Despite Qantas heavily marketing this new product and claiming in certain literature (2017 HY investor presentation) that the refurb is now complete, this is not the case. I flew Syd-Bangkk recently and had the old style A330-200 with a malfunctioning old entertainment system. Poor of Qantas to still use this and charge full fares. Quite an inferior product these days compared to the competition and there own newer offering. Rumours on other sites suggest there are still 2 A330 not refurbed so be warned when booking your flights to Asia as you may just be unlucky.
Yes there are two A330-200s that did not get refurbed. They are listed on the seat maps on the Qantas website. One is usually on the Beijing route, while the other appears on various other routes, possibly to take advantage of the additional 8 J seats. I agree it is not a good situation for Qantas to continue to have fleet inconsistencies like this. I think it came about because plan A was to not renew leases on those 2 aircraft.
This is disgraceful. As one of those rare people who actually pays for their business class seat, nothing irritates me more than an airline taking the p*ss like this. After an absolutely appalling experience flying business class to Denpasar on the QF's 737 in February, the airline has slid way down my preferred list.
Have booked MAS through to Zurich in September (via London) and am hoping for a more consistent service and product from them than one can expect from QANTAS these days.
Last editedby GoldenClub at May 01, 2017, 10:13 PM.
Thanks for comment GregXL. Investor presentation from 23 Feb suggests refurb is done for all planned 16 + 12 A330 so perhaps plan was never to do these and return leased aircraft. Bad form though of qantas to previously market that 'all' A330 were to be refurbished.
What I have been hearing is that these two A332 and a handful of seat back IFE, 'domestic' A332 will be reconfigured to a so called, international config. This will include increased galley space, crew rest, possible extra toilet for Business. This will enable them to be flown on the longer international routes, such as Sydney to Beijing, which the A333 need to take a payload hit to do.
As mentioned above, Qantas has only two non-refit A330-200. All other A330-200 & A330-300 have been refurbished. Usually the two non refurb A330-200 are deployed on the Beijing route because the -300 cannot make Beijing with full loads of catering for two meal services, pax, fuel and cargo, whereas the non-refitted A330-200 can because of the galley space still being retained pre-refit. (The refitted A330-200 doesn't have galley space for two full meal services.) So if the loads are not full, the QF can deploy the -300 on the route. These two non-refit aircraft occasionally operate a couple of domestic runs and very rarely on other sectors so it's bad luck to get one. However, feel free to write to QF With any evidence of "all aircraft being refurbished" and see if they are prepared to offer any service recovery gesture.. however, usually they'll not sail close to the wind without covering themselves in the fine print somewhere.
I'm afraid I have bad news for you in terms of the MH product consistency, seat wise, if you're not already aware? From AU to KUL you'll be on the new A330 flat seat, which is good. I recommend a bulkhead row seat if you can get it, because the footwell is larger than seats behind. (Seat map on their website under the new business class section and a few seats are not direct aisle access but majority are.) The KUL to LON flight is the A380 product which is one generation behind, still lie flat with a slight incline but 2-2-2 configuration so if direct aisle access is critical then choose wisely.! Of course LON to ZRH is I presume, booked on BA service, (or perhaps a Swiss combo fare,) both of which is the economy style seat with middle-seat-free CLub Europe product. Google the various products on line for more details. MH offers a chef-on-call pre-book meal service for ex AU and ex KUL flights which can give you more meal variety. Again, Google is your friend and call the airline to book. Enjoy!
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
I also hope they fix the IFE, because it just doesn't work on the tiny screens... plus has a bug which crashes the whole IFE system and renders it useless for the entire flight
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
I fear this may be incorrect. I am booked on QF5 SYD/SIN on 27Dec and according to the QF seat map this is a 2 x 2 x 2 A330-200, which means it's an old angle-flat, nonrefurbished aircraft. Can't say that I'm very impressed but all their other flights are full at any reasonable Business fare.
Same here, I booked PEK-SYD-MEL return fare for February 2018 and April 2018 respectively, which is also showing 2-2-2 configuration on both legs. But nothing beats the cheaper fare when booked in August 2017. Tried to look up the price just now, a whopping AUD$6,087 for matching flight numbers, which makes me feel at ease with the 2-2-2 somehow.
I coped this terrible seat on a flight in Sept MEL - HKG I heard only 2 of these left.. Yet today I book a flight QF24 BKK - MEL and its 2-2-2 I'm going to complain to Q years of loyalty and worst J in the sky not happy
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Qantas A330 business class refurb - beware!
glennm
glennm
Member since 01 May 2017
Total posts 5
Despite Qantas heavily marketing this new product and claiming in certain literature (2017 HY investor presentation) that the refurb is now complete, this is not the case. I flew Syd-Bangkk recently and had the old style A330-200 with a malfunctioning old entertainment system. Poor of Qantas to still use this and charge full fares. Quite an inferior product these days compared to the competition and there own newer offering. Rumours on other sites suggest there are still 2 A330 not refurbed so be warned when booking your flights to Asia as you may just be unlucky.
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 May 2014
Total posts 322
Yes there are two A330-200s that did not get refurbed. They are listed on the seat maps on the Qantas website. One is usually on the Beijing route, while the other appears on various other routes, possibly to take advantage of the additional 8 J seats. I agree it is not a good situation for Qantas to continue to have fleet inconsistencies like this. I think it came about because plan A was to not renew leases on those 2 aircraft.
GoldenClub
GoldenClub
Member since 15 Jan 2013
Total posts 5
This is disgraceful. As one of those rare people who actually pays for their business class seat, nothing irritates me more than an airline taking the p*ss like this. After an absolutely appalling experience flying business class to Denpasar on the QF's 737 in February, the airline has slid way down my preferred list.
Have booked MAS through to Zurich in September (via London) and am hoping for a more consistent service and product from them than one can expect from QANTAS these days.
glennm
glennm
Member since 01 May 2017
Total posts 5
Thanks for comment GregXL. Investor presentation from 23 Feb suggests refurb is done for all planned 16 + 12 A330 so perhaps plan was never to do these and return leased aircraft. Bad form though of qantas to previously market that 'all' A330 were to be refurbished.
Grannular
Grannular
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 283
What I have been hearing is that these two A332 and a handful of seat back IFE, 'domestic' A332 will be reconfigured to a so called, international config. This will include increased galley space, crew rest, possible extra toilet for Business. This will enable them to be flown on the longer international routes, such as Sydney to Beijing, which the A333 need to take a payload hit to do.
flyingvisit
flyingvisit
BA
Member since 29 Jul 2016
Total posts 34
Hi glennm,
As mentioned above, Qantas has only two non-refit A330-200. All other A330-200 & A330-300 have been refurbished. Usually the two non refurb A330-200 are deployed on the Beijing route because the -300 cannot make Beijing with full loads of catering for two meal services, pax, fuel and cargo, whereas the non-refitted A330-200 can because of the galley space still being retained pre-refit. (The refitted A330-200 doesn't have galley space for two full meal services.) So if the loads are not full, the QF can deploy the -300 on the route. These two non-refit aircraft occasionally operate a couple of domestic runs and very rarely on other sectors so it's bad luck to get one. However, feel free to write to QF With any evidence of "all aircraft being refurbished" and see if they are prepared to offer any service recovery gesture.. however, usually they'll not sail close to the wind without covering themselves in the fine print somewhere.
flyingvisit
flyingvisit
BA
Member since 29 Jul 2016
Total posts 34
Hi goldenclub,
melbtraveler
melbtraveler
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jan 2015
Total posts 20
Hi All
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
Too Technical
Too Technical
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Oct 2016
Total posts 19
Hi All
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
AgentGerko
AgentGerko
Member since 31 Jan 2013
Total posts 18
Hi All
Qantas have approval to go ahead and refurb the last 2 A330-200 that are leased, however this won't happen till later in the year. Around the same time they are taking the 8 A330-200's with In seat IFE and adding another toilet to the business cabin and making some galley adjustments.
QF3111
QF3111
Member since 21 Sep 2017
Total posts 2
Have booked SYD/HNL for late Jan '18. Also showing 2x2x2 A332. Old school indeed! *insert sad face*
lakepacificair
lakepacificair
Member since 25 Nov 2016
Total posts 2
Same here, I booked PEK-SYD-MEL return fare for February 2018 and April 2018 respectively, which is also showing 2-2-2 configuration on both legs. But nothing beats the cheaper fare when booked in August 2017. Tried to look up the price just now, a whopping AUD$6,087 for matching flight numbers, which makes me feel at ease with the 2-2-2 somehow.
Bhoyinoz
Bhoyinoz
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Dec 2016
Total posts 13
I have also booked SYD/HNL for mid Feb 2018,and it’s showing 2x2x2 A332.
ian62
ian62
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
Member since 23 Aug 2014
Total posts 27
These older aircraft are also being used between Sydney and Auckland in March this year
steve2266
steve2266
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Nov 2018
Total posts 1
I coped this terrible seat on a flight in Sept MEL - HKG I heard only 2 of these left.. Yet today I book a flight QF24 BKK - MEL and its 2-2-2 I'm going to complain to Q years of loyalty and worst J in the sky not happy