Equipment changes
Mar 15, 2022, 12:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area California
Posts: 395
Equipment changes
What is going on with the flip flopping of equipment at QR? Is this frequent or maybe just for my flights. I bought my J ticket a couple of weeks ago SFO-DOH-HYD and the QR500/501 DOH-HYD has changed from A350-900 to 787-800 to A321. I understand going from A350-900 to 787 but dropping the capacity down to A321 seems drastic. Especially when currently this route has been operating consistently with A350 - going to A321 for the day I am flying makes little sense.
Mar 15, 2022, 12:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,985
I've noticed this too.
On some European routes there are some days where a route is a 788, the next a B77W, then an A350 and so on. Must be an absolute nightmare for crew scheduling/planning.
On some European routes there are some days where a route is a 788, the next a B77W, then an A350 and so on. Must be an absolute nightmare for crew scheduling/planning.
Mar 15, 2022, 12:58 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area California
Posts: 395
I am not getting too worried for now since I am a couple of weeks until my flight and a lot can change but going from A350/B787 to A321 for a 4hr flight - mostly red eye - will not be cool. Lets hope they will consider adjusting planning for this route.
Mar 15, 2022, 3:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2020
Programs: QRPC Gold, BAEC
Posts: 116
What is going on with the flip flopping of equipment at QR? Is this frequent or maybe just for my flights. I bought my J ticket a couple of weeks ago SFO-DOH-HYD and the QR500/501 DOH-HYD has changed from A350-900 to 787-800 to A321. I understand going from A350-900 to 787 but dropping the capacity down to A321 seems drastic. Especially when currently this route has been operating consistently with A350 - going to A321 for the day I am flying makes little sense.
Mar 18, 2022, 4:32 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: YEG/KWI
Programs: EK Gold, QR Gold, WY Gold, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 453
I booked KWI-BOS-KWI where all four sectors were supposed to be on the QSuite, I was super excited for the trip. But well, the KWI-DOH sector got swapped from 77W to 787, the A359 operating the DOH-BOS and BOS-DOH sectors got downgraded from the QSuite ones to the old one, and the final DOH-KWI sector got downgraded from 77W to A333 
Mar 18, 2022, 11:00 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area California
Posts: 395
My upcoming SFO-DOH-HYD is currently on A351/A321/A359/A351
A351s SFO-DOH-SFO seat maps show Qsuites as of now and the A359 HYD-DOH is reverse herringbone - no Qsuites - but quite acceptable for a 4hr flight
The QR500 - DOH-HYD on a A321 is a major downgrade - with old style recliner seats, and is bothering me - but frankly there is no other better option for flying to India out of SFO right now, so I will be fine with it, but i hope over the next couple of days it will be changed back to 787 or 359.
And hopefully the SFO-DOH-SFO - won't be changed out of Qsuites because that would be a major disappointment.
A351s SFO-DOH-SFO seat maps show Qsuites as of now and the A359 HYD-DOH is reverse herringbone - no Qsuites - but quite acceptable for a 4hr flight
The QR500 - DOH-HYD on a A321 is a major downgrade - with old style recliner seats, and is bothering me - but frankly there is no other better option for flying to India out of SFO right now, so I will be fine with it, but i hope over the next couple of days it will be changed back to 787 or 359.
And hopefully the SFO-DOH-SFO - won't be changed out of Qsuites because that would be a major disappointment.
Mar 20, 2022, 4:11 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,985
In the space of 24 hours my flight has gone from a QSuite 777 to a non QSuite 777 back to a QSuite 777 and now to a QSuite A350-1000 which really highlights the unpredictable aircraft allocations!
Mar 20, 2022, 5:08 am
#9
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155
Wherever the balance lies in the A350 stand off, it's certainly making them juggle for a living
Mar 20, 2022, 5:29 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,985
I guess it also highlights how hard they are having to work to get the most out of a reduced fleet whilst still operating the schedule. Delays and tech problems will only add to that, hence all the late swaps
Wherever the balance lies in the A350 stand off, it's certainly making them juggle for a living
Wherever the balance lies in the A350 stand off, it's certainly making them juggle for a living
Mar 28, 2022, 1:14 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,543
Mar 28, 2022, 7:22 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
My recent DOH-JFK went from 77W to A35K 2 days prior to departure. I've had an A359 also swap to A35K last minute which was definitely not based on load factor. You really never know...
Mar 28, 2022, 7:32 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,985