Upgraded A380 J class
Jan 10, 2019, 12:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 22
Upgraded A380 J class
First ever FlyerTalk post after a long time lurking, so apologies if I get the etiquette wrong!
I am BAEC Silver/OWS, and usually fly QR these days between LHR and PER a couple times a year, after getting the hump with EK subsequent to 10 years of basically unrewarded loyalty and decreasing quality.
I am, however, flying LHR-PER return in J, with partner and son, on 14 April on QF2 into Singapore, then onto Perth on an A330. I hear at least one A380 has now been refurbed and can’t find online which one it is.
Is there any way of findng out? I’ll have flown the v comfortable (and brilliantly crewed) QR to PER two weeks previous and the idea of the old, tired A380 J class seats on Qantas does not excite me. Was hoping might get lucky with the upgraded version...
I am BAEC Silver/OWS, and usually fly QR these days between LHR and PER a couple times a year, after getting the hump with EK subsequent to 10 years of basically unrewarded loyalty and decreasing quality.
I am, however, flying LHR-PER return in J, with partner and son, on 14 April on QF2 into Singapore, then onto Perth on an A330. I hear at least one A380 has now been refurbed and can’t find online which one it is.
Is there any way of findng out? I’ll have flown the v comfortable (and brilliantly crewed) QR to PER two weeks previous and the idea of the old, tired A380 J class seats on Qantas does not excite me. Was hoping might get lucky with the upgraded version...
Jan 10, 2019, 1:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: QF LTG:
Posts: 1,859
This site may have the required information: A380-800 | The QANTAS Source
Jan 10, 2019, 1:51 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,993
@Breekom Welcome to FlyerTalk 
No A380 has yet undergone any refurbishment.
They are due to start in two months or later.
Expect to be "unexcited".
No A380 has yet undergone any refurbishment.
They are due to start in two months or later.
Expect to be "unexcited".
Jan 10, 2019, 3:08 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 22
the first one is completed and goes into service in March, and I don’t think it’d be crazy to suggest Heathrow routes would be prioritised. We shall see!
Jan 10, 2019, 4:41 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,993
If the first went for refurbishment in March I would not expect it to be operational until at least May.
Last edited by serfty; Jan 10, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Jan 11, 2019, 2:49 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 923
The refurbishment program does not begin until March when the first one goes into the workshops. It will take some time. As mentioned above, the A330 refurbs took 1-2 months. It would not surprise if the A380 took 3.
All 12 have been flying over the last few days on southern hemisphere high season duty so there is not one out of service awaiting service in March.
Jan 11, 2019, 2:59 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 22
With respect that isn't correct.
The refurbishment program does not begin until March when the first one goes into the workshops. It will take some time. As mentioned above, the A330 refurbs took 1-2 months. It would not surprise if the A380 took 3.
All 12 have been flying over the last few days on southern hemisphere high season duty so there is not one out of service awaiting service in March.
The refurbishment program does not begin until March when the first one goes into the workshops. It will take some time. As mentioned above, the A330 refurbs took 1-2 months. It would not surprise if the A380 took 3.
All 12 have been flying over the last few days on southern hemisphere high season duty so there is not one out of service awaiting service in March.
Thanks for your clarification. This is what I read, via Head for Points, from a few days ago: ‘
‘It is around 18 months since Qantas announced the refurbishment of its A380 fleet, but only now is the first new-look aircraft getting close to taking to the skies. Flights are scheduled to start in March, with the full A380 fleet of 12 planes completed by the end of 2020.’
Jan 11, 2019, 2:52 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
Thanks for your clarification. This is what I read, via Head for Points, from a few days ago: ‘
‘It is around 18 months since Qantas announced the refurbishment of its A380 fleet, but only now is the first new-look aircraft getting close to taking to the skies. Flights are scheduled to start in March, with the full A380 fleet of 12 planes completed by the end of 2020.’
There is no guarantee London will be the first route, flights to the USA may be far more profitable for them.
To be honest, if you can change your current flight I would do it. The A380 beds suffer from a design issue which means they now droop - which means sleep can be very difficult. Better to go for an airline that can offer a full flat bed.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:07 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 22
I would be managing your expectations! It took four years for Qantas to refurbish biz clas on thir A330s - they have 28 of those in total. And the major change was just to the first cabin with 28 seats. Thie A380 program will be more substantial - a lot more biz class, extra premium economy, new lounge at the front of the plane.
There is no guarantee London will be the first route, flights to the USA may be far more profitable for them.
To be honest, if you can change your current flight I would do it. The A380 beds suffer from a design issue which means they now droop - which means sleep can be very difficult. Better to go for an airline that can offer a full flat bed.
There is no guarantee London will be the first route, flights to the USA may be far more profitable for them.
To be honest, if you can change your current flight I would do it. The A380 beds suffer from a design issue which means they now droop - which means sleep can be very difficult. Better to go for an airline that can offer a full flat bed.
Thank you again...
Jan 11, 2019, 3:39 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
And if the new config has a significant weight advantage over the old SkyBeds, then the most load restricted flights may be prioritised - such as DFW-SYD.
Jan 11, 2019, 7:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 2,927
Its Xmas time, all A380s are flying..
As above first aircraft is scheduled for March 2019 and all will be completed by December 2020.
Assuming one at a time this averages out at 7 wks each, probably less if you assume nothing will be scheduled over Dec/Jan again and some aircraft also need to have repaints.
So my guess is 5-6 wks for the refurb, possibly a little longer for the first one as Airbus and Qantas work out all the issues.
While there may be small weight benefits, there are also more J and PE seats in the new config.
As above first aircraft is scheduled for March 2019 and all will be completed by December 2020.
Assuming one at a time this averages out at 7 wks each, probably less if you assume nothing will be scheduled over Dec/Jan again and some aircraft also need to have repaints.
So my guess is 5-6 wks for the refurb, possibly a little longer for the first one as Airbus and Qantas work out all the issues.
While there may be small weight benefits, there are also more J and PE seats in the new config.