Skippy777 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2001, 796 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1239 times:
This time I had the possibility to travel from BRU to DOH to MEL onboard Qatar Airways Business Class.
A friend of mine told me that the service is great and the comfort onboard the Boeing 777-300 LR was so good.
But when I flew from BRU to Doha onboard the Airbus 330 I noticed that that is a different business class product.
Why don't airlines offer the same service onboard there Long-haul flights
It must be easier for maintenance to work on the same products.
People expect the same service.
I think if you fly any other airline that you will have the same pitch onboard every aircraft
Same IFE system.
Are there more airlines that fly different configurations onboard there Long-haul fleet ?
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5340 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1240 times:
Quoting Skippy777 (Thread starter): I think if you fly any other airline that you will have the same pitch onboard every aircraft
Same IFE system.
Not really. Carriers all over the world have differing business classes between fleets, ranging from the lowly (but trying hard!) United to even Singapore.
Imagine some unsuspecting person's surprise when they get off of a flat bed UA 777 biz seat LHR-LAX, only to get on another UA 777 in biz, with a recliner, and go to HNL. Now, maybe LHR-HNL isn't a very likely route, but you get the idea.
And, I believe Singapore has differing hard products as well, between their intra-Asia 777-300s and their 777-300ERs/A380/A345.
While it would be nice if carriers offered just one, amazing product, the COST of throwing away hundreds of business class seats, to replace them with the newer generation, is just over the top.
So it's not odd that Qatar (incidentally, you've called their business class "the best in the world," but then you derided it for being inconsistent.... so what gives?) offers several different products.
LondonCity From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2008, 1202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1240 times:
Both BA and VS offer consistent business class products. But even here there are slight variations depending on plane type.
The problem you highlight with SQ (and the same issue is found with CX, TG, MH and so on) is the fact it uses wide-bodied planes for short regional flights. Clearly it would be silly to offer a 1-2-1 flat bed product on short sectors like SIN-KUL or SIN-BKK.
AZA330 From Italy, joined Feb 2004, 288 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1239 times:
Quoting Skippy777 (Thread starter): Are there more airlines that fly different configurations onboard there Long-haul fleet ?
How many versions of business class does Emirates have? The one on the A332/343, the 777, the 777L, the A380...
I personally prefer airlines with a consistent product, like BA that was mentioned above. I like this because you do not have to constrain your itinerary to few specific flights to get the product you want, but you basically get it no matter what (granted that there are no codeshare flights involved).
However, at times you end up in the middle of a cabin refurbishment period for the airline. During these times (several months even to years) the product may be highly inconsistent (especially a few years back when airlines were switching J seats from cradle-type to flat beds) and you have to keep what you get. If only they would charge less for an old seat during those times...
BHMNONREV From Australia, joined Aug 2003, 1284 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1241 times:
Quoting Skippy777 (Thread starter): But when I flew from BRU to Doha onboard the Airbus 330 I noticed that that is a different business class product.
Why don't airlines offer the same service onboard there Long-haul flights
Generally the 330's fly shorter sectors than the 77L and 77W of Qatar, which is why you will find differing cabin configurations. But I agree that the Business on the 777's is outstanding, my only complaint being the 2-2-2 configuration when the aisle seats are fully flat the passengers at the window must climb over, which can be a pain.
But even in that config I find the cabin to be extremely spacious.
something From United Kingdom, joined May 2011, 1633 posts, RR: 24 Reply 8, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1239 times:
LH has their new first class on A380s, 748s and select A330/A340 series, they have a 744 first class on the upper deck with a bed next to the seat and they have the old first class on the remaining planes. The next business class has only been installed on the 748 and some A330/A340 but the rest is all ''old business class''. Their economy class has the greatest and the smallest variation at the same time. Greatest because there are I believe 5 different versions, smallest because the only difference is the IFE and how thick the cushions are and how much leg room you have. The seat comfort is more or less the same, the only noticeable difference being the IFE.
Emirates has a different cabin configuration on every ''vintage''. The A330, A343, A345, 773, 77W (new and old), 772, 77L, A388 all feature a different hard product. If this is reflected in the fares (ie, F class on A330 cheaper on DXB-HKG than A388), I don't know. But one would hope so.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21481 posts, RR: 24 Reply 10, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1239 times:
Quoting something (Reply 8): Emirates has a different cabin configuration on every ''vintage''. The A330, A343, A345, 773, 77W (new and old), 772, 77L, A388 all feature a different hard product.
EK's J class product on the A332/343 is very second rate, with 7-abreast (2-3-2) reclining seats. I can't think of any other major carriers with 7-abreast business class seating on A330/340s.
airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6875 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1238 times:
The worst J class mismatch has to be AF's 744's vs the rest of their long haul fleet. Their 744's have the most uncomfortable J seat ever. After a red eye TATL on that thing I had a throbbing headache from the painfully uncomfortable head rest and a chair that bends in all the wrong places. Their J seat on the A330 on the other hand was absolute heaven.
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