QF 93 Mel/Lax A380

[shmoozy1]

Got “lucky” when QF decided to sub out the 789 on three times weekly in favour of its clapped out A380 (the very last of its fleet yet to be refurbished.) The J seats are mechanical clunkers 2/2/2 configuration and very little privacy and antediluvian IFE
Crew privately complaining about system problems with chillers etc.
Totally disdainful treatment of MEL customers

 

[Quickstatus]

Got “lucky” when QF decided to sub out the 789 on three times weekly in favour of its clapped out A380

There is no guarantee that any airline route will be operated by a particular airline, or a particular aircraft, or that it will actually arrive on time.

Unfortunately that is the nature of the commercial passenger ticket - the only alternative is to own private jet,

 

[shmoozy1]

There is no guarantee that any airline route will be operated by a particular airline, or a particular aircraft, or that it will actually arrive on time.

Unfortunately that is the nature of the commercial passenger ticket - the only alternative is to own private jet,

It’s not about guarantees It’s about a definite corporate decision to reintroduce a clapped out aircraft to the line on an indefinite basis with no reason

 

[downtheback]

Qantas needs the capacity. It's not for no reason. If that A380 is on the maintenance line being refit, then that flight just doesn't get run (or another one gets cut instead).

 

[MELso]

Yup, my flight from SIN to MEL was to have been on a 789, but about 6 weeks out, it got substituted for a (dilapidated) A330-300.

It's always possible in the airline business to be subject to an equipment swap (it went the other way on my recent DOH-MXP flight on QR when the 77W was changed to a 789 and then an A359), but the issue was Qantas is that there are enough old, clapped out planes in the fleet to make it (potentially) bad news when a swap occurs.

 

[shmoozy1]

Qantas needs the capacity. It's not for no reason. If that A380 is on the maintenance line being refit, then that flight just doesn't get run (or another one gets cut instead).

Interesting response re capacity given that the route was being operated 7 days a week with a current fit 789. Unreasonable imho to swap that out for an inferior product

 

[FrustratedQP]

Unfortunately that is the nature of the commercial passenger ticket - the only alternative is to own private jet,

You would think, but you would be surprised how often they go US often requiring owners/pax to go commercial at short notice and often mid trip.

 

[Quickstatus]

It’s about a definite corporate decision to reintroduce a clapped out aircraft to the line on an indefinite basis with no reason

Clapped out aircraft - the A380 is still a very good aircraft IMO.
Indefinite basis - of course it is indefinite, why would it be any other way. Pasengers don't operate an airline. I can think of a multitude of reasons why
No reason - perhaps not from your perspective, but as passengers do not operate the airline, any reason will not be known to the passengers.

Unreasonable imho to swap that out for an inferior product

Again the ticket you purchase does not guarantee an aircraft type which can be changed at the last minute - even as you checkin.
Inferior product? . Maybe some people would agree and maybe some would disagree.

I cant think of one airline where they will never swop out an aircraft for another. And the swop may be less desirable as you have pointed out here.

 

[Quickstatus]

but you would be surprised how often they go US often requiring owners/pax to go commercial at short notice and often mid trip.

Yes, that is the nature of operating an aircraft.

I can understand the disappointment of finding out that the expected aircraft turned out to be another.
Im not a fan of QF myself but I cant agree that the substitution was unfair.

 

[AIRwin]

It's been VH-OQL shuttling between MEL and LAX

 

[mviy]

The A380 is a much better plane than the 787 imo. I probably would have considered the swap as a positive change.

 

[shmoozy1]

The A380 is a much better plane than the 787 imo. I probably would have considered the swap as a positive change.

Absolutely not with the outdated cabin Otherwise agree A380 superior plane

 

[BAM1748]

Mechanical seats, perhaps better than the the newer seats which I seem to remember have had a few failures.

Swaps happen, lucky QF has a spare aircraft for the job as many airlines don’t.

 

[mviy]

I found the old J seats fine. In some ways they were better and seemed less cramped than the new fitout.

Not saying that I don’t like the new seats, but to switch from 2-2-2 to 1-2-1 there has to be some compromises if not drastically reducing the number of seats.

 

[Lynda2475]

Not saying that I don’t like the new seats, but to switch from 2-2-2 to 1-2-1 there has to be some compromises if not drastically reducing the number of seats.

The Refurbed A380s have 6 more J seats than the non refurbed ones.

 

[mviy]

Like I said they had to make some compromises to squeeze extra seats in.

 

[jb747]

I'd travel on a old cabin A380 in preference to anything with the new. I just hate the new fit out.

 

[shmoozy1]

The A380 is a much better plane than the 787 imo. I probably would have considered the swap as a positive change.

Absolutely not with the outdated cabin Otherwise agree A380 superior plane

I'd travel on a old cabin A380 in preference to anything with the new. I just hate the new fit out.

diffrnt strokes for different folks

 

[Lynda2475]

Like I said they had to make some compromises to squeeze extra seats in.

Yep and that was to reduce the number of Economy seats; as 6 more Business in a better layout where all have direct aisle access; almost double the number of PE and fewer whY on lower deck only.

 

[kpro]

Technically all modern business class seats with direct aisle access have some form of compromise.

In short, its either a foot cubby where you place your feet under the seat in front due to the stagger. Or in the case of reverse herringbone an angled foot area due to the way the seat meets the airplane wall. Whereas a 2-2-2 layout may not have direct aisle access, but you do get a fully unrestricted foot area. At least it's not Luthansa's business, which is the worse of both worlds.

In terms of overall space utilisation, this makes them better then many traditional seats which is evidenced by the 64 Skybeds vs 70 Business Suites on the A380.

If you want a seat with little compromise, F is an option.