Qantas' New A321XLR

[Chrizztofa]

Let's take a more pragmatic view of this. The only thing absolutely worth conceding here is that the toilet ratio is worse for Economy passengers. That's it.

Is it actually worse for Y passengers? What are the effects - people wait longer, toilets are on average smellier, increase of risk of urinary diseases across people who regularly fly QF?

No one is honestly tracking all of this, e.g. the average wait time of a passenger in any type of aircraft. Maybe QF don't really want to do it either. But none of the accusers have honestly and practically laid out that this will lead to a drastically more uncomfortable toilet experience for all Y passengers (maybe all J passengers if you want to be strict, since they go from 12 pax to 1 toilet to 20 pax to 1 toilet). QF have certainly increased the risk of dissatisfaction - especially if and when these aircraft fly routes longer than about 2 hours - but I don't think anything but experience is going to tell whether it practically translates to a material discomfort or dissatisfaction. (Of course, those who realise this may decide to change their toilet habits to avoid using the aircraft toilet, which masks whether QF actually were OK or not in making this design decision).

Michael O'Leary at Ryanair once made a similar point when rumours were circulating that FR wanted to charge passengers for using toilets. His argument was that by charging, for use FR would change passenger behaviour so they would need one fewer toilet per flight and could put in more seats instead.

While the social media disquiet may dissipate once the aircraft is in regular service, the toilet queues on PER-SYD was mentioned in at least one published flight review, so it does seem to be out of the ordinary (by current standards) for regular flyers...and just adds to the perception of QF being 'cheap' while charging sky-high prices (at least with FR and JQ you expect a vaguely bad experience!)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The other thing is, most people on social media won’t even know what type of plane they’re flying on! Ask them if they just got off a 737, a320 or a321 and i bet most would shrug and say ‘who cares’?

 

[elanshin]

The other thing is, most people on social media won’t even know what type of plane they’re flying on! Ask them if they just got off a 737, a320 or a321 and i bet most would shrug and say ‘who cares’?

Well they won't know by being on it and spotting the difference, but i suspect there's more than a few nervous people when the word Boeing MAX is brought up. It's probably also why theres very little mention of it from VA.

 

[moa999]

one of the configs mentioned up thread have the 3rd whY loo behind the J cabin

Makes sense for passenger circulation, particularly during meals.

But equally a negative for visibility of pax and exits in a safety scenario..
Plus whatever impact extra plumbing/ tanking has.

Overall it seems less favoured among the airlines ordering 321s versus an extra toilet at the back.

, as the airline has realised the error of the first iteration and is now going for the three at the back,

As above, the error being that these initial XLRs were destined for JQ and meant to be delivered in 2024, before

 

[RooFlyer]

But none of the accusers have honestly and practically laid out that this will lead to a drastically more uncomfortable toilet experience for all Y passengers

Who has been arguing about drastically more uncomfortable for ALL Y passengers? It will be drastically uncomfortable for pax who cant get into a loo in time, or for kids, and as a consequence, probably for those around them.

As above, the error being that these initial XLRs were destined for JQ and meant to be delivered in 2024, before

And as before - it doesn't matter. A person is a person even if flying a LCC.
__________

When some people posting here get to the stage of life when going to the toilet suddenly and urgently isn't a lifestyle choice, they may be more sympathetic to the 'more toilets were/are needed on these aircraft' arguments.

 

[moa999]

And as before - it doesn't matter. A person is a person even if flying a LCC.

But it does.. because JQ doesn't restrict who can use what toilet., so it's 232 Y config on the 321LRs works fine with 1 front and 2 back toilets. (77:1)

The higher ratio only occurs on airlines with premium cabins because they restrict (or at least try to restrict) the front toilet, in QFs case to 20J pax, which means the rear toilets are shared by a higher number of Y pax. 180Y.