Qantas Premium Economy

[markis10]

Our flight from Singapore to Brisbane QF 52 on 2nd July has now been substituted for an Airbus!!

Is this going to be the 'normal' now. If so, no PE. We have booking in J.

…………………………………….

Its the normal once they make the change.

 

[sanne]

Its the normal once they make the change.

Where will the 747s go if they're not on this route?

 

[markis10]

Where will the 747s go if they're not on this route?

To the desert to be retired.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Outbound you have the old plane, refurbs have the same seating be it ER or 400. Seats are the same, IFE is the main difference.

Just to follow up since I thought I had understood but am still a bit confused.....

All 4 class 744s are unrefurbished - y/n
Some 3 class 744s are unrefurbished - y/n
Remaining 744s are refurbished and can be 400 or 400ER - y/n.

 

[markis10]

Just to follow up since I thought I had understood but am still a bit confused.....

All 4 class 744s are unrefurbished - y/n
Some 3 class 744s are unrefurbished - y/n
Remaining 744s are refurbished and can be 400 or 400ER - y/n.

There are 9 refurbished aircraft that have exactly the same config, all the ERs and three of the 744s, there are two aircraft with 4 class cabins, the rest are three class.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Hi all. Mrs_O and I are on QF 5 shortly and having preselected seats the 747 config has changed and the computer dumped us in seats that weren't next to each other let alone a window pair as previously selected. I called QF to complain about not having our chosen seats (or at least similar i.e. window pair) maintained. I was offered 34AB (http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744RR-58J36W270Y.pdf) but I was concerned about being bumped out by an infant requiring the bassinet so chose a 38DE.

The CSR did say I could call up nearer the flight and request 34AB and they would happily seat me there. Now the question: what is the leg room like in this bulkhead pair? Is it genuinely more than other seats? Or is it restricted as per the economy bulkheads such as 23AB on 333, 43ABC on 744 or 32AB/JK on 388?

TIA.

 

[Barks]

Hi all. Mrs_O and I are on QF 5 shortly and having preselected seats the 747 config has changed and the computer dumped us in seats that weren't next to each other let alone a window pair as previously selected. I called QF to complain about not having our chosen seats (or at least similar i.e. window pair) maintained. I was offered 34AB (http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744RR-58J36W270Y.pdf) but I was concerned about being bumped out by an infant requiring the bassinet so chose a 38DE.

The CSR did say I could call up nearer the flight and request 34AB and they would happily seat me there. Now the question: what is the leg room like in this bulkhead pair? Is it genuinely more than other seats? Or is it restricted as per the economy bulkheads such as 23AB on 333, 43ABC on 744 or 32AB/JK on 388?

TIA.

I was in 34D (QF7) last year and yes, the legroom was slightly restricted by the bulkhead. It was still very comfortable tho and I slept most of the way to DFW (I'm 183cm for reference sake). FWIW, I've always found QF's Y+ to be very good.

 

[bPeteb]

Booked Y+ on QF16 back from NYC to BNE next September. We were allocated 38K/J but I've changed to 35K/J. Good or bad move?

 

[ogs70]

Flying QF22 (NRT-SYD then SYD-PER) in May. It's a night flight departing at 8PM and is 9.5 hours, the flight I am looking at shows a reconfigured 747.

I am weighing up whether the PE proposition (vs. Y) makes sense for a night time flight where the marginal advantages over Y are still a far cry from a Skybed. If it was a daytime flight there would no hesitation with not needing to sleep and would value the J-esque service.

The alternative is a Y 2-seat window pair at the tail end of the refurbished 747 (barring equipment swaps) with my partner.

Anyone have any thoughts? I've only flown CX PE previously, never QF's.

 

[PaulST]

Flying QF22 (NRT-SYD then SYD-PER) in May. It's a night flight departing at 8PM and is 9.5 hours, the flight I am looking at shows a reconfigured 747.

I am weighing up whether the PE proposition (vs. Y) makes sense for a night time flight where the marginal advantages over Y are still a far cry from a Skybed. If it was a daytime flight there would no hesitation with not needing to sleep and would value the J-esque service.

The alternative is a Y 2-seat window pair at the tail end of the refurbished 747 (barring equipment swaps) with my partner.

Anyone have any thoughts? I've only flown CX PE previously, never QF's.

I understand your thinking ogs70. My best PE experience was QF63 (day flight to JNB) as I was awake to enjoy the service, room, food/drink...etc. Flying back (QF64) and QF21 last month (both night flights) I felt were wasted as I just tossed and turned and had pseudo-sleep the whole flight so I didn't really notice much of the benefits over Y.

I find I can't really sleep in Y or PE so in the future I'll probably fly Y and just save the money (for a better hotel or a J seat in the future). I too quite like those window-pairs back towards the end of a 777 or 747 (or all of the A330s and A340s) and tend to search for them why flying Y.

EDIT: FYI I've posted two trip reports of QF PE (QF63 and QF21) which you may find interesting. Unfortunately both were old 747s. I'm flying QF128 on Tuesday (which is a refurbished 747 day) in PE (but hopefully upgrading to J) and I'll be sure to post up a trip report in the days following.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/visit-south-africa-qf63-qf64-64075.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nd-trip-photos/qf21-syd-nrt-vh-oja-64554.html

 

[cmon0005]

Anyone have any thoughts? I've only flown CX PE previously, never QF's.

Whilst CX PE is good, it really is just Economy with a better seat. The food sucks in CX PE as it is just Y food. But when the price justifies it I fly in CX PE sometimes.
On the other hand QF PE is a league above the rest and really does have a premium feel about it, the food and service are more Business style, as well as the seats being very comfortable for sleeping, not too mention you get noise cancelling headsets by default in PE.

Best of luck!

 

[blu]

QF 747 PE is 2-4-2 and feels crowded. Has only one toilet. (A380 is 2-3-2). The seating is not good, when the seat in front is reclined - difficult to exit particularly from window seat, even during the day. Can only recommend the front row JK seats which have unlimited legroom (was on HKG config) otherwise take the Y twins.

 

[wandering_fred]

How well do you sleep in a lounge chair/recliner?

If you can, there is just enough extra room to make the trip a bit more comfortable. Both sleeping and eating. Is it biz class comfortable? No.

I managed to sleep transPAC in CX PEY. And in Y+ on BA.

The main advantage is better accrual in most FF programs. Perhaps the best in this regard is AA.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[ogs70]

I understand your thinking ogs70. My best PE experience was QF63 (day flight to JNB) as I was awake to enjoy the service, room, food/drink...etc. Flying back (QF64) and QF21 last month (both night flights) I felt were wasted as I just tossed and turned and had pseudo-sleep the whole flight so I didn't really notice much of the benefits over Y.

I find I can't really sleep in Y or PE so in the future I'll probably fly Y and just save the money (for a better hotel or a J seat in the future). I too quite like those window-pairs back towards the end of a 777 or 747 (or all of the A330s and A340s) and tend to search for them why flying Y.

EDIT: FYI I've posted two trip reports of QF PE (QF63 and QF21) which you may find interesting. Unfortunately both were old 747s. I'm flying QF128 on Tuesday (which is a refurbished 747 day) in PE (but hopefully upgrading to J) and I'll be sure to post up a trip report in the days following.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/visit-south-africa-qf63-qf64-64075.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nd-trip-photos/qf21-syd-nrt-vh-oja-64554.html

Thanks for the insight PaulST. The QF PE hard and soft product looks very similar to my J flight yesterday from MEL to PER in the PE style seats.

FWIW I've used AB miles for a J fare out therefore looking at the best value return without burning too many QF points. So looking at redeeming a Y NRT-PER for 42k each (vs. 63k for PE.), I figured the 42k point difference between us could be better utilised elsewhere. Or am I crazy for burning points on Y fares in this instance, something I usually am against. I don't have enough QFF points for 2 x J redemption.

 

[PaulST]

Thanks for the insight PaulST. The QF PE hard and soft product looks very similar to my J flight yesterday from MEL to PER in the PE style seats.

Yep it's probably quite similar to domestic QF J. On my last PE flight (QF21), we got priority boarding too.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I would always opt for PE over Y, purely for the extra space, both width and leg room. In fact the additional width is probably the selling point. The service on QF is definitely better than CX, IME. Sleeping in PE, for me, works and is reasonably comfortable. The extra recline and width make the difference.

 

[cmon0005]

I would always opt for PE over Y, purely for the extra space, both width and leg room. In fact the additional width is probably the selling point. The service on QF is definitely better than CX, IME. Sleeping in PE, for me, works and is reasonably comfortable. The extra recline and width make the difference.

Very true,

Also I have found catering on CX in Y and thus CX PE as well has gone down hill, to the point where I don't eat the hot meal normally on CX. Only upside is when the CX CSM comes and greets me as a QF OWE and gives me J snacks as well as Evian

On the other hand QF Int Y catering has improved dramatically and is actually quite good these days.

 

[Uncle BJ]

Hello all

Is anyone able to shed some light please on how close the bulkhead is to seats 36D and E (ie front row of middle section of QF Y+ on the refurbed 747)?

I am heading to JFK at the end of the month on QF93/11 with my 6 foot 6 'little' brother and I'm not sure whether there'll be more room for him to stretch his legs in 36D/E or the other available seats 37A and B. The seat plans don't make it clear.

Thank you in anticipation.

 

[cmon0005]

Is anyone able to shed some light please on how close the bulkhead is to seats 36D and E (ie front row of middle section of QF Y+ on the refurbed 747)?

I am heading to JFK at the end of the month on QF93/11 with my 6 foot 6 'little' brother and I'm not sure whether there'll be more room for him to stretch his legs in 36D/E or the other available seats 37A and B. The seat plans don't make it clear.

Personally I found the bulkheads a little squishy for the long legged like me, (just over 6 foot). I actually moved into a spare aisle (non-bulkhead seat in 747 Y+) However its not that bad, but if you don't like recliners then bulkhead may be right for you.
All the best.

 

[Uncle BJ]

Thanks cmon0005 - I think I'll take the A and B seats in that case.