Qantas swaps Upcoming Flight A330 for A321XLR

[MEL_Traveller]

While it’s not great, the economics probably didn’t support a 330 on the route.

The majority of pax in the main cabin are probably going to be happy with improved reliability.

For all intents and purposes for pax in full-cash paid business, this is a ‘route cancellation’.

It’s not just the return overnight where the bed is important - although with a flight time in each direction as little as 6.5 hours in the air, maximising that sleep on the day flight can be difficult between the extended lunch service and the pre-arrival snack.

Let’s see what alternatives QF comes up with for affected pax!

 

[PERLHR]

The XLR is also used though across Australia is it not? So I guess they also don't wanna use flat beds say between Perth and Brisbane and Perth And Sydney? Especially as the opposition don't have anything like that.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

When you look at the attention to detail that the USA 3 have put into the XLR, then compare it to QF, well it’s just embarrassing. I find it quite poor when QF Management keep talking up the XLR and how good it is, I’m sorry but compared to others it’s rubbish.

I was having a look at what United has done with the XLR and it’s just mind blowing. Absolutely no reason why QF couldn’t have gone down the same path rather than the LCC type mindset they continue to have.

Just imagine if QF rolled this out of the hanger tomorrow.

Sneak peek: On board United's brand-new Airbus A321XLR - The Points Guy

United Airlines finally has its brand-new Airbus A321XLR. Now, the airline is preparing to launch ambitious international routes with the aircraft.

thepointsguy.com

The QF hype about the current A321XLR reminds me of the way they put "winglets" after the 737-800.
The current A321XLRs are great for QF: great for fuel economy.
Same as winglets enhanced the fuel economy of the 737.
But fuel economy means nothing for the passenger experience.

The upcoming A321XLRs with the premium cabin will be a huge improvement over the 738s.
But I fear they won't be replacing any 738s. They'll replace the A330s and perhaps the B789s on some routes..

The XLR is also used though across Australia is it not? So I guess they also don't wanna use flat beds say between Perth and Brisbane and Perth And Sydney? Especially as the opposition don't have anything like that.

Well they had always been using flat beds between PER and SYD and, until recently, BNE as well.
That was their market advantage over VA for business class PAX.

 

[im.daniel]

Ok so I hopped on one of these yesterday SYD-MEL in J. It’s perfectly fine for a short 1-3 hour flight, actually even in J it was a bit tight (row 5) ….

I’d be mighty pissed off if I was flying to MNL in ‘J’ and landed on one of these planes in the current configuration. It’s a Y+ product at best, and should be priced accordingly

 

[PERLHR]

Well they had always been using flat beds between PER and SYD and, until recently, BNE as well.
That was their market advantage over VA for business class PAX.

Intermittent.. over last few years reduced even more on SYD sector. Often 330 shown when booked ..usual outcome 737. . Never seen it on BNE route ex PER ...before XLR (for me anyhow when I flew QF) always coughped out 737.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Saves them a lot of $, esp PER to the east coast, them not having to use the x lifter and that big huge push oblong metal box tow box thing for freight, as on the 330.
With the 737 and 321, they can use the mobile moving belt thing to load and unload cargo.
With the 330, they first need to load cargo onto that metal box thing, or wrap up the whole load.
QF now going cheap to run airline, but fares on trans Aust flight runs, still $1500 in J, for PER to the east coast, where $799 should suffice, they have reduced all their expenses or ops, but then, kept fares high.
Can see why its quite profitable now.
Not to mention, a lot of their services are now done by QFlink/Alliance, or non core Qantas planes.
Years ago, several choices of the 330 MEL/SYD to PER and back, but now, its all the QFs own 737/321neo/321xlr.
Cheaps to run, but no fare reductions.
Not so bad, if they do plan to use their planned 350s for some Au QFd flight runs, but looks unlikely.
===

Ok so I hopped on one of these yesterday SYD-MEL in J. It’s perfectly fine for a short 1-3 hour flight, actually even in J it was a bit tight (row 5) ….

I’d be mighty pissed off if I was flying to MNL in ‘J’ and landed on one of these planes in the current configuration. It’s a Y+ product at best, and should be priced accordingly

Maybe better to use MH 330 via KUL in this instance, esp if your employer/payer is paying your fare.

 

[elanshin]

Saves them a lot of $, esp PER to the east coast, them not having to use the x lifter and that big huge push oblong metal box tow box thing for freight, as on the 330.
With the 737 and 321, they can use the mobile moving belt thing to load and unload cargo.
With the 330, they first need to load cargo onto that metal box thing, or wrap up the whole load.

I'm pretty sure the 320 family can use containers too and containers are faster load/unload than manually loading.

The real answer here is competition. Without VA also pushing there's no reason for QF to improve their product. Actually with both companies in duopoly mode there's no incentive anywhere to do anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm pretty sure the 320 family can use containers too and containers are faster load/unload than manually loading.

The real answer here is competition. Without VA also pushing there's no reason for QF to improve their product. Actually with both companies in duopoly mode there's no incentive anywhere to do anything.

Except downward pressure on price, which is good. Recent QF sales have had SYD-MEL for $299 IIRC. That would have been unheard of until last year when they started to selectively match VA on some domestic business fares.

 

[jase05]

I'm pretty sure the 320 family can use containers too and containers are faster load/unload than manually loading.

Yes, they take AKH’s which is why we send our freight through JQ in larger quantities