QF domestic J - what's with the (rare) dodgy seats?

Are you referring to the seats that convert between economy and business class that exist on the 737-400's? Not the best business class seats those ones...

 

still better than some european airlines european business class which is the same seat as econ (albeit more chance of empty middle seat)

 

The difference with BA Europe services which have the dodgy seats is that you can purchase their business class online (with restrictions) at greatly reduced prices off the full fare - eg travelled Gatwick-Malta for 70% discount off normal business fare.

And you still get the full mileage and SCs if you are QF FF.

With QF avoid the early 737s - typically on the SYD-CBR, DRW-CNS, BNE-CNS, BNE-MKY type routes where possible.

Best option domestically to get the best seat is to travel on the domestic leg of an international flight (eg SYD-BNE, SYD-MEL, CNS-SYD, etc)

Occasionally you get an international 767 doing a domestic - eg QF 707 from CNS-BNE uses the 767 in from Japan and loops it to BNE and back to CNS as a domestic flight - the aircraft is towed betwen the terminals in Cairns.

Next choice 737-800s and 330s, newer seats, a little cramped

The seats in the older domestic 767s (eg running the SYD-MEL route) are pretty tightly packed and old now.

The older 737 seating is at the bottom of the pile - but at least there are only a couple of rows of business class (unless on SYD-CBR).

 

It was for this very reason that my seating preference became forward aisle.