Have now had 5 sectors downgraded from A330 to B737, including a J x PER / SIN. Who at QF thinks the 737 is suitable for even short range international sectors? Insufficient lavs, domestic J seats, rubbish entertainment etc etc. The stories about aircraft refurbishments, pilot training issues and supply delays don't wash. These peopel are being paid significant salaries and bonuses to run an international airline - using domestic aircraft.
If this question is literal, I would say planners and schedulers in Qantas HQ making rationale decisions - all aircraft are subject to last minute changes. However I suspect the question is not literal. As you may have read the A330 fleet is very stretched particularly since emirates pulling out of most trans Tasman routes. I would argue that unless you are in business a B737 is a better offering than the 2 A330s that haven’t be refurbished.
It isn't that the 73H is necessarily unsuitable, just as the 320 is not unsuitable for the likes of BA, LH etc. I think the question is one of expectation. If a scheduled 73H were replaced by a 332 there'd be little to complain of. But the expectation of a 332 and its higher level of amenity becomes disappointment and complaint when replaced by a 73H. Both aircraft get you where you want to be. But it might be fair to say that QF seems to do rather more replacing of 332 with 73H than is good for public relations and customer satisfaction. Any company has to deliver on its promises if it wants to attract business, and what look to customers to be "unforeseen" events of convenience or revenue to the company will eventually erode goodwill.
Yes - and allow us to choose another flight or another airline. The downgrade occurred well ahead of the flight (6 months in the case of the PER/SIN) so rebooking would not be overly onerous.Â
I don't expect to be compensated for essential changes forced by weather or short term maintenance. It is clear however that QF knew these flights would be downgraded well ahead of time and chose to make the changes without communication. And please don't remind me of the clause in the ticket conditions that allows them to do what they please - within the limits of Australian consumer law.
To add insult to injury, on the 4 domestic sectors that have been downgraded our seat allocation of 24A&B was also 'transferred' to the 737-8 with zero communication. It is impossible to suggest that 24A&B on a 737-8 are remotely similar to the same seats on the 332.Â
And in response to other comments, we intentionally changed our arrangements to travel on the 332. in Y it is a much more comfortable aircraft. Even in the non-refurbished form.
BTW we are both Platinum, not that this means much any more.
Haha, settle down :-) Ever tried BA, Lufthansa, Air France etc in J on their A320s flying internationally?
Yes - just finished 5 years of travelling in Europe and the MEA flying F, J and Y on a weekly basis. Used BA, Lufthansa, AirFrance, Turkish, Qatar, Saudia, Emirates and Etihad. The distances are generally shorter and you know that a 32X is the standard aircraft. I never had an aircraft downgraded from a 330, 340 or 777 to a 737. Ever. Changes were usually to a larger aircraft - and I was usually notified if there was a seat change.
Since the re-instatement of PER-SIN on QF, the 332 has only ever been over a few temporary periods which generally coincide with holiday periods. It is pretty much 737 the rest of the time so this isn't a surprise. If you have a look at the IFE over the last fortnight or so, the 332's running the route have been the domestic version with iPad IFE in Y. I'd prefer the 737 IFE over the iPads.
I have taken both the 737 and the 330's on this route previously and obviously prefer the latter, however I do prefer to have the 737 over QF cutting the route completely.
Yes - and allow us to choose another flight or another airline. The downgrade occurred well ahead of the flight (6 months in the case of the PER/SIN) so rebooking would not be overly onerous.
I don't expect to be compensated for essential changes forced by weather or short term maintenance. It is clear however that QF knew these flights would be downgraded well ahead of time and chose to make the changes without communication. And please don't remind me of the clause in the ticket conditions that allows them to do what they please - within the limits of Australian consumer law.
To add insult to injury, on the 4 domestic sectors that have been downgraded our seat allocation of 24A&B was also 'transferred' to the 737-8 with zero communication. It is impossible to suggest that 24A&B on a 737-8 are remotely similar to the same seats on the 332.
And in response to other comments, we intentionally changed our arrangements to travel on the 332. in Y it is a much more comfortable aircraft. Even in the non-refurbished form.
BTW we are both Platinum, not that this means much any more.
Understand how you feel about the seating. 24 A&B on the 73H is not a choice a premium QFF would make - there's something seriously wrong if the QF algorithm takes a seat choice and transfers the same seat numbers to a different aircraft type. Have you written to QF about this? I would expect an automatically-generated email telling me that there has been an equipment change and that I have been allocated new seats (obviously in time to change seats).
And with newer LR versions of the 737 and 320 being released get used to even more narrow bodies on thin international routes (hopefully though with a better J product)
Eg a 321neoLR might work on ADL-SIN or ADL-HKG (Jetstar will be using its versions on SYD/MEL-DPS over the 787)
Nowhere does Qantas class the 737 as a “domestic aircraft” it’s all in your head. Qantas fly the 737 on international routes from Per, Syd, BNE & Mel. MEL-DPS 737 is longer than PER-SIN also. QF71/72 has been a 332 for at least a couple of months now.
They would have to lease or buy more aircrafts if they are going to put the 330 back PER - SIN.
Maybe they should put the 737s on Au - NZ only for internationals.
And give the 330s that they use on the TransTasman routes to fly PER - SIN.
I have done PER - SIN on the 330 in Y, loved it, and have done the 330 domestically in Aust too, have done the 737 MEL/SYD - NZ, on short hops in Y, being squashed in Y for short hops is not that bad, but I would agree, >>>
BUT who ever at QF who thought the 737 was good/apt for PER - SIN needs their bum kicked.
Yarros
Yarros
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 4
Have now had 5 sectors downgraded from A330 to B737, including a J x PER / SIN. Who at QF thinks the 737 is suitable for even short range international sectors? Insufficient lavs, domestic J seats, rubbish entertainment etc etc. The stories about aircraft refurbishments, pilot training issues and supply delays don't wash. These peopel are being paid significant salaries and bonuses to run an international airline - using domestic aircraft.
Flyer00
Flyer00
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 4
Haha, settle down :-) Ever tried BA, Lufthansa, Air France etc in J on their A320s flying internationally?
TJS
TJS
Member since 14 Jun 2018
Total posts 55
If this question is literal, I would say planners and schedulers in Qantas HQ making rationale decisions - all aircraft are subject to last minute changes. However I suspect the question is not literal. As you may have read the A330 fleet is very stretched particularly since emirates pulling out of most trans Tasman routes. I would argue that unless you are in business a B737 is a better offering than the 2 A330s that haven’t be refurbished.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 282
It isn't that the 73H is necessarily unsuitable, just as the 320 is not unsuitable for the likes of BA, LH etc. I think the question is one of expectation. If a scheduled 73H were replaced by a 332 there'd be little to complain of. But the expectation of a 332 and its higher level of amenity becomes disappointment and complaint when replaced by a 73H. Both aircraft get you where you want to be. But it might be fair to say that QF seems to do rather more replacing of 332 with 73H than is good for public relations and customer satisfaction. Any company has to deliver on its promises if it wants to attract business, and what look to customers to be "unforeseen" events of convenience or revenue to the company will eventually erode goodwill.
aklrunway
aklrunway
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2011
Total posts 180
Would you rather they cancel the flight?
Yarros
Yarros
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 4
Yes - and allow us to choose another flight or another airline. The downgrade occurred well ahead of the flight (6 months in the case of the PER/SIN) so rebooking would not be overly onerous.Â
Yarros
Yarros
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Dec 2016
Total posts 4
Yes - just finished 5 years of travelling in Europe and the MEA flying F, J and Y on a weekly basis. Used BA, Lufthansa, AirFrance, Turkish, Qatar, Saudia, Emirates and Etihad. The distances are generally shorter and you know that a 32X is the standard aircraft. I never had an aircraft downgraded from a 330, 340 or 777 to a 737. Ever. Changes were usually to a larger aircraft - and I was usually notified if there was a seat change.
mannej
mannej
QF
Member since 21 May 2014
Total posts 176
Since the re-instatement of PER-SIN on QF, the 332 has only ever been over a few temporary periods which generally coincide with holiday periods. It is pretty much 737 the rest of the time so this isn't a surprise. If you have a look at the IFE over the last fortnight or so, the 332's running the route have been the domestic version with iPad IFE in Y. I'd prefer the 737 IFE over the iPads.
I have taken both the 737 and the 330's on this route previously and obviously prefer the latter, however I do prefer to have the 737 over QF cutting the route completely.
CBR boy
CBR boy
Member since 12 Feb 2015
Total posts 61
Yes - and allow us to choose another flight or another airline. The downgrade occurred well ahead of the flight (6 months in the case of the PER/SIN) so rebooking would not be overly onerous.
I don't expect to be compensated for essential changes forced by weather or short term maintenance. It is clear however that QF knew these flights would be downgraded well ahead of time and chose to make the changes without communication. And please don't remind me of the clause in the ticket conditions that allows them to do what they please - within the limits of Australian consumer law.
To add insult to injury, on the 4 domestic sectors that have been downgraded our seat allocation of 24A&B was also 'transferred' to the 737-8 with zero communication. It is impossible to suggest that 24A&B on a 737-8 are remotely similar to the same seats on the 332.
BTW we are both Platinum, not that this means much any more.
Understand how you feel about the seating. 24 A&B on the 73H is not a choice a premium QFF would make - there's something seriously wrong if the QF algorithm takes a seat choice and transfers the same seat numbers to a different aircraft type. Have you written to QF about this? I would expect an automatically-generated email telling me that there has been an equipment change and that I have been allocated new seats (obviously in time to change seats).
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
And with newer LR versions of the 737 and 320 being released get used to even more narrow bodies on thin international routes (hopefully though with a better J product)
PERflyer
PERflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Aug 2017
Total posts 47
Nowhere does Qantas class the 737 as a “domestic aircraft” it’s all in your head. Qantas fly the 737 on international routes from Per, Syd, BNE & Mel. MEL-DPS 737 is longer than PER-SIN also. QF71/72 has been a 332 for at least a couple of months now.
DanV
DanV
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Nov 2017
Total posts 96
Qantas has been flying 737s between the East Coast and NZ ports for years. Even prior to the 'Jetconnect' era.
Jetconnect is slowly being disbanded as the NZ flying are being transitioned back to mainline.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 282
I remember the good ol' days when 767's ruled the Tasman, both QF and NZ. Oh for that degree of comfort again...
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Its all to do with $$$ I would say.
johnaboxall
johnaboxall
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 384
Another airline flies PER-SIN with some brand new, state of the art widebodies. Might be time to change your alliances.