assume this number is strategically chosen to still require only 4 crew, the same way that many US airlines run A320's with exactly 150 seats and 3 crew.

I thought Australian rules still require a minimum of 1 cabin crew per 36 pax?

 

[Melburnian1]

While there may be two versions, it's sad that the initial ones don't have lie-flat business class seating.

Mattg may not have experienced these from Oz, but Philippine Airlines has 12 such seats on its longer range A321s that presently fly from MEL five days a week and from SYD on three of the five weekly scheduled days.

 

[cbourl]

If you have ever flown American Airlines A321T transcontinental USA JFK-SFO/LAX vv with 1-1 First Flatbeds, 2-2 Business Flatbeds and economy, with Flagship First Lounge and Dining room (now almost gone however since COVID) you wil lunderstand Qantas is doing its usual short changing of its customers. An XLR aircraft and no Business Flatbed? Thats positively Third World, which is why many of us wil lfly Virgin SAustralia for cheaper fares, better service, and less seats in Business which on Qnatas are filled with on-duty crew and also off-duty crew on cheap fares. It really is a no-brainer to avoid Qantas. And now wit hVA's United and Qatar (that was a mightly slap in the face for Joyce from The Emir of Qatar, owner Qatar Airways and its Excecutive Officer Al Baker. Sorry Qantas but once bitten, many times/forever shy

While there may be two versions, it's sad that the initial ones don't have lie-flat business class seating.

Mattg may not have experienced these from Oz, but Philippine Airlines has 12 such seats on its longer range A321s that presently fly from MEL five days a week and from SYD on three of the five weekly scheduled days.

And yet Kwantas hasn't announced flatbeds I understand we live in the Antipodes but at least try and offer a world-class service (from call centre to website to airport checkin to lounge to boarding to on board to embarkation to baggage collection - Qantas fails miserably on most of these , not marginally , but totally

Didn't they say 200 passengers? I assume this number is strategically chosen to still require only 4 crew, the same way that many US airlines run A320's with exactly 150 seats and 3 crew.

Maybe you haven't flow American Airlines A321T (transcontinental ) JFK-SFO/LAX vv Dont talk about Delta, we also have United Polaris 757, 789 and 787-10 transcon In the US market Delta is like Qantas, aka a bragging obviously low cost carrier charging 5 Star prices, perfect for those from the South of USA

 

[justinbrett]

If you have ever flown American Airlines A321T transcontinental USA JFK-SFO/LAX vv with 1-1 First Flatbeds, 2-2 Business Flatbeds and economy, with Flagship First Lounge and Dining room (now almost gone however since COVID) you wil lunderstand Qantas is doing its usual short changing of its customers. An XLR aircraft and no Business Flatbed? Thats positively Third World, which is why many of us wil lfly Virgin SAustralia for cheaper fares, better service, and less seats in Business which on Qnatas are filled with on-duty crew and also off-duty crew on cheap fares. It really is a no-brainer to avoid Qantas. And now wit hVA's United and Qatar (that was a mightly slap in the face for Joyce from The Emir of Qatar, owner Qatar Airways and its Excecutive Officer Al Baker. Sorry Qantas but once bitten, many times/forever shy

It's a 737-800 replacement program - most will be used on domestic.

AA has 17 aircraft in transcon config - the other 255 are in standard config. And that's not counting the A319 & A320s - which there are another 181 aircraft. So of the A32X family, less than 4% have lie flat beds.

I think your comments are premature (though it's pretty clear your beef is not about the seat config)

 

[lovestotravel]

Who would have guessed that QF would do the bare minimum with the fleet for J....

 

[Quickstatus]

American Airlines

Qantas

United

Qatar

Virgin SAustralia

LOL
Looking at the above list, I get the impression its more about not liking one particular airline....

Don't like a particular airline - fly with another. I suspect no one is going to care.
Best Fare of Day is usually a very reasonable option...

 

[Princess Fiona]

If you have ever flown American Airlines A321T transcontinental USA JFK-SFO/LAX vv with 1-1 First Flatbeds, 2-2 Business Flatbeds and economy, with Flagship First Lounge and Dining room (now almost gone however since COVID) you wil lunderstand Qantas is doing its usual short changing of its customers. An XLR aircraft and no Business Flatbed? Thats positively Third World, which is why many of us wil lfly Virgin SAustralia for cheaper fares, better service, and less seats in Business which on Qnatas are filled with on-duty crew and also off-duty crew on cheap fares. It really is a no-brainer to avoid Qantas. And now wit hVA's United and Qatar (that was a mightly slap in the face for Joyce from The Emir of Qatar, owner Qatar Airways and its Excecutive Officer Al Baker. Sorry Qantas but once bitten, many times/forever shy

Which cabins / routes does VA have lie flat seats on ?

 

[cbourl]

Which cabins / routes does VA have lie flat seats on ?

Virgin Australia dont fly A321s, certainly not A321XLR. American Airlines fly select A321T for a selct market. They don't pretend to have flatbeds. That wasn't the point of my post, simply added its a no brainer to fly Star Alliance with VA with QR now that we no longer have to schlepp on sub standard Qantas, which is tangled up in its dirty coat tails

Who would have guessed that QF would do the bare minimum with the fleet for J....

Yes, and Princess Fiona, a moderator, posts below is defending TAA = Australian = Stolen name Queensland And Northern Territory Air Service over Virgin Australia Qnatas are , and have been for quite some time, nothing more than an Clayton's low cost carrier pretending to be ful lservice. Who would bother with their call centres, or baggage checkin kiosks, or unmanned Business checkin desks?

 

[justinbrett]

Which cabins / routes does VA have lie flat seats on ?

Don't forget fewer business class seats - less chance of buying or upgrading to a J seat is a good thing despite the same pitch?

 

[cbourl]

It's a 737-800 replacement program - most will be used on domestic.

AA has 17 aircraft in transcon config - the other 255 are in standard config. And that's not counting the A319 & A320s - which there are another 181 aircraft. So of the A32X family, less than 4% have lie flat beds.

I think your comments are premature (though it's pretty clear your beef is not about the seat config)

And I thought Qantas was attempting (but not succeeding) to provide a premium Business experience. An XLR aircraft is purchased for a reason, not to be flow on 1-3 hour flights . So Qantas having no flat beds in an A321XLR for longer routes is by world standards very non-competeitive, but I guess they have just an Australian market (aka non-discerning) to cater for

Simple solution would be to take meal orders for J pax prior to take-off. That would massively speed up the time it takes to get food and drinks out.

American and United have been doing this for decades, and menus are provided when seated or at the latest with your boarding drink. Qantas, are we are fully aware ,is decades behind, like their "priority" boarding

Don't forget fewer business class seats - less chance of buying or upgrading to a J seat is a good thing despite the same pitch?

Yes and not full of on duty crew and qantas off-duty crew on cheap fares who used to be served after paying passengers, but now are served at the same time, and then the 2 flight attendants spend time socilaising with their off duty and on duty freinds at the expense of other passengers. Not only heinous, but very Qantas, having experienced this on multiple Qantas flights in Business this year and last year , and I don't want to hear Qantas staff crying poverty, but then again they could be doing this to irritate ex Ansett Joyce

 

[Daver6]

I wonder if they will have two FAs doing J meal services with the seat increase. Even with 12 meals to serve, sometimes 3F doesn’t get fed and watered until top of descent on triangle routes.

The other alternative is of course that QF will simply enhance domestic business class catering so that 20 boxes of party pies can be delivered by the CSM in the available time.

Simple solution would be to take meal orders for J pax prior to take-off. That would massively speed up the time it takes to get food and drinks out.

 

[justinbrett]

And I thought Qantas was attempting (but not succeeding) to provide a premium Business experience. An XLR aircraft is purchased for a reason, not to be flow on 1-3 hour flights . So Qantas having no flat beds in an A321XLR for longer routes is by world standards very non-competeitive, but I guess they have just an Australian market (aka non-discerning) to cater for

It's the 737-800 replacement program. I don't know what more to say. They still have a fleet of A330s for domestic and regional travel and there is no plan to replace them (yet). They already operate international flights on 737-800, as do VA, as do AA - well, most airlines do this - all without lie flat beds.

You clearly - clearly have strong opinions against Qantas so we shall take your views with a large bag of salt.

 

[HS-TQE]

QF and VA has also operated DPS-East Coast redeyes for years prior to the COVID shutdowns in March 2020. But taking into consideration that market is largely low yielding/budget, a lie flat wouldn't be ideal in most cases (and would largely be a waste when they can be better utilised on more high yielding routes).

 

[justinbrett]

Simple solution would be to take meal orders for J pax prior to take-off. That would massively speed up the time it takes to get food and drinks out.

I've experienced this many times on QF - more often drink orders, but often both.

 

[cbourl]

Don't forget fewer business class seats - less chance of buying or upgrading to a J seat is a good thing despite the same pitch?

Yes much nicer on Virgin Australia than Qantas. Not so many last minute upgraders, and a cabid devoid of staff, both on duty and off duty on Virgin Australia, as compared to taking up 12 saleable seats rather than a more comfortable 8 on Virgin

 

[justinbrett]

Yes much nicer on Virgin Australia than Qantas. Not so many last minute upgraders, and a cabid devoid of staff, both on duty and off duty on Virgin Australia, as compared to taking up 12 saleable seats rather than a more comfortable 8 on Virgin

Yeah, you said so the first time.

Gonna need more salt...