My lucky QF A380 moment

[Dave42]

My mum always said you shouldn't boast, but I just have to share this story...

I turned up last Wednesday for my QF12 LAX-SYD flight home on a 744.

On check-in I was pleased to find my upgrade to Premium Y had come through. After a quick stop in the lounge, I arrived at the gate just as the OW Sapphire boarding was opened up, so went straight through the gate and up the bridge... so far, so good!

It was only when I got to the Premium Y cabin and found my seat that it dawned on me that this wasn't the plane I expected, and a quick glance at the configuration of the door (no big bulging at the base) confirmed that somehow my 744 had been replaced by the 380!!

It turned out that the scheduled plane was one of the two damaged in the towing incident at Avalon a few days earlier, hence the late change. The CA also advised that there were only 3 of us in the Premium cabin, ie 26 spare seats around us , and I settled into my seat knowing that this could well be the best flight ever...

...and then we were told that, in order to concentrate the service in J we were all being moved up, so I found myself up there with time for a quick glass of champagne before take off.

Best flight ever. Unfortunately I know I have used up all my luck in one hit, and have resigned myself to a year of cancelled flights, lost baggage and coughpy seats, but it was worth it.

 

[moa999]

Verrry nice.

How did you find the new J seats???

 

[Shano]

Congratulations!!

Makes me wonder though how well the Y+ seats are selling. I have had a couple of flights to SIN and HKG now in Y+ and the cabin was between 1/2 and 2/3 full, whereas Y, J and F were near capacity.

Perhaps QF may be forced to follow BA lead and lower the Y+ fares.

 

[ANstar]

The A380 has been doing LAX-SYD on WED's for the past few weeks. It is not published in case things mess up, but it has been doing it regularly.

 

[serfty]

It's done the WED QF93/QF12 MEL-LAX-SYD run at least twice in November.

 

[Flying Fox]

Huge Congrats to you.

Its a wonderful story that gives us all hope.

So does that mean you got the full J service or did they do Y+ service with you in a J seat?

 

[NM]

Ahh, the elusive double upgrade! Congratulations. Must have really made you :mrgreen:.

 

[thewinchester]

What a smashing confluence of good luck, kudos to you.

 

[Snowmoo]

The Qantas A380 is currently at gate 8 at Syd airport. I'm looking down at it right at this moment!

Meanwhile I can't even get into the pacific voyager upper deck on my AP flight because they are not opening the upper deck due to lack of passenger numbers.

Op-up is out of the question.

 

[QF WP]

Congratulations on the double up Dave42 :mrgreen:.

*sigh* (as he lives vicariously through the exploits of others at the moment)

I'd also like to know the answer to Flying Fox's question...they might not have had sufficient J meals loaded - but I think that the better seating and champagne would have dented that as being an issue....

 

[wallacej]

My mum always said you shouldn't boast, but I just have to share this story...

Knock yourself out, and boast away - if there is one place that will appreciate it, or even care, it is this forum... I know my friends really couldn't care less about some of my stories, but here you are aurrounded by like minded boasters.

 

[vt01]

Congratulations Dave42! What a great upgrade story!.. I hope to have some of my own next year especially as our travel policy has just changed from J to Y...

 

[Dave42]

Congratulations on the double up Dave42 :mrgreen:.

*sigh* (as he lives vicariously through the exploits of others at the moment)

I'd also like to know the answer to Flying Fox's question...they might not have had sufficient J meals loaded - but I think that the better seating and champagne would have dented that as being an issue....

Thanks for all the feedback everyone, its great being in a forum where everyone understands the excitement I experienced.

Fortunately we got the full J service.

The only time we appeared to be treated differently was when the pyjamas were handed out about an hour into the flight. The CA walked straight past me without giving me some, and when I enquired about a pair I was told they were running short and that they may not have any for me and the other 2 upgrades. About an hour later I was got my pair, after they apparently located some additional ones.

The new skybeds are excellent. I'm 6 foot 3 and while lying flat could still not touch the seat in front. There are 2 massage programs, both of which are more effective than those I have experienced on the 744's. What really impressed me was the entertainment system. The flakiness we have all endured in the past has gone, and been replaced by a system that actually works well. Touch screen controls, good resolution and noise cancelling headphones that give as good sound as the Sony ones I usually take on board with me. A very minor irriatation is that while the camera that is mounted on the tail gives a brilliant forward view of the flight, you can't watch takeoff or landing in J as the screen has to be stowed during those times. I tried sneaking a look as we made our final approach over Sydney Harbour but was pounced upon by a CA for doing so.. This is one feature where economy passengers get an advantage over the front - or top deck - of the plane.

My other observation was that the lounge area at the front of J, to the right of the staircase, went almost totally unused. There is a 5 seater lounge (complete with retractable lap belts in case of turbulence) which faces a well stocked magazine rack and wall mounted LCD screen. I made 3 visits to this area and never saw another passenger there. I wonder how long until that area is replaced by a couple of additional seats..

 

[Bundy Bear]

Glad that J was nice; Y was ok; but Qantas could have added some legroom; 14hours without a proper nap isn't much fun.

And that leads to another question;

There doesn't appear to be a premium area on the A380 like the 747; because if you can't get exit row seems like each seat is crammed in like the other, and I should have taken a seat down the back of the plane as some people had a block of 3 to themselves, the front of economy was almost full.

 

[serfty]

Looking at E/F, there are a "Premium" seating areas in WHY, all 59 seats in rows 50 thru 56 are Q-blocked.

There's another 32 seats in the last 5 rows q-blocked, but this may be for other reasons.

Here's a post I made on FT earlier this month:

I had a good look at this last night and in my guesstimate order I think as follows. (Here's the seatmap)

Best Exit row seats (If you can get them):

1. 66A/66K - wall exit seat, no one to disturb you and 5-10cm of room between seat and wall - hand hold to get up without disturbing seat neighbour.
2. 79B/79J - Inner exit pair with plenty of space in front; no A/K seats,
3. 66C/66H - Just like 46C/H-58C/H on QF 744's,
4. 66B/66J - Inner exit seats - can be laterally squeezy,
5. 66D/66E/66F/66G - designated exit seat - Bulkhead but much more room than at 50A/B/C or 51H/J/K - Non Bassinet position &
6. 79C/79H.

(With 79C/H many people bump the legs of a sleeping occupant as they walk through the curtains on the way down to the WHY "Bar".)

Other Seats:

1. Definitely 80A/K,
2. 71D
3. 70E - less likely to be bumped by aisle traffic - may have two screens to play with (perhaps not, see previous post).

Note that all exit/bulkhead seats have PTVs stored under arm rests and need to be stowed for landing - can't watch tail-cam on take off.

The fuselage structure is such that it continues to curve outward up from the floor - perhaps 8cm between armrest and wall - double that at shoulders. So there's plenty of elbow/shoulder room at the windows.

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps QF may be forced to follow BA lead and lower the Y+ fares.

In my opinion QF Premium economy is overpriced.

I was not aware that BA have lowered their World Traveller Plus airfares yet. BA increased them in line with the launch of QF Premium Economy but there has only been talk that WT+ airfares could possibly be lower soon.

 

[Shano]

In my opinion QF Premium economy is overpriced.

I was not aware that BA have lowered their World Traveller Plus airfares yet. BA increased them in line with the launch of QF Premium Economy but there has only been talk that WT+ airfares could possibly be lower soon.

My error, I believe BA WT+ fares are due to be lowered early next year. When I was checking flights recently to SIN for December (2008) both QF and BA Y+ fares were the same.