Qantas (Jetconnect) 737-800 trans tasman exit row seats (do they recline unlock?)

[sail0r]

I have looked that the QF seat maps, Seat Guru, the Qantas Source, Seat Expert, Flyer Talk...

Does anyone know if the exit row seats have limited recline, some sites say yes, some say no, others say there is a recline lock pin which the FA's remove after takeoff.

Anyone got a best seat around row 13?

 

[Ewing]

I usually take an exit row trans tasman (usually 14D).

All of the aircraft I've been on recently haven't even had a recline button so I fail to see how the feature could be unlocked

I take the rear exit row so nobody reclines into me.

Sent from my LT26i using AustFreqFly

 

[richie9x]

It is been a while since I have sat in a Qantas 737-800 exit row. But they have a recline lock for takeoff and landing. Shortly after the seatbelt sign goes off a FA will come through and unlock the recline. They kneel down then reach out and unlock both sides at the same time. It does look a bit unusual when they do it.

 

[sail0r]

All of the aircraft I've been on recently haven't even had a recline button so I fail to see how the feature could be unlocked

Thanks for the reply, were these trans tasman aircraft, with no recline?

I have got 4C BNE AKL (so I can get off quickly, carry on only, to get 4 hrs sleep across the road at the Novotel before the domestic NZ flight)
and 12A AKL BNE, so hopefully I an recline to my heart's content without having to worry about encroaching/comfort of seat behind.

I would have avoid this (First World Problem) dilemna if I have remembered to complete my Pay Later book, instead of remembering when I woke up to find that the J flights were no longer available, and on calling QFF, turned out the NZ flights weren't available in the (cheaper) fare buckets that QF will (only) use. So, I would have to pay more for J anyway, and then book direct with NZ.

Didn't think a 3 hr flight was worth 16k points to upgrade to J either.

 

[Ewing]

Thanks for the reply, were these trans tasman aircraft, with no recline?

That is correct. I'm referring to the new aircraft (ZK- regos) with individual seat back entertainment. The aircraft that I have flown on did not have a recline button at all. The new 737-800s that operate Qantas domestic may be the same, but I've only ever sat in rows 1 or 4 on those.

Recline isn't very important to me (I only recline when sleeping anyway), but I have had 100% success with a "shadow" when seated in an exit row on trans-tasman whereas that is very rare in row 4 (on one occasion I had three seats to myself, and on another when travelling with someone with myself in 14D and companion in 14E we checked in to find 14E blocked and my companion in 14F).

I don't bother with points upgrade either. Most of my op-ups have been trans-tasman.

 

[sail0r]

Thanks Ewing. Looks like I'll be on a ZK-ZQ... for the flight this Wednesday afternoon, so I'll post back next week.

 

[sail0r]

Confirmed by 3 separate FA's on the flights that the exit row seats don't recline. I couldn't see a recline button, and when I asked 2 of the FA's if they had a lockout for takeoff/landing, they said no. Fortunately, I did this before 1st push back, so was frantically trying to change my seat allocation for return. Of course, got the dreaded website glitches, so couldn't tell if seat allocation went through. Got Row 5 on return, all 3 seats to myself, which is why I picked 5, as 4 has the IDE in the armrests so you can't lift them.
Am booked J next later this month, so will see how that goes.
I think I will try NZ or some other carriers for a better J or Y+ product.

 

[richie9x]

Interesting. I would have sworn that the Jetconnect 737-800 had exit row recline with locks that are manually locked and unlocked by the FAs like the domestic ones Qantas.

 

[sail0r]

Hopefully someone else will be able to tell us that the FA's had it wrong.

 

[Ewing]

Hopefully someone else will be able to tell us that the FA's had it wrong.

If the FAs had it wrong, perhaps someone can enlighten us as to where the mystery recline button is, because I've yet to find it

 

[richie9x]

Hopefully someone else will be able to tell us that the FA's had it wrong.

Just out of interest what FAs were they? Jetconnect ones? Or some other ones?

There are some quirky things about the Jetconnect 737s such as a most of the planes (but not all) have business class seats with video screens that fold out. While the domestic Qantas 737-800 with individual screens all have screens in the seat infront for rows 2 and 3.

I know Virgin 737s don't have recline on their 737s, both 700s and 800s.

Not exactly the most important issue in the world. But for some strange reason it is getting to me. Even if I am wrong or right. Maybe i'll move my next TT flight to an exit row seat.

 

[sail0r]

Just out of interest what FAs were they? Jetconnect ones? Or some other ones?

I know Virgin 737s don't have recline on their 737s, both 700s and 800s.

Not exactly the most important issue in the world. But for some strange reason it is getting to me. Even if I am wrong or right. Maybe i'll move my next TT flight to an exit row seat.

Jutcunnict, but they were lovely!!!

Good on you Richie (taking one for the team, though I know it is only 3 hrs), I lucked onto Sale J for my next trip, but will likely be whY (or LAN J) for my next trips

 

[pauly7]

The second row of exit normally does I thought ... Racking my memory though as I now fly row 4 when in Y on Jetconnect so it has been a while!

The J class seats either seat back or arm rest are AVOD because Jetconnect took the first QF next gen 73H before the completely finalized next gen offering was decided / available. I think I prefer seat back as it means AVOD from get go personally

 

[pauly7]

Jutcunnict, but they were lovely!!!

Good on you Richie (taking one for the team, though I know it is only 3 hrs), I lucked onto Sale J for my next trip, but will likely be whY (or LAN J) for my next trips

How much was your sale J flight out of interest?

 

[Ewing]

The second row of exit normally does I thought ... Racking my memory though as I now fly row 4 when in Y on Jetconnect so it has been a while!

That's what I'm referring to. I always take the second exit row. They ( at least the aircraft I've been on) do not have a recline button at all.

Sent from my LT26i using AustFreqFly

 

[pauly7]

That's what I'm referring to. I always take the second exit row. They ( at least the aircraft I've been on) do not have a recline button at all.

Sent from my LT26i using AustFreqFly

Hmmmmmmm I have accidentally flown the row in front of exit and it had no recline but I'm sure I've had a recline on a next gen QF 737 exit. But can't prove and could be wrong so I won't comment further

Like I said row 4 has my name engraved on it these days

 

[Ewing]

Like I said row 4 has my name engraved on it these days

I can choose either.

I prefer the exit row on trans tasman for a few reasons:

1) Better chance of a shadow (100% actually, whereas I have had no such luck in row 4)
2) Gate-to-gate IFE
3) Free middle seat for me to put the flight map on
4) Reserved overhead bins for exit row pax (enforced by an FA)
5) More comfortable seat, as it doesn't have to contain a retractable IFE screen and tray table.

I don't recline on such short flights anyway, even in row 4.

Which reminds me, it's been 3 months since I've been to NZ. Time to plan another trip I think

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can confirm from a friend who flew jetconnect yesterday - row 14 (2nd emergency exit row) has NO recline button. Seat cannot be reclined at all (not even unlocked after take-off)

 

[kooky]

Can confirm from a friend who flew jetconnect yesterday - row 14 (2nd emergency exit row) has NO recline button. Seat cannot be reclined at all (not even unlocked after take-off)

But does it have more legroom?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But does it have more legroom?

....yes....