QF 747's inside cover (The West Australian)

[Blackswan]

I was reading The West Australian at work this morning (and don’t have a copy on me) - so what I’m about to quote is not verbatim.

The West has an ‘inside cover’ – a satirical approach to W.A news and gossip.
The article basically quoted a Perth QF representative named “Ms Q” – who was informed Inside Cover of the poor reliability of the domestic 747s – particularly on the PER route, basically quoted as saying that there was more likelihood of such services being delayed or cancelled than running on time.

She then made an analogy comparing the domestic 747s to a ‘Datson 120Y’ (or similar), and that you “wouldn’t hop in one of these if you were rushing to an important meeting funeral”.

‘Ms Q’ went further – suggesting that pax should do their best to avoid 747 services.

Ouch. From the sounds of this article, perhaps QF staff are starting to get fed up with this equipment?

 

[Danger]

I was on QF 583 SYD-PER last Wednesday night on a 743. Departure was delayed 90 minutes with the reason on the board shown as 'delay due technical requirement'. On board the captain advised there was a problem with the aircraft's radar prior to it leaving Perth earlier in the day. Then yesterday (Sunday) I was on QF 566 PER-SYD. This is a scheduled 743 but there was a change of aircraft to an A333. I also notice that from about mid-year there are about two flights per day SYD/PER operated by A332s (or A333s, I can't quite remember).

 

[oz_mark]

I was on QF 583 SYD-PER last Wednesday night on a 743. Departure was delayed 90 minutes with the reason on the board shown as 'delay due technical requirement'. On board the captain advised there was a problem with the aircraft's radar prior to it leaving Perth earlier in the day. Then yesterday (Sunday) I was on QF 566 PER-SYD. This is a scheduled 743 but there was a change of aircraft to an A333. I also notice that from about mid-year there are about two flights per day SYD/PER operated by A332s (or A333s, I can't quite remember).

The PER-MEL and PER-SYD 743 services are being replaced with A332 services (MEL from July, and SYD from Sept). These are new domestic config A332's.

 

[Danger]

Is this a replacement of all 743s from these routes? I'm sure I saw one or two 743s on the SYD/PER route, per day, even when the Airbuses get up.

Also, are you saying that they are reconfiguring the A332s for a domestic market? If so, do you know what the config will be (eg. AVOD in Y, skybeds in J (probably not for the latter))?

 

[oz_mark]

Is this a replacement of all 743s from these routes? I'm sure I saw one or two 743s on the SYD/PER route, per day, even when the Airbuses get up.

Also, are you saying that they are reconfiguring the A332s for a domestic market? If so, do you know what the config will be (eg. AVOD in Y, skybeds in J (probably not for the latter))?

Indeed, There is a SYD 743 flight till next January. They are NEW A332's, not reconfigured ones. As far as I know they are domestic config.

 

[Danger]

So no skybeds in J but AVOD in Y or will it just be the loop system?

 

[Batesy]

Although somewhat unreliable the 743's are always my choice when travelling across the nation. PTV's with a loop and several choices, much better chance of an upgrade to J in dreamtime seats, usually crewed by international crews who provide better service, large plane so more room to move around and quite often not full so easy to get decent seats or a vacant seat next to you.

Domestic config 332's mean no PTV's, less J seats that are not dreamtime and one main screen with far too much 2 1/2 men.

 

[oz_mark]

Although somewhat unreliable the 743's are always my choice when travelling across the nation. PTV's with a loop and several choices, much better chance of an upgrade to J in dreamtime seats, usually crewed by international crews who provide better service, large plane so more room to move around and quite often not full so easy to get decent seats or a vacant seat next to you.

Domestic config 332's mean no PTV's, less J seats that are not dreamtime and one main screen with far too much 2 1/2 men.

Of the aircraft that fly, I certainly aime for the 743's. But I always allow myself plenty of time if I have something to do at the other end.

 

[Danger]

Qantas mustn't have the seat maps up yet then. They are showing A330-200s in their international config, with skybeds and AVOD. I also note it appears to be slower than the 747-300, taking an extra 15 or so minutes SYD-PER. I'd say this move is somewhat of a step backwards.

 

[oz_mark]

Qantas mustn't have the seat maps up yet then. They are showing A330-200s in their international config, with skybeds and AVOD. I also note it appears to be slower than the 747-300, taking an extra 15 or so minutes SYD-PER. I'd say this move is somewhat of a step backwards.

The 332's haven't been delivered yet, so they are not actually in the fleet at the moment. The aim is to retire the 743's, and given the current state of aircraft deliveried it is probably their best option.

 

[vitaminp]

When reading The West one must take the long long list of factual errors and ommissions in their stride, but yesterday I couldn't resist firing off an email to Inside Cover to let them know that routes are serviced by 743s and not
744s as the article states.

Probably a typo (or the QF member doesn't know the difference between a 743 and 744) but correcting The West and giving the current editor of Inside Cover a lesson in the differences between a Qantas 743 and 744 was a great way to start Monday morning!!

 

[markis10]

Might of been worth letting the west know that if they got a 763 or 737-400 instead of a 747-3 then they might be getting a plane almost as old as the 743 and by the reasoning given in the article, just as likely to be subject to delays etc, but with less tolerance to engine failure !

I prefer the 743 myself, in fact I routed by Melbourne deliberately on Saturday in order to get a flight on one, in preference to the 763 direct option to Brisbane, and had a late but comfortable trip, the extra 15 SC's were a bonus, the bags missing the connection were not!

 

[vitaminp]

Might of been worth letting the west know that if they got a 763 or 737-400 instead of a 747-3 then they might be getting a plane almost as old as the 743 and by the reasoning given in the article, just as likely to be subject to delays etc, but with less tolerance to engine failure !

Ah, it may be time for another email to inside cover.

 

[oz_mark]

Ah, it may be time for another email to inside cover.

You know if you spend your days correcting errors, inconsistencies or omissions in The West, you will fill your whole day in. It is disappointing that a city like Perth can't have itself a better daily paper than this (but I am wandering off topic!).

 

[vitaminp]

I generally let them slide. But this one was just too tempting! And thanks to AFF I have gained exactly the right ammo to correct it! Again, off-topic, but when I spend time correcting The West, I remember; "evil flourishes when good men do nothing"

 

[simongr]

They are NEW A332's, not reconfigured ones. As far as I know they are domestic config.

Just for clarity as I can't access qflyer at work the brand new A330-200 which are being supplied by Airbus as part of the compensation deal are being fitted with what seats? Millenium or Dreamtime?

 

[Shano]

Just for clarity as I can't access qflyer at work the brand new A330-200 which are being supplied by Airbus as part of the compensation deal are being fitted with what seats? Millenium or Dreamtime?

According to QFlyer they will be Millenium.

The Dreamtime seats will soon become a thing of the past as the 743's are retired and the 763's are converted to Millenium seats.

 

[sarlatcycles]

The article basically quoted a Perth QF representative named “Ms Q” – who was informed Inside Cover of the poor reliability of the domestic 747s – particularly on the PER route, basically quoted as saying that there was more likelihood of such services being delayed or cancelled than running on time./quote]

I have just had the misfortune to fly to Melbourne last Thursday on the 743 and then return to Perth again on the 743 last night.

The outward journey from Perth was on time. The problem was the baggage handling at Melbourne Airport. Only 1 Baggage Claim carousel was operational. The reason given was that was the only one that could handle the off-loading equipment from a 747 (not sure if that is the exact reason. maybe someone knows more info on this??) and it didn't help when 4 services from Sydney also arrived and used the same carousel. Some people had to wait over 2 hours for their luggage.

Coming back was a nightmare. The plane was delayed 2 hours due to at first a late arrival, then as each estimated boarding time was passed new excuses began to surface - cleaning crew require 15 minutes to clean cabin, an hour later we are told that a technical problem is now causing the delay. We finally left at 21:45. We landed in Perth at 23:20 than had to endure a Taxi queue that stretched for over 500 metres and we finally got home just before 1am

The movie programing on the personal TV's were incorrect. You would choose a movie from the menu and it would take you to something completely different, the personal seat lighting would turn off / then come on at different times. I think these planes are past their used by dates.

My only problem is that next week I fly to Paris via Singapore and the Airbus 330 that we normally have on the Perth - Singapore leg has been replaced with a 743. Noooooooo. I have just had to change my seats from what I expected to be a 2 seater near the window to a D/E seat. Hopefully it is not the same plane.

 

[oz_mark]

The movie programing on the personal TV's were incorrect. You would choose a movie from the menu and it would take you to something completely different, the personal seat lighting would turn off / then come on at different times. I think these planes are past their used by dates.

Been quite a while since the menus on the movies matched the actual movies. I get the impression they don't bother to update them anymore. Last time I flew the menu was Movie 1, Movie 2, Movie 3 etc

 

[Blackswan]

When reading The West one must take the long long list of factual errors and ommissions in their stride, but yesterday I couldn't resist firing off an email to Inside Cover to let them know that routes are serviced by 743s and not
744s as the article states.

Probably a typo (or the QF member doesn't know the difference between a 743 and 744) but correcting The West and giving the current editor of Inside Cover a lesson in the differences between a Qantas 743 and 744 was a great way to start Monday morning!!

I noticed that mistake that they made - but knew that a response wouldn't get far. They would be too busy hunting for obscure number plates, or the latest antics of the 'grey ghosts' (a.k.a Perth City Council Parking Inspectors).

The only problem I have experienced on this equipment was coming back from SYD to PER. The CSM tried five or six times to boot up the Emergency Demonstration on the audio/visual system - to no avail. She ended up doing quite a half assed reading of the manual herself - missing the lifejackets. Made me think at the time - if they can't get the demo working, then what about the slides/rafts/masks ect.