JASA Experience

[dacom]

This was my second JASA trip from Cairns to Perth via Sydney. I did check what type of plane was flying on each segment and I realised my chance to get one of the un-refurbished planes is really high.

I wasn’t aware of how bad the condition of the planes was. The trip from Cairns to Sydney was an un-refurbished B767 and the interior looked really worn and tired. In my seat the footrest controls were broken and the audio did not work, luckily I had my ipad and a movie to watch. The Syd – Perth –Syd were the new refurbished A330 international. This was quite a pleasant trip. The Syd – CNS leg was a B737-800 un-refurbished and the same setup. It felt a little bit like stepping back into the mid 80’s.

I do have to say If I would have paid full retail price which is around $1900 one way, I would have been really cheesed off. I would rather save the money and fly economy, the added legroom is not worth the extra $3000 return. Now to my questions:

Is there any way you can tell prior to booking what aircraft is being used for the flight?

 

[serfty]

If you subscribe to expert flyer or KVS you cab get an ideas from the seat map - of course, this can change. Also it still won't really give a clue in some configuration as to wether the craft is likely to be refurbished or not.

 

[mannej]

As with anything relating to configurations it is subject to change.
The 737's are identical so you can't really predict, where as the position of the exits in Y may give you an idea of the type of 767 being used.
The 737's are all from around 2000, so not nearly from the 80's but I guess the lack of IFE would give that impression.
You haven't flown United Y on a 747 have you?

 

[Limewood]

As Qantas say A world class airline.

 

[mannej]

As Qantas say A world class airline.

In all honesty - we are spoilt domestically...

 

[ckck]

In my experience the best you can do is get expertflyer.com but all it takes is for your plane to go "tech" just before departure and before you know it you may end up on an old 734/738. I just take it as part and parcel of travel, sometimes things don't turn out how we would like.

 

[mattm199]

Not sure about describing a 737-800 as "un-refurbished" - aren't they all in the current standard interior, with Millennium J seats?
Only the very latest deliveries have the PTV in seats, and the Boeing Sky interior, but always a stroke of luck to get one of these at the moment. The seat maps will be the same though.

 

[medhead]

Unrefurbished 738? Pmsl.

 

[mannej]

Not sure about describing a 737-800 as "un-refurbished" - aren't they all in the current standard interior, with Millennium J seats?
Only the very latest deliveries have the PTV in seats, and the Boeing Sky interior, but always a stroke of luck to get one of these at the moment. The seat maps will be the same though.

The newer 738's are slightly different to the older ones (leather seats in J for one)

 

[eastwest101]

The newer 738's are slightly different to the older ones (leather seats in J for one)

I wonder if the OP realises that in the future with the retirement of the B767s that a JASA CNS-PER in the future would entail a garanteed B738 on the CNS-SYD legs (2-2 seating in J class) and then a A332 with the dreaded 2-3-2 J seating from SYD-PER?

I know there are lots of 1 or 2 poster B767 and B738 haters out there but I really wonder if they realise that its more likely to end up on these when flying domestic J class on QF in the future? After all there does seem to be a irresistable trend of increasing frequency and decreasing aircraft size around the world and QF is no exception to that.

 

[medhead]

The newer 738's are slightly different to the older ones (leather seats in J for one)

The issue I have is the use of the word un-refurbished. The newer 738s (73H?) are new, AFAIK, not refurbished.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The new BSI interior B737s have a different kind of leather business seat which I think is the same as an A380 PE seat in design as far as I can tell. It's quite comfy on the up to 3 hour flight I find.

 

[StatusRunner]

Better J service on a 737 in my opinion and its more personable. If the IFE is carp, just drink more wine. ;-)

 

[Steelo]

Don't hold your breath if you expect a new plane on the Cairns - Syd route. I travel this regularly and while the staff are great we get the raw end of the deal. In flight entertainment is poor and although these flights are invariably full they do not get new or refurbished planes on most flights. As for the ridiculously high prices for J seats - well the reality is most of these are occupied by staff.

This was my second JASA trip from Cairns to Perth via Sydney. I did check what type of plane was flying on each segment and I realised my chance to get one of the un-refurbished planes is really high.

I wasn’t aware of how bad the condition of the planes was. The trip from Cairns to Sydney was an un-refurbished B767 and the interior looked really worn and tired. In my seat the footrest controls were broken and the audio did not work, luckily I had my ipad and a movie to watch. The Syd – Perth –Syd were the new refurbished A330 international. This was quite a pleasant trip. The Syd – CNS leg was a B737-800 un-refurbished and the same setup. It felt a little bit like stepping back into the mid 80’s.

I do have to say If I would have paid full retail price which is around $1900 one way, I would have been really cheesed off. I would rather save the money and fly economy, the added legroom is not worth the extra $3000 return. Now to my questions:

Is there any way you can tell prior to booking what aircraft is being used for the flight?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Don't hold your breath if you expect a new plane on the Cairns - Syd route. I travel this regularly and while the staff are great we get the raw end of the deal. In flight entertainment is poor and although these flights are invariably full they do not get new or refurbished planes on most flights. As for the ridiculously high prices for J seats - well the reality is most of these are occupied by staff.

Yes we were quite disappointed - we took master FM and partner to Cairns for the long weekend in June - 4 paid J seats. I was hoping for a new/refurbished plane at least one way, but didn't happen. Had better luck with Darwin a couple of weeks ago - with old one way and refurb the other. I filled in a survey on "my latest domestic trip" last week and included praise for the refurb plane and a whine about getting old planes on longish domestic trips. I still didn't mind paying J - more space, nice meal etc. It is just annoying to pay the same $ but have a much worse experience when you get the shabby plane with no decent entertainment....

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yes we were quite disappointed - we took master FM and partner to Cairns for the long weekend in June - 4 paid J seats. I was hoping for a new/refurbished plane at least one way, but didn't happen. Had better luck with Darwin a couple of weeks ago - with old one way and refurb the other. I filled in a survey on "my latest domestic trip" last week and included praise for the refurb plane and a whine about getting old planes on longish domestic trips. I still didn't mind paying J - more space, nice meal etc. It is just annoying to pay the same $ but have a much worse experience when you get the shabby plane with no decent entertainment....

the refurb was just a seat cover and bit of carpet and an ipad, well I bring my own tablet and the other upgrades are merely cosmetic, the seat is the same

 

[markis10]

The new BSI interior B737s have a different kind of leather business seat which I think is the same as an A380 PE seat in design as far as I can tell. It's quite comfy on the up to 3 hour flight I find.

Same Recaro seat used in the A332s for domestic J and PE internationally.

 

[Flying mermaid]

the refurb was just a seat cover and bit of carpet and an ipad, well I bring my own tablet and the other upgrades are merely cosmetic, the seat is the same

The flight we had out of Darwin had individual screens and AVOD - I guess I could load movies onto my IPad but I like having entertainment provided . the leather seat felt really nice as well. I guess the point is I paid the same money but the product was much better one way than the other.....

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The flight we had out of Darwin had individual screens and AVOD - I guess I could load movies onto my IPad but I like having entertainment provided . the leather seat felt really nice as well. I guess the point is I paid the same money but the product was much better one way than the other.....

oh you are talking about a 737, well those are not refurbs. That is how they were delivered, they are just newer. The new and old aircraft fly all over the entire network so it is simply luck of the draw on that. It's always worth having your ipad or other tablet device loaded with entertainment when traveling.

 

[Flying mermaid]

oh you are talking about a 737, well those are not refurbs. That is how they were delivered, they are just newer. The new and old aircraft fly all over the entire network so it is simply luck of the draw on that. It's always worth having your ipad or other tablet device loaded with entertainment when traveling.

Ah -OK - I'm never really across all these technical differences - just nice and not nice 'plane to me..... Yeah should do - I have lots of audio books on my ipad, but like to get new release movies on the 'plane....