New QF 737-800 Trip Report - Excellent New Plane!

[oz_mark]

Plus one from me! Thanks for the pics too

They slipped her into service without much fanfare... Guess it was Virgins news week! Funny, whilst Virgin 'talk', Qantas 'do'

Can't wait to fly the new next gen 73H domestically.

Qantas have been trumpeting these improvements as 'best for business'. Hardly just doing.

 

[pauly7]

Qantas have been trumpeting these improvements as 'best for business'. Hardly just doing.

Sorry to confuse you, meant in mainstream media, advertising etc.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Yes QF are good at "doing" and a few of us have long memories of being "done" as well.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[oz_mark]

Sorry to confuse you, meant in mainstream media, advertising etc.

I'm not confused, but surely the what Virgin Australia is doing is somewhat bigger than introducing a 737 into the fleet.Sure the 737 is better than what it replaces, but it hardly warrants wraparound news paper advertising. A name change is in a whole different league.

I remember when Qantas just snuck the A380 into service, without a peep

 

[pauly7]

I'm not confused, but surely the what Virgin Australia is doing is somewhat bigger than introducing a 737 into the fleet.Sure the 737 is better than what it replaces, but it hardly warrants wraparound news paper advertising. A name change is in a whole different league.

That's what I said... That it's 'Virgin's week'. Again, I'm just a little suprised QF didn't plug the first of their new replacement strategy metal hitting the ground a bit more. It is a huge improvement over what it is replacing. I'm sure they'll dial it up when they have more in service.

 

[oz_mark]

That's what I said... That it's 'Virgin's week'. Again, I'm just a little suprised QF didn't plug the first of their new replacement strategy metal hitting the ground a bit more. It is a huge improvement over what it is replacing. I'm sure they'll dial it up when they have more in service.

Qantas slickly pushed that they were using skybeds on the transcon from Sydney. They missed mentioning the well received 2-3-2 A332 cabin - they just did that.

 

[markis10]

That's what I said... That it's 'Virgin's week'. Again, I'm just a little suprised QF didn't plug the first of their new replacement strategy metal hitting the ground a bit more. It is a huge improvement over what it is replacing. I'm sure they'll dial it up when they have more in service.

Because QF know that plugging one new aircraft was a waste of time when the competition can come back with a response that covers the entire fleet being young. Even when they get all the new 738s in service, on any given route your more likely to get a 10 or twenty year old aircraft!

 

[djfuzz]

Slightly OT, but I did search for some relevant threads which were dated and closed -

What's the conventional wisdom on preferred seating on the 738? Haven't been in the dom 738 Y cabin for some time so I simply assumed if the exit rows were available, they were the way to go, but it seems that many prefer row 4 (and for some reason, row 5?) because of its proximity to the front for a quick exit - other than that, is there any reason why row 4 would be preferable to rows 13 or 14?

 

[rtyuiop]

Row 4 has immense leg room, besides getting off the plane fast.

 

[djfuzz]

Row 4 has immense leg room, besides getting off the plane fast.

Yeah, I got that - I meant other than the legroom (also there in spades on the exit rows) and being 9 rows further forward. Can you stow baggage under the J seats / do you get any more personalized service etc - I don't know, it just seems like people fall over themselves for row 4 when the exit rows have some similar benefits, if not better leg room. Just asking.

 

[ab156]

Yeah, I got that - I meant other than the legroom (also there in spades on the exit rows) and being 9 rows further forward. Can you stow baggage under the J seats / do you get any more personalized service etc - I don't know, it just seems like people fall over themselves for row 4 when the exit rows have some similar benefits, if not better leg room. Just asking.

Under seat storage is no issue in row 4, in fact on several occasions i have asked if it is ok to use overhead storage in J for full flight (i tend to board late). Never been denied so I would say it is the best seating for storage options.

Generally you get overflow papers from J and occasionally a meet and greet from the CSM (sometimes with accompanying wine from the full size bottles ). Never seen this go past row 5 for obvious reasons. In short, i don't see exit row offering the same benefit.

The only thing I can think of against row 4 is that there are only 2 seat backs in front so the middle seat has to "share" storage. In reality, the row is usually occupied by people who know what they are doing and it is not an issue.

Of course the further back on goes so the risk of a screaming child increases...

Don't know what I would do if i had to choose between 5 and exit..

 

[samh004]

I think there’s limited under seat stowage in row 4, due to only 2 seats being in front of you, and there can be issues with overhead stowage, but the leg room is good and it’s close to the front.

You can’t stow things under the seat in front in an exit row can you?

Also, row 5 is the worst, as it’s got the least legroom onboard (someone else can answer why).

 

[rtyuiop]

Oh, gotcha - yeah, you can stow bags under the J seats in my experience.

I think the biggest advantage over the exits is that you're likely to be surrounded by fellow FFers, which reduces the chance of screaming babies, kids who can't sit still etc.

The other thing is that up until the last change to the way seating allocation worked, I found I could get row 4 far more often than the exits. Don't know why! Maybe just because the general public don't know it's got extra room?

Danny

 

[dk4]

...do you get any more personalized service etc...

In addition to what has been mentioned from other posters, in row 4 I have received Chivas when asking for a scotch, which was served in a glass from the front galley (when QF no longer offered spirits in Y) & one time I had my coat on my lap, and the FA asked if I would like it put in the J wardrobe for the flight (she did struggle to get it back to me on landing though, once the aisle started filling up.)

 

[jakeseven7]

Ditto from me. It's all good stuff!

Back on topic - thanks from me also. Love the new 73H QF birds.

Also a bit suprised QF didn't do anything more to announce the arrival, especially when its better than Virgins new birds (so far).

Hope this gives Virgin a hurry up to reveal their new 73H in FULL (e.g. AVOD etc).

 

[Undercover Brother]

Lucky enough to have scored VZL again tonight for Mel - bne. Must've looked silly trying to read the registration through the window. Very excited.

 

[pauly7]

Lucky enough to have scored VZL again tonight for Mel - bne. Must've looked silly trying to read the registration through the window. Very excited.

Congrats!! You have all the luck

 

[Flying Fox]

Good news for us all!

 

[herman_aussie]

Great news.... hopefully Virgin also catch up with new product offering with AVOD...

It's great to see some competition... !!
end result: consumer WIN!!!

=D

 

[serfty]

... Afflict you I think you meant to say

I think they are just fine, find them comfy and love the slide forward mechanism.

Each to their own; it's a simple case that I find these seats uncomfortable when compared to the previous seats. I have explained the main reasons why in several posts.

Note, these are not the same seats as installed in the 388's.

FWIW, I have never travelled in one of these new seats outside of row 4; most recent two months ago.

Maybe they are more comfortable further back?