Afternoon flights to LAX?

[Daver6]

I was under the impression QF has afternoon departures out of Sydney and Melbourne to LAX. Looking in May I don't see any. Is there now just the one flight a day from those two cities and BNE?

 

[serfty]

Looking at next year in March I see a QF95 departing just after 2pm.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF95 MEL-LAX comes back in June in a 747, which is taken from the HKG flight (QF29/30) which is where it went earlier in the year.

but in May, there's no afternoon flight. One suspects due to seasonability

and in December it will be a 789 service which probably reflects the right capacity for such a flight.

 

[Daver6]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't realise afternoon flights were a seasonal thing.

The morning flights are especially painful when connecting from Perth. Either start with a stupidly early morning or a red-eye the night before and a longish layover in the morning.

 

[jb747]

I fly the 93 a lot, and I've found the easiest way to do it is to stay at the Ibis. I know it's a 'cheap' hotel, but it's surprisingly quiet, and I generally sleep well there, and just wander over to the terminal for breakfast.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'd also note during out winter that the 95 leaves before midday (due to the timezone changes)

 

[madrooster]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't realise afternoon flights were a seasonal thing.

The morning flights are especially painful when connecting from Perth. Either start with a stupidly early morning or a red-eye the night before and a longish layover in the morning.

Consider flying CX via HKG... one stop to NYC/ORD/YVR/YYZ for example and it's can also be a shorter total duration than QF. CX via HKG is actually the fastest possible route to NYC.

 

[offshore171]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't realise afternoon flights were a seasonal thing.

The morning flights are especially painful when connecting from Perth. Either start with a stupidly early morning or a red-eye the night before and a longish layover in the morning.

Is the Dallas flight an option for you? It leaves after midday.

 

[Mattg]

Is the Dallas flight an option for you? It leaves after midday.

QF73 to San Francisco also leaves in the afternoon.

 

[Daver6]

QF73 to San Francisco also leaves in the afternoon.

This could be the winner. Was needing to get to SJC.

Downside of CX is inability to upgrade. Via DFW adds a lot of time to get to SJC.

 

[Himeno]

I was under the impression QF has afternoon departures out of Sydney and Melbourne to LAX. Looking in May I don't see any. Is there now just the one flight a day from those two cities and BNE?

Qantas added a 2nd afternoon departure flight from MEL and retimed the 2nd SYD flight at the start of 2015 as part of larger transpac changes. The second SYD (QF17/18) and MEL (QF95/96) departed in mid-late afternoon to arrive in LA shortly after noon.

When SFO (QF73/74) was resumed, QF17/18 was handed off to AA and QF95/96 had its frequency reduced to 2 weekly. At no time between their start in Jan 2015 and their removal (April 2016 for 17/18 and Jan 2017 for 95/96) were they seasonal.
The 747 used for 95/96 was removed from LAX to upgrade QF29/30 MEL-HKG to a daily 747, leaving no aircraft to operate the afternoon flight to LA which was thus cancelled. This route had already been announced as being the first 787 route and it simply appeared to be a 11 month hold on the route.

It now appears that QF29/30 is going back to an A330 from May 9 with a 2 or 3 weekly 747 QF95/96 MEL-LAX returning through July, with QF29/30 returning to 747 from July 30.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The morning flights are especially painful when connecting from Perth. Either start with a stupidly early morning or a red-eye the night before and a longish layover in the morning.

.....or fly out of PER the day prior and stay at the BNE/SYD/MEL before continuing on the next day. If your overnight transit doesn't exceed 24 hours you won't be charged a sector fare. Have done this a lot on Classic awards and am doing it again BNE/SYD prior to taking QF11 SYD/LAX the following day.

 

[Daver6]

.....or fly out of PER the day prior and stay at the BNE/SYD/MEL before continuing on the next day. If your overnight transit doesn't exceed 24 hours you won't be charged a sector fare. Have done this a lot on Classic awards and am doing it again BNE/SYD prior to taking QF11 SYD/LAX the following day.

That's exactly what I'd do travelling for leisure. However, the extra cost (accommodation) and time for work is difficult to justify.