Today I flew on VH-ZNB between MEL and LAX in seat 2E. I LOVE the seat. Tremendous. And the food — Barra out of MEL and Udon into LAX — terrific. But two complaints. One: the narrow bowl and cutlery (no chopsticks and soup spoon) for the udon was just poor planning, making it stupidly messy to eat. And Two: Qantas persist on listing decent champagnes on the menu (eg Taittinger) but only loading the Duval LeRoy rubbish on board ... but this is not a new gripe fro me. (And hell, its a first world problem.)
I got the chance to chat with the Captain and the way he lit up when I asked him to tell me about flying the airplane was truly beautiful. Lucky man; such joy in his job!
But anyway ... what astounded me is that a Boeing aircraft only 4(?) months old (not years!) had so many little things worn and broken already.
- the little levers on the pull out beneath my IFE screen: BOTH had been sheered off.
- a large compartment in the WC was already being held in place with masking tape.
- the IR flush does not work in the lav and (presumably as a result) and the printing on the toilet flush button has half worn through already.
- talking to crew there are wobbly bits on a couple of the crew seats and a piece of cabin edging peeled away during a recent landing.
- on embarking there was a leak from the gallery that made the carpet wet.
And all that is just around the front row / left aisle of the forward Business cabin.
I often share a joke with the crews on the A380s about the special feature of Airbus jets to age quickly. But it seems that on this rather dubious front Boeing are giving Airbus a run for their money with the 789.
Has anyone else observed any other interior quality defects elsewhere on VHZNB or on -ZNA, C, or D?
And another slightly off-topic question: I regularly fly to the US out of Sydney on QF11 (JFK) or QF7 (DFW) and manage jet lag easily. But the evening arrival of QF95 into LAX is a horror. Great sleep on board now a night ahead awake. Particularly crappy when I’ve got a road trip tomorrow.... does anyone else do this on a regular basis? What’s your secret?
In regards to the last point, I think the idea is to arrive in LA tired and ready to go to sleep. So the plan would be not to sleep much on the flight...
I dont think duval leRoy is rubbish but it does appear much more than the others, or so is my luck.
I wonder if the defects you speak of is a new plane thing, i was on a CX A350 a few weeks ago and there was tape everywhere. Toilet was stuffed. Checked when i landed and it was under 6 months old.
In regards to the last point, I think the idea is to arrive in LA tired and ready to go to sleep. So the plan would be not to sleep much on the flight...
Grin. That was my plan but I failed. Without medicating I fell asleep in the new seat and slept much longer than I do in the old Marc Newson Sky Beds in the A380s. Now paying the price.
I dont think duval leRoy is rubbish but it does appear much more than the others, or so is my luck.
I wonder if the defects you speak of is a new plane thing, i was on a CX A350 a few weeks ago and there was tape everywhere. Toilet was stuffed. Checked when i landed and it was under 6 months old.
As per A350 ... thanks. That’s really interesting. Kinda strange that’s acceptable to airlines. Consumers don’t wear that from car manufacturers these days....
I dont think duval leRoy is rubbish but it does appear much more than the others, or so is my luck.
I wonder if the defects you speak of is a new plane thing, i was on a CX A350 a few weeks ago and there was tape everywhere. Toilet was stuffed. Checked when i landed and it was under 6 months old.
Agreed - I flex a CX a350 recently and it felt like everything was falling apart. I pulled the arm rest out a few times trying to get it up and down. Plus the wood panelling was peeling badly too.
I agree, I flew the dreamliner in November in PE and business. Where the PE tray table folds into the seat was already damaged. The air vents were really irregularly noisy, not sure why. In business my foot cushion came unstuck from under the seat in front of me and started moving around. Nonetheless good experience.
what a generally upbeat post BatteryBen - thank you! Proof that one can comment about issues without dissing the entire airline and sounding like the sky is falling down. And I agree with you re the champagne choice. QF can and should do better in J than Duval LeRoy - but as you said, a first world problem. When the champagne is sub-par I switch to gin...
Given comments about poor finishings on new planes from yourself and others, makes me wonder if, like everything else, 'we just don't build things like we used to' and they aren't meant to last! (am being facetious of course...or am I?)
Haven't come across any issues with the aircraft though have only travelled on it once, Mel/Lax. Good flight, food and wine great but, champagne good old Duval Leroy, still something better than Jacquart that I encountered on one flight last year.
Can't ever recall any such fit out teething issues with A380?
Well, if you’ve used the 1st class bathroom on the Emirates 380 (the one with the shower) you may notice the doors dont always close properly. Seen that more than once.
Has anyone contacted Qantas re the problems with ZNB?
Good question. No I didn’t. I frequently get the “How was Qantas” emails but didn’t get on for this sector. Next time I do, I shall add this in relation to the question to feedback on any other recent flight. Thanks for the suggestion.
BatteryBen
BatteryBen
Member since 08 Aug 2017
Total posts 46
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
In regards to the last point, I think the idea is to arrive in LA tired and ready to go to sleep. So the plan would be not to sleep much on the flight...
blingwad
blingwad
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Jun 2015
Total posts 75
I dont think duval leRoy is rubbish but it does appear much more than the others, or so is my luck.
BatteryBen
BatteryBen
Member since 08 Aug 2017
Total posts 46
Grin. That was my plan but I failed. Without medicating I fell asleep in the new seat and slept much longer than I do in the old Marc Newson Sky Beds in the A380s. Now paying the price.
BatteryBen
BatteryBen
Member since 08 Aug 2017
Total posts 46
As per A350 ... thanks. That’s really interesting. Kinda strange that’s acceptable to airlines. Consumers don’t wear that from car manufacturers these days....
CBRQF
CBRQF
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Jul 2011
Total posts 54
Agreed - I flex a CX a350 recently and it felt like everything was falling apart. I pulled the arm rest out a few times trying to get it up and down. Plus the wood panelling was peeling badly too.
Mrminivee
Mrminivee
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 05 Mar 2018
Total posts 20
I agree, I flew the dreamliner in November in PE and business. Where the PE tray table folds into the seat was already damaged. The air vents were really irregularly noisy, not sure why. In business my foot cushion came unstuck from under the seat in front of me and started moving around. Nonetheless good experience.
lafleche
lafleche
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Jun 2016
Total posts 24
what a generally upbeat post BatteryBen - thank you! Proof that one can comment about issues without dissing the entire airline and sounding like the sky is falling down. And I agree with you re the champagne choice. QF can and should do better in J than Duval LeRoy - but as you said, a first world problem. When the champagne is sub-par I switch to gin...
Given comments about poor finishings on new planes from yourself and others, makes me wonder if, like everything else, 'we just don't build things like we used to' and they aren't meant to last! (am being facetious of course...or am I?)
BatteryBen
BatteryBen
Member since 08 Aug 2017
Total posts 46
pab2025
pab2025
Member since 25 Jun 2012
Total posts 133
I flew on a LATAM A350 JFK-GRU a couple of months ago and the toilet door was already having issues closing... Not sure what is going on!?!
Joe
Joe
Member since 03 May 2013
Total posts 190
Can't ever recall any such fit out teething issues with A380?
Austline
Austline
Member since 23 Aug 2011
Total posts 43
Haven't come across any issues with the aircraft though have only travelled on it once, Mel/Lax. Good flight, food and wine great but, champagne good old Duval Leroy, still something better than Jacquart that I encountered on one flight last year.
aggie57
aggie57
QF
Member since 04 Apr 2014
Total posts 136
Well, if you’ve used the 1st class bathroom on the Emirates 380 (the one with the shower) you may notice the doors dont always close properly. Seen that more than once.
Red Cee
Red Cee
Member since 15 Feb 2018
Total posts 151
Has anyone contacted Qantas re the problems with ZNB?
BatteryBen
BatteryBen
Member since 08 Aug 2017
Total posts 46
Good question. No I didn’t. I frequently get the “How was Qantas” emails but didn’t get on for this sector. Next time I do, I shall add this in relation to the question to feedback on any other recent flight. Thanks for the suggestion.