QantasLink Dash 8 Discussion

[Beano]

Back in the day we had to make our own entertainment without smartphones or tablets, Mini Disc players were a thing and I enjoyed the time listening to my mixes.

I remember those days. Are we being spoiled now? Flying in Europe on 2 to 3 hour flights with no entertainment is a norm.

 

[kookaburra75]

The only major downside is waiting for your bag at the foot of the stairs/ramp on arrival. Luckily it has never rained when I've done that.

It's not a long wait, and I find that is a major advantage when getting off at Sydney, as long as you get in at gates 16 - 19.

I have taken the Dash 8 Melbourne to Adelaide a couple of times & yes it is different to the rest of the Qantas Fleet . However I wasn’t in a hurry & the actual flight experience . The service from
The crew was excellent, yes we didn’t have the choice but I found they sent out of their way to provide a great service

That's certainly my experience too having done the CBR-SYD run more times than I care to remember, and even MEL-CBR. I have provided compliments to the flight attendants many a time through Qantas' feedback forms.

But if you want to share the love, there's always a group on Facebook for that...

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[servicerequired]

QF Link Dash 8 services are wayyyyyyyyy under-rated - service is generally, excellent.

 

[Chicken]

I've done 2 to 2.5 hrs in one. No entertainment, pretzels and water as food. What's to like?

Looking outside to see the view? See if there is any boat underneath? That's what I do.

 

[Daveller]

Yeah… the dash 8 flew lower than Boeing 737 and A320. I like to see the view closer!

 

[jakeseven7]

Yeah… the dash 8 flew lower than Boeing 737 and A320. I like to see the view closer!

Agree you get spectacular views flying them I try to pick them over the the E190/a220 to Tassie

 

[Beano]

I like looking at the islands.

Propeller aircraft, including tirbo-props, fly lower than jets/turbo fans. About 30,000 ft for prop and 42,000 ft for jets.

 

[downgraded]

Haven't read the thread in detail. CNS to POM QFi on a dash8 confused my brain. As WP got the 4 right front seats to myself (colleague several rows back not so impressed). Took own entertainment. Nothing to complain about. Great views at lower altitude (views). Domestic dash 8 flights never liked the propeller next to my window/head scenario but otherwise always found the experience superior to the 737 on short hops - as others have noted: better legroom/personal space) and premium hand luggage offering for starters.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Yeah… the dash 8 flew lower than Boeing 737 and A320. I like to see the view closer!

As a crack Public Service Layabout, I did the milk run CNS - BNE with lovely stops at TSV, YBMK and ROK, useful for air/groundchecking my many project areas whilst enjoying the excellent service.
Long live the props, even if you have to commando crawl to your Metroliner seat.

 

[The-Aviator]

I'm surprised it has taken this long but I'll be on a QF Dash for the first time next week flying SYD-CBR, and was wondering what the "done thing" is when it comes to larger carry ons.

Should I check it in, or does everyone just opt for the premium hand luggage gate check and pick it up at the foot of the stairs on arrival?

Don't mind checking it in if I have to but given I am saving my one-time silver lounge pass for later, ideally I'd like to spend as little time at the airport as possible!

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm surprised it has taken this long but I'll be on a QF Dash for the first time next week flying SYD-CBR, and was wondering what the "done thing" is when it comes to larger carry ons.

Should I check it in, or does everyone just opt for the premium hand luggage gate check and pick it up at the foot of the stairs on arrival?

Don't mind checking it in if I have to but given I am saving my one-time silver lounge pass for later, ideally I'd like to spend as little time at the airport as possible!

I always go for having it tagged as Premium luggage and drop it off when I board. It doesn't take long to get it at the other end. Just remember to take any batteries out of your bag - you will get asked a couple of times.

I really don't mind the Dash 8 on that run, as long as you're boarding from gates 16-19 at Sydney. The bus from gate 1c is a pain.

 

[Chicken]

I'm surprised it has taken this long but I'll be on a QF Dash for the first time next week flying SYD-CBR

Should I check it in, or does everyone just opt for the premium hand luggage gate check and pick it up at the foot of the stairs on arrival?

I have never done dash 8 to Canberra, so I don't know the situation with CBR; but nearly all my dash 8 rides were self served checked luggage, including you have to unload your own luggage from the tractor from the tarmac, so it's more relaxed for me to check my luggage in at the first place ¯_(ツ)_/¯

 

[muppet]

I always go for having it tagged as Premium luggage and drop it off when I board. It doesn't take long to get it at the other end. Just remember to take any batteries or if your bag - you will get asked a couple of times.

I really don't mind the Dash 8 on that run, as long as you're boarding from gates 16-19 at Sydney. The bus from gate 1c is a pain.

Yep 1c is a total time-destroying shamozzle!

Waiting for the bus to fill up, waiting for various other busses and vehicles to move, crammed in a sealed and non-moving bus with 77 other pax for what seems like an eternity…. They really need to add 30mins to the block time of those flights because while the plane may land on time, no chance of entering the terminal any time related to that on the ticket.

 

[bussyboy]

... what the "done thing" is when it comes to larger carry ons.

Should I check it in, or does everyone just opt for the premium hand luggage gate check and pick it up at the foot of the stairs on arrival?

You're going to have to climb stairs in Canberra, carrying the bag if you go the premium hand luggage route. Bit easier to just collect at the carousel imo, it's pretty, unlike the other direction at Sydney which always feels a 1 hour wait

 

[kookaburra75]

You're going to have to climb stairs in Canberra, carrying the bag if you go the premium hand luggage route. Bit easier to just collect at the carousel imo, it's pretty, unlike the other direction at Sydney which always feels a 1 hour wait

There is a lift in Canberra - it's to the right of the escalator as you come into the terminal at gate 14. If you arrive at gate 13, it's to the right of the bottom of the stairs.

 

[Beano]

When flying a Dash 8 you must get used to certain principles:
1. there will always be stairs, whether leaving and entering the terminal ( not all airports). There may be an escalator. Or entering and leaving the aircraft.
2. Limited overhead space. You may need to leave your bag at the bottom of the stairs/ramp and collect from there on arrival.
3. No IFE.
4. Snacks only in Y. No real food. Though drinks are available.

Not sure how this can affect travel but there is no separator under the seats in front, so if you have an empty seat beside, you will have lots of uninterrupted space there.

 

[Daveller]

Yeah same inflight service when I flew with Virgin Australia ATR 600.

 

[The-Aviator]

Thanks all for the help! Went the premium hand luggage route and it worked well. Some stairs to manoeuvre at SYD but the gate we pulled up at in CBR had an escalator.

 

[servicerequired]

Okay - so now that we're well and truly settled in with QF and an the entire turboprop operation being Q400s - we have a couple of gremlins ...

Typically, status pax are seated in rows 1 / 2 / 3 - up front ...

... in my experiences recently, these rows are jam packed - at least the first few rows.

Now, with my thinking cap on - it's related to the weight distribution ...

... here we are on Friday's flight - check-in on Thursday, seated in 1B, with an empty seat next to me (according to the seat map on the app, I had 1A available, 2AB were vacant, then there was a vast variety beyond that).

Now, my general experience of late - everything from approx row 6 rearwards, most have a vacant seat next to them, obviously unless you've got a 'pair' seated together ...

... I checked at T10, and 1A was no longer accessible, so I move to 2B, with 2A vacant ... by T8, 2A is filled ... I move to 3B, with 3A vacant ... by T4, 3A is filled ... I move to 4C, with 4D vacant.

... anyway, I was over it by that stage ... I get on the plane towards the end of boarding, and sure enough, I arrive at 4C, to find old made in 4D.

Now - if the plane is full, I couldn't give a cough if I'm sitting next to someone.

But, the whole 'shadow' / 'platinum' BS - if we're going to do it, please do it consistently - I'd rather have some elbow room and be in row 19.

... as it turns out - both 5CD were vacant ... when air hostie #2 was walking past, I politely asked (before take off), if I could move into the row behind - NO, not until after take off.

... then air hostie #1 comes up randomly, and politely suggests, unless you two are travelling together, maybe you wanted to move into one of the seats in the row behind? ... (as in before take off, yes - apparently rows 1 to 5 or 6 are in the same 'zone' for the weight distribution).


Is there anyone else on here experiencing anything similar on their Q400 travels of late?

 

[themaiz]

Is there anyone else on here experiencing anything similar on their Q400 travels of late?

For context, is "of late" measured in days/weeks/months or previous year?

I mostly do Dash-8 on one route, which is WTB-SYD (or return). I generally prefer 2A with hope of an empty seat, so that I can put stuff under the seat in front of me and still have room.

Like you I find joy in a forward seat with nobody next to me... because then I can work. And Dash-8 seats facilitate work, because the person in front can't recline into me.

Three things I have learned about seating:
* because there's no preallocation opportunity, I can't tell the system where I'd like to be.
* it's not possible to see seat allocation until t-24, and sometimes the map that comes up at checkin-is-now-open time doesn't relate well to advance loadings shown by (eg) Expertflyer, and
* the airport staff at WTB do load balancing starting from T-72. Truly, I would never ever play the DYKWIA card, but I travel enough that the airport staff know me by name. Consequently I do often find myself in the preferred seat.

Like you I've tried playing checkin tetris with seats, and tried not playing checkin tetris with seats, and my experience is that both options lead to similar outcome because it seems to be a complete coughshoot until the door closes. Sometimes the crew say "of course" to a move and sometimes they play draconian. I've given up trying to fathom the rules, because I think there aren't any and that weight balancing takes no account of status or preference. Occasionally I'm helpfully given an exit row., and I've learned to suck it up rather than try to change anything or second-guess and force a move. And anything is better than being next to the prop.

To be fair, it's hard to argue with someone whose answer is "weight balancing". They're probably right.

Later this year I get to try SYD/ABX and I'll find out if it's any different on that route.