Avoiding the Rogue QF A332

[pauly7]

Hi all,

Just wanted to sound this out with some people.... see if my thinking is complete - and yes this is a bit of a crazy one!!

Dashing across to PER from SYD on Tues 26th October, back on Thurs 28th Oct.

Now, I know VH-EBJ is still lurking around for a few more weeks - That would be 'Margaret River' the soon to be Jetstarised A332 - the last of the QF A332 fleet that is still in the old Millenium seating and more importantly no personal AVOD. I'm annoyed I'll miss the brand new domestic next gen A332 (VH-EBO) by just a few weeks! But anyway...

So my main game is trying to avoid EBJ!

Reason: I'm flying J and I would like AVOD to pass the time, plus I want to fly the next gen domestic product on the A332 (but if the A330-300 or 744 is subbed in I won't complain!)

Basically my options are, and this takes into account meeting times etc:

SYD - PER 26th Oct
QF 581 (10:10 departure)
QF 577 (12:00 departure)


PER - SYD 28th Oct
QF 578 (9:35 departure *763 service)
QF 580 (11:25 departure)
QF 582 (13:30 departure)

I've been using QF Source to track EBJ to see if there is any pattern.... I can't see much of one....QANTAS Jet Tracker.

Is my best bet to go and book the flights and when seat selection comes up - make sure it doesn't have 3 seats in the middle block of J??? If so - move to another flight... and keep an eye on it right up to online check in!? Perhaps book the earlier flights then monitor and move onto the next flight if I spot EBJ lurking at a gate

I can't think of another way to really avoid her..... So I thought I'd just throw it out there for other crazy AFF's to have a think, see if I've missed anything.


*Yes I know that aircraft changes happen all the time Just trying to plan as best I can! Maybe I'll get lucky and get a 744!......

 

[jakob]

Hey,

Well good news is that QF577 is an A333 ie international skybeds and AVOD.

On the way back QF578 is an international 763 with dreamtime J

All the other flights are new domestic J.

No 'rogue' A332

Hope that helps,

jakob.

 

[mannej]

I don't think there is any pattern the EBJ's deployment.

Even the seat map is not a certainty, as I have seen it change from 2-2-2 to 2-3-2 (in J) 48hrs before a flight.

I'd take EBJ over a 767 anyday

 

[pauly7]

I don't think there is any pattern the EBJ's deployment.

Even the seat map is not a certainty, as I have seen it change from 2-2-2 to 2-3-2 (in J) 48hrs before a flight.

I'd take EBJ over a 767 anyday

Really? I'd take a dreamtime 763 over EBJ....

But I'd take EBJ over a millennium 763

 

[pauly7]

Hey,

Well good news is that QF577 is an A333 ie international skybeds and AVOD.

On the way back QF578 is an international 763 with dreamtime J

All the other flights are new domestic J.

No 'rogue' A332

Hope that helps,

jakob.

Thanks Jakob

Where are you looking for that info? - as I'm seeing 577 as a A332...

And how can you tell the 763 on the way back for 578 is a dreamtime?

 

[jakob]

No problem,

That information was all from expertflyer....

The seat map on the 763 is 1-2-2 in J, which AFAIK can only mean dreamtime and the coveted A side seats...

jakob.

 

[PineappleSkip]

i've regularly found the wrong seat map on EF.

Example my last flight POM-BNE. The seat map for QF349 showed 767, as did QF seat selection. the seat map for PX4 (same metal as 349) showed 757. This was right to departure. Mrs pineapple got a different seat as QF seat selection had allocated her a non existent seat.

So seat selection not always reliable, although in this case code share so understandable. I suspect PX hadn't told QF that the 757 was back from its repaint.

Cheers skip.

 

[markis10]

If I try to avoid something Murphy kicks in, in this scenario I would end up with a 734 doing a tech stop in Dubbo.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hey,

Well good news is that QF577 is an A333 ie international skybeds and AVOD.

On the way back QF578 is an international 763 with dreamtime J

All the other flights are new domestic J.

No 'rogue' A332

Hope that helps,

jakob.

I've been on QF 577 twice on both occasions it has been an international 333 with skybeds. Not sure if it is a positioning flight for an international departure from PER

 

[serfty]

Really? I'd take a dreamtime 763 over EBJ....

But I'd take EBJ over a millennium 763

I'd take dreamtime or millennium over the new domestic 332 Business seating.:-|

 

[pauly7]

I'd take dreamtime or millennium over the new domestic 332 Business seating.:-|

Sorry Serfty. Major disagree.

Please exit my thread as I'm now scared you will try and push me onto EBJ or a millennium 763

 

[pauly7]

No problem,

That information was all from expertflyer....

The seat map on the 763 is 1-2-2 in J, which AFAIK can only mean dreamtime and the coveted A side seats...

jakob.

Ah ok. Who to believe? (on the
Outbound)....QF or EF... QF is showing a A332.

Mmmmm....

 

[serfty]

Sorry Serfty. Major disagree.

Please exit my thread as I'm now scared you will try and push me onto EBJ or a millennium 763

You don't get rid of me that easily.

It's my personal preference. I find the new seats really uncomfortable. Qantas have cust costs/weight by reducing the height of the seats. Yes the head-rest raises to meet my head but for me shoulder support is lacking.

For more on this, see here on FT:

• B767 or A330-200 - FlyerTalk Forums
• New domestic A330-200 will have IFE! - FlyerTalk Forums
  

 

[jakeseven7]

Thanks Jakob

Where are you looking for that info? - as I'm seeing 577 as a A332...

And how can you tell the 763 on the way back for 578 is a dreamtime?

Pauly,

Got the same result as Jacob - then I cross referenced with QF and 577 is showing as a A333 - so perhaps it has changed since you looked or you got confused....

As someone else mentioned I think it is a positioning flight for an international PER departure so a good bet for your trip over.

If I were you I'd get the early AM Dreamtime seat back so you don't waste a complete day. Perhaps monitor this and if it changes to your 'dreaded' EBJ or a millenium 763 you could easily try and move onto the next generation domestic A332.

I love the new QF A332 domestic business and economy seat as well, so I understand your thinking - and hey this is AFF, NOTHING is crazy here!!

 

[mannej]

Both sides of the argument have plenty of good reasons on reasons why or why not trying to avoid EBJ.

For me, EBJ feels fresher than any of the 767's, however all my experiences have been from 00:30-6:00 (QF648), so IFE doesn't really play a reason.

Although theqantassource is good at trying to find a pattern, I don't think there is any science behind predicting EBJ's whereabouts from that website.

I say whatever floats your boat