Qantas' New A321XLR

[Saab34]

Staggering that they continue to have blunders in the configuration department. I mean, seriously, what a joke.

 

[SYD]

I can't see that we've heard from the CEO since the commercial launch. So here's one report (probably paywalled, sorry)

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-a321xlr-gets-airborne-as-ceo-defends-poor-toilet-to-passenger-ratio/news-story/7e0ad23bc188958c4833e89a4fd5e86b

Hmmmm ...

But lets be fair and hear how they listen.

The irony is they pinched those aircraft off JQ and no one would have batted an eyelid about the coughty config (pun intended). What was JQ thinking?…

 

[RooFlyer]

What was JQ thinking?…

" "

What would Alan want?

Ah. $$$

 

[SYD]

" "

What would Alan want?

Ah. $$$

They’re actually proper loos compared to what IB have shoehorned into the rear galley (all three loos).

It really is odd that they didn’t put a 3rd one portside aft, like many A321 operators have. They’re a bit pokey but do the trick. And don’t take away seats or $$$…

 

[RooFlyer]

They’re a bit pokey but do the trick. And don’t take away seats or $$$…

So maybe it was just spite? or just habit, to do the minimum? Sorry, I know I'm being unkind, but honestly .... why? Did they do a survey and find that JP pax's bladders were more robust than Qantas pax?

 

[moa999]

Did they do a survey and find that JP pax's bladders were more robust than Qantas pax?

The difference is JQ doesn't reserve toilets for special pax in its narrowbodies as it's (until the XLRs) all Y seating (they do in the 788)

So the JQ 321LRs have three toilets over 232 Y pax - or a 77:1 ratio...
And based on the proposed seatmaps for JQs 321XLR, one assumes the 12 J/PE and 196 Y pax will have to share all three toilets for a 69:1 ratio.

 

[jimmy hutspah]

The Facebook post by The Guardian had an interesting set of headline pictures:
But all in all, no one really wants to be winning this kind of p***ing contest.

'pissing contest' is a great choice of phrase considering thats what it seems to have literally become on these planes...

 

[SYD]

So maybe it was just spite? or just habit, to do the minimum? Sorry, I know I'm being unkind, but honestly .... why? Did they do a survey and find that JP pax's bladders were more robust than Qantas pax?

But as I mentioned above, they did actually put in proper loos that could otherwise be used for seats (AFAIK).

Checkout the IB seat map. They have one proper loo Portside and then two within the very tight galley area. That cubby hole on the rear port side is pokey - it’s the same BA use.

IB Airbus A321XLR - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

Hola > Iberia > Airbus A321XLRThe Iberia Airbus A321XLR is configured 14J 168MPlease note, the seat plan illustrated here while developed from an Iberia published layout of passenger accommodation diagram, has not yet been fully scrutinised by aeroLOPA so some discrepancies may be present...

www.aerolopa.com

QF at least has a full rear galley and pretty standard forward NB galley.

BA has only three loos on their A321neos across Club (56 pax!) and two Harry Potter esque cubby holes in the rear galley.

BA Airbus A321 neo type 32Q - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

Hola > British Airways > Airbus A321neo The A321neo (new engine option) is equipped with LED mood lighting and wifi.There are two batches of the A321neo. The first (applicable to G-NEOP to NEOX and G-TNEA to TNEC) is illustrated above the newest type (G-TNED onwards). The second batch features...

www.aerolopa.com

AA, who quite remarkably are setting the standard for a decent hard product config have three proper loos down back and one forward for F & J.

AA Airbus A321 XLR - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

Hola > American Airlines > Airbus A321 XLRThe American Airlines Airbus A321 XLR is configured 20J 12W 123M. This type is expected to enter service in 2025Please note, the seat plan illustrated here is still preliminary and has not yet been fully scrutinised by aeroLOPA so some variations from...

www.aerolopa.com

There’s no mention of it so far, but if QF slip in a couple of rows of PE also on the 16 “lie flat” J configured planes, then I’d suspect they’ll be quite sort after on regional flights.

 

[RooFlyer]

But as I mentioned above, they did actually put in proper loos that could otherwise be used for seats (AFAIK).

OK, I've been edumacated! In my defence, I have yet to experience any economy loo on international flights#; having a strong bladder, on domestics not for as long as I can recall, and only the only time I flew JQ it was also international (Bali) in J.

I tell a lie. Enter Air, CPH-SFJ it was all economy and being in 2C, I used the loo up the front.

 

[SYD]

OK, I've been edumacated! In my defence, I have yet to experience any economy loo on international flights#; having a strong bladder, on domestics not for as long as I can recall, and only the only time I flew JQ it was also international (Bali) in J.

I tell a lie. Enter Air, CPH-SFJ it was all economy and being in 2C, I used the loo up the front.

Happy to be told otherwise, but those loos on the QF A321XLR are probably not wildly different to what you might see on many J cabin wide bodies.

There just needs to be another one fitted…

 

[Saab34]

They don’t seem to be getting overly favourable press with this one. Social feed has been littered with the toilet issue, worst plane in the world etc.

Vanessa Hudson wasn’t overly happy with the toilet question being asked in one interview lol.

This is far from a game changing aircraft that they seem to be trying to spin.

 

[moa999]

Reality is it's just a slightly nicer 'Air'bus for short-medium routes.

And ignoring the toilet issue (which is temporary),

I think Qantas missed a trick by not speccing some of the hero Airspace lighting elements at the entrance or even in the toilets like some of the other premium 321 operators.

Or even wood-effect or say red striped floors in the entry way.. basically something to demonstrate that it's a new aircraft.

Particularly when they had chosen to go without seatback IFE.

 

[kpro]

I think Qantas missed a trick by not speccing some of the hero Airspace lighting elements at the entrance or even in the toilets like some of the other premium 321 operators.

I genuinely think the outgoing 737 with BSI looked much nicer visually. From the curved pivot bins to the sculpted LED ceiling lights, it felt modern and spacious.

I haven't been on the QF A321XLR yet, but from the photos it looks a little classic government office style with white ceiling lights and boxy design elements.