Article: Qantas Will Refurbish Its Airbus A330s

[encryptededdy]

There is probably a good chance that they make some adjustments in J. Thinking about the competitors on similar routes JAL, ANA and HA. They are all launching newer products. It really depends on what angle Qantas are taking to remain competitive.

Then again they might just get the government to block the competition.

Disagree, the current Vantage XL business seats are perfectly competitive. ANA are not flying 777s / The Room on a short route like Australia any time soon (and they're not even reconfiguring more 777s to The Room anyhow), and I would argue that the current Qantas seat is better than the ANA 787 seat or JAL Sky Suite III. Only JAL Apex Suites is better imo.

What Qantas does need to do is step up the soft product, and install things like WiFi for international use.

 

[KSC]

Disagree, the current Vantage XL business seats are perfectly competitive. ANA are not flying 777s / The Room on a short route like Australia any time soon (and they're not even reconfiguring more 777s to The Room anyhow), and I would argue that the current Qantas seat is better than the ANA 787 seat or JAL Sky Suite III. Only JAL Apex Suites is better imo.

What Qantas does need to do is step up the soft product, and install things like WiFi for international use.

Ideally both need soft and hard need a step up. Their will be more delays on new aircraft’s and these a330’s will be around longer than expected.

Currently we don’t get all the new frames from competitors coming in, however planning for the future with the assumption of competitive step up is vital.

Also what if a customer steps into the new QF A350 in J, that will set an expectation. I foresee this forum will have threads in the future ‘I just got downgraded to QF a330’.

 

[moa999]

But that's the issue with many airlines who operate multiple fleet types and ages.

Qantas would be one of the few with a consistent J product (at the moment).
Emirates and the middle seat J-class for example.

 

[jase05]

How about Qantas put the seats back in the A330's they converted to freighters this year and put them back into passenger service?

Shame about the cargo door
The freighters were definitely needed and still hasn’t even touched the sides for demand

 

[dajop]

It’s just beyond embarrassing that they even permit those A330 iPad jets to fly outside of domestic. Truly embarrassing compared to what else the competition has to offer.

Fly the IPad Y jet then jump on a QR, SQ etc flight, really stands out how far down the toilet QF has let itself go.

You don't have to look to QR, SQ etc. Just compare it to JQ, my last two flights from MEL to SIN were on JQ then QF. One of those had seatback screens and one had ipads. And one kept the toilets clean and well stocked with toilet paper, whilst the other did not and ran out of toilet paper.

 

[elanshin]

Disagree, the current Vantage XL business seats are perfectly competitive. ANA are not flying 777s / The Room on a short route like Australia any time soon (and they're not even reconfiguring more 777s to The Room anyhow), and I would argue that the current Qantas seat is better than the ANA 787 seat or JAL Sky Suite III. Only JAL Apex Suites is better imo.

What Qantas does need to do is step up the soft product, and install things like WiFi for international use.

Ideally both need soft and hard need a step up. Their will be more delays on new aircraft’s and these a330’s will be around longer than expected.

Currently we don’t get all the new frames from competitors coming in, however planning for the future with the assumption of competitive step up is vital.

Also what if a customer steps into the new QF A350 in J, that will set an expectation. I foresee this forum will have threads in the future ‘I just got downgraded to QF a330’.

I don't think the issue will be competing carriers or a350 vs a330 in the future. If they update Y (and maybe add W) to the a330 with the 350 Y product without touching J at all, you could have a situation where the back of the plane technologically functions better than the front. Having newer and snappier screens (even if smaller), BT connectivity, USB C ports etc.

Not sure how much updating the IFE systems and or charging would cost, but a minor refresh on J could just make it so you don't feel like the IFE is potentially better in the cabin behind you.

 

[Saab34]

Are the QF J seats looking a bit ratty in the A330s? The last domestic flight I hopped off on the A330, they looked a bit worn.

 

[elanshin]

Are the QF J seats looking a bit ratty in the A330s? The last domestic flight I hopped off on the A330, they looked a bit worn.

They all are hence the seat malfunction problems and getting downgraded from time to time. But I would say that's relatively normal wear and tear for service of this time length.

If they're functioning, theyre more than serviceable though. They're also likely to get fixed faster than Y seats that are breaking too. Definitely ran across a few Y seats that had recline or IFE issues this year.

 

[Danger]

“But Qantas will install brand new, next-generation Economy Class seats.”

In the same way that Qantas uses the word ‘enhanced’, to me this actually means smaller, tighter and less comfortable Y seats…

I'm sure it will be so good, customers will refer to it as "mini business".

 

[Dvg]

I'm sure it will be so good, customers will refer to it as "mini business".

Lol

 

[kpro]

Having just flown on a A333 VH-EBO

EBO is an A330-200 (A332). All A330-300's have the newer eXLite + eX3 IFE.

Is there a list that someone has compiled of the current A330 fleet and which ones (especially the A333s) have upgraded IFE?

As above. all A330-300's have the newer IFE in Y. So that's all rego's VH-QPx.

Looking at the official QF seat maps, the list would appear to be as below.

A330-300	A330-200	A330-200
New IFE screens J+Y	New IFE screens J iPad IFE Y 1x J Bathroom	New IFE screens J Old IFE screens Y 2x J Bathrooms
VH-QPA	VH-EBA	VH-EBM
VH-OPB	VH-EBB	VH-EBN
VH-QPC	VH-EBC	VH-EBO
VH-QPD	VH-EBD	VH-EBP
VH-QPE	VH-EBE	VH-EBQ
VH-QPF	VH-EBF	VH-EBR
VH-QPG	VH-EBG	VH-EBS
VH-QPH	VH-EBJ	VH-EBV
VH-QPI	VH-EBK
VH-QPJ	VH-EBL

 

[elanshin]

I would imagine that if they are refitting Y, they would use something similar to the a350 Recaro seats + Astrova IFE. I'd also expect them to upgrade the planes to be wifi capable and ready so it would mean a big jump in IFE experience if overflying Australia.

Also side note - wonder how they will work with the streaming services on the Astrova system, have everyone sign in manually then clear away the sign in data after a flight?

 

[encryptededdy]

Also what if a customer steps into the new QF A350 in J, that will set an expectation. I foresee this forum will have threads in the future ‘I just got downgraded to QF a330’.

The other issue is Safran Unity (J seat used on QF A350) is not available for the A330, so they'd need to get a 3rd seat type if they wanted to change from Vantage XL, which seems... pointless.

 

[stm1sydney]

Yet more promises of what they might do sometime in the future. But it sems to work, as QF customers keep coming back for more of the same, while expecting the product to magically improve since their last woeful experience.

 

[moa999]

Astrova IFE.

Had to google that. Panasonic's latest modular system

How Panasonic Avionics designed its Astrova IFE to be future-proof - Runway Girl

Panasonic Avionics' new Astrova IFE features modularity, sharp 4K OLED screens, USB-C charging and the ability to swap out peripherals.

runwaygirlnetwork.com

I'd also expect these aircraft will get the inflight internet bump.
Believe Qantas is still contracted with ViaSat and the Asian and European ViaSat3 satellites are scheduled to launch next year (hopefully deploying more successfully than the US one)

 

[elanshin]

Had to google that. Panasonic's latest modular system

How Panasonic Avionics designed its Astrova IFE to be future-proof - Runway Girl

Panasonic Avionics' new Astrova IFE features modularity, sharp 4K OLED screens, USB-C charging and the ability to swap out peripherals.

runwaygirlnetwork.com

I'd also expect these aircraft will get the inflight internet bump.
Believe Qantas is still contracted with ViaSat and the Asian and European ViaSat3 satellites are scheduled to launch next year (hopefully deploying more successfully than the US one)

They have already announced that they're using that for the a350 with the recaro seats, so if they would use the 350 seats I would imagine they would install these. 13" OLED HDR screen with Fast charging, Bluetooth connectivity, streaming services etc. I think the planes will be upgraded to be internet capable which make sense so you don't have to do it again later.

This is also why I suspect the Thomson Vantage XL J might need a IFE refresh if the back of the plane will far outstrip the front in terms of features. Basically imagine the back using a shiny new phone and the front using one from 10 years ago.

 

[p--and--t]

Yet more promises of what they might do sometime in the future. But it sems to work, as QF customers keep coming back for more of the same, while expecting the product to magically improve since their last woeful experience.

Pointless post

 

[Qantas747]

EBO is an A330-200 (A332). All A330-300s have the newer eXLite + eX3 IFE.

My mistake, I knew (should have known) that!

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[moa999]

In a someone different conversion, P2F VH-EBE has just left DRS Dresden where it has spent 10 months in the shop, and is currently enroute to PUS Busan, presumably for a new paint job.

 

[jase05]

In a someone different conversion, P2F VH-EBE has just left DRS Dresden where it has spent 10 months in the shop, and is currently enroute to PUS Busan, presumably for a new paint job.

Should be in operations by mid January and not before time. Would’ve been handy right about now but not to be. Just can’t keep up with the demand