QF Domestic Fleet Renewal: Airbus 320neo/220 Preferred

[ozflier]

I know QF have had a hard time financially but I sure hope that the business class hard product in the A320 is an improvement over the current 737's very basic J offering!

 

[RichardMEL]

I know QF have had a hard time financially but I sure hope that the business class hard product in the A320 is an improvement over the current 737's very basic J offering!

On the domestic 320/321's I doubt you will see much improvement on current. Look at AA's non transcon 321's for example. Basically standard domestic 2x2 seating.

I could see a "premium" subfleet of 321's (maybe using the XLR's for example) with a more premium J cabin, like jetBlue's Mint product which could offer frequency on routes like BNE/SYD/MEL-PER.

However given the 320's will replace 737-800's for domestic flying of all the routes, you can't expect much more than the current kind of seating. Possibly slimline seats, possibly with shells and a bit more recline, but probably nothing too grand.

It's really the longer haul 321's that will merit special attention

imo

 

[Flying Fox]

Qn - could the current QF international J suite fit in an A321 in a 1-1 config for international flying?

 

[RichardMEL]

Qn - could the current QF international J suite fit in an A321 in a 1-1 config for international flying?

It's an interesting question. Even if it doesn't fully fit, it can be trimmed.
By the time these aircraft potentially start arriving on site (remember 3-4 years away) it's likely the J suite may even have a refresh or at least a redesign to a mk 2 model. IIRC it had some mods to fit the 787 product into the 380 upper deck.

I would suspect if I was QF and looking to a new product in J I'd not rehash the existing one but look at what some of the other carriers are doing in the space.. eg CI's 321's, SQ 737 MAX's etc (not saying I would expect QF to ever go for a SQ like product per se, but as a guide)

 

[moa999]

I know QF have had a hard time financially but I sure hope that the business class hard product in the A320 is an improvement over the current 737's very basic J offering!

European airlines say hi.

Think some/maybe all the 321XLRs will have a lie flat J product but they will be predominately used into Asia, rather than on short domestic routes

But ultimately the bulk of the order will be 320/321neos with a similar product to today, maybe with a bit more privacy

 

[jase05]

European airlines say hi.

Think some/maybe all the 321XLRs will have a lie flat J product but they will be predominately used into Asia, rather than on short domestic routes

But ultimately the bulk of the order will be 320/321neos with a similar product to today, maybe with a bit more privacy

I’m fine with similar J to the 737’s for 2-3hrs but no way am I copping that to somewhere like DPS but unfortunately the market will probably determine that is all that route can aspire to.
Probably going to mean that when we visit friends there we will have to avoid going direct

 

[OZDUCK]

The J seats we had on a QR A320 Doha to Helsinki were excellent and very comfortable even for someone as big as me. To quote from the QR website - "Luxurious 79-inch long, 21-inch wide 180° lie-flat bed 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration". This was around an 8 hour flight.

 

[Daver6]

I think it's fairly clear that the 40 - 20 321XLRs and 20 223s will have Red Tails, and probably some with Link wording.

And yes, we will have to get used to longer narrow body flights, but it will probably be with a much better J.

As efficiency gets better, aircraft fly longer.
First it was big four engined jets, then big two engined jets, and now small two engined jets

That's all fine and dandy in J, but most people are stuck in Y. With a single really long aisle it becomes quite annoying trying to go to the toilets at the back with trolleys are out.

Anyway, these decisions are outside of my control. It is what it is.

 

[jase05]

That's all fine and dandy in J, but most people are stuck in Y. With a single really long aisle it becomes quite annoying trying to go to the toilets at the back with trolleys are out.

Anyway, these decisions are outside of my control. It is what it is.

As QF don’t even attempt to police use of the J loos most of the time you should be safe to use them

 

[jrfsp]

That's all fine and dandy in J, but most people are stuck in Y. With a single really long aisle it becomes quite annoying trying to go to the toilets at the back with trolleys are out.

Anyway, these decisions are outside of my control. It is what it is.

Hopefully they will put a mid cabin lav in Y on the A321 (like AA) but either way will have 3 for Y which will help.

 

[Daver6]

Hopefully they will put a mid cabin lav in Y on the A321 (like AA) but either way will have 3 for Y which will help.

If they're all at the rear, it really doesn't help at all. And those poor folks in the last few rows land up having people queue there.

 

[RichardMEL]

If they're all at the rear, it really doesn't help at all. And those poor folks in the last few rows land up having people queue there.

"QF enhances their fare offerings with Basic Economy fares; passengers seated in back of aircraft"

 

[jrfsp]

"QF enhances their fare offerings with Basic Economy fares; passengers seated in back of aircraft"

Nothing worse than getting a free crotch / bum rub at face level to those unfortunate enough to be next to the toilets.

Some people might pay extra for that though!

 

[Daver6]

"QF enhances their fare offerings with Basic Economy fares; passengers seated in back of aircraft"

Don't give them ideas!

 

[a330j]

Not a snowflakes chance in hell I'll travel mid-haul on a single isle. Did that on Silk Air once for 5 hours - never again. Looks like for trans continental that is likely to be the only option though, internationally a different kettle of fish thankfully.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not a snowflakes chance in hell I'll travel mid-haul on a single isle. Did that on Silk Air once for 5 hours - never again. Looks like for trans continental that is likely to be the only option though, internationally a different kettle of fish thankfully.

The only reason I half liked that MI experience was that the other two seats were vacant.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Nobody really wants to pay J prices to sit in a recliner on an overnight CGK-CBR flight

If the alternative was Y I’d pay! Given QF premium cabin pricing I’d probably pay another airline.

cheers skip

 

[openseat]

I'm rather wary about the A321XLR order and Asian routes. Flying narrow bodies in the Intertropical Convergence Zone always makes me a nervous passenger.

 

[ajw373]

Don’t assume the XLRs are going to QF.

JQ would be my prediction for routes to SE Asia.

Allowing older 320s to be shifted over to QF.

I share part of that view, though I would expect maybe 788’s to come to Qantas (as they were originally intended) with Jetstar going all A320 family with their longer routes being A321XLR.

I wouldn’t expect any second hand Jetstar A320ceo family planes make their way to Qantas mainline. Network Aviation different story.

 

[dk4]

Qn - could the current QF international J suite fit in an A321 in a 1-1 config for international flying?

Qantas styles the Thompson VantageXL - VantageXL | Thompson Aero as their long range business class seat.

Styling the standard Vantage seat - Vantage | Thompson Aero similarly wouldn't be too hard, and result in a 2x2, 1x1, 2x2 configuration in the first 3 rows of a single aisle aircraft.

But as others have said, there are likely newer design seats out there, yet to make it to market, which may be more appealing for the next generation.