Qantas Intl Legroom - Ranked Last

[trippin_the_rift]

I've got my first QF intl long haul Y flight in years coming up this week, and I'm scared. I've had plenty of biz/first QF flying, but not a lot of experience in Y. I don't know what to expect.
I did some research into seat pitch, and I wonder if this helps explain why Australians are ditching QF intl for other airlines.

QF has the least legroom of any wide body major full service airline in Australia!!!! Even Air India can give you more space!!!

Carrier , Seat Pitch
Asiana 33-34
Emirates 32-34
Korean Air 32-34
Thai 32-34
Garuda 32-34
China Eastern 32-33
Air China 32-33
Philippine Airlines 33
South African 32-33.5
Cathay 32
Singapore 32
Malaysia 32
Virgin Australia 32
Qatar 32
Air Canada 32
Etihad 31 - 33
JAL 31-34
Air India 31-34
China Southern 31-33
Delta 31-32
American Airlines 31-32
Hawaiian 31-32
Vietnam Airlines 31-32
United 31
British Airways 31
Qantas 31

 

[anat0l]

So remind us all again why you have the foolish privilege of flying with Qantas?

In other words, all obvious, nothing to see here, move along...

 

[Dr Ralph]

Which plane is this taken from?

 

[anat0l]

Which plane is this taken from?

For QF, it wouldn't matter - they are all the same (or almost the same, varying by maybe at most half an inch). Except exit rows and the more "open" seats, of course.

TBH I didn't actually know that VA has an extra inch on QF, though I've never flown VA longhaul so I don't have a basis of comparison, e.g. which one actually feels like it has more room (i.e. because seat thickness and size also has a large impact on living space).

Many of the Asian carriers are well known for pitching Y at 32 or even more inches. EK is similar, even if their 777s are 10 across in Y, which is OK if you are a fit person, but if you are more plump then you'll struggle.

All said and done, I think there was a report (or someone even reported it here) quite a few years ago which discussed this issue. I don't know if it added on that people were deserting QF for this very reason, but it basically concluded that almost all of the Western world airlines had the bare minimum Y pitch and the Asian carriers were, on average, the most generous.

 

[Gaspode]

I've had plenty of biz/first QF flying, but not a lot of experience in Y. I don't know what to expect.

Expect to rapidly develop a new appreciation for all of those flights in J/F

 

[trippin_the_rift]

So remind us all again why you have the foolish privilege of flying with Qantas?

CX is overbooked on every flight out of Australia over the next week.
Qantas wants some crazy ridiculous price for J despite showing I9, and won't release award seats in J.
Qantas doesn't have premium economy on asian flights, despite all competitors having it.

So I'm in Y on an award.... which is another bottleneck for me. Getting points into QFF from banks aside from Amex MR is impossible. I can't begin to imagine how much revenue they're losing.

 

[earlyriser]

I am 6'6 and just got done with an economy flight from LAX to SYD on Qantas. It wasn't too bad but I kept my legs straight while asleep as they went nicely under the seat in front. If I wanted to sleep with them bent then it would have been a problem. Getting in and out of my seat, whilst the seat in front was reclined, was a challenge but other than that the experience was tolerable. On my flight over to the States (SYD to DFW) I was moved during the flight to a spare bulk head seat. Quite nice of them to notice me and do that.

 

[anat0l]

CX is overbooked on every flight out of Australia over the next week.
Qantas wants some crazy ridiculous price for J despite showing I9, and won't release award seats in J.
Qantas doesn't have premium economy on asian flights, despite all competitors having it.

So I'm in Y on an award.... which is another bottleneck for me. Getting points into QFF from banks aside from Amex MR is impossible. I can't begin to imagine how much revenue they're losing.

I don't know if CX is truly overbooked, because seats are still being sold on services next week. How much you are prepared to pay for it in cash is a different matter, and the answer is probably not enough.

There appear to be a couple of award seats here or there, including on non-QF options, although you need the correct currency. A couple more options if you can accommodate a connection in Asia, but if not, then that is that.

Can't you use your status in MPC to lever out an award seat on any CX service?

They may be losing money hand over fist, but they've certainly managed to con you into flying with them! Just goes to show, anyone can be bought...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I don't know if CX is truly overbooked, because seats are still being sold on services next week. How much you are prepared to pay for it in cash is a different matter, and the answer is probably not enough.

There appear to be a couple of award seats here or there, including on non-QF options, although you need the correct currency. A couple more options if you can accommodate a connection in Asia, but if not, then that is that.

Can't you use your status in MPC to lever out an award seat on any CX service?

They may be losing money hand over fist, but they've certainly managed to con you into flying with them! Just goes to show, anyone can be bought...

Yeah they're overbooked. Amazing really. I mean CX has 70 flights/week to HKG and Qantas has what, 30? Yet CX is overbooked and QF isn't.
Unfortunately I'm travelling with mini miss trippin and she doesn't do indirect flights (yet).....and with only 2 options BNE-HKG direct there's not much choice

 

[Himeno]

Qantas doesn't have premium economy on asian flights, despite all competitors having it.

They do. On QF25/26 to HND and QF127/128 to HKG (and soon weekend flights on QF29/30)

 

[TomVexille]

You can add Asiana 34 to that list

 

[UP4014]

So remind us all again why you have the foolish privilege of flying with Qantas?

In other words, all obvious, nothing to see here, move along...

An extra inch in no substitute for better safety and compliance.

 

[Quickstatus]

An extra inch in no substitute for better safety and compliance.

1)Every airline is safe until the next crash. sort of like "tomorrow never arrives".

2)For most people analysis of airline safety really is limited to the cosmetics (as is any analysis of anything in this world).

Friend said to me. "I like my doctor because he has an excellent bedside manner". I said "but can he fix your problem?". I got a blank expression.

3)Every person has a price. Thats why airlines have yield management.

4)I believe the majority of people buy airline fares on 2 bases. Price and how low is that price. Other considerations such as seat pitch etc etc are secondary. (with the understanding and respect that the majority also cannot afford the high prices demanded for more humane legroom)

 

[yohy?!]

An extra inch in no substitute for better safety and compliance.

Sadly both Australian and HK civil aviation authorities seem equally impotent and incestuous with their respective flag carriers.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yeah they're overbooked. Amazing really. I mean CX has 70 flights/week to HKG and Qantas has what, 30? Yet CX is overbooked and QF isn't.

Unfortunately I'm travelling with mini miss trippin and she doesn't do indirect flights (yet).....and with only 2 options BNE-HKG direct there's not much choice

So looks like an exit row is out of the question for the next 15 years or so.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've got my first QF intl long haul Y flight in years coming up this week, and I'm scared. I've had plenty of biz/first QF flying, but not a lot of experience in Y. I don't know what to expect.
<snip>

<shivers ...> There but for the grace of God and a bloody good and generous client, go I.

 

[mannej]

Whilst you quote seat pitch as the measure of legroom, technically it doesn't necessarily qualify your statement of QF having the least legroom of full service carriers. There are other factors including the type of seat so perhaps it won't be as bad as what you are making it out to be.

 

[madrooster]

Whilst you quote seat pitch as the measure of legroom, technically it doesn't necessarily qualify your statement of QF having the least legroom of full service carriers. There are other factors including the type of seat so perhaps it won't be as bad as what you are making it out to be.

Seat pitch is hardly any real indication these days of true legroom. Older aircraft may have more seat pitch, but at the same time they have the older thicker seats. An EK B77W may have 32 inch seat pitch (older thicker seats), but it feels less roomy than a QF A388's 31 inch seat pitch (slimline seats).

 

[mannej]

Seat pitch is hardly any real indication these days of true legroom. Older aircraft may have more seat pitch, but at the same time they have the older thicker seats. An EK B77W may have 32 inch seat pitch (older thicker seats), but it feels less roomy than a QF A388's 31 inch seat pitch (slimline seats).

Thank you for further elaborating my post. Pitch is a guide at most, not something you can use as proof to the statement that the OP made.

 

[Sdtravel]

Correct me if im wrong but your list states CX at 32. But isnt that for their hardshell Y product.
Meaning thats 32 upright. at the "recline" its somewhat less. I havent been on CX in a while those but last i heard they were around still.