Row 18 and Skybeds
 

I haven't flown QF for some time (since about Jan).

We have an upcoming trip comnig up 94 outbound, 25 back.

I was checking seat allocations on 25 and noticed that row 18 was there. I had always thought row 18 didn't exist in skybed configured a/c. So a little panicked I checked the seat cofigs on qantas.com and noticed that 2 class 744s do have row 18. It seems 16J/K are positioned more forward on the 2 class config thereby allowing 18 J/K to exist (also it appears that the closet behind 18J/K is smaller on the 2 class).

Why didn't QF do the same thing on 3 class 744s so as to have 2 more J seats to sell?

Row 18 exists on both; with the 3 class the crew seats are on the right; with the 2 class they are on the left. This pushes the seats on the indicated side back and as a result the 3 class do not have 18J/K.

As for the reason, I'm sure Qantas have a good one ...

The other difference on the upper deck between the 2 and 3 class config is the size of the coat locker on the starboard side. The 2-class has a smaller coat locker which allows the extra row of seats on that side.