Yes, the QF configuration is 236 seats with a large business class (42 seats/beds). I understand that United has about 280 seats in their B787-9's.

and Jetstar with 335 with their 787-8s

I do wonder if they'll keep that config for when it inevitability begins replacing the regional bus flying.

When I look on the Qantas site, it shows the 787-900 at MTOW of 254,000kgs, max fuel at 123,656L with a range of 9,008nm and 236 pax. When you look on the Boeing site, it shows the 787-900 at the max TOW of 254,000kgs with a range of 7,635nm with seating of 290 for the "typical" aircraft.

So, I wonder if the Qantas 787-900 while having a possible 254,000kgs MTOW, actually restricts cargo, has 'only' 236 pax + crew, tops up the tanks in Perth, and this way achieving the longer range?

And I agree for these long haul routes, the front end is the place to be. In Y when the seat in front gets reclined into 'your space', it gets a tad squeezy.

Down under
Think about a few more variables...
- 23.6 tonne payload or less, long range cruise, drift climb, lots of places to recalculate variable reserve and enroute alternate min holding fuel on arrival, not in the morning fog risk etc etc. etc.

Then have a look at the published payload range graph and see what's included. vis variable fuel reserve, mandatory alternate

no etops additional fuel requirement and lots of places to go on the way if a bit short on gas for this trip. Spare crew in LHR for a recovery if have to plonk into FRA/CDG/ATH/FCO etc due lovely LHR weather.

Not a problem most of the time:eek:

catseye, thanks for more reasoning. The devil is always in the detail. I am sure the Qantas / Boeing guys have a detailed knowledge of the payload range optimisation and the dispatch guys play a balancing game of cargo, pax, fuel and weather and at least one weather diversion.

Yes, Capt Fathom, you are of course correct. So used to thinking of Boeing's use of 'hundreds in the various versions of a aicraft, eg. 747-400 and the 777-300, I mistakenly applied the same numbering system to the 787.