737-400s

[Awesom Andy]

While on the topic of legroom, the exit rows on the 734s are pretty good. These seats have a recline lock which are in place during take off and landing, but the FA would have them unlocked during the cruise. If you don't mind being half-way down the cabin, I think these seats are a good alternative choice.

 

[ajw373]

They're not bad in Y.

J is a different story.

J is what I was talking about, well the seats anyway. Maybe having been used to these and then living in the UK and flying BA short haul for 4 years has desensitised me to what is and isn't good.

 

[harvyk]

They're not bad in Y.

J is a different story.

Having said that, I've had some of the best Qantas service I've ever received on the 734 in J - and most of that flying BNE-CBR or vv. Inversely the worst Qantas service I've ever received is on the 744 in J.

I'm exactly the opposite, the worst J service I've ever had was on a B734 (A MEL - CBR flight), although I had just stepped off a B744 J flight (my first experience of int J), so I guess I was sort of expecting a similar level of service, just without the skybed.


As for the B734 in CBR, just about every flight I've been on from \ to CBR has been on a B734, for me it's been very rare that I nab a B738...

 

[Awesom Andy]

As for the B734 in CBR, just about every flight I've been on from \ to CBR has been on a B734, for me it's been very rare that I nab a B738...

At least it's not the dash 8, right?

 

[Berlin]

Does anyone know what Qantas's plans are for these awful planes?

I'm completely with the OP: They are horrible, horrible planes :shock: Not so much for seat quality (I actually agree, the seats themselves are better in the old 400s than in the 800s) but simply because they are so scarily old that it's a disgrace for a quality airline like QF.

Same goes for some of the old 767s as well- they are just a tiny little bit better than the old rattlers you encounter frequently over in the US. A tiny bit only!

 

[ajw373]

I'm completely with the OP: They are horrible, horrible planes :shock: Not so much for seat quality (I actually agree, the seats themselves are better in the old 400s than in the 800s) but simply because they are so scarily old that it's a disgrace for a quality airline like QF.

Same goes for some of the old 767s as well- they are just a tiny little bit better than the old rattlers you encounter frequently over in the US. A tiny bit only!

Define scarily old..... In the grand scheme of things 20 years, which is how old the oldest one in the Qantas fleet is nothing if they are well looked after, which the Qantas ones are. The youngest is about 16 years old.

 

[mannej]

I'm completely with the OP: They are horrible, horrible planes :shock: Not so much for seat quality (I actually agree, the seats themselves are better in the old 400s than in the 800s) but simply because they are so scarily old that it's a disgrace for a quality airline like QF.

Same goes for some of the old 767s as well- they are just a tiny little bit better than the old rattlers you encounter frequently over in the US. A tiny bit only!

Age is a furphy. There are so many factors that need to be taken into consideration before the age becomes an issue.
We have an informed member on here, who if he needs to reposition for work will choose a 767 over a 330 due to reliability. Funny thing is the domestic 330's are near new.

 

[simongr]

I havent had a 734 MEL-SYD in my memory though I have had J on a 734 ADL-PER (part of a DONE4 under the old rules ) - that is a mistake I won't make again.

I am intrigued by the anti-763 comment above - I get one of 23ABJK generally on those flights and have no issues - toilets are pretty close, leg room is great. Not seeing a problem.

 

[harvyk]

At least it's not the dash 8, right?

I do what I can to avoid the dash 8, including waking up a OMG o'clock to get the first flight out if needs be...

I guess for short flights such as CBR-SYD they are not too bad as they take about the same amount of time as a Jet service. A longer flight (such as BNE-CBR) is the absolute pits, esp when you'd just stepped off a long haul, and then had to wait in BNE for many hours before boarding the thing (to then spend an extra hour flying which wouldn't have happened had you been in a jet)...

 

[drross]

On a slightly different track, flew a 737-800 down from Townsville yesterday, the pointy end had individual screens with access to movies..(nearly got in 'cowboys and aliens' .......if it wasn't for all the announments) but today's flight from briz to Sydney was the usual in flight entertainment. Still a better plane than the 737-400s

 

[Awesom Andy]

On a slightly different track, flew a 737-800 down from Townsville yesterday, the pointy end had individual screens with access to movies..(nearly got in 'cowboys and aliens' .......if it wasn't for all the announments) but today's flight from briz to Sydney was the usual in flight entertainment. Still a better plane than the 737-400s

Was it the BSI that you had on the flight from TSV?

 

[mikew]

I will take the 400 any day in Y for the following reasons:

12 desirable seats to snag with increased pitch compared to 4 on the 800
Cup holders in the armrest meaning i don't need to keep the tray table down
I find the headrests more comfortable being tall as i prefer their neck support
Better TV screen viewing in row 4 than the 800 (even though the screens are older)

Downside - Smaller overhead bins

 

[gwilli1]

I for one can't wait for them to go . When I was doing some regular trip between SYD & MEL , you could guarantee the the 5.15pm MEL-SYD (QF456) was a 400, and having just looked at the schedule, i see it still is . It was also the first to get cancelled for what every reasons & everyone pushed onto the 5 or 5.30. The quicker they get the 800 BSI in the better.

 

[mannej]

Was it the BSI that you had on the flight from TSV?

Not all of the AVOD equipped 738's are BSI's. VZT onwards are BSI, VZL onwards have the AVOD.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Not all of the AVOD equipped 738's are BSI's. VZT onwards are BSI, VZL onwards have the AVOD.

Which is why I asked.

Although come to think of it, drross probably would've stated it if it was...

 

[drross]

Was it the BSI that you had on the flight from TSV?

Sorry Awesom Andy. What is BSI?

 

[markis10]

Which is why I asked.

Although come to think of it, drross probably would've stated it if it was...

I suspect the flight was 971 which was operated by VZM which has AVOD but is not a blue sky interior aircraft (BSI)

Special delivery

 

[ozdunker]

Flew Melb-BNE last night in business class on one of these old planes. I couldnt believe how behind the times Qantas are. I had 5 Qantas business class flights in a week and there was only 1 with a decent aircraft with seatback TV sets was Melbourne to Hobart.

 

[ajw373]

Flew Melb-BNE last night in business class on one of these old planes. I couldnt believe how behind the times Qantas are. I had 5 Qantas business class flights in a week and there was only 1 with a decent aircraft with seatback TV sets was Melbourne to Hobart.

Grrr, it annoys me reading posts like this. Behind the times hey due to no seatback IFE on a short flight. Get real, let me tell you there are very very very few airlines anywhere in the world that offers seat back IFE on flights comparable to what Qantas runs domesticity. In fact most offer NO IFE at all, not even audio, letalone main screen video or heavan forbid AVOD personal IFE.

We in Australia have been spoilt beyond belief by the products that have been offered by the likes of Australian/Qantas/Ansett and now Virgin Aus. I guess the issue is many see the fancy long haul products that fly here and expect the same on a Canberra-Sydney milk run. Out of touch beyond belief.

 

[simongr]

Out of interest Ozdunker what other carriers are offering seat back TV for J on domestic flights in Oz or any where else:

AA - no
BA - No
CX - possibly if you count the fold out TV arm on regional jets
DJ/VA - digi players?
AY - no