Y+ seat configuration

[AnnMarie]

Hello!

I am travelling JFK/LAX/SYD and return 12 April and back 28 April (QF 108 and 107). We are booked in Y+ and the plane is a 747-400 (not sure which one, tho).

We've chosen seats already - row 36, seats D,E, and F.

I was worried that the arm rests on those seats were stationery (according to Seat Guru, they are) so I called Qantas and they claim that not only are the armrests NOT stationery, but the seats are actually business class seats (ie reclining beds, not the Y+ 9" recline). Could this be correct??

[notzac]

That's really interesting that you'd be told that by someone at QF. I've looked up the flights in question and unfortunately 36 DEF are not business class seats - however they are technically exit row, so loads and loads of legroom. Probably the nicest Y+ seats in the cabin!

Y+ seats on QF have non-movable armrests.

[AnnMarie]

I should add that I know the seats are not in the business class cabin, but I was told that they are business class seats, meaning fully reclining.

Are ALL armrests in Y+ un-moveable?

[notzac]

I should add that I know the seats are not in the business class cabin, but I was told that they are business class seats, meaning fully reclining.

That depends entirely on what you mean by fully reclining. The recline on the Y+ seats is reasonable, but it's definitely no bed.

Are ALL armrests in Y+ un-moveable?

Correct.

[harvyk]

They are Y+ seats, not skybeds. If possible see if you can snag a seat from row 30 or better, they are skybeds, and it's not unheard of putting Y+ pax into skybeds (happened to me twice last year when I flew Y+ to \ from the US).

[NM]

According to ExpertFlyer seat map, the Y+ cabin is from rows 34 to 39 on both flights, featuring regular Premium Economy seats. Qantas Premium Economy seats to not have movable arm rests as the arm rests contain the meal tray and video screens.

On the flights you mention, the seat map does not show any plans to use Business Class seats for Premium Economy passengers.

[themaiz]

Hi, AnnMarie.

The last couple of times I've flown 107/108, the configuration has been Seat Guru's 747-438 4-class V.2

On one of the trips (the leg from JFK to LAX) we were "upgraded" from Y, sitting in Y+ seats, to Y+ sitting in the J/skybed seats - as described by harveyk. We got Y+ food, so it wasn't an accident or a dream. Nice experience though.

Unless there's been a configuration change since January, the seats they have allocated to you do have fixed arms, and are not anything like fully reclining. OTOH, they are quite comfy... and it would be hard to do better if you've booked Y+. As a travel experience, it's a good price-performer.

Aside: seems that QF is being very specific about classes and amenity. Last LAX/SYD flight, after repeated failure of the entertainment system in my seat, I was moved quite late in the flight from a Y+ seat as a Y pax (row 39), forward to a Y+ seat next to a real Y+ pax (row 34). When breakfast came, they served me Y food, possibly to make the point.

Whatever happens, make sure you enjoy Australia when you get here.

j

[docjames]

When breakfast came, they served me Y food, possibly to make the point.

Or because the "real" Y+ pax had all said "yes" to food and Y food was all they had left (they tend to not carry massive extra numbers of meals in all classes).

[themaiz]

Or because the "real" Y+ pax had all said "yes" to food and Y food was all they had left

Possibly, but I inferred differently from the hard-to-miss glare in my direction from the Y+ cabin attendant when she started to set breakfast... a look that said "hey, no special treatment for you sunshine". Gee, had I looked that eager?? Or did she not know that it was one of her colleagues who had moved me, not me trying to scam an upgrade? The real clue was the manner in which she pointedly put a Y+ table cloth out for the Y+ pax... and I got... well, nothing except another frown. Didn't expect that. Then my tray appeared from the back. So the meal was pretty much the full Y treatment, but I certainly wasn't complaining.

It did let me confirm that the Y+ breakfast was identical to mine, just a bit more and more nicely presented. And I managed to scam a cup of the decent Y+ plunger coffee, which turned it into a positive experience.

j

[AnnMarie]

Thanks for all the replies and good information!

It is just as I thought, plus we got a great fare for Y+, so really can't wait to get the trip started.

I just wonder who is answering the phones at Qantas, assuring Y+ is biz class seats, with moveable armrests!