Is J on the Qantas 737-800 Perth-Singapore a waste of money?

[wisewoman]

I have to fly from Perth to Singapore for a business meeting next month. Qantas and Singapore Airlines both have a direct flight from Perth - Qantas has only one, while Singapore has several but like Qantas, only one is early afternoon which is my preference. The Qantas plane is a Boeing 737-800 (winglets) both ways while the Singapore Airlines flights is on a Boeing 777-200 one way and an Airbus A330-300 the other.

I flew J on a Qantas Boeing 737-800 from Sydney to Perth a couple of weeks ago and it was awful. Business was almost indistinguishable from economy, very uncomfortable seats, barely reclined, no footrest, very noisy as only a curtain between seats 3 in business and 4 in economy. One set of toilets at the front of business for use by all passengers. I have heard that the 737-800 aircraft Qantas uses between Perth to Singapore is even worse to the extent it doesn't even have personal entertainment screens. At $2550 each way for J, that is outrageous.

Is it worth flying Qantas on this hideous aircraft 5-6 hours each way, for 200 status credits v a better (but still not great) aircraft on Singapore Airlines for no status credits and an extra $1500 in cost?

Grateful for the views of anyone who has flown the route with Qantas and/or Singapore Airlines recently.

 

[samh004]

I guess it depends if you're in the status game, and who you're in the status game with. After all, if your airline of choice was VA for instance, you could make SQ work on that route.

A widebody is always going to beat a narrowbody, but I don't believe QF have the available fleet to operate widebodies on that route, plus they're making it work with narrowbodies.

It's a similar situation if you fly transcon in a narrowbody or to NZ.

 

[casanovawa]

You don't make either sound particularly appealing...

Are you paying or work?

I've flown an SQ 777 down to Perth in J and would take that over the recent QF 737 J with the recliners i flew Sydney to Perth a few months back...

On my own dime i'd fly Scoot or J* but different story if you are after those SCs...

 

[casanovawa]

A widebody is always going to beat a narrowbody, but I don't believe QF have the available fleet to operate widebodies on that route, plus they're making it work with narrowbodies.

They either don't have the fleet or don't give that much of a toss for anything west of the Victorian/NSW/Qld border...

 

[RichardMEL]

Do not forget QF has upguaged PER-SIN to 330's at peak times....

If it was a work trip and I needed a) flexibility and b) service/comfort/schedule I'd take SQ specially if someone else was paying (and I believe they are putting the 350 into PER at some point?).

Speaking of comfort if QF J is too exxy for the budy for value, what about a Y comfort seat (so SC's will be similar). Yes I've actually suggested this before someone else

 

[mannej]

Do not forget QF has upguaged PER-SIN to 330's at peak times....

If it was a work trip and I needed a) flexibility and b) service/comfort/schedule I'd take SQ specially if someone else was paying (and I believe they are putting the 350 into PER at some point?).

Speaking of comfort if QF J is too exxy for the budy for value, what about a Y comfort seat (so SC's will be similar). Yes I've actually suggested this before someone else

Isn't the A350 a once off currently as some type of Anniversary thing?

 

[RichardMEL]

Isn't the A350 a once off currently as some type of Anniversary thing?

Happy to be corrected on that. I don't follow SQ so closely but recall seeing something about it going into PER.

At any rate their J product even on the 330 regional/777 would beat the crampo 73H - and the soft product would be better too I think.

 

[wisewoman]

Do not forget QF has upguaged PER-SIN to 330's at peak times....

If it was a work trip and I needed a) flexibility and b) service/comfort/schedule I'd take SQ specially if someone else was paying (and I believe they are putting the 350 into PER at some point?).

Speaking of comfort if QF J is too exxy for the budy for value, what about a Y comfort seat (so SC's will be similar). Yes I've actually suggested this before someone else

Work is paying not me, but I hate the fact that Qantas gets paid $$$ for substandard seats on substandard planes because it encourages Qantas to keep putting those planes on its Perth routes. Qantas has been treating its Perth FF like second class citizens for a long time now. This is only one example of many. Would you believe I could fly to Singapore from the Eastern States on a better aircraft for less than it would cost me to fly from Perth on the dilapidated 737-800? If it wasn't for the status credits I wouldn't even consider flying Qantas but I am a Gold FF (down from a WP last year) and want to at least retain that.

BTW what is a Y comfort seat? A flexible Y ticket on the Qantas flight only earns 100 SC as opposed to 200 in J.

 

[samh004]

They either don't have the fleet or don't give that much of a toss for anything west of the Victorian/NSW/Qld border...

Little of both columns I'd imagine, but their wide body fleet is a little lacking.

Thinking long range, if the 787-9 flew transcon between SYD/MEL to PER then you could rescue a wide body A330, if appropriate. But as with most things QF, you're going to have to wait

BTW what is a Y comfort seat? A flexible Y ticket on the Qantas flight only earns 100 SC as opposed to 200 in J.

A comfort seat gives you a second seat (earning full SC/points) for the same price as the first seat, less taxes. So sometimes this can be around a 50% reduction for the second seat. Better to find value on a discount ticket though.

I know someone who flew them domestically around QLD to re-qualify Platinum.

 

[Daver6]

If you feel that way about QF J, why not just book QF Y and grab an over-wing exit row? Decent legroom and significantly cheaper.

 

[RichardMEL]

Work is paying not me, but I hate the fact that Qantas gets paid $$$ for substandard seats on substandard planes because it encourages Qantas to keep putting those planes on its Perth routes. Qantas has been treating its Perth FF like second class citizens for a long time now. This is only one example of many. Would you believe I could fly to Singapore from the Eastern States on a better aircraft for less than it would cost me to fly from Perth on the dilapidated 737-800? If it wasn't for the status credits I wouldn't even consider flying Qantas but I am a Gold FF (down from a WP last year) and want to at least retain that.

Yes but this reflects demand and supply. QF cut PER-SIN because there wasn't enough traffic to support larger a/c on the route (vs. SQ).. so they bring it back in a 73H... yes, it's a poor international J product (but hey, they fly the same bloody thing SYD-DPS and that's a MUCH more difficult flight IMHO).

And you yourself admit the SQ "regional" product is not a huge improvement also so SQ is also treating PER like a near neighbour.

And yes PER has been treated poorly but they DID get the new J lounge, they did get the upgraded 330's which are on many of the PER transcon flights and they ARE getting the PER-LHR flights, so for a small remote city in era where the mining boom appears to have run it's course, PER is doing not that badly IMHO.

Obviously if I needed to fly the route I'd want an EK A380 on it but you can't always get what you want. Some service is better than nothing for a direct flight. If QF offered nothing direct your QF option would probably be via MEL(!) or onto JQ.

As for the comfort seat - you basically purchase a 2nd Y seat linked to your own, it stays empty next to you ("Just like Business Class" in one poster's words ) and get the SC's-ie: basically double. Not sure how your employer would treat that one though.

I'd still go SQ (better lounge options too)

BTW what is a Y comfort seat? A flexible Y ticket on the Qantas flight only earns 100 SC as opposed to 200 in J.[/QUOTE]

 

[mannej]

Happy to be corrected on that. I don't follow SQ so closely but recall seeing something about it going into PER.

At any rate their J product even on the 330 regional/777 would beat the crampo 73H - and the soft product would be better too I think.

It's a once-off

https://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-airlines-to-fly-airbus-a350-to-perth

 

[RichardMEL]

I am happily corrected

 

[Comoman]

I've done both in the last few months.

Both the SQ 14h00 and 17h30 departures are 777. The 14h00 one is usually 1x2x1 (long haul config) whilst the 17h30 is 2x2x2. Always subject to change of course.

Both of them are streets ahead of the QF 737. It was a 737 last week I saw so I think the A330 is finished. Depending on your trip duration SQ has a special on at the moment for $2k return in J.

 

[Mattg]

I have heard that the 737-800 aircraft Qantas uses between Perth to Singapore is even worse to the extent it doesn't even have personal entertainment screens. At $2550 each way for J, that is outrageous.

While I agree with most of your comments about QF business class on the 737, it's not true that they're using aircraft without personal entertainment screens. A newer BSI 737 with seatback IFE is normally used on this route.

 

[Pleb Status]

Without any doubt, it would be SQ all the way on PER-SIN.

Even the oldest, most tired SQ regional J seat is far superior to the QF 737 J offering.

So yes, paying for J on the 737 is a waste of money.

 

[Falcs]

Work is paying not me, but I hate the fact that Qantas gets paid $$$ for substandard seats on substandard planes because it encourages Qantas to keep putting those planes on its Perth routes. Qantas has been treating its Perth FF like second class citizens for a long time now. This is only one example of many. Would you believe I could fly to Singapore from the Eastern States on a better aircraft for less than it would cost me to fly from Perth on the dilapidated 737-800? If it wasn't for the status credits I wouldn't even consider flying Qantas but I am a Gold FF (down from a WP last year) and want to at least retain that.

Probably answered your own question then?

Although I'm sure QF would put a wide body if there were enough passengers to support it so I don't think it's a matter of purposely screwing Perth pax.

 

[Mattg]

Probably answered your own question then?

Although I'm sure QF would put a wide body if there were enough passengers to support it so I don't think it's a matter of purposely screwing Perth pax.

Given that Qantas is running 2x 737 flights on some days, I would hazard a guess that there is actually enough demand for a single daily A330 flight.

1x A330-200 seats 28 J & 243 Y passengers.
2x 737-800s seat 24 J & 324 Y passengers.

 

[mannej]

I flew J on a Qantas Boeing 737-800 from Sydney to Perth a couple of weeks ago and it was awful. Business was almost indistinguishable from economy, very uncomfortable seats, barely reclined, no footrest, very noisy as only a curtain between seats 3 in business and 4 in economy. One set of toilets at the front of business for use by all passengers. I have heard that the 737-800 aircraft Qantas uses between Perth to Singapore is even worse to the extent it doesn't even have personal entertainment screens. At $2550 each way for J, that is outrageous.

Perhaps a fact check is in order - 100% of the 737 used on the route during the last month has had personal IFE screens.



The toilet ratio is also better on the 737 for J pax compared to both the 332 and the 333 (1:12 v 1:28 v 1:14).

If the J product isn't your cup of tea, why hesitate in choosing SQ?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Can I add my weird sense? Granted it won't be considered suitable by the others on here.
Go via MEL, and take that EK 380 in J.
You have to contend with that part time J lounge in PER, if you fly direct, but if you fly via MEL, it might cost a bit more, but you get to feel the newly done up QF PERd J lounge first prior to your dom flight to MEL, then, and then the int one in MEL too.
The QF MELi J lounge is like a dungeon, but if you are happy to forgo that, then go straight to the EK lounge.
The wahoo factor though, is the EK lounge in MEL's int terminal.
I have tried the QF MELi J lounge, not salubrious, but the EK MELi J lounge would be the one to aim for.
On board the EK 380, the bar at the back of the J area of the plane upstairs is a good time paster and a very good thing, I enjoyed my time on that 380.
Have flown the EK 380 several times, in J and F, and can't fault the best service on the flights.