Qantas A330-200 business class with 2-2-2 seating

21 replies

BXX

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Oct 2016

Total posts 5

Hi All,

I'm due to fly BKK to SYD in early September, I only just noted my flight QF24 has been changed from a A330-300 to a A330-200 (configuration 1) with business class seating consisting of 6 rows of 2x2x2 seats.


Although I've booked a economy class flexible seat (Qantas Gold Status), in the original booking I was planning to upgrade to business class (using points) in the excellent A330-300 with 1-2-1 seating with direct aisle access. So I'm really disappointed in this change of plane type.


I note in the A330-200 2x2x2 seating there is no window next to seats 4A and 4K. 


My questions are: 

1) What would be your preferred seat (single passenger, not as a couple) in the A330-200 business class section where there are 6 rows of 2x2x2 seating?

2) How many of these older Qantas A330-200 aircraft (with business class 2x2x2 seating) remain? (Compared to the numbers of refurbished A330-200s and A330-300 type aircraft)?

3) What is the planned Qantas upgrade schedule regarding refurbishment of this aircraft type to 1x2x1 direct access business class seating?


https://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/332-36J199Y.pdf


Thanks. Your advice & expertise would be much appreciated.



snowy1568

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Dec 2017

Total posts 3

Ok I'm going to go through the questions in order.


1. I would prefer Seat 2A or 2K in this case, though it's still your own personal choice that matters. I prefer those seats because they are window seats and they don't have weird things for the footrest like row 1 has. If direct aisle access is important, then I would choose 2B though the middle seats are fine. Again, these are my own personal preferences, and they might differ to what you would like.

2. There are currently a total of 28 A330s in Qantas's fleet, with 18 being -200s and 10 being -300s. There are only two A330s left in the fleet with the 2-2-2 config (aka Skybed I). Both are -200s on lease.

3. One of the A330s will be retrofittted by the end of this year, and the other one will be retrofitted next year.

BXX

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Oct 2016

Total posts 5

Thank you Snowy - very useful information

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

My preference with this seat configuration is one of the middle seats in the 2-2-2. Guaranteed aisle access, no one climbing over you and I don't think there is much to view on an overnight flight.

Also I think the bassinets are at the front of this configuration... So I'd sit further back.

Last editedby hutch at Aug 12, 2018, 03:04 AM.

Mattw

Member since 05 Jul 2018

Total posts 2

I've had this old equipment too often on SYD SIN. Skyseat 1 is ok for daytime but impossible to sleep in overnight due to slope on the bed. Agree any seat in the 2 or 3 row is better.

mviy

Member since 05 May 2016

Total posts 322

QF had a few 747 with old seating for a long time. They may still have one. QF delays or doesn’t bother to upgrade seating in some old aircraft to save money but it causes a lot of angst for their customers when they feel they’ve got inferior seating to what they’ve paid for.


I was upgraded on SFO-SYD and a nearby passenger was very upset that she’d paid for a Business fare and got a seat that didn’t lie flat, only angled flat as a non-refurbished 747 was used.

mannej

QF

Member since 21 May 2014

Total posts 176

My preference with this seat configuration is one of the middle seats in the 2-2-2. Guaranteed aisle access, no one climbing over you and I don't think there is much to view on an overnight flight.

Also I think the bassinets are at the front of this configuration... So I'd sit further back.

Last edited by hutch at Aug 12, 2018, 03.04 AM.

Bassinets are in Row 1 and Row 4, there are 2 mini cabins of J in EBG/L

mannej

QF

Member since 21 May 2014

Total posts 176

QF had a few 747 with old seating for a long time. They may still have one. QF delays or doesn’t bother to upgrade seating in some old aircraft to save money but it causes a lot of angst for their customers when they feel they’ve got inferior seating to what they’ve paid for.

I was upgraded on SFO-SYD and a nearby passenger was very upset that she’d paid for a Business fare and got a seat that didn’t lie flat, only angled flat as a non-refurbished 747 was used.

Currently only 1 747 left with Skybed MkI - OEB

snowy1568

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Dec 2017

Total posts 3

Yeah I meant bassinets instead of whatever I said.


Just saying, the economy IFEs on the unrefurbished A330s are small, squarish and quite garbage. But in my opinion, it's not really worth it to spend the 27k points to upgrade. These specific SkyBeds have a 10 degree angle to them and it makes it really obnoxious to sleep in them as you will slide into the footrest.

If you do end up in them, try to make a z shape of the seat instead of making it flat (aka recline the seat a lot, but not fully). It will stop you from sliding down the seat when you are sleeping.

AJW

Member since 16 Nov 2011

Total posts 55

Seeing as you are flying economy and hoping for an upgrade your chances have increased with this config. And as much as people dislike it, it is still a vast improvement over economy and is something just a few years ago we were all happy to fly on.

SimonFrost

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Jul 2013

Total posts 69

Just found out that we’ve had an equipment change to a -200 coming back SIN to MEL on 4th September. We’re in economy so I’m not looking forward to the crap IFE, but I’m hoping the loads so light (hence the downgrade) that we can score an Economy Flat Bed (4 across) for the night flight!

Sir Michael

Member since 12 Aug 2018

Total posts 2

Just found out that we’ve had an equipment change to a -200 coming back SIN to MEL on 4th September. We’re in economy so I’m not looking forward to the crap IFE, but I’m hoping the loads so light (hence the downgrade) that we can score an Economy Flat Bed (4 across) for the night flight!

Yesterday I checked with a Qantas colleague about my next Qantas flight returning from Asia, and unfortunately it too has been downgraded from A330-300 to a A330-200 with Skybed I, and of the 199 economy seats, there were only 2 spare, and of the 36 business class seats, 16 were available

So I wouldn't be so sure your flight will have a light passenger loading in economy.

But still, you might get an upgrade - of course it depends on your current status (gold or platinum or chairman's lounge), but also it depends where you are on the Qantas PCV (perceived commercial value) list

Sooty

Member since 14 Aug 2018

Total posts 1

Was looking at an A330 flight to Auckland in September with biz class marketed as lie flat with direct aisle access in the booking area. Booked it today only to discover it's the 2 2 2 config. Changing aircraft later is one thing but it's a bit cheeky to describe it as something else from the start. Just checked again and it's still saying the same thing.

henri9

Member since 24 Apr 2018

Total posts 14

I think a reasonable consumer would infer from the Qantas web pages titled "A380 Comfort now available on our B747 fleet | Qantas" and "Qantas A330" that:


- The 747 fleet has the 380 seat (ie the Skybed mark II); and
- the 330 fleet has the business suite; and
- that consequently, unless the equipment is swapped for a different type (which is much less common than being swapped for another jet of the same type), you will be getting those products as advertised.

I think it's a commercial decision as to if and when the 3 jets are upgraded, but i don't believe they should be advertising that the fleets have the newer products whilst 10% of the 747s do not and 7% of the A330s do not. Seems like having your cake and eating it too, to me.

iandkropik

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 16 Aug 2018

Total posts 1

Couldn't agree more henri9. I purchased a Qantas J Class flight to HKG for Mid September (against my better judgement to travel with colleagues instead of VA or CX). Last week noticed on 'My Bookings' the aircraft has changed to A330-200 and the seating map showed 2-2-2- configuration. Was on a Saver Fare so took the hit to change to the day before on the -300 equipment for $400 only to find 24hrs after making the change booking showed -200 equipment again with 2-2-2.
Qantas clearly markets on their website the all A330 aircraft International, Trans Tasman & Domestic are fitted with J Suites.
Very poor form.
Moral of the story... go VA or CX at least you know what you getting.

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