QF 717 experience

[kermatu]

Row 4 has impeded foot room...except for my favourite seat, 4D. Due to the change from 2x2 in J to 2x3 in Y, 4D sits partially in the aisle of J giving unlimited foot room for your left leg.

I too choose this seat when in Y. Only downside is twice I've had the cupboard door open on takeoff so I've had to hold it shut with my feet until the FAs can come and shut it (with much thanks and apologies).

 

[Daver6]

I too choose this seat when in Y. Only downside is twice I've had the cupboard door open on takeoff so I've had to hold it shut with my feet until the FAs can come and shut it (with much thanks and apologies).

Same thing happened to me once. port side one flipped open on acceleration down the run way. Somehow I managed to lean forward and just swing it closed.

 

[wandering_fred]

Those of us who had the experience of flying AA before the shift to 737s will have had plenty of experience with the ancestor of the 717 - the MD82/83.
I look forward to the next generation of 100-120 seat airplanes, especially since the new manufacturers seem to be aggravating Boeing and Airbus.

With PER-ASP only on 717s and ridiculous cash fares, remember to this route is one of the best Y options for award flights.

Just wandering.
Fred

 

[RichardMEL]

I love the 717 "pocket rocket" performance. I wonder how the CS100 compares .... the rear engine design makes flyiung up the front rather pleasant though (but not the last few rows!!!).

I also like the ERJ-170/175/190/195 series for the slightly smaller capacity jets too

 

[Basalt]

We flew the 717 BNE-MEL on the weekend. Very nice experience as we received an op-up. We were booked on an all Y class 717 according to the QF seat map, however they must have sub'd it as I got a txt at T13 saying the flight was pushed back 30min. Only SG so very happy with the op-up for swmbo and myself!

IFE was an iPad mini - are there any QF 717s with seat back IFE?

 

[mannej]

We flew the 717 BNE-MEL on the weekend. Very nice experience as we received an op-up. We were booked on an all Y class 717 according to the QF seat map, however they must have sub'd it as I got a txt at T13 saying the flight was pushed back 30min. Only SG so very happy with the op-up for swmbo and myself!

IFE was an iPad mini - are there any QF 717s with seat back IFE?

Op up or J seat with Y service?

And no Seatback IFE in the 717 fleet.

 

[Basalt]

Op up or J seat with Y service?

And no Seatback IFE in the 717 fleet.

Was a proper op-up, full J service, meal options all available. No table cloth, so domestic standard service, swmbo had a really nice soup in a proper size bowl. Really quite a large bowl actually, for a domestic plane lol. The new wine glasses are a lovely change, no Pepe Saya butter for the sour dough bread though, but that's so squarely in the first world problem bucket, one can't really complain!

 

[mannej]

I am not sure Domestic J has ever used Pepe Saya?

 

[Basalt]

I am not sure Domestic J has ever used Pepe Saya?

I had it once, on a MEL-BNE flight about 18 months ago. I had an upgrade on a 737, can't remember which flight, but it was around 16:00 ish. Was the best J domestic service I've ever received, table cloths, surprisingly good food, several decent wines, and most importantly the staff were great. Maybe the plane was to go on to AKL or WLG from BNE?

 

[Daver6]

I am not sure Domestic J has ever used Pepe Saya?

Has been used forever and a day on the trans-continental J flights.

 

[eminere]

Has been used forever and a day on the tarns-continetnal J flights.

I think Ballantyne is used for all other domestic flights.

 

[mannej]

I think Ballantyne is used for all other domestic flights.

That is my memory (don't mention Lurpak!), but it is quite foggy for a Monday morning...

 

[Blackbird]

In my opinion, the 717 is just another QF “enhancement.”
I’ve just returned from a weekend flying to Cairns.
I booked QF business and was served QANTASLink “business” up and back.
Comparing the 717 to the 737 is just not a comparison for me.

The seats are narrower in J.
There are no power sockets to charge devices.
There are NO overhead bins in row 1 and the bins are significantly smaller.
The service (both ways) was below any QF mainline service I’ve had in the past 3 years.
Going to Cairns, the 717 flew at 32000ft on the way up and 31000 ft on the way back.
So it’s the army flight from go to whoa, left right left right dodging build ups.
Plus it’s slower.

They’ve canned a lot of Cairns flights in favour of the 717.
Every flight I’ve been on is full, but QF is reducing flights.
I’m flying Virgin to Cairns from here on.
Waste of time complaining to QF.
They’re not interested in my business.
I’m most bothered that I did not get what I purchased.

 

[Himeno]

The 717s are better then the Dash8's.
CBR only gets 737s, 717s and Dash8s with almost everything to SYD a Dash 8 or 717.
The only Dash8's I've been on in the last 3 years have been because of a tech problem with the planned 717 or a international inbound/customs delay causing a move. I go out of my way to book a 717 over a Dash8, though I'd prefer more 737s (another reason I connect via MEL whenever possible).

 

[TheInsider]

Just something I found out today, for the NS18 schedule, there will no longer be any B717's into/out of MEL.

 

[docjames]

Just something I found out today, for the NS18 schedule, there will no longer be any B717's into/out of MEL.

Northern Summer?

So no more 717s to tassie (is it going turboprop only or will the QLink A320 / mainline 737s make an appearance ex-MEL)?

I'm guessing demand is less in NS (ie. our winter) to Tassie.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The 717s are better then the Dash8's.
CBR only gets 737s, 717s and Dash8s with almost everything to SYD a Dash 8 or 717.
The only Dash8's I've been on in the last 3 years have been because of a tech problem with the planned 717 or a international inbound/customs delay causing a move. I go out of my way to book a 717 over a Dash8, though I'd prefer more 737s (another reason I connect via MEL whenever possible).

I have really got to try and remember to fly into Mel more often when travelling internationally. I tend to do Sydney from habit, but Qantas stuffs you around a lot less on the Mel-Cbr route than it does on Syd-Cbr. Coming back from our African trip in September, Qantas pulled the 717 and replaced it with a dash8, which Mr FM hates. Now I wouldn’t have bothered, as I am used to this, but my wonderful travel agent (aka Madrooster), insisted on twisting Qantas’ arm into flying us DXB- Mel so we could get a decent plane to Canberra (and retain J as Qantas in its usual fashion had downgraded us to Y, with no compensation).

 

[mviy]

I have really got to try and remember to fly into Mel more often when travelling internationally. I tend to do Sydney from habit, but Qantas stuffs you around a lot less on the Mel-Cbr route than it does on Syd-Cbr. Coming back from our African trip in September, Qantas pulled the 717 and replaced it with a dash8, which Mr FM hates. Now I wouldn’t have bothered, as I am used to this, but my wonderful travel agent (aka Madrooster), insisted on twisting Qantas’ arm into flying us DXB- Mel so we could get a decent plane to Canberra (and retain J as Qantas in its usual fashion had downgraded us to Y, with no compensation).

Another good reason to connect via MEL is that you can walk between the domestic and international terminals as they're right next door. No wait for a transfer bus. Sure the J Lounge is better in SYD, but if you're a WP/P1/CL you're headed to the FLounge so that doesn't matter. Furthermore during the upcoming renovations of the International J Lounge in SYD, I think it'd be a less pleasant experience than usual especially if you're looking to take in guests during peak times of the day.

I only connect in SYD sometimes because being based in MEL I earn more flying indirect via SYD and QF flies direct to SFO from SYD whereas they don't yet from MEL.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Another good reason to connect via MEL is that you can walk between the domestic and international terminals as they're right next door. No wait for a transfer bus. Sure the J Lounge is better in SYD, but if you're a WP/P1/CL you're headed to the FLounge so that doesn't matter. Furthermore during the upcoming renovations of the International J Lounge in SYD, I think it'd be a less pleasant experience than usual especially if you're looking to take in guests during peak times of the day.

I only connect in SYD sometimes because being based in MEL I earn more flying indirect via SYD and QF flies direct to SFO from SYD whereas they don't yet from MEL.

absolutely right - the walk is so much better than that stupid bus. . I really just need to change the habits of the past 30 years! Lounges are a bit irrelevant as more and more I am not flying Qantas internationally, just the domestic flight home.

 

[kookaburra75]

The 717s are better then the Dash8's.
CBR only gets 737s, 717s and Dash8s with almost everything to SYD a Dash 8 or 717.
The only Dash8's I've been on in the last 3 years have been because of a tech problem with the planned 717 or a international inbound/customs delay causing a move. I go out of my way to book a 717 over a Dash8, though I'd prefer more 737s (another reason I connect via MEL whenever possible).

Fully agree - while I can put up with a Dash8 to Sydney, I much prefer the 717's. I remember when Impulse (remember them) used them out of Sydney; with that new car smell about them. And I try and use Melbourne as my hub for international, but with the demise of the ''old" QF9 soon, I'll be back through Sydney soon