Qantas swaps A330 for A321XLR

[JoshuaL1997]

I have an upcoming flight in December from BNE to MNL (QF97 & 98) which is ordinarily operated by a A330-200 five times a week but Qantas has sent me an updated itinerary which now lists both flights being operated by a A321neo (I'm assuming its the XLR as its the only in the fleet.

This is rather frustrating as they are selling business class seats at the price of a lie flat seat when now all you'll get is a recliner and a short haul economy cabin with two toilets for 180 passengers on a 8 hour flight... I thought these jets were meant to be exclusively used for short haul flights?

 

[Quickstatus]

I thought these jets were meant to be exclusively used for short haul flights?

Domestic routes and internatonal Regional flights which dont have heavy traffic - so called "thin" routes
Initially the XLR is used domestically for crew adjustment and familiarisation but South east Asia would be perfect for the A321XLR
BNE-MNL was announced as the first international route for the A321XLR I think today 26/2/26. XLR will take over from the A330 in later October 2026

Apparently 16 out of the 48 XLR on order will have lie flat bed and will arrive from 2028
The current 4 (VH-OGA, OGB, OGC and OGD) do not have lie flat beds.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have an upcoming flight in December from BNE to MNL (QF97 & 98) which is ordinarily operated by a A330-200 five times a week but Qantas has sent me an updated itinerary which now lists both flights being operated by a A321neo (I'm assuming its the XLR as its the only in the fleet.

This is rather frustrating as they are selling business class seats at the price of a lie flat seat when now all you'll get is a recliner and a short haul economy cabin with two toilets for 180 passengers on a 8 hour flight... I thought these jets were meant to be exclusively used for short haul flights?

Far from ideal.

Can you re-route via Sydney?

Otherwise you might look into refunding the ticket and seeing what other options there are. I’d reckon you’d be entitled to a full refund under ACL, although QF is usually pretty good at being proactive on those things.

Unless, of course, the new 321 with flat beds is out by then!

 

[JoshuaL1997]

Far from ideal.

Can you re-route via Sydney?

Otherwise you might look into refunding the ticket and seeing what other options there are. I’d reckon you’d be entitled to a full refund under ACL, although QF is usually pretty good at being proactive on those things.

Unless, of course, the new 321 with flat beds is out by then!

As someone else points out the flat bed varient is not launching till 2028. I just can't believe that in December they would reduce capacity to Manila, last time I flew the route the flights were full.

Hoping to avoid flying through Sydney tbh but also can't stand the idea of being stuck on a domestic narrow body for 8 hours...

 

[moa999]

Discussed briefly in the QF results thread.
Seems to commence on 25 Oct as a daily service rather than 5/wk.

Agreed that I'd be rather peeved paying what QF charges and not getting a lie flat bed on the overnight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As someone else points out the flat bed varient is not launching till 2028. I just can't believe that in December they would reduce capacity to Manila, last time I flew the route the flights were full.

Hoping to avoid flying through Sydney tbh but also can't stand the idea of being stuck on a domestic narrow body for 8 hours...

Are you in business? Advice above based on a business ticket. If you’re in economy might not have the same options to re-route or refund.

 

[JoshuaL1997]

Are you in business? Advice above based on a business ticket. If you’re in economy might not have the same options to re-route or refund.

No the universe seems to be on my side, we initially thought about using points for business but then just decided to pay for economy seats instead. We are flying to Europe in businesses from Manila so its not all bad but still. 2 loos and 180 people for 8 hours is just ridiculous!

I can't believe Qantas would pretend that what most airlines would consider premium economy they should be able to sell for 4-5k return.

 

[JoshuaL1997]

Discussed briefly in the QF results thread.
Seems to commence on 25 Oct as a daily service rather than 5/wk.

Agreed that I'd be rather peeved paying what QF charges and not getting a lie flat bed on the overnight.

Ah I missed this clearly but I guess that makes some sense and would free up a wide body for a higher yield market. PAL also flies an A321neo on the route so it's not like theres stiff competition, except PAL has 31 fewer seats on their jets...

 

[Forg]

However the A321 is 7 metres longer than the A320neo (hence the 1 in the 321)

Logically this makes the A320 2240m long ... they don't look over 2km long!

As an aside ... QF must have upgraded their A332's, it's been a while but last time I walked past J on an A332 it was all Recliner J. I kinda/sorta assumed they were just hanging on with the ancient interiors (nearly domestic spec) 'til the 'planes aged out.

 

[Quickstatus]

Logically this makes the A320 2240m long ... they don't look over 2km long!

Sure but I deleted my post as PAL has the A321, not the A320 but the A321 is 7m longer than the A320.

From QF: (Fully flat J seats started appearing in the A330s over 10 years ago)

 

[jase05]

As an aside ... QF must have upgraded their A332's, it's been a while but last time I walked past J on an A332 it was all Recliner J

Que??

 

[Forg]

Que??

Yep, this was a Singapore trip in ... I'm going to say 2017. Recliner J, which I walked past on my way up the back. I remember thinking "ew, people are paying for this?!". @Quickstatus just poasted that they started putting Proper J into those 'planes a decade ago. The trip back was an A333, which was much less "1998".

 

[jase05]

Yep, this was a Singapore trip in ... I'm going to say 2017. Recliner J, which I walked past on my way up the back. I remember thinking "ew, people are paying for this?!". @Quickstatus just poasted that they started putting Proper J into those 'planes a decade ago.

Yeah, I don’t know when exactly it was but we have flown to CGK and MNL many times on the A332 and it’s been lie flat J for what seems like a decade at least

 

[Saab34]

Even in Y you would be better off refunding and opting for PR. Having a look they appear to be 20-50% cheaper on many days.

 

[moa999]

Yep, this was a Singapore trip in ... I'm going to say 2017. Recliner J, which I walked past on my way up the back

Could have been.
The last two 332s (EBG, EBL) weren't updated until mid-2019. Pretty much all the other 332s and 333s were done in 2015 and 2016.
Believe the delay was related to a lease extension issue.

They weren't recliners either - just the angled flat SkyBed Is. You also would have had the horrible and very dated square Rockwell Collins IFE in Y.