First Cabin design workshop

[esseeeayeenn]

I just flew EY F and found the bed narrow and hard. I also prefer a seat that reclines about 45-60 degrees to watch the media screen. With Etihad its either flat in bed or a bout 30 degrees recline. My first choice of F now will be JAL. I guess I'm saying is you will never please everyone .

I was lucky enough on the AUH-MEL leg to have the cabin next to me empty, so we dropped the wall and the seat in the next compartment and i was able to spread my arms out and enjoyed an 11 hour nap.

Which aircraft were you on? Obviously not an A380. I've flown EY F on the A380, A340 and various B777s and never encountered either a hard, narrow bed or an inability to recline it incrementally.
The F seat width on EY is 30 inches on the A330 and A340 and 29.5 inches on the A380, B777 and B787. The QF A380 F seat is only 22 inches wide. JAL F seat is 22 inches on the B772 but a whopping 33 inches on the B773.

 

[Kangol]

Thats a problem with a lot of the new F seats, especially those that flip over to become the bed. You can get the nice relaxed lazy boy position that I really enjoy.

What other new F seats besides SQ flip forward to become the bed? I really hope QF don't go down that path.
Limited seat recline is also another purported criticism of the EY residence

 

[blackcat20]

What other new F seats besides SQ flip forward to become the bed? I really hope QF don't go down that path.
Limited seat recline is also another purported criticism of the EY residence

Ok, not "a lot", but the NZ J seat does the same thing.

 

[drivatruk]

Which aircraft were you on? Obviously not an A380. I've flown EY F on the A380, A340 and various B777s and never encountered either a hard, narrow bed or an inability to recline it incrementally.
The F seat width on EY is 30 inches on the A330 and A340 and 29.5 inches on the A380, B777 and B787. The QF A380 F seat is only 22 inches wide. JAL F seat is 22 inches on the B772 but a whopping 33 inches on the B773.

On EY the bed and seat are seperate. The bed is narrow for me compared to the bed on the JAL 773. Unless i missed a button the bed stays flat and the seat only reclines to about the 30 degree mark. The seat is very wide as I used the blanket as a pseudo arm rest or i feel like a chicken with my wings spread. Unless I've mixed up EYs and EKs.

 

[drivatruk]

Limited seat recline is also another purported criticism of the EY residence [/QUOTE]

I thought about that while i was walking around Abu Dhabi in the 43 degree heat. Also flying home there were three children with the parents flying in F. They were between maybe 4 and 8. They were quite noisey due to the excitement and were also a little screamish on take off was there were all in their separate apartments. If is paid a fortune for The Residence id be wishing i hadn't cause nothing covers the seams of a 4yo.

I hope the QF design incorporates the option for couples to closer to each other to share their F experience. Some might agree though.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

On EY the bed and seat are seperate. The bed is narrow for me compared to the bed on the JAL 773. Unless i missed a button the bed stays flat and the seat only reclines to about the 30 degree mark. The seat is very wide as I used the blanket as a pseudo arm rest or i feel like a chicken with my wings spread. Unless I've mixed up EYs and EKs.

If it was a separate seat and bed then it was the A380. The ottoman folds out wider when it's in bed mode - I can't agree that it's narrow.

 

[CaptJCool]

Wow, that looks like A mattress that would result in genuine sleep comfort (think Rydges melt in the mattress)


Now following on from my earlier comments;


In the Lounge
QF First are Already First-class; free-flowing champagne, spirits and fine dining, plenty of space with a smashing view over the Tarmac - (how about an actual spa in the First lounge?)


Boarding
Of course first class should be on the private UPPER deck.


On-board
That discreet exclusive feel - open plan reminds me of the egalitarian workplace. First is for the discerning traveller. Whichever way you contemplate upon it, people are either high income earners or savvy frequent flyers whose expectations are met when they receive what they expect plus the surprises that come from exceeding their expectations.

For first-timers, a photo service that gives them bragging rights. Pretty hard to take a selfie of yourself that shows the wonderfully appointed and spacious suite....


The suite needs to be spacious. It needs to be a space that allows you to enjoy leisure or fine dining either in solitude or with another or easy place to read sitting up or reclining, space which allows you to change into sleepwear or to enjoy first-class movie service. How about being able to wifi link up your computer iPad to the tv screen so you can stream your preferred movies documentaries etc onto the suite screen to be enjoyed while luxuriating in a soft seat that meets my comfort needs of in-seat massage, while quaffing on an awesomely wonderful cognac.


Power chargers that work
Duty-free items that are actually available
Seats that are definitely a completely 180 degrees flat bed. Not a lie-flat bed that's more lie than flat.




To continue the momentum of the first lounge experience, Hot and cold running champagne and silver service meals on request - think great food - less is more - plenty of fine examples - degustation menu style - Now, rather than stocking just 7 bottles of champagne, how about re-stocking straight out of the First lounge ? For first-time First cabin travellers assume they're going to drink lots of champagne in a 12-14 hour trip. For regulars, record their champagne preferences and of course they will know this ahead of time so they can sort it out. Of course if you pop a cork and only one glass is drunk from it, it seems a waste but I've seen worse waste than that. It's a bad look to run out. QF prides itself on premium service and charges accordingly so it's about time it addressed this failure. Clearly, they could re-calibrate the level of staffing so that "less is more".


And like the famous trains, a first-class bar for socialising and networking is also highly desirable. Theme-based designs. Could even set it up like space shuttle or nostalgic luxury train bar.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Boarding
Of course first class should be on the private UPPER deck.

I don't get the preference for upper deck. The only ones that ever did it good there were Lufthansa (on the 744), and now Etihad. For anyone else it's a bit of a space saving exercise.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I don't get the preference for upper deck. The only ones that ever did it good there were Lufthansa (on the 744), and now Etihad. For anyone else it's a bit of a space saving exercise.

Two things.
First, if there is a bar as on EY and EK it makes sense for everyone with access to the bar to be on the same deck.
Second, it's better for boarding. Boarding for F on the QF A380 I've used the same aerobridge as Y PAX (which is fine) but then had to do a cut across their queue to get access to the front door (L1).
That was quite awkward as they thought I was trying to jump their queue.

 

[CaptJCool]

I don't get the preference for upper deck. The only ones that ever did it good there were Lufthansa (on the 744), and now Etihad. For anyone else it's a bit of a space saving exercise.

Boeing 747 upper deck bars lounges restaurants photos - Australian Business Traveller
Flyin with your head in the skies
On top of the world!
Higher is better than lower (?)


http://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/08/eva-air-economy-my-first-upper-deck-flight-on-a-boeing-747/
Space saving....the shape of the jet also eats into space, I gather most people aren't standing up during long flights ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Boeing 747 upper deck bars lounges restaurants photos - Australian Business Traveller

I'm talking about seating accommodation. Upper deck bars were a different story

 

[mviy]

So those fortunate enough to go will be there Thursday evening. I wonder if they will be able to share anything with the rest of us e.g. whether they were pleased/disappointed?

 

[Princess Fiona]

So those fortunate enough to go will be there Thursday evening. I wonder if they will be able to share anything with the rest of us e.g. whether they were pleased/disappointed?

The reminder email arrived in my inbox today.
I expect there will be some sort of NDA involved but I will certainly share both here and on Facebook anything that I'm allowed to, including pictures if applicable.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The reminder email arrived in my inbox today.
I expect there will be some sort of NDA involved but I will certainly share both here and on Facebook anything that I'm allowed to, including pictures if applicable.

Make sure they don't change the bed (or maybe it is the mattress). It is the one thing we really like in Qantas F. Have fun

 

[maninblack]

The amenity kit is garbage, what about that 5 cent toothbrush, the food is poor, the seat is not very comfortable, the swivel is annoying, the bed is not comfortable at all, the toilets are too small there is no arrival service or arrival baggage service, the F lounges are spacious but have uncomfortable seating and the food service, well, it's pretty klutzy at best. The whole boarding and gate operation is still a mess most of the time. If you are going to run a First class then it needs to be First class all of the time from start to finish. So I think they need to start by correcting these issues.

 

[Isolar]

I know this probably sounds like first world problems but I did two sectors in F recently (SYD-LAX & DFW-LAX) and was quite underwhelmed by the bathroom amenities. On both flights each bathroom had almost empty hand wash bottles and the hand cream must have been very old as it had quite a rancid smell. I really think better attention to these kind of details are important to the overall First experience. Also, how about differentiating the amenities provided between Business and First? Many years ago the amenities provided in First were always of a higher quality, now it's pretty much the same in both cabins.

 

[docjames]

Well it looks like no F for the 787 - based on this in the ASX release with the results today

Qantas is working with a team of world-class designers, including Marc Newson, anduniversity sleep experts to design the Dreamliner interiors in Economy, PremiumEconomy and Business to best-in-class standards.

Qantas B787-9 Dreamliner including luxury business suites, economy seats withmore room, better entertainment, and a best in class premium economy

No mention of F.....

 

[trippin_the_rift]

The reminder email arrived in my inbox today.
I expect there will be some sort of NDA involved but I will certainly share both here and on Facebook anything that I'm allowed to, including pictures if applicable.

I'm sure they would notify you about NDA in advance given the nature of them and how it may affect invitees. Similar to how they would notify you of video or filming.

And this is a total guess - but I think it will be more about 'here is what we are going to do no matter what you say' - what do you think?/we don't really care but invited you here to make you think you had input. The current F product is 8 years old and given the long lead in time I would expect the product team to be well into the final design stages. Even with a conservative 3-year rollout from today - this would make the current F product 12 years old which is well beyond acceptable F lifespans.

But hey, it sounds like a fun event no matter what the agenda is!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I'm sure they would notify you about NDA in advance given the nature of them and how it may affect invitees. Similar to how they would notify you of video or filming.

And this is a total guess - but I think it will be more about 'here is what we are going to do no matter what you say' - what do you think?/we don't really care but invited you here to make you think you had input. The current F product is 8 years old and given the long lead in time I would expect the product team to be well into the final design stages. Even with a conservative 3-year rollout from today - this would make the current F product 12 years old which is well beyond acceptable F lifespans.

But hey, it sounds like a fun event no matter what the agenda is!

Exactly. This is a marketing exercise, not a design exercise. You don't make people sign an NDA when you want them to spruik your new product.

 

[mviy]

Looking at the invite screenshot on page 1 the event should now be over. I wonder how it went?

Wondering whether to try for a F upgrade before any changes are made or whether it would be better to wait.