Qantas A321XLR no lie flat International has begun

[Greg555]

Just spotted the new Qantas A321XLR scheduled on the EIGHT hour route Syd to Manilla.. That's the no lie flat domestic business seat for full J pricing for 8 hours. Bwahahahaha.....no thank you very much. What are Qantas doing...? And will Economy get the two toilet only config for their 8 hours. Hudson cannot be serious.

 

[SJF211]

I have an upcoming flight in December from BNE to MNL (QF97 & 98) which is ordinarily operated by a A330-200 five times a week but Qantas has sent me an updated itinerary which now lists both flights being operated by a A321neo (I'm assuming its the XLR as its the only in the fleet.

This is rather frustrating as they are selling business class seats at the price of a lie flat seat when now all you'll get is a recliner and a short haul economy cabin with two toilets for 180 passengers on a 8 hour flight... I thought these jets were meant to be exclusively used for short haul flights?

Discussed here

Although I think that thread refers more so to the MNL-BNE route.

 

[Saab34]

I can’t see it on SYD-MNL. Which dates?

Once the International configured A321s arrive it’s pretty clear MNL will be going all narrow body.

 

[VHOEJ]

If you don't like it, vote with your wallet and book something else.

 

[J-P]

If you don't like it, vote with your wallet and book something else.

This is the correct answer. You can fly Philippine Airlines on that route which has lie-flat A330 seats if you don't like Qantas

 

[AIRwin]

Next stop: CGK?

H

Post in thread 'Updated Air Services agreement between Australia and Indonesia'

Today at 1:12 PM

Qantas Group has applied to IASC for additional capacity on the Indonesia route.

They are requesting 4,539 seats per week in each direction.

They propose the following new services:

• 1 daily: Perth - Jakarta operated by a Qantas 737-800 from December 2026
• 1 daily: Western Sydney - Denpasar operated by a Jetstar A321LR from March 2027
• 1 daily: Brisbane - Denpasar operated by a Qantas 737-800 from August 2027

On the Melbourne - Jakarta route:

• increase to 4 weekly on the A330 from March 2027, then daily on the A321XLR from October 2027

Source...

• Harrison_133

• 

 

[jrfsp]

Next stop: CGK?

H

Post in thread 'Updated Air Services agreement between Australia and Indonesia'

Today at 1:12 PM

Qantas Group has applied to IASC for additional capacity on the Indonesia route.

They are requesting 4,539 seats per week in each direction.

They propose the following new services:

• 1 daily: Perth - Jakarta operated by a Qantas 737-800 from December 2026
• 1 daily: Western Sydney - Denpasar operated by a Jetstar A321LR from March 2027
• 1 daily: Brisbane - Denpasar operated by a Qantas 737-800 from August 2027

On the Melbourne - Jakarta route:

• increase to 4 weekly on the A330 from March 2027, then daily on the A321XLR from October 2027

Source...

• Harrison_133

• 

Another route to avoid then, bit of a shame as much easier getting rewards seats from MEL

 

[Greg555]

If you don't like it, vote with your wallet and book something else.

It goes without saying I won't be buying the inferior Qantas product.
You've missed the obvious point (willfully perhaps) - a Domestic business seat has no place on an 8 hour flight for a so called premium airline...

 

[Greg555]

This is the correct answer. You can fly Philippine Airlines on that route which has lie-flat A330 seats if you don't like Qantas

No, the correct answer is - Domestic Business seats have no place on an 8 hour flight....

Actually, on the BNE-MNL route, Phillipine are also flying A321's and they are not lie flat either. I'll dble check SYD-MNL, last I looked they were A321 as well.

 

[AIRwin]

I'll dble check SYD-MAN, last I looked they were A321 as well.

A330

 

[flydoc2]

No, the correct answer is - Domestic Business seats have no place on an 8 hour flight....

Actually, on the BNE-MAN route, Phillipine are also flying A321's and they are not lie flat either. I'll dble check SYD-MAN, last I looked they were A321 as well.

Yes suboptimal. But…MNL.
Imagine ex-Oz - MAN on a 321
Though I did note on Flightaware the other day an EK BNE -DXB service apparently operated by a B738M .
Presumably an incorrect ID.

 

[elanshin]

No, the correct answer is - Domestic Business seats have no place on an 8 hour flight....

Actually, on the BNE-MNL route, Phillipine are also flying A321's and they are not lie flat either. I'll dble check SYD-MNL, last I looked they were A321 as well.

Whilst i agree with the sentiment - likely the choice is to run a 321XLR or cancel the route.

I think what really should be happening is pricing it at premium economy prices.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Whilst i agree with the sentiment - likely the choice is to run a 321XLR or cancel the route.

I think what really should be happening is pricing it at premium economy prices.

This should apply to domestic routes too.
The "business" recliners on E190s, A223s, B738s and A321XLRs should be sold as premium economy.
The hard product is a long way short of true business class and recently the standard of the soft product has followed suit.
When the premium config A321XLRs arrive this would provide QF with an opportunity to sell 3 classes on domestic flights.
I am confident there would be a domestic market for PE, especially if they threw in QC (but not J lounge) access.
In particular on long routes such as trans con flights to and from PER.

 

[elanshin]

This should apply to domestic routes too.
The "business" recliners on E190s, A223s, B738s and A321XLRs should be sold as premium economy.
The hard product is a long way short of true business class and recently the standard of the soft product has followed suit.

The difference in domestic is there's no competition. If Virgin are happy to sit back and reduce their service offering, there's absolutely no incentive for Qantas to do anything. It's really all about competition and the environment. Put QFs domestic J product in Europe and watch everyone flock to it because its a cut above everyone else.

Interestingly QF has actually started offering a more reasonable J pricing for some domestic routes in advance - prices i didn't think they'd even consider offering before 2025-2026.

Of course on some of the longer and more monopolistic routes - those are still being gouged - but when has any company in country not done that in any segment when given the chance.

 

[AuSammy]

The difference in domestic is there's no competition. If Virgin are happy to sit back and reduce their service offering, there's absolutely no incentive for Qantas to do anything. It's really all about competition and the environment. Put QFs domestic J product in Europe and watch everyone flock to it because its a cut above everyone else.

Interestingly QF has actually started offering a more reasonable J pricing for some domestic routes in advance - prices i didn't think they'd even consider offering before 2025-2026.

Of course on some of the longer and more monopolistic routes - those are still being gouged - but when has any company in country not done that in any segment when given the chance.

Yes when you just compare QF domestic recliners with similar length flights on BA or LH Eurobusiness I know which I would prefer for seating.

But QF need to lift their game on catering and other areas.