Qantas Business Suite: up close with Qantas' next-gen business class
By David Flynn, October 22 2014
Read our exclusive review of the Qantas Airbus A330 Business Suite business class – a seat that's so good we reckon it's the world’s best domestic business class. Yes, it's that good.
AusBT review: Qantas Business Suite business class (Airbus A330-200)
PREVIOUS | The next generation of Qantas business class raises the bar in both the Australian and international markets.
Set to debut before year's end on domestic routes flown by Qantas' Airbus A330s – and on international routes from 2015 – the new ‘business suites’ could also be the business class for Qantas’ future twin-aisle jets such as the Boeing 787.
Settle back as Australian Business Traveller takes you on a deep dive into the detail of the new business suites.
(For those who care for such things, the base model for the seat is the Vantage XL platform from Irish company Thompson Aero Seating but it's been customised by Marc Newson for Qantas.)
Also read: 10 things you didn't know about the new Qantas Business Suite
Fully-flat bed
The stand-out feature of the Qantas business suites, of course, is a fully lie-flat bed, shown here adorned with the Qantas sleep service mattress.
This is no 'sloping sleeper' as you'd find on the airline's current A330 fleet, where the seat becomes a straight 180-degree bed from head to toe yet remains at an angle to the floor – as seen below in Marc Newson's original Skybed.
The new business suite bed folds out to become ramrod straight and flat to the floor, in the same vein as the fully-flat bed of the Airbus A380's Skybed II, below.
The new seats can be reclined during take-off and landing “to maximise the opportunity for rest”, especially on short Asian flights such as from Singapore...
The Business Suite's maximum take-off recline on the left vs. fully upright
... and while that's definitely more comfortable than sitting completely upright, you won't be able to snooze in bed more until after the plane takes off.
There’s actually nothing new about this concept, with Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic among the airlines whose business class seats already offer a lie-before-you-fly mode.
Plenty of space...
Today’s business travellers are demanding more and more personal space.
Gone are the days when you’d settle in for the flight with a good book. Now there’s your laptop, smartphone, quite likely an iPod, possibly a tablet or Kindle, perhaps your own pair of noise-cancelling headphones... and maybe a good book into the bargain.
The business suite offers ample room to spread out using the console next to each seat...
... with a deep recess for your headphones, laptop and a Qantas-supplied iPad...
... plus a Kate Spade amenity kit for the ladies or a Jack Spade kit for the gents, and a handy bottle of water:
A thinner space next to the video screen and below the coat hook is where you’ll find the safety card and other airline-issued paraphernalia, so they don’t get in the way of your own stuff.
There's space under the centre console for larger items such as shoes...
... and when you're eating, a tray table swings out from the opposite side.
Beyond the hinge, there's actually nothing to clip the tray onto – so you may experience a little 'tray wobble' if working on a heavier laptop:
Inflight entertainment
Each business suite will be fitted with a 16 inch screen running Panasonic Avionics' latest eX3 system powered by Google’s Android software (yes, the same software that’s probably in your smartphone).
Singapore Airlines has already adopted the eX3 for its next generation business class and first class, which includes a small touchscreen handheld controller.
However, Qantas passengers will find a more familiar remote control tucked away aside the seat, as you'd also find on the A380 and the newer generation of Boeing 747s:
There's a QWERTY keyboard on the other side, too...
Chris Chamberlin
Chris Chamberlin
Passengers at the pointy end will find a pair of noise-cancelling headphones within easy reach, along with an angled reading light that faces the book from your line-of-sight, rather than beaming down from overhead.
Economy passengers will get a smaller 11.1 inch touchscreen running Panasonic’s simplified eXlite package.
(According to Qantas, the streamlined IFE system plus new economy seats which are each 1kg lighter than their current counterparts will shave some 400kg off the international version of the A330, resulting in a lower fuel bill.)
There's some clever thinking behind the scenes, or perhaps we should say behind the screens.
Copies of the most popular latest-release movies will be stored on a disk drive that's mounted behind the display, so even if the connection from the screen back to the plane's media box (which holds all the videos and music) fails, you'll still be able to watch a few movies.
All business suites include an AC power socket, of course, along with USB ports built into every business and economy seat.If you can't spot them, they're right next to the seat and are well-positioned for charging laptops and tablets while you're using them, but also for hiding your phone in the storage compartment and running a sneaky cable through the gap to the USB power port.
They're also above an in-seat mirror, tucked away on the inside portion of the remote control cover.
The A330s will also sport Qantas' Q Streaming technology which beams videos and music directly to your own tablet, laptop or smartphone.
Video & review: Q Streaming in action
Finally, the guts of the A330's inflight entertainment system is being upgraded to match that of Qantas' flagship Airbus A380, putting some 1500 hours of content at your fingertips.
The all-important sleep...
To extend the seat into a fully-flat position – or to customise it just to your liking – is a detailed control panel aside the suite.
If you'd rather not be woken when breakfast is served, just tap the 'do not disturb' button and you'll be left alone until closer to arrival.
And, if you prefer to stand in the aisle while your suite transforms into a spacious bed – or vice versa – just press and hold this easy-to-reach button and your bed will unfold.
The crew can also add a fitted sheet for a more comfortable rest, along with a blanket and suite-width pillow.
If you need to hop up during the night, the seat numbers are illuminated to help you find your way back...
All up, here's what you'll be returning to – a private, fully-flat bed in the sky on Qantas' A330s:
How the staggered seat layout works
The business suites will be arrayed in a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger enjoys direct access to the aisle.
The suites themselves are built for a staggered design in which each row dovetails into the one ahead and behind.
This has become an increasingly common configuration – and while we have only photos of a single suite, here’s how the layout works in practice.
First of all, consider for a moment that each suite consists of two components – the seat and the console. In the picture above, the seat is at the right of the console and slides forward to convert into a bed which extends into a recessed foot well. However, in the suite behind this one, the foot well is taken from inside the forward row's console – and the passenger will sit to the left of their console rather than the right. This alternating arrangement is the key to a staggered layout, and to help you hop into and out of the suite, there's a handle atop the suite in front. In effect, there are two configurations for the business suite – think of them as seat+console and console+seat – and these alternate every second row to accommodate the console of one suite housing the foot well of the next, and so on. This also applies to the two suites paired in the middle of each row. For more on the Qantas Business Suite, watch the video below: Also read: 10 things you didn't know about the new Qantas Business Suite Qantas will launch the new Business Suite on a domestic east-west route to Perth in late December, and on international flights to Asia from January 2015. Qantas will fit the new lie-flat business class seat across its entire Airbus A330 fleet, with the upgrades being done in Brisbane to a refit schedule of one plane every 30 days, with the project to be completed by the end of 2016. Qantas’ primary A330 route in Australia skies is the transcontinental trek between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, where Qantas will have a vital head-start over Virgin Australia, which won't begin flying its own next-gen 'business/first' seats (seen below) on east-west A330 routes until March 2015. Read: Virgin Australia's new business class seats for Airbus A330s, Boeing 777s Qantas is also aiming to hit a 'critical mass' with the fast roll-out of its upgraded A330s, with plans for six of the rejigged jets flying by the time of Virgin's launch – most of which are expected to be dedicated to east-west routes – and double that number when Virgin completed the refit of all six of its A330s in July 2015. The Business Suite will be a welcome replacement to the Red Roo’s current domestic A330 business class seats, some of which more closely resemble premium economy with the middle seat covered by a plastic shelf to provide a shared ‘inflight workspace’. On the international front, the A330s currently fly to most of Qantas’ key Asian ports – Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila, and most recently, Honolulu. Read more: Qantas reveals business class 'Business Suite' for Airbus A330 Additional reporting by Chris Chamberlin. Get the latest updates for business travellers and frequent flyers: follow @AusBT on Twitter. David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
When (and where) you’ll see the new Business Suites
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 126
The new Qantas A330 Business class product is certainly better than just an 'enhancement'. However the divide between economy seating which looks more and more uncomfortable to look at (padding looks almost non-existent) and business seating (bedding) seems seems to be growing ever larger. I hope this is accounted for with premium economy (which Qantas is a winner) placed in the internationally configured A330-300's for the 8 to 10 hour trips to Asia and beyond.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 May 2012
Total posts 121
Yes, a PE product on int'l config A330 would be welcome and popular on the Asian flights - perhaps keep & refit the existing dom J seats as PE ....
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 149
Agree totally Skipp. Economy in this part of the world has degraded so much in recent times that it now truly deserves the title of 'Cattle Class', so unless I'm doing a short haul run of under 2 hours I won't settle for anything less than PE and will grab Business Class any time I can.
12 Jul 2011
Total posts 76
The details of the design and the materials look actually quite beautiful in the high-res renderings. My hat is well and truly tipped to Mr Newson.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 29
I'm glad Qantas is still innovative with its seats design instead of copying, and recolouring the seats used by other carriers - e.g. Thai's copy of Emirates, or American Airlines copy of Cathay Pacific. Well done QF.
01 Feb 2012
Total posts 370
Not sure why this is important? Qantas is a business that should focus on maximising profits, and being innovative with its seats does not in itself achieve this unless it is actually a better seat. I doubt many people would prefer a seat or airline just because they've got something different. Ever since first seeing the CX reverse herringbone I just wish every airline would adopt this. Especially because (from my visual approximation) the space / comfort ratio is better than Skybed II or this new A330 design.
Copy away, no need to be creative / original.
23 Aug 2013
Total posts 8
I agree entirely that new doesn't necessarily equal better. I don't understand why you've been down-voted for stating the obvious & can only assume it's the Qantas fan club in action.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 29
Thank god you don't work for airline marketing. While you're at it, why don't we make a uniform F class, uniform livery as well, so that in the future, the airline industry will be indistinguishable, and people will buy purely on price? ;;)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2213
Sounds like the NSW Government's approach to buses in Sydney...
01 Feb 2012
Total posts 370
That does not seem an apt comparison - there is a difference between form and function. Airlines don't choose the mechanical design of a plane, it just chooses superficial things like livery designs.
No one is saying all seats should have exactly the same colours, etc. My comment is more about the utility of the seat. And if you will be innovative, that's fine. But if your innovation is not better on the space / comfort ratio (or some other cost benefit analysis), it is ridiculous for anyone to applaude doing sth for the sake of it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Jul 2013
Total posts 12
J Dee is right. The Skybeds look aesthetically better than these newer seats. However, Qantas changed design to combat Virgin's increasing share in the business market. AND newer seats also increase publicity and attention; I'm sure that many business travellers will try it even once.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 May 2013
Total posts 12
Well done QF! Any word on how long the reconfigurations will take?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2012
Total posts 171
When you compare this layout with the layout of say Cathay Pacific's Business Class style seating, I have to wonder which offers the best economics? The Cathay layout looks like it may fit more seats in or is that just an illusion to my eyes?
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 582
It should be roughly the same. The higher density staggered seats that some European airlines use (the 2-2-1/1-2-1 layout) fits 32 seats in the front cabin of an A330-300, so take out the extra seat in every second row and you end up at 28 (which is the same number of seats that Cathay fits into the same space).
20 Feb 2012
Total posts 125
CX A330-300's have 39 seats in business
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 582
I'm referring specifically to the number of seats that they fit in the first cabin rather than overall seatcount.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 582
Will the outer armrests of these seats move as you recline the seat (like the existing Skybeds)? It definitely looks like there's a join in the same place, but both reclined images show the armrest up.
I hope they do. I hate having my shoulders crammed into the narrow space that some seats have.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 314
Recently flew Emirates A380 J class, and they have the same similar 1-2-1 layout and seat. Had a nice little mini bar attached to it in the side console... Wonder if QF are getting a nice little deal with the emirates tie-up.
31 Aug 2013
Total posts 60
This is a copy of the Swiss and Star Alliance (Austrian/Air Canada/Brussels) business class seat, not the Thai/Emirates/China Southern style one.
The difference is on the Swiss version the seat actually lowers down into the section bellow it when forming a bed as opposed to the leg section just coming up. This means that in the seated position the table area next to you is at arm height as well as making the space seem more open. On the Thai version the seat does not move down meaning the table area next to you must be very high to allow the legs behind bellow it. As such it is useless for anything other than a few drinks because it is extremely high. It also means that it feels like you are confined into a small space.
Swiss also arranges it do that the middle seats are not together but always have a table between, however I’m not sure if Qantas will be following this path. I much prefer the Swiss version to the Thai one, and it also still feels private when you sink down below to sleep. If you need confirmation that Qantas has followed this seat then compare the position of the seat side pock in the lower renderings (as opposed to the first one which seems to be out of place with no seat in front of it).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2013
Total posts 7
Looks like the Qantas seat does lower when reclined to bed. You can see from the side pocket pic which is only exposed when the seats fully reclined. swiss seats the most narrow biz bed I've ever been on and the hardest. The QF ones look much wider which you'd expect with a 1-2-1 versus 2-2-1 layout that Swiss have
31 Aug 2013
Total posts 60
I just wrote it's a copy of the Swiss one which lowers down. When will people learn to read...
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
Actually Phalanger and Wopcg9, I think you're both right!
The seat used by LX/AB/OY/DL (and recently CA) is the Vantage Suite by Thomspon Aero Seats.
I was just reading Thompsons website - and theyve announce the first customer of the newer Vantage "XL" Suite, which, while similiar to the original, is actually up to 3.5" wider - up to 26" wide.
What is telling about this release is that it's designed for a 1-2-1 layout.
More telling even still, is the fact that according to Thompson "the as-yet unnamed airline is scheduled to enter service Autumn 2014". Safely assuming that they're referring to Northern Hemisphere Autumn ie. September onwards - just when did Qantas state they will be entering their suite into service?
The almost dead cert giveaway - check Thompsons concept picture, and imagine it in Qantas's scheme .....
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
Oops that should be AC, not CA
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 582
That's definitely it, though obviously quite hevily customised.
The most interesting thing about that photo is the seat-console-seat console layout for the centre block, rather than the seat-console-console-seat layout that we're all assuming Qantas will use. Has Qantas specified which layout they're using?
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
I reckon it'll be something like:
seat-console || seat-console-seat-console || seat-console
console-seat || console-seat-console-seat || console-seat
Similiar to ANA's staggered business layout.
31 Aug 2013
Total posts 60
Yes, it's the Star Alliance business class seat now. They want to have a common product across the network. Only thing is your legs are exposed to the isle if there is no console on the side, hopefully they have fixed that.
QFF
10 Aug 2013
Total posts 1
So that's how QF is replacing the 'Star Class' seats on it's 14 JQ "hand me downs" during 2014.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Never mind of course most are acutally returns and are very well suited to where Qantas flies them.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 9
If QANTAS wants to dominate the Business class market, they now need to have fresh food on short haul routes (Sydney-Melbourne) annd have much better short haul business class seats.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 413
Nice ... they should put this into the A380 as well and hopefully they reintroduce Australia to London via SIN (and BKK) and use this seat.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 226
That won't happen with the current Emirates partnership
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Jun 2014
Total posts 209
They were the days! SYD/MEL to LHR via BKK SIN OR HKG
04 Dec 2012
Total posts 12
Hate the honeymoon seats, everything else looks brilliant.
I believe planes fly nose up in cruise for the best aerodynamics. Is this correct? If so, it means we are travelling with our feet slightly higher than our heads in seats/beds like this...
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
I know I'm in the minority, but that is why I actually prefer angled-flat to fully flat!
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 543
Thanks for saying that. May I ask why?
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
am's reply below pretty much answers that one.
The aircraft's angle of attack being several degrees nose up at cruise, which for me (I hasten to add, before anyone shoots me down ;) kind of 'neutralises' the downward angle of the he otherwise angled flat seat. (that said, I sleep on my stomach, so maybe I don't notice it as I my if, say, I were lying on my back? I don't know)
On the occasions where I've flown fully flat, would you believe I almost feel (I'm sure it's psychological) as though I'm about to slide backwards?
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 582
Most seats these days account for the slight angle that a plane cruises at. The existing Skybed does (which is why it doesn't look totally flat when you look at photos), so this new seat probably will too.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Jun 2012
Total posts 58
As someone who travels with both a Kindle and a laptop, and who wears glasses for distance, and who enjoys a glass of bubbles (or two!) the console space is really important for me. I'm also a window seater and hate climbing out over my sleeping seatmate; my dilemma is, do I go out bum first or crotch first??? Either way, it's not a pretty sight. Thanks, Qantas, for the 1-2-1 layout, the flat bed, and the extra-wide console. Fabulous.
24 Oct 2011
Total posts 162
yay for direct aisle access!
good to see the designs, its pretty nice. almost looks like BA's first class product.
and good to see qantas adopt direct aisle access for business class. its very annoying to try and climb over somebody who is sleeping when you are short like me.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Feb 2011
Total posts 53
About time! Qantas needs to wake up and understand many of us have already switched over to Virgin and Singapore Air Lines. Waiting in Hong Kong or Singapore for a Flat Bed and end up with the shocker seats is crazy.
Waiting in Sydney after a flight from Korea to end up with one of these bolt upright A330-300's make you want to call it a day on Qantas! Oh wait thats what we have already done. Try booking a Business Class seat on a A330-200 on Virgin, its not that easy anymore and Singapore Airlines is getting harder as well because of everyone switching over. Too much focus was put on Jet Star and no one would fly that when there is Air Asia and Scoot who are cheaper, faster and have better seats that Jet Star.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Singapore airlines hey? The same SQ that on most flights to Australia flies their medium haul product (quite rightly so). Which is an angled bed not too dissimilar to the existing Qantas Skybed MKI in terms of size and function and is 2x2x2 on both 777 and A330.
Now of course SQ does fly some A380's and 77W's to Australia that have the long haul product, but if you look at the way the seats work to fill the space the new Qantas seat is similar. The main difference from the looks of it is SQ gives an extra width in the seat, in actual fact too much that it is uncomfortable, whereas Qantas is using that width for their console. There are other difference but from a space and layout perspective very close.
As for a bolt upright A330-300, sure you don't mean the -200's in domestic configuration? All the -300's plus a 4 or so -200's have Skybeds.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2014
Total posts 133
any updates on the roll out of these? this year?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2556
No update beyond what's already in the article – still 'end of this year'.
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
If anyone hasn't brought it up already - those interested in what the next generation Qantas seats are like, it looks like Qantas has been beaten to it by another airline: check out SAS's new business seating .....
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2556
Jboi: not quite so. The SAS seating is closer to the original Vantage Suite – the Qantas version has undergone extensive customisation so it's rather different.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 529
It looks very classy. Really looking forward to flying on it!
21 Oct 2014
Total posts 2
The joke of it is twofold:
- Qantas no longer flies internationally from Perth - so much for this seating "upgrade", and
- The past few times this year I've flown to /from Melbourne its been on old 767's - a most average experience.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 654
fly VA
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2013
Total posts 45
I don't quite get the joke....
- No where in the article is international flights from Perth mentioned. INternational flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne certainly....but not Perth. For all A330 services, domestic and international, this is huge upgrade.
- ALL services between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (with the exception of last minute subs, maintenance subs etc) are on A330 metal. You just got unlucky. The 767 product is indeed a decidedly average experience for a transcon (when you consider the Virgin product, the current A330 product and the new A330 product).
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 654
thanks alatar144...i was too lazy to explain the facts
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Aug 2014
Total posts 51
I wonder whats happening with the economy refresh! have not heard much of that.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
There is plenty out there.
International new seat, with fixed seat IFE coupled to the newer generation Panasonic server. Plus Q streaming to BYO.
Domestc aircraft, same seats, if they have fixed IFE it stays, but connected to new server, plus Q streaming for BYO device. If no fixed IFE than a Qantas supplied device, read I pad and Q-streaming.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 701
Compared to Qantas' current domestic A330 business class seats, it's not so much an evolution as a revolution in seat design and comfort for Qantas. Internationally, it's great to see Qantas finally catching up with all direct aisle access J seating trend (even if they are not doing so with the A380).
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 182
Hmmmm I think I will still fly VA when I have to fly Perth -Sydney next June !
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 18
Bugger - the early mail this year was that the new seats would be up and running in December 2014 for SYD-SIN... when I am flying... :(
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2011
Total posts 7
The space seats are well behind the competitor's product offerings and need to go. They need to overhaul the A380s and 747s to this product (or better) ASAP.
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 19
Looks nice, can't wait to give it a try (and hooray for direct aisle access - shame that won't be coming to their A380s by the sound of it). Like the design reference / nod to the skybeds with the same strip along the side and rear seat pocket. Be interesting to see how the reviews stack up against the impressive new VA seat when they're both in service.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2014
Total posts 20
Can't wait to experience this, seemingly obvious, improvement on the skybeds. I have 3 mel-hkg j trips booked between now and spril 2015 (my own coin, not an employers), and feel somewhat ripped off that the rollout is first domestic, then intl. I paid between 2.5 to 3.0k for each fare, and the synic in me says these fares were set by qf because it'll take much longer for the refurb rollout than promised. Why not rollout the intl first? Perhaps i am naive, not knowing trans-nat flight frequencies vs aus-asia, but the rollout to me seems counter-intuative. Interested in everyone's thoughts on this.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 701
Well, when you pay over $3K return for MEL-PER to sit in current Qantas J (and it's been strongly hinted that Qantas will increase the fare once the new J seating is mostly available on that route) it's easier to argue you value is less favourable over this sector compared to Hong Kong. Still I understand your disappointment.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 701
Well, when you pay over $3K return for MEL-PER to sit in current Qantas J (and it's been strongly hinted that Qantas will increase the fare once the new J seating is mostly available on that route) it's easier to argue value is less favourable over this sector compared to Hong Kong. Still I understand your disappointment.
22 Jul 2011
Total posts 96
$2.5k is a bargain. In fairness to QF, they never said they'd roll-out international first, nor did they give a timeline. I thought it was pretty clear their intention was to improve East-West offering as a priority. I would prefer to see them internationally too, but I guess they need to protect their domestic business.
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 228
More photos up on Qantas news site with people sat in the new suite. The seats look worryingly small. Even AJ is head and shoulders above the headrest. The model looks like she would hurt her noggin if she leaned back to rest.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 701
Well spotted Fonga, I hadn't noticed in the The Age photo, but your post piqued my curiosity so I went to the Qantas Newsroom to look at the high res pics myself. Now that you've pointed that out, it was clear that most people's heads will go over the head rest in the upright and semi-reclined positions (indeed AJ filled the seat) - I'm assuming in sleep mode it's got more length.
It seems the seats are a little shorter than the Skybed/old seating, which seems odd (unless the display model isn't 1:1 scale).
17 Feb 2012
Total posts 121
Lets get the facts straight on the new Business suite and the inaccurate suggestions it is smaller than the current A380 product and First Product: "At 23 to 24 inches across, the Business Suite is actually wider than both of those A380 seats by up to two inches, while the bed is as long as that found in First Class on the A380..." So there you have it.
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 228
Wasn't suggesting the dimensions as presented are false Whipper. The strong impression from the photos is that you sit high above the headrest. It looks very odd. But I'm sure that with all the customer testing it has been through, it is a comfortable product that will be welcomed by customers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 701
whipper no-one was talking about width, which you talk about, the comments were about *height* of the seat back (which may have been shortened, I think, to provide access to the hand grab for the seat behind in the shell). I really wish people would fully read these things before firing off salvos, it definitely hampers discussion. Suggest you look at the high-res photos on Qantas Newsroom to see what we were discussing.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2014
Total posts 133
Its a very 'first class' business seat... i think it will be a winner! Fingers crossed its on the SIN-SYD route by Jan 4th :)
03 May 2013
Total posts 664
David could we be honest here please....the MKII Buisness seat on the A380 is hardly "ramrod" its biggest failing is it sags at the footrest which is unacceptable when its advertised "Fully Flat Bed:"
Please ask Qantas why they havent addressed this as yet?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1381
Joe - How do you suggest they fix it?
Can't easily bolt on a support
03 May 2013
Total posts 664
Im paying for a flat bed not a saggy one..thats QF's problem not mine as the paying passenger? If it were a free I'd agree with you and take what I get. But I'm paying. Qantas needs to go back to the engineers/seat designers and look why the seats have failed at the footrest end when fully flat!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Oct 2014
Total posts 14
Looks great, can't wait to experience these new seats.
09 Sep 2014
Total posts 55
I'm not so sure on the color scheme (the light wood and the black leather), but still it is a wonderfully amazing seat and a big pat on the back for Qantas!
25 Nov 2014
Total posts 1
I just want to check, will these be the business class seats on an A330-200 flight from Sydney to Perth in October 2015?
I am booking frequent flyer flights from Honolulu to Perth, and when I click the business class option it tells me the flight from Honolulu to Sydney will be in Economy (shame, but it's the only option) but the flight from Sydney to Perth will be in business. It'd be worth the additional points if this is what we'll get!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2556
They will definitely be running on Sydney-Perth by that date, but there's no word on how many of the daily SYD-PER flights they'll be on by then. The process to upgrade all the A330s (which spans both the domestic -200s and international -300s) will take quite some time – so it could be a bit of pot luck with regard to the flight you book having the Business Suites by the time you travel.
20 Sep 2011
Total posts 28
These replacements can't come soon enough. The current QANTAS Marc Newson BC seat is appalling if you want to do anything other than sleep. It has almost NO useful space for your laptop, headphones, travel docs etc etc making work a complete pain. OK, I KNOW that compared to economy, it's heaven but that's not really the point. Until these new ones appear regularly, I'll be looking for Emirates metal business class flights with the QF code numbers - every time.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Consdering where Qantas flies their A330's to and where Emirates flies to out of Australia, all I can say is good luck. I can think of just three routes where Emriates is an alternative to the Qantas A330.
SYD-BKK
MEL-SIN
BNE-SIN
Of course all 777 routes which have a seat that is obviously better than the current QF A330 seat, but considering your gripe is storage I wouldn't say they offer much more over the QF A330's. The EK A380 J, different story.
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