QF29/30 MEL-LHR-MEL frequency reduction?

[Keith009]

I noticed on Sabre that QF29/30 MEL-LHR-MEL does not show up on the schedules on random Mondays and Wednesdays. I searched for dates in June. For instance, in the first week of June there's no QF29 on Monday 01JUN, whilst in the 2nd week QF29 isn't showing up on Wednesday 10JUN.

Apologies if this is old news or if it's simply a system glitch.

 

[serfty]

No system glitch; Qantas are reducing services here and there due to lack of bookings.

It appears that rather than making official time time table changes, QF are simply not operating one or three services where the booking are really low. QF25/QF26 are copping this as well.

 

[Keith009]

Yes on the day that i'm flying, I'm noticing lots of premium award availability on the plane - P2 and U2. :shock:

 

[dajop]

QF timetables also show this. If you look just as far as HKG, it seems to be operating to a full schedule, just the HKG-LHR bits missing. On the days QF29/30 not operating all the way to LHR, QF 29 seems to operate only to HKG, yet QF30 seems to be replaced HKG-MEL by QF86 - operating to same timetable as QF30 (without the LHR-HKG sector).

 

[Nigelinoz]

One thing I did notice is that for this week only QF29 is leaving MEL at 23:59 !from the 29th it departs 9 minutes earlier at 23:50 then after the end of daylight saying on 04 April it goes back to 22:50.
That's today's trivia for you.

 

[ANstar]

BNE-LAX seems to have dropped to 5-6x weekly over the next couple of months too.

 

[Evan]

All odd since QF9/QF10 seem to be always full this year !
Even on a wednesday i have seen a 100% full flight. So i guess the SIN market is ok.

Maybe the flight times are not great, for sure not good to land in HKG at just before 6:00am (well for me anyway). HKG has always been less popular than SIN. Not sure about BKK since i have only ever flown that flight once to Europe.

 

[Keith009]

Maybe the flight times are not great, for sure not good to land in HKG at just before 6:00am (well for me anyway). HKG has always been less popular than SIN. Not sure about BKK since i have only ever flown that flight once to Europe.

I for one prefer flying via HKG to get to LHR, as not having to lug all my stuff off the plane for the transit is a defo advantage. It is nice to transit with just my documentation and stuff I need for showering. Plus I find the duty free staff at HKG friendlier than the tout-ish staff at SIN, which must be the only airport outside Thailand where you can get Patpong style harassment. [of course nothing beats SIN as an O/D airport due to the much more efficient immigration -- i look forward to this changing when i use my HKFV card!]

For originating/terminating at HKG however, I've been tempted to fly via SYD as the QF flight schedules out of SYD are friendlier, arriving at a decent time for hotel check in as well as the getting on the late evening departure out of HKG rather than 0900.

 

[serfty]

I dunno - I prefer the pseudo-red eye of QF29 ex MEL.

Can have a two or three course feed at the F/Lounge, the Spa IS open for this flight and can board rather relaxed after a verve or three ...

.. of course, it helps that I can generally get 6 or 7 hours sleep on this flight.

I don't like the QF30 ex HKG however, 9am is too early - necessitating 6am Train trips; for mae that QF98 or QF128 with the connection.

And, one saves on accommodation costs with overnight flights ...

 

[Dave Noble]

I don't like the QF30 ex HKG however, 9am is too early - necessitating 6am Train trips; for mae that QF98 or QF128 with the connection.

And, one saves on accommodation costs with overnight flights ...

6am is hardly necessary since that would have one at the airport 2.5 hours before the flight which is far earlier than needed. Last time I stayed in town, I took a taxi from hotel at 0645 and took a train soon after 7 and was still there in ample time

Alternatively, the regal hotel is pretty conveniant and pretty reasonable

Night flights are the absolute last resort for me

Dave

 

[serfty]

... Night flights are the absolute last resort for me ...

An absolute YMMV on that one Dave.

As I posted, I prefer the opposite; more than that, I get concerned If I do not reach an airport to catch my flight less than two hours before scheduled time, so, for me, 9am departure ≡ 7am airport arrival (at the latest).

 

[NM]

An absolute YMMV on that one Dave.

As I posted, I prefer the opposite; more than that, I get concerned If I do not reach an airport to catch my flight less than two hours before scheduled time, so, for me, 9am departure ≡ 7am airport arrival (at the latest).

I would rather be up and moving at 6am than take an overnight flight if I have the choice.

 

[serfty]

I would rather be up and moving at 6am than take an overnight flight if I have the choice.

I can generally sleep on aircraft, so that's OK for me. Besides, I find the lounge facilities are far more convivial in the evenings ...

 

[serfty]

Anyhoo, getting back on topic,

Currently, QF29/30 are not scheduled to operate to/from LHR on Mar 25, April 1, 7, 15, 29, May 5, 12, 19, 25 & June 1, 10, 17, 25.

From July onwards it's scheduled daily.

 

[JohnK]

I can generally sleep on aircraft, so that's OK for me. Besides, I find the lounge facilities are far more convivial in the evenings ...

I also prefer night flights, save on accommodation costs as well, as I do not have an issue sleeping in WHY.

The only exception to this rule would be the afternoon flights to SE Asia that arrive before midnight.

 

[dajop]

THe shorter nighter flights are no good (such as SIN-MEL/SYD). But MEL-HKG o/night is long enough and leaves late enough for me to get a half decent sleep.

Night flights better also if on fully flat equipment. Have a number of times flown MEL-SIN on the new 777-300ER overnight with lie flats beds. It means I didn't lose half a day (particularly important on Sundays) as you don't need to leave for airport until 11pm (as opposed to 2pm). Usually asleep within 30mins of takeoff and wake up 20mins before landing without any chemical assistance (other than a cointreau on ice or equivalent).

Didn't sleep as good the two times I did MEL-HKG, as beds not flat ... but didn't matter due to onward connections (JFK and LHR) that gave ample time to sleep ...

 

[Keith009]

I would rather be up and moving at 6am than take an overnight flight if I have the choice.

I like late arvo departures myself. I also prefer day flights to night ones, as I feel like I get a "fuller" onboard experience somehow. Otherwise overnight is better than early morning. Crawling out of bed before mid day is inhumane...:evil::mrgreen:

 

[Flashback]

I like late arvo departures myself. I also prefer day flights to night ones, as I feel like I get a "fuller" onboard experience somehow. Otherwise overnight is better than early morning. Crawling out of bed before mid day is inhumane...:evil::mrgreen:

I agree with parts of this, especially the fuller onboard experience. I don't want to have used points to upgrade to J, to find that I'll basically be getting on the plane and sleeping most of the trip. With the right aid(s), I could do exactly the same in whY and have done numerous times before. When I flew PER-NRT in whY (24F, best seat on the 763 :mrgreen I got on the plane around 11pm (maybe later, it was delayed slightly) and went straight to sleep; waking up 1.5 hours before landing. Had breakfast, woke myself up properly and powered through my first day in Japan without feeling tired at all.

YMMV, however. I would think that on a personal trip this would be the case ... but on a business trip where you do have to work after you've landed, then it may be the opposite.

I have an overnight trip landing me in FRA in November, and supposing I get 9 hours sleep on the 13 hour leg SIN-FRA I will be more than happy, and refreshed.

 

[tuapekastar]

When I flew PER-NRT in whY (24F, best seat on the 763 :mrgreen

I know this is a different config to my 763 upcoming AKL-SYD (24F on international config appears to have a lot of empty space in front of it ), but can anyone tell me if the bulkhead row (24D to be precise) is worth getting on the abovementioned flight, domestic config, as it appears to available at the moment. I'm currently in 26D.

Bulkheads seem to vary as to whether they're desirable or not...(more legroom, less legroom etc.)

Thanks

 

[Flashback]

I know this is a different config to my 763 upcoming AKL-SYD (24F on international config appears to have a lot of empty space in front of it ), but can anyone tell me if the bulkhead row (24D to be precise) is worth getting on the abovementioned flight, domestic config, as it appears to available at the moment. I'm currently in 26D.

Bulkheads seem to vary as to whether they're desirable or not...(more legroom, less legroom etc.)

Thanks

In my experiences the domestic config 763 doesn't have a huge amount of legroom as you're right up against the wall.

And yes, you're right; there was a lot of legroom in front of my 24F :mrgreen: