Qantas to Launch SYD-AKL-JFK (June 2023)

[RooFlyer]

FWIW this guy with a very recent review found Chelsea a bit meh - citing staffing issues amongst others. Menu featuring burgers, curry, fish & chips ... perfect mix of BA & AA?

 

[jb747]

How often have the QF8 747/A380 flights had to divert to random South Pacific islands since they started the DFW flights?

Diversions to Nadi, Noumea, and NZ have happened. For the flights with Sydney or Melbourne as a destination, dropping short to either Sydney or Brisbane has happened far more often. Probably easier in a 787 rather than an actual big aircraft.

When QF8 was operated by the 747 it was scheduled as DFW-BNE-SYD, when it was an A380 there may have been the rare diversion to NAN or BNE but with the 789 I don't recall it coming to BNE. MEL-DFW and PER-LHR are both longer than AKL-JFK.

MEL-DFW has tailwinds, and will rarely be an issue. You're also not in the nastier parts of the US with regard to ATC either. PTH-LHR is relatively free of ATC constraints for most of the journey, plus there are plenty of options within Europe. Going the other way is again tailwinds.

One issue with jfk-akl in that direction is delays at jfk can be lengthy (moreover than flights from mel, per, akl, etc). I'm sure a number of us have had 60+ min taxis out to runway at jfk.

It's not just on the ground that ATC will be an issue. The amount of en-route holding that you can get, going to JFK is astounding, and you simply can't plan for it. The first time I flew there, I put on an hour of extra fuel, and burnt that, and all of the variable reserve as well. The second time, I put on two hours, and burnt all of that too. The third time, no holding or delays, and burnt none of it. Delays on the ground can be the stuff of legend. Being number 80 in the queue is not unheard of. And engines on the ground are going through about 500 kgs of fuel per engine per hour.

Looking at a pretty current flight plan out of Dallas to Sydney, the aircraft has just on 1,000 kgs of margin between the planned loading, and the maximum, and there's nothing in the way of holding/weather planned at the Sydney end. It can certainly be done, but you're into the length of a bit of string argument, where anything has a trade off.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Diversions to Nadi, Noumea, and NZ have happened. For the flights with Sydney or Melbourne as a destination, dropping short to either Sydney or Brisbane has happened far more often. Probably easier in a 787 rather than an actual big aircraft.

I've had the joy of QF8 diverting to both NAN and AKL. That is to say AKL became the final destination.

 

[NM]

Delays on the ground can be the stuff of legend. Being number 80 in the queue is not unheard of. And engines on the ground are going through about 500 kgs of fuel per engine per hour.

So if you join the queue at #80, is it an option to shut down two engines and taxi with just two and then restart the others when you are down to say position #10 or less? Or does that risk an issue where they may not restart and then its a bigger issue? I assume its not an option to sit at the gate while the position # moves down, so you will be moving or holding on the tarmac somewhere along with 79 or so other aircraft.

 

[QF029]

Curious why you wouldn't opt for (NYC)-DFW-MEL for this trip. Yes it's only armchair seating for the AA leg in J, but it's only a 2- to 3- hour flight and you could avoid the extra segment in Australia, which of course is also only armchairs in J. Unless you're adamant on collecting extra SC's I'd think saving the extra leg would be worth it. Plus you have your choice of departure airports if LGA (or EWR?) might be more convenient.

I'm using points and it was available (in J), was flying out of NYC, it suited my dates and i'm interested to try out a new route. The fact that I'm on the Points Plane limits the flexibility of going AKL-MEL direct but the extra SCs from points club don't hurt.

 

[jpp42]

I'm using points and it was available, was flying out of NYC, it suited my dates and i'm interested to try out a new route.

Oh sure all of that definitely makes sense. And good point about the option to transfer to an AKL-MEL service if on revenue tickets. Is there a well-timed service to help with this?

 

[dajop]

Oh sure all of that definitely makes sense. And good point about the option to transfer to an AKL-MEL service if on revenue tickets. Is there a well-timed service to help with this?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Anything except AA Flagship First is a fair step down from QF J if flying AA from JFK to connect at LAX/DFW. I'm on QF4 on Friday for this reason. The 2 things not ideal will be a lack of showers at AKL and having to go via SYD to MEL.

There are showers at AKL. Enjoy your flight

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

View attachment 333563

Decent risk of misconnection judging by how often NZ flights from USA arrive a bit late, assuming qf doesn't hold the connecting flights other than qf4 itself.

 

[muppet]

Decent risk of misconnection judging by how often NZ flights from USA arrive a bit late, assuming qf doesn't hold the connecting flights other than qf4 itself.

Agreed. I wouldn’t call that a “well-timed” service. But it certainly is a service that complies with MCT.

 

[dajop]

Decent risk of misconnection judging by how often NZ flights from USA arrive a bit late, as

What this? I guess there's always QF 154 @ 09:50, if seats are available.

 

[bussyboy]

I wouldn't worry about delays, the flights are advertised as 'seamless' now

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like VH-ZNL may have the honour of operating the inaugural flight?

Inaugural flight is on its way!

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/flying-kangaroo-bounces-back-to-the-big-apple/

 

[snabbu]

Did we have any members on the inaugural QF3? Interested to see what went on at the gate this morning, in the lounge etc.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Did we have any members on the inaugural QF3? Interested to see what went on at the gate this morning, in the lounge etc.

@DavidFlynn is on it

I don’t think there was anything really done at SYD F this morning.
All the big wigs joining the flight at AKL.

 

[snabbu]

@DavidFlynn is on it

I don’t think there was anything really done at SYD F this morning.
All the big wigs joining the flight at AKL.

With AJ on board and a SYD-JFK without LAX starting up I would have expected the FL to heaving this morning, huge celebrations at the gate etc. Big wigs joining in AKL sounds kind of boring imho.

 

[jpp42]

With AJ on board and a SYD-JFK without LAX starting up I would have expected the FL to heaving this morning, huge celebrations at the gate etc. Big wigs joining in AKL sounds kind of boring imho.

I would kind of expect the big wigs to celebrate at SYD, join the flight to AKL, and quietly get off, as they don't actually want/need a 16-hour flight unless they had other business in NYC...

 

[Princess Fiona]

With AJ on board and a SYD-JFK without LAX starting up I would have expected the FL to heaving this morning, huge celebrations at the gate etc. Big wigs joining in AKL sounds kind of boring imho.

He was not on it from SYD AFAIK

Celebrations started last night in AKL and continue today

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would kind of expect the big wigs to celebrate at SYD, join the flight to AKL, and quietly get off, as they don't actually want/need a 16-hour flight unless they had other business in NYC...

No they are going to JFK

 

[jb747]

Having just looked at the flight plan, it's actually quite comfortable on the way over. The arrival fuel is enough that I almost would have been comfortable with it in a big jet. Plus, there's about a 9 tonne weight margin on the flight as well. It's not full, but that's not really making a difference to the numbers. Flight time is planned at 14.35.