Review: Qantas Boeing 767 business class: Sydney-Brisbane
By Chris C., September 10 2014
Route
Sydney - Brisbane
Aircraft Type
Boeing 767-300ER
Airline
Qantas
Flight
516
Cabin Class
Business
Seat
1A
Notes
The Good
- A full brunch service with three meal options
- Adjustable seat controls for recline, lumbar, leg and footrests
- AC power for recharging laptops, phones and tablets on the go
The Bad
- Nowhere to mount the Q Streaming iPad in row one
X-Factor
- Multiple entertainment choices including iPads, overhead video and radio channels
Introduction
A seasoned workhorse of Qantas' domestic fleet, the Boeing 767 is set to disappear from Australian skies by the end of 2014.
Until then, the domestic configuration aircraft frequently spread their wings on flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and on selected services across to Perth.
With these birds boasting recently-refreshed cabins and interiors, we took to the skies to see what business travellers can look forward to on their next Boeing 767 flight.
Check-in
Passengers can check-in online, at an airport kiosk, in the lounge or through the Next Generation Check-in system.
Business class travellers can check-in two pieces of luggage at up to 32kg per piece, while Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers plus other Oneworld Emerald members can bring a third bag at no extra charge.
Lounge
Greeting customers in Sydney is the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, where business class flyers can access with a guest in tow.
Platinum and Platinum One members can bring a second guest, although not Oneworld Emerald members from other programs.
Flight
Priority boarding was without incident, and QF516 left the gate eight minutes behind schedule to arrive in Brisbane just five minutes late.
In the aviation industry, both the departure and arrival are considered 'on-time'.
Seat
The domestic Boeing 767s come fitted out with refreshed and reupholstered charcoal leather seats in business class...
... with adjustable recline, lumbar support and leg and footrests:
For charging laptops, phones and tablets, there's a 75W AC power outlet available to every business class passenger.
Legroom is more than sufficient for such a short hop, but on longer flights, we'd suggest row two and beyond – where travellers can completely stretch out under the seat in front.
Each bulkhead seat also has a little storage space for iPads, books, magazines and documents...
... although all bags and laptops must be stored overhead for take-off and landing.
Meal
Before wheels-up, a refreshing apple and guava juice lands on our cocktail table...
... with water also available.
Brunch is served on the flight, with a respectable three meal choices for passengers at the pointy end:
- A toasted sourdough sandwich with bacon, onion and cheese (pictured), or
- Spanish crêpes with smoked salmon and goat's cheese, or
- A fresh fruit salad
The meal was faultless, while the Greek yoghurt with (real) raspberries and spiced apple tea cakes were also quite tasty.
Standard juices and water were provided with the meal, while crew members did the rounds for tea and coffee later in the flight.
Also stocked – yet not proactively offered – are 'piccolo' bottles of Grant Burge Pinot Noir Chardonnay (NV sparkling), quite a drinkable Aussie drop.
Entertainment & Service
The crew were friendly and welcoming – yet not intrusive – addressing passengers by name throughout the flight.
Missing was a personal touch or connection, although that's understandably difficult with a full business class cabin on a Golden Triangle hop.
Fitted with the latest Q Streaming wireless entertainment system, each passenger – both in business class and economy – can find an iPad in their seat pocket.
Most seats come with an iPad holder (below), although unfortunately this isn't offered in row one.
There isn't enough room on the tray table to balance both an iPad and the meal, so it means relying on the older, fixed entertainment system during chow time.
It ran alongside Q Streaming throughout the flight, and switched to flight arrival information during descent:
A number of radio channels are also on offer, accessible through the centre armrest. There's a good mix of modern day, classical, comedy, romance and business talk to keep everybody happy.
Flights from Sydney to Brisbane are relatively short, so just as we retrieved the iPad from the seat pocket, it was already time to put it back away.
If you'd like to enjoy Q Streaming while still dining on board, we'd suggest picking a seat in rows 2-5 where iPad holders are fitted, although all video entertainment winds up before touchdown regardless of where you're sitting.
The radio channels continue until you reach the gate, with Guy Noble's Symphony channel our top pick for arriving relaxed and calm at your destination.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
09 Apr 2014
Total posts 11
I must say I quite enjoy the refreshed business class on the 767 for short trips. Quite comfortable and you always know you will have an ipad as oppossed to hopping on a 737 and taking the chances you will have a newer one with in seat entertainment.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jun 2013
Total posts 366
I prefer the 767 to the 737/800 on domestic routes in business class any day .
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
There's something nice about being able to fly on a widebody on such short flights.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Sep 2014
Total posts 1
I agree with the other comments here, that it is refreshing to have the wider body 767 option on domestic routes.
I am still yet to be convniced of the entertainment options provided on the iPad through Q-Streaming. Too many times have I found myself with an iPad that doesn't work or they haven't refreshed the limited viewing options on the iPad for some time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
The Millennium seat is still a good domestic J seat, and I have a 767 flight SYD-MEL up front so I'm looking forward to what will probably be my last 767 domestic flight.
I am solidly convinced by Q Streaming, though. It is an outstanding system from the management and technical perspective, because it is so much simpler in design and concept (approaching elegance), so much cheaper to install and so much easier to keep up-to-date than a hard-wired seatback IFE system.
The content is, I agree, somewhat limited but this is a content problem, not a system problem. I should also point out exchanging a broken iPad is a minor issue to having a broken seatback screen for your entire flight (which happened to me on VH-OJA back in July).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2014
Total posts 84
Chris - your info on the retirement schedule for the 767 is a little out of date. They're all due to be gone by the end of 2014 - https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-fleet-update-2
04 Aug 2014
Total posts 35
Qantas is gradually replacing these lovely 767 by 330 in domestic route, yet I found 767s more comfort and spacious than 330s.
I fly between syd-bne a lot and the biggest reason I choose Qantas over VA is simply because of these precious 767. It's kinda sad that 767 are ceasing from the route.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
It's sad, but then again they're all over 20 years old and totally knackered.
The retirement of the last 763 will be a watershed moment for Qantas Domestic. Gone will be the plane that served them so well, from its 45 minute domestic turnaround to its high-capacity comfort.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Aug 2014
Total posts 72
Qantas still flogging a old horse !!!!
as Allan Joyce said the fuel prices are killing us !! (The 767 sucks 3 time as much avgas than 737 on a SYD to MEL leg) so you can start by not flying the 767 Allan.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Sorry, but:
Happy travels, Anthony.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
LOL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
I much prefer the older Millenium seat to the rubbish they foysted on everyone on the domestic A330's. Lucky that VA forced QF to update the A330's by bringing a much better hard product to market. Sad to see the old 767's going though, although enjoyed flying on them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
You know, if they updated the Millennium seat to include 2014 mod-cons and whizz-bang features, it would make a great seat for the A330-200s...
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 182
Bring back the 767 - was the best domestic wide body the airline ever used - and yes, Boeing still make them.
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