All of QF's 747 refurbished?

[PaulST]

I'll be flying QF63* and QF64* between SYD and Johannesburg in August and October this year and I'm keen to know if it'll be in the refurbished 747s.
I asked the Qantas guy on the phone and he said that all of the 747s have been updated. Is this true?
I'm flying PE (would you call this Y+?) but I'm considering upgrading to business on points for the return trip but I imagine it'll only be worth it if I'd be going into the Mk2 skybed which I believe folds flat. Hence why I thought I'd double check here before upgrading.

Thanks!

*I've edit the flight numbers. I was getting confused with a recent BKK flight.

 

[defurax]

I'll be flying QF23 and QF24 between SYD and Johannesburg in August and October this year and I'm keen to know if it'll be in the refurbished 747s.
I asked the Qantas guy on the phone and he said that all of the 747s have been updated. Is this true?
I'm flying PE (would you call this Y+?) but I'm considering upgrading to business on points for the return trip but I imagine it'll only be worth it if I'd be going into the Mk2 skybed which I believe folds flat. Hence why I thought I'd double check here before upgrading.

Thanks!

Maybe they only use the refurbished 744 on the JNB route, but QF still has 2 or 3 744 with MKI J seats and old First class seats (I have one of those on QF6 in October).

 

[Sdtravel]

I haven't checked but a general piece of advice. (I'm on a 747 to LAX in June and hoping it stays as a refurbished one as I also have an upgrade request in)
from what people are saying and I have read on the topic
- check expert flyer and seat guru for the seat config. Expert flyer. Can tell you the loadings info.
- there is a 5day trial to full member ship for expert flyer or just use the free subscription but you won't get loading info
- once you have checked the seat config as I understand it if seat rom 4 is missing its a refurbished bird. But if row 5 is missing it isn't.
- you can use theqantassource.com to see the route and previous planes used on the route which can help you understand how often it is or isn't a refurbished bird

In addition there is a thread I believe in "your questions" where you can ask about upgrade chances and the nice friendly other AFF members can help with loading info and comment on likelihood of OPUP or points upgrade.

There are plenty of threads around about 747 refurbished birds just have to search for them. I think there is one commented earlier today about refurbished birds on LAX routes.

All this info I have been able to get from reading the post from our other friendly and helpful AFF members

 

[PaulST]

Thanks for the reply sdtravel and defurax.
Yeah I'm surprised that the 747 upgrade is complete hence why I thought I'd ask on here. The the way the guy answered my question makes me wonder if he misunderstood my question hence my uncertainty.

 

[Sdtravel]

No worries
we share the same dream (getting the upgrade to MKII on a 747). Even hoping for a last minute change than A380 but that's unlikely.

 

[mannej]

- once you have checked the seat config as I understand it if seat rom 4 is missing its a refurbished bird. But if row 5 is missing it isn't.

Wrong. The refurbed birds do have Row 5 (and are great seats for solo travelers).

Easier way to check is the Upper Deck exit. Row 16 are the old
Configs, row 14 is the refurbed config.

 

[Sdtravel]

Apologies I know it has something to do with missing rows just wasn't sure which ones.

This post from 2012 suggests row 4 is one of the tells it's refurbished
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....antas-syd-scl-747-400-a-45873.html#post729515

 

[PaulST]

I've found my seat on Seatguru (31A and 32A) and, according to what you've said mannej, it appears to be the old interior.
(it won't let me insert the link because I have a post count of less than 10)

Damn! It seems that the refurbished premium economy starts at 34.

So do the un-refurbished J class seats fold flat? If not, I think I'll stick to PE and save the points for something else.

 

[hutch]

Un-refurb 747's feature Skybed (MKI) and are angled 'flat-beds'... so you'll probably slide down the seat. I've only flown this in an A330 and found sitting in a 'recliner' position more comfortable than the making it 'flat' with the angle. I did enjoy it, but it is not anywhere near as good as a fully flat bed. YMMV.
I understand QF mainly uses the refurb planes on SYD-DFW, SYD-LAX-JFK, BNE-LAX, SYD-SCL & BNE-SIN. Un-refurb planes mainly trek SYD-JNB, SYD-NRT, SYD-SIN, SYD-HKG (non A380 days) and seasonally BKK. Of course, they switch planes around sometimes too for 'operational purposes'... the only 100% guarantee of getting a re-furb 747 is SYD-DFW as my understanding is that only the 747-4ER versions can fly this route and they have all been upgraded. I expect the non-refurb 747's to have a fast-tracked retirement after the big '27 Feb' announcements.

 

[serfty]

Wrong. The refurbed birds do have Row 5 (and are great seats for solo travelers).

Easier way to check is the Upper Deck exit. Row 16 are the old
Configs, row 14 is the refurbed config.

Actually Sdtravel is correct!

...
- once you have checked the seat config as I understand it if seat row 4 is missing its a refurbished bird. But if row 5 is missing it isn't. ...

No row 5 seats then old configuration, no row 4 seats then new configuration.

They are mutually exclusive-the old configuration has row 4 but no row 5 and the new configuration has row 5 but no row 4.

I find the row 4/5 check far easier than the upper deck as it is more obvious (also I am very keen on certain row 5 seats ).

 

[Brettmcg]

I'll be flying QF23 and QF24 between SYD and Johannesburg in August and October this year and I'm keen to know if it'll be in the refurbished 747s.
Thanks!

I'm assuming you actually mean QF63/64? 23/24 is not JNB, but rather SYD-BKK and has just gone back to an A330.

 

[PaulST]

I'm assuming you actually mean QF63/64? 23/24 is not JNB, but rather SYD-BKK and has just gone back to an A330.

Thans Brettmcg, you're right. I'v edited my first post. I flew SYD-BKK late last year and again later this year so I was getting my wires a little crossed.

 

[mannej]

Sorry you are right Serfty - I misread the the post and got all muddled up