SYD - MEL in J, A330-200 or 737-800?
Jan 14, 2015, 10:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
Tend to agree for the relatively short flight (flew it yesterday and it was 1 hour exact) the 73H is a decent size in terms of being served, though you usually only have the CSM to serve you, whereas on the widebody you have 3 or so F/A's who can speed things up, but if you're in row 5 or something in J on the 30 seat cabin you can be hurried a bit to be sure.
I would pick a business suite a/c if I could be assured of it (obviously not even in April) because there's less seats and it's a nicer product, but for an hour you don't really need to recline into a flat bed or anything so the 73H is fine.
Enjoy your flight
I would pick a business suite a/c if I could be assured of it (obviously not even in April) because there's less seats and it's a nicer product, but for an hour you don't really need to recline into a flat bed or anything so the 73H is fine.
Enjoy your flight
Jan 15, 2015, 2:59 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Hi,
I am looking at booking an award flight on QF463 (A330-200) or QF479 (737-800) in business class.
Flights are only 15mins apart and both have availability - is there any real difference between the two?
Travel is at end of April and there will be 2 of us travelling together if that makes any difference.
Cheers in advance,
Steve
I am looking at booking an award flight on QF463 (A330-200) or QF479 (737-800) in business class.
Flights are only 15mins apart and both have availability - is there any real difference between the two?
Travel is at end of April and there will be 2 of us travelling together if that makes any difference.
Cheers in advance,
Steve
Jan 15, 2015, 4:45 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Programs: QF Platinum (LTS), VA nothing, DL Skymiles
Posts: 178
Bear in mind (real French) Champagne won't be served on such a short sector - you'll be given a 200ml bottle of sparking (usually Australian methode champagnoise) if you request champers!
Jan 16, 2015, 7:39 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan | Avios
Posts: 14
If you time your flight out perfectly and spend less than an hour at 35,000ft, it doesn't matter what you fly because you'll be off and on the ground faster than you know it with maybe time for one drink (do you even get a meal?).
Jan 18, 2015, 7:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
I'll never forget a few years ago on a domestic run asking the FA in J if "there was any Champagne loaded" and just my luck she was French (or at least had a strong accent!) and the look she gave (of pity mixed with disdain) was priceless when responding "No sir, no Champagne on this flight.. Only Australian Sparkling Wine" and I had to laugh with her it was priceless in a way that only a French person with some "right" to discuss Champagne can have in my view.
I stick to other drinks on domestic
Jan 19, 2015, 5:07 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Perth
Programs: QFF WP
Posts: 560
Jan 20, 2015, 5:04 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Same for Brisbane, flights may be scheduled every half hour but that doesn'tmean there's more than 1 flight per hour.
Jan 27, 2015, 10:23 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: YQT
Programs: AC, US, AA, UA, BA, QF, DL...
Posts: 463
I'm also booking a SYD-MEL and have a choice between 737 and A330. I'd prefer the 737 timing but would take the A330 if it had the new cabin just for kicks. Is there any way to tell ahead of time which configuration is scheduled on a certain flight?
Jan 28, 2015, 7:29 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Perth
Programs: QFF WP
Posts: 560
The kicks are not worth the selection on such a short flight. Pick the time that suits and sit in the chair you get would be my advice.
Jan 28, 2015, 8:55 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: YQT
Programs: AC, US, AA, UA, BA, QF, DL...
Posts: 463
Getting back to my actual question, is there a way to check the configuration ahead of time?
Jan 28, 2015, 2:13 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
Programs: QFWP (LTSG), NZ (Jade), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard), EK (Lowest of the Low)
Posts: 4,669
EF will give the seating configuration loaded onto the system but with so few aircraft currently reconfigured I would not trust it until you step on the actual plane.
Jan 29, 2015, 9:44 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
I'm personally not a fan of the QF 737-8.
The two that we tried in business were quite run down and worn for a newer generation aircraft.
I'd be scoping out the newer equipment if at all possible.
The two that we tried in business were quite run down and worn for a newer generation aircraft.
I'd be scoping out the newer equipment if at all possible.
Jan 30, 2015, 2:20 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 2,927
The earliest models (which were originally AAs order) were delivered shortly after 9/11 and Ansett's collapse - so these aircraft are nearing 14 year - took 15 aircraft in 2002 and another 20 odd over the next 4-5 years.
Qantas has announced a program to refurb these aircraft over the next couple of years.
Beginning 2009 Qantas ordered 738s with Panasonic IFE throughout, initially for the NZ sub, and then mainline and mainline now has almost 30 aircraft like this, the majority since late 2011 also featuring BSI
Unfortunately all have identical seatmaps so it is really luck of the draw what aircraft you get.
See some articles on
BSI - http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-debut...mestic-flights
Refurb - http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-boein...ss-q-streaming
For long term replacement Qantas is yet to announce whether it will add some 737MAX or take up some of the Qantas Group 320neo orders (Jetstar primarily uses 320s)