With the Qantas refurbishment of the A330 aircraft what is next for the great QF.

4 replies

reno

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Sep 2013

Total posts 317

With the Qantas refurbishment of the A330 aircraft what is next for the great QF. As i understand it it will take the best part of a year to complete the first A330 then another 12 months for the remainder,giving pax plenty of time to drift to other carriers.Does anyone think that all QF have done for the last 10 plus years is endless outdated refurbishments,avionics,skybeds1,2,3. The A380 screw ups in the reduction bus to the large PE cabin.May be just may be hold off a little and look at a PE cabin on the A330 as it appears they will be around for some time.Or this will be another multi million dollar Qantas screw up where as usual management takes no responsibility.

moa999

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jul 2011

Total posts 835

I think the question is whether it is feasible to put both a very large footprint business class and PE in a relatively small aircraft (A330). You need to leave some room for Economy.

I would have thought that passengers will drift back during the refurbishment. There are already much better choices on the Asian routes and pax have already left.

I would not wanting to hold up the refurbishments any more.

As for what is next - well we need a decision on the B787-9 options

johnaboxall

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 24 Aug 2011

Total posts 384

Forget all the dreaming about new aircraft, the new J cabin is just a tiny and relatively cheap attempt to stay relevant and keep the rusted on QF fans happy. Once passengers drift away it will take much more than the chance of a new seat to get them back. It will take improvements in price, frequency, hard product, customer service, food, good ongoing connections, FF award seat availability, and more... Can QF catch up (or want to?) with the competition? That is the question. 

reno

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Sep 2013

Total posts 317

Agreed.

Ben84

Etihad

Member since 23 Jan 2013

Total posts 74

Qantas rested on their laurels for too long and I suspect some executives came to expect continued protection on money making routes from the Australian government. 

Essentially, they got lazy and certain executives made some poor hard product/aircraft choices. They lost me as a domestic traveller years ago due to old seats and grumpy service. Today I fly Virgin and have always had a positive experience with them. 

While I've not flown with them internationally, it seems to me (from reading this website's excellent reviews, and other sites) Qantas' lounges are top notch and flight attendant service is generally friendly (they've lifted their game apparently). What they lose out on I feel is maintaining business class seating that doesn't give all passengers direct aisle access (when so many of their competitors now offer this). 

In economy, Qantas is not matching their competitors on price. I suspect they cannot given current constraints, but I don't think they need to. Qantas has an opportunity to market itself as a premium Australian airline (which it used to be according to many people). But to do this (and win back customers who expect quality if paying more) they need to lift their game. I suspect a big part (aside price) of the loss of economy traffic has been Qantas parading itself as an Australian icon while shifting more and more of its operations offshore. Many Australians figured if Qantas doesn't care about Australians, why should I show any loyalty? 

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