Qantas swaps Upcoming Flight A330 for A321XLR

[jase05]

They simply cannot ask pax to pay the same price for a recliner.
It’s cheeky to put it nicely.

They do it now already.
Mugs will keep paying so they will keep charging for it

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Charging international J prices (5x Y) for what is in essence a Premium Economy hard product is poor form. Is the any precedence for international 737 services pricing J seats above domestic pricing ratios of about 3x Y? (PER-SIN, SYD/BNE-POM other various Pacific routes etc)

I'm a big advocate for the A321XLR with properly configured cabins to open up secondary and tertiary international airports (Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns etc) or secondary destinations on very thin routes, but the key is properly configured. Brisbane-Manila does make some sense for starting 321XLR ops as a more red-tailed Jetstar service, given the majority of passengers would be more price sensitive, but still. You'd think QF would be a bit more sensitive to bad PR, especially surrounding the A321XLR following the bad press over the toilet issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Charging international J prices (5x Y) for what is in essence a Premium Economy hard product is poor form. Is the any precedence for international 737 services pricing J seats above domestic pricing ratios of about 3x Y? (PER-SIN, SYD/BNE-POM other various Pacific routes etc)

I'm a big advocate for the A321XLR with properly configured cabins to open up secondary and tertiary international airports (Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns etc) or secondary destinations on very thin routes, but the key is properly configured. Brisbane-Manila does make some sense for starting 321XLR ops as a more red-tailed Jetstar service, given the majority of passengers would be more price sensitive, but still. You'd think QF would be a bit more sensitive to bad PR, especially surrounding the A321XLR following the bad press over the toilet issue.

Bali ex MEL can be 6 x more than the Y sale price ($2400 in business compared to $600 in Y)

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Bali ex MEL can be 6 x more than the Y sale price ($2400 in business compared to $600 in Y)

That's an A330 flat bed though, no? That is more or less the standard ratio (5-6x) for international J in modern flatbed seat, I'm talking a recliner style domestic J seat. The international routes I've flown serviced by 737s were always priced in line with domestic Y:J pricing ratios (3-4x) and I assume it's standard.

 

[jase05]

That's an A330 flat bed though, no? That is more or less the standard ratio (5-6x) for international J in modern flatbed seat, I'm talking a recliner style domestic J seat. The international routes I've flown serviced by 737s were always priced in line with domestic Y:J pricing ratios (3-4x) and I assume it's standard.

MEL-DPS is on a 737 and I’ve seen J fares from $2400-3000 in J whereas Y is around $600
Pretty sure MH charge the same for PER-KUL for both their flights regardless of lie flat or recliners. and their prices are around $600 for Y and $2800 in J

 

[RooFlyer]

I was looking at J prices MEL-DPS (B737) for a couple of weeks, anticipating the recent DSC and wanting to compare the price.

It was pretty consistently about $1,500 which would be more conformable to the model mentioned above.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was looking at J prices MEL-DPS (B737) for a couple of weeks, anticipating the recent DSC and wanting to compare the price.

It was pretty consistently about $1,500 which would be more conformable to the model mentioned above.

Each way? If QF was offering $1500 return J class MEL-DPS that would be crazy cheap (for QF).

Searching today fares are ranging from $3200 to over $5000 return for the 737 flight!

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, beg pardon. One way. Multitasking walking onto a flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh, beg pardon. One way. Multitasking walking onto a flight.

I was about to kick myself asking ‘HOW DID I MISS THAT PRICING?’

 

[jase05]

Searching today fares are ranging from $3200 to over $5000 return for the 737 flight!

And some days it was cheaper in J to do MEL-SYD-DPS with the A330 on both legs

 

[MelbFlyer]

They simply cannot ask pax to pay the same price for a recliner.

MEL-DPS is on a 737 and I’ve seen J fares from $2400-3000 in J whereas Y is around $600

I was on QF46 a few weeks ago and even though it was on points, I felt short-changed as it's the same amount of points (57k one-way at the time), but the product was / is inferior to QF44 (B737-800 vs A330-200).

I was looking for anything via SYD, but there were unfortunately no reward seats available.

You simply can't compare a lie-flat seat to a recliner.

 

[Chalan]

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?

I guess i am lucky I am going to escape that as i booked a DSC via Bris to Manila at end of Sept return firstweek of Oct 2026. Its on aA330. I have flown on A321 but on a shorter route and found the plane great. Agree overnight flights need a bed and i always go for that. Good luck

 

[wandering_fred]

I appreciate the interest of most AFF posters in the amenities of the J cabin offered by QF.
However unless on a DONEx or an upgrade it is unlikely I would be flying QFF J.
Therefore my real issue is the Y seats on the QF A330s (2x window/aisle) are the most comfortable in the fleet (subject to the occasional argument about the B787/A380s with upgrades to PremY ).
If I want to/need to fly an A321 in Y I will be in the first six rows of a JQ flight on a Max ticket. (Please convert those to Y+)
So east west QF flights from PER will be preferentially routed through MEL as it seems PER-SYD will be A321 sooner than PER-MEL.
What one will do to retain a modicum of comfort in economical wandering
Fred

 

[Greg555]

Absolutely NO surprise that Qantas is going to use the domestic XLR's for International duties (as I and many predicted).... And EIGHT hour flights at that!!!
Why? Well first and foremost Qantas has no respect for it's loyal, status and also regular customers and is only too willing to take Business fare $$$ and offer a budget airline product. Disgraceful. Secondly, this is another example of laughable and incompetent fleet management by the former CEO and his cronies who allegedly prioritised bonuses over the future fleet... Don't forget Qantas - a so called premium airline - to meet is needs has had to wet lease A330s, buy a bundle of older model secondhand E190s, flew the B747s and B717s way beyond their used by date, and is still flying decrepit old B737s with cabins in disgraceful condition - again for a so called premium carrier. And when will the worlds best long haul jet finally arrive....2046 anyone???
And meanwhile, after just severely devaluing the QFF program, let's bump up the price of status.
Seriously, if you haven't dumped this airline for basically anything else that is flying, you need to look again at what an appalling organisation Qantas actually is....