Photos: QantasLink upgrades Q200, Q300, Q400 aircraft seating
By Chris Chamberlin, June 26 2018
UPDATE | Qantas' first refitted Dash 8 aircraft – a Bombardier Q300 – takes to the skies today with an upgraded cabin interior for regional flyers, with the Roo's other Q200, Q300 and Q400 turboprops to follow.
The most noticeable change is new leather upholstery on every seat throughout the cabin, which also packs "ergonomic seat cushioning", says Qantas.
Most passengers can also make use of new tablet device holders fitted to the seat in front of them, suitable for hanging iPads and the like while keeping the tray table free for meals and drinks.
There are a few exceptions, such as for passengers seated in row 1 aboard the Bombardier Q300s, as seats 1A and 1B directly face the crew, and seats 1C through 1F face each other on either side of the emergency exit, with two passengers travelling 'backwards' in 1E and 1F:
Qantas has confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the total number of seats aboard its fleet of Bombardier Q200, Q300 and Q400 will remain unchanged as part of this refresh, so there'll be no cuts to legroom.
Each aircraft takes around 10 days to upgrade, and Qantas expects the refubishment of its 45-strong Dash 8 fleet will be completed by the end of 2019.
Business class is not being introduced on these aircraft as part of the refresh.
PREVIOUS [February 22 2018] | QantasLink’s fleet of Bombardier Q200, Q300 and Q400 planes are in for a refresh with new seating, cabin colours and floor coverings planned as part of the overhaul.
Beginning by June 2018 and running for 18 months, the cabin upgrade program covers all 45 of QantasLink’s Bombardier turboprops, introducing ergonomic seat cushioning and leather upholstery for passengers travelling across the airline’s network of regional flights.
QantasLink says the new seats will “closely align… with the QantasLink jet fleet” as offered in economy on the airline’s refreshed Boeing 717s.
“We’re investing in our regional fleet at the same time as we are upgrading our A380 cabins so that passengers, whether they are travelling to Dubbo or Dallas, Longreach or Los Angeles, will enjoy an improved inflight experience,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.
Business class is not currently offered on QantasLink’s turboprop aircraft and is not expected to be introduced as part of this refresh.
Chris Chamberlin is the Associate Editor of Executive Traveller, and lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.
01 Jul 2011
Total posts 12
Hopefully they consider doing this refresh on the Fokker 100’s. Given the price they charge to be stuck on a rock hard vinyl seat with chunky arm rests stealing width.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 186
Agreed the F100s have the worst seat comfort of any QF aircraft...albeit with the best legroom
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Apr 2017
Total posts 128
Great, might start flying Qantas again on regional routes. Wish they’d roll out streaming entertainment on the QantasLink fleet - a short regional flight is perfectly passed with a couple of tv episodes, which is why I usually fly Virgins 737s as opposed to the QantasLink turboprops when given a choice
03 Jan 2013
Total posts 52
Qlink absolutely should offer J on Q400 services given where they fly and how long some of the sectors are.
25 Jun 2013
Total posts 40
Would be great if they added Qstreaming, even for that short 45min flight
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Apr 2017
Total posts 128
Especially for the 45 minutes flight. 2 episodes of TV and you're there. Is too cramped of a seat and too short of a flight to get much work done.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 912
I'm a bit confused by QF's statements. They talk about leather seats and then say the seats align with the seats on the 717s which are cloth. Am I missing something?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2574
I'd imagine from a design perspective, they'll visibly look like the seats on the Boeing 717s, but will be leather.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2017
Total posts 37
It'll be leather as they're easier to clean, therefore quicker aircraft turn arounds on the ground. Hence why VA's seats are all leather (the cabin crew clean the aircraft on turn-arounds) and Qantas has cloth seating (as cleaners clean their aircraft, even Domestically).
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 154
Lets hope they don't also inherit the 717's cramped seat pitch. Spent an hour on one this morning and am reminded why I don't fly them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 3
Agree completely with comments about legroom. Have always preferred these aircraft to the 717s due to the legroom. Hope this benefit doesn't disappear with the upgrade. Wonder if they'll keep producing that "Spirit" magazine. Whoever is the magazine producer has the easiest job in the business. I swear the content in that hasn't changed in 10 years
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2016
Total posts 81
New seats = nice
More pilots = better (less chance of cancelled flights)
More lounges = best.
Come on QLink, lounges in some key regional airports would be really good eg WGA/DBO and please make them airside, not like CFS...
14 Apr 2018
Total posts 1
Talking to the cabin crew today, they are looking at converting the forward cargo cabin on the Q400 into additional seating. However there are crew:passenger limitations that need to be resolved. They are going to start with the Q200s and Q300s.
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 362
Looks like the bean counters got in the way of installing a comfortable seat. Can't see how this new seat “closely align… with the QantasLink jet fleet”. It doesn't even have a headrest
31 Jan 2017
Total posts 9
Ergonomic seating = uncomf
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 62
Looks like the same re-fit that Q300s that went to JQNZ got, even down to the seat covers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
Enable more to be transferred without refit I guess l.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 154
I am underwhelmed.
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 231
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2016
Total posts 81
Change is a good as a holiday...with the exception of 'grubby window' (Fonga). Overall a good lift in seating, but I'll wait until I do long haul Q400 style from SYD to WTB for the final call.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1259
Looks nice. No complaints there.
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