QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

[BacchusMarsh]

If I had my own forum, I guess I'd want to use if for more than just cheap shots and lame jokes. But that's just me.

May you all become amaroo.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I am not sure that is accurate. The bit about Geoffrey Thomas being respected that is.

Well, in comparison with Ben Sandilands ......

 

[katiebell]

I was absolutely appalled by LHR immigration at T3 and T5 this year for non-EU/UK passport holders. I arrived into LHR five times between June and August and in the 'Express Lane' waited between 45 and *75* minutes to get through. I've now paid the cost to renew my British passport simply to save my mental state and go through the e-gates.

LHR arrivals for AUS passport holders is a Third World country.

LHR & LGW were dreadful for both UK/EU/EEA and non-EU passport holders in the northern summer, probably related to upgrading the 'self-service' gates. All is much better now

If it's all about the F lounge then the SYD lounge is much nicer than MEL anyway, so going via SYD should not be a huge burden.

Give me the MEL Flounge any day: IMO it is far better than the SYD Flounge

 

[katiebell]

Possibly also suggests a rescheduling of QF1/2 given the current tag-team ops.

Afaik (all LHR times)
QF1 arrives 6.30am, departs as QF10 about 1pm.
QF9 arrives 1pm departs as QF2 about 9pm

I suspect very difficult to get another early morning slot, which suggests QF1 might be pushed back to a late evening SYD departure (would also help to reduce the crush hour in the QF F Lounge)

QF still have 4 pairs of LHR slots from what I have heard

I hate the idea of this from any one of the reasons listed. I wonder if the trade of of the 2-4-2 to 3-3-3 is so they can offer a sky couch style offering? It would be easier to offer these with 3 instead of 2 seats on the sides. I dunno, just a mini speculation. I am still not too keen either way

The seats shown to some at hte B787 launch were not skycouch equivalents…

 

[katiebell]

PER-LHR is interesting and the flight length and AU-GB non-stop sector do potentially deserve some of the spin.

As East coast residents need a 2+ sector flight to get to the UK (or Europe) going via PER is not a problem per se: whether I fly this depends on implementation.

Things that would make the route favourable:
flight schedule/timing i.e.
not having to take a day off work to leave in the middle of the day e.g. as per QF01 and the old QF09 at around 1500
minimise jet lag (QF29/30 when going to LHR were great for jet lag reduction; QF09/10 less so as the long sectors are at the wrong time)
no early morning arrivals (bad for jet lag and hotel rooms often not available)
access to Flounges:
international all the way
avoiding ME refuelling stops
a higher pax:WC ratio than on the A380

Things that would make the route unattractive
narrow seats: the advertised seat width is bad bad bad. I find this width too narrow on short domestic sectors and it would be unbearable on 17+ hours
no Flounge on departing East coast
no F cabin
no decent lounge access in PER (and no the combined lounges are not a susbstitute for a Flounge)
clearing customs and immigration in PER
domestic sectors to/from PER: clearing customs and immigration in PER is bound to cause problems (& one of the reasons I have blacklisted dom final sectors after international travel)
no amenity kits & pyjamas on transcontinental sectors (as a premium pax it should be up to me when I want to sleep, esp as the QFi crew insist on blinds down on most sectors)

For me I would be quite happy never to fly the A380 again so the B787 is not a negative as long as the fit out is good and QF lose the LCC mentality that is infiltrating the business.

I await with interest to see what QF finally roll out. Whether I fly it depends on the final product.

 

[flychrisfly]

Does anyone know when the first tickets will be on sale for this route? I'm assuming 1 Mar 2018 less 355 to 353 days => ~11 March 2017

If so, that would imply the full route will be decided and confirm (or not) the rumour about the PER-MEL additional sector.

 

[Brettmcg]

Does anyone know when the first tickets will be on sale for this route? I'm assuming 1 Mar 2018 less 355 to 353 days =&gt; ~11 March 2017<br>
<br>
If so, that would imply the full route will be decided and confirm (or not) the rumour about the PER-MEL additional sector.

Seats on the Perth-London flights will go on sale in April 2017 for the first services in March 2018. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

Source: Media Releases - Qantas and Tourism WA boost funding by 45% to leverage landmark Perth-London service - Qantas News Room

 

[flychrisfly]

Source: Media Releases - Qantas and Tourism WA boost funding by 45% to leverage landmark Perth-London service - Qantas News Room

Thanks. No specific date mentioned - or time...

 

[Ansett]

Talking with a First Host, whi is always spot on the money and I respect, it was confirmed that the Flight will start from Melbourne International then across to Perth. The feeling s that QF9 May end up going via Singapore or dropped all together and the aircraft deployed elsewhere.

 

[jb747]

QF still have 4 pairs of LHR slots from what I have heard

5 pairs actually.

 

[jb747]

Something that has not been mentioned or discussed.

Saturday's West Australian by respected aviation editor Geoffrey Thomas

WA lobsters on direct flight to London plates

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wa-lobsters-on-direct-flight-to-london-plates-ng-b88331298z

In the Qantas configuration, the Boeing 787-9 will carry 236 passengers instead of its usual payload of almost 300. This will have a positive effect on weight and cargo space because of lower check-in luggage.

I guess whoever wrote the article doesn't understand that the reduction in passengers allows for an increase in the fuel loading.

 

[coyote25]

Talking with a First Host, whi is always spot on the money and I respect, it was confirmed that the Flight will start from Melbourne International then across to Perth. The feeling s that QF9 May end up going via Singapore or dropped all together and the aircraft deployed elsewhere.

So does this mean a domestic flight MEL-PER that we can book and use the F Lounge for? Cool

 

[codash1099]

..... The feeling s that QF9 May end up going via Singapore or dropped all together and the aircraft deployed elsewhere.

I'd be more than happy with this^

 

[Pleb Status]

I guess whomever wrote the article doesn't understand that the reduction in passengers allows for an increase in the fuel loading.

As the article (or puff piece) appears to have been written by a certain 'respected' aviation editor, I think you are correct.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As the article (or puff piece) appears to have been written by a certain 'respected' aviation editor, I think you are correct.

Editor parroting the QF line that this aircraft is somehow being configured 'ultra low-density' for passenger comfort... (236 seats instead of 300). All Nippon flies the aircraft with as few as 215 passengers. Japan airlines packs in a whopping 195 passengers.

 

[Himeno]

5 pairs actually.

There are the pairs used by the old:
SYD-BKK-LHR
SYD-SIN-LHR
MEL-SIN-LHR
MEL-HKG-LHR
What's the 5th pair?

 

[Blackswan]

As the article (or puff piece) appears to have been written by a certain 'respected' aviation editor, I think you are correct.

I've wondered for a while - what exactly is Geoffrey Thomas' aviation experience/qualifications?

 

[codash1099]

I've wondered for a while - what exactly is Geoffrey Thomas' aviation experience/qualifications?

Airline Ratings - Meet the Editors

https://au.linkedin.com/in/thomasgeoffrey

and less flattering

http://www.pprune.org/pacific-gener...159-geoff-thomas-aviation-expert-sunrise.html

 

[Strategic Aviation]

The feeling s that QF9 May end up going via Singapore or dropped all together and the aircraft deployed elsewhere.

Resuming Europe one-stop via SIN would be good, though PVG could also potentially be considered.

Singapore Airlines to launch Jakarta-Sydney, further intensifying SE Asia-Australia competition - CAPA - Centre for Aviation

Qantas is now considering resuming Singapore-London, which is the most likely option as it reduces Dubai to one daily flight and selects a new stopover point for its other London flight.

Emirates-Qantas JV expands as partnerships become more intricate, while some airlines go it alone - CAPA - Centre for Aviation

As the JV further evolves and models are adjusted to account for different Australia-Europe flights, Qantas could return to having an Asian stopover option en route to Europe.

There are new hubs for Qantas to consider as alternatives. Shanghai, for example, is increasingly important to Qantas as its Chinese hub.

Qantas' first 787 routes, Perth-London nonstop and Melbourne-LA, address urgent strategic needs - CAPA - Centre for Aviation

More broadly, Qantas and Emirates add value by increasing their proposition for a European journey that can be nonstop or via Dubai. In the future there may also be an Asian one-stop journey again on Qantas.

 

[Himeno]

Resuming Europe one-stop via SIN would be good, though PVG could also potentially be considered.

Australia does not appear to have 5th freedom rights via China. QF wouldn't be able to operate own metal flights into Europe via PVG.
There are limited 5th freedom rights via HKG. 7/week to HKG via Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and 8/week via HKG onto Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Korea and one point in Europe and one point in UK. Up to 50% of aircraft or 200 seats per flight, whatever is higher.