Qantas B742 and B762 info?

[Brad Myer]

Hi all,

Just after some info from the past.

Does anyone know the config/seating of the first batch of QF B742s that arrived 1970 thru 1972ish? I have heard 56F and the rest economy? I assume biz class wasnt around then?

Also what was the original config of the B762s when they arrived?

Thanks

[Arthur Boy]

Hi Brad,

Not sure how the -200's were delivered, someone else may know the first configs however I do recall there were 2 base configs for most of their lives, one being 16P (Luxury First, in the Nose) 16C (then J, Business, Upper Deck) and 401Y.

The other, which was known as the Pacific config, used for the States mainly and some UK I think, was 28P (16 in the Nose and 12 in the Upper Deck), 42C (Main deck, behind First) and 332Y.

The 2 747SP's (again not sure of the delivery configs) spent most of their lives as 28P/66C and I think 124Y and spent their early days pretty much exclusive on the LAX nonstops and also a fair bit of SYD/WLG, believe it or not!

B762's were delivered is a 3P/6C (or 9??) and not sure about Y, with the arrangement of P/C being a wall dividing down the centre of the aircraft with P on the RHS and C on the LHS. A bizarre arrangement that didnt last all that long from memory.

Maybe some others can expand on the original B742 delivery configs..........

AB

[Dave Dale]

Brad, not sure if this helps you, but I have a Qantas Product Manual from Feb 1989 which outlines the following configurations:

B747-338 VH-EBT/EBU/EBV/EBW/EBX/EBY
P - 26 seats
J - 63 seats (both upper and lower deck)
Y - 309 seats

B747-238B VH-EBA/EBB/EBH/EBI/EBJ/EBK/EBL
P - 16 seats
J - 16 seats (upper deck only)
Y - 407 seats

B747-238B VH-EBM/EBN/EBO/EBP
P - 28 seats (12 seats upper deck / 16 seats lower deck)
J - 42 seats
Y - 338 seats

B747-238B VH-EBQ/EBR/EBS
P - 12 seats (upper deck)
J - 24 seats
Y - 411 seats

B747-238B COMBI VH-ECB/ECC
P - 16 seats
J - 42 seats
Y - 216 seats (30 seats upper deck)

B747SP-38 VH-EAA/EAB
P - 28 seats (12 seats upper deck)
J - 66 seats
Y - 128 seats

B767-338ER VH-OGA/OGB/OGC/OGD
P - 6 seats
J - 17 seats
Y - 212 seats

B767-238ER VH-EAJ/EAK/EAL/EAM/EAN/EAO/EAQ
P - NIL
J - 24 seats
Y - 189 seats

As Arthur noted in his post, there was some strange "class sharing"going on in amongst the various business/first cabins aswell as some economy/business class sharing on the 747SP.

Hope this helps.
Dave

[Andi O]

Just a point of correction in Arthur's post. It was the 767-300 that was delivered with the dividing wall down the middle bewteen first and business.
The 767-200 did not have First class if I recall correctly.

[Michael Cleary]

Business Class only began in 1979 and the 742's were delivered with just First and Economy. There was not normal allocated seating uptairs either - that was originally a Bar/Lounge for First Class passengers, though it didnt take long for the lounge to get scrapped in favour of more seats.

I travelled on the then VH-EBA in March 1973 in First Class (NAN-SYD - only cost an extra $50 in those days and my employer had paid the rest) and as I remember, the bulkhead between First and Economy Class was about 2-3 rows behind the first door.

As to the SP's, one of the reasons for their purchase was so that QF could fly into Wellington and apparently there were special conditions even then.

[Jarrad Phillips]

Wonder if there are any shots of the old 767-300 3 class cabin?

[Andrew P]

Originally Posted by Michael Cleary

There was not normal allocated seating uptairs either - that was originally a Bar/Lounge for First Class passengers, though it didnt take long for the lounge to get scrapped in favour of more seats.

back in December 1976, I flew a QF 747-200 in F class from MEL-SYD, and the bar upstairs was open etc, only me up there for a few drinks, the plane then went onto to LHR via SIN etc

those days only int'l passengers could fly domestic QF, except staff as my neighbor who was QF pilot who was also in MEL for the same wedding

had bought a MEL-DPS Y class ticket, and had upgraded to F on the MEL-SYD sector for a few dollars, then flew in Feb 1977 SYD-DPS on a QF 707, and the overland to London by bus, boat, train & truck, (only flight was BKK-RGN-CCU as Burma land borders were not open)