QF removes First from 747s and selected 380s

[Jon Harris]

Just read in today's Travel Daily:

Subject to QF board approval:

* removal of First on all 747s
* First will remain only on 12 380s for LAX / SIN / LHR flights only
* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

[Brad Myer]

Its apparently a $450mil intl product revamp which will apparently see:

All B744s in a 3 class config (J,Y+,and Y) featuring the A380 style seats and IFE.

Apparently the Intl A333 and A332 fleet will also recieve the A380 Y class seats and the new A380 style IFE.

Full details to be announced in the next few weeks.

Anyone know more?

[Rhys Xanthis]

Well the new A330's for transcontinental with IFE is the a380 system, so that makes sense.

[Montague S]

Originally Posted by Jon Harris

* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

would have made sense to do it in the first place...

[Andre H]

Originally Posted by Jon Harris

Just read in today's Travel Daily:

Subject to QF board approval:

* removal of First on all 747s
* First will remain only on 12 380s for LAX / SIN / LHR flights only
* 4-class 380s will have business class reduced from 72 to 60 and a new 48 seat upper deck economy (not sure if that should have read Premium - just stating what TT said)

Source: Travel Daily 01FEB10

It´s a great idea, economy class in the upper deck. it´s a better seat configuration 2-4-2 ( like SQ ) instead of 3-4-3 if you are travelling as a pair.

[D Chan]

Originally Posted by Montague S

would have made sense to do it in the first place...

but times were good before the GFC

[Ash W]

Andre I think you will find premium economy will be extended on the upper deck rather than conversion to economy.

Have a look at the Qantas seat map for the A380 and you will see 12 J seats in rows 24 and 25. Take these out and replace with 21 premium Y seats, adjust some of the awful seats at the back of the Y+ for crew use and you have your 60 J and 48 Y+ config.

[Andre H]

Make sense

[Arthur T]

With Qantas' planned removal of First Class, there will no longer be any first class seats between Hong Kong and Australia, also I wonder the high yield market between Bangkok and Australia will also lost First Class service.

For several Asian cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York and Tokyo I think the loadings for F should be positive, so I do wonder whether it is that worth for Qantas to remove the high revenue service to those cities with high demand.

Furthermore, I feel angry and frustrated that Qantas still haven't learn the lesson from those aging and poorly maintained Boeing 747s (and that's why I am so scared about them), especially after the QF30 incident. Rather to waste money renovating the dangerous and aging B744s I think phasing them out and replace with A380s will be smarter and money saving move than renovating them.

[Nick C]

Originally Posted by Arthur T

For several Asian cities like Hong Kong......

If there was demand for F for HKG-OZ. Why is CX only sending 2-class birds?