Qantas upgrades SYD-JNB to A380 service

[evanb]

I’ve got zilch from July 1 onwards. Actually, the only one I can find is next week (so I assume a cancelation). Probably status related (QP Silver)

Just a snapshot from July. But yes, availability may be limited to tier thresholds (but also limits ability of partner carriers to access).

18/7 Y J
19/7 Y F
20/7 Y F
21/7 Y PE J F
22/7 Y PE J F
24/7 Y PE F
25/7 Y J F

 

[evanb]

Perhaps an excuse to restart PER/JUN if they have spare acft.

PER-JNB (not JUN). It was an A332 route, so less of an aircraft availability issue. Now that the airport challenges are partially resolved I'd expect it to return. It's probably too late for this coming summer though. Working on something about future configuration as an extension of the previous article. Stay tuned!

FWIW, PER-JNB returning maybe it less likely that the A380 stays on SYD-JNB.

 

[Mr Bill]

PER-JNB (not JUN). It was an A332 route, so less of an aircraft availability issue. Now that the airport challenges are partially resolved I'd expect it to return. It's probably too late for this coming summer though. Working on something about future configuration as an extension of the previous article. Stay tuned!

FWIW, PER-JNB returning maybe it less likely that the A380 stays on SYD-JNB.

Yes......JNB......finger trouble while watching cricket .

 

[N860CR]

Just a snapshot from July. But yes, availability may be limited to tier thresholds (but also limits ability of partner carriers to access).

18/7 Y J
19/7 Y F
20/7 Y F
21/7 Y PE J F
22/7 Y PE J F
24/7 Y PE F
25/7 Y J F

Yep, definitely not showing so must be gold or plat only. Interesting… I thought it came to a point where that stopped being applicable.

 

[SYD]

Yep, definitely not showing so must be gold or plat only. Interesting… I thought it came to a point where that stopped being applicable.

No. Unless QF do a batch release that’s within the PS and below(?) non-preferential period.

Which I guess is why many non-status, CC churners don’t like QFF?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Even domestic since dropping from Gold a few weeks ago I've noticed what appears to be a deterioration of availability for awards.

 

[N860CR]

No. Unless QF do a batch release that’s within the PS and below(?) non-preferential period.

I’d have expected the July seats to be available to everyone now. I did managed to pickup a DEL J that opened up right on 300 days fairly recently (and the lead up suggested that was still a reliable plan). JNB has always been a painful route to get J awards (although I’ve fluked maybe 3 or 4 post covid at short notice).

 

[SYD]

I’d have expected the July seats to be available to everyone now. I did managed to pickup a DEL J that opened up right on 300 days fairly recently (and the lead up suggested that was still a reliable plan). JNB has always been a painful route to get J awards (although I’ve fluked maybe 3 or 4 post covid at short notice).

Mid July onwards have quite a bit of availability. A few days prior have some interesting options for those who like to be first.

 

[kpc]

F.rk!! just got this email:

Hi kpc, We’re sorry to let you know that your cabin class on your upcoming flight QF63 to Johannesburg has changed. Unfortunately, due to supplier delays and supply chain issues impacting the plans for routine heavy maintenance on some Airbus A380 aircraft, your flight will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. There are no First (P) cabin seats available so we’ve booked you in Business (U) cabin for your flight should you still wish to travel on the same flight. For your reference, we’ve included your new flight details below. Accept these changes or view more options We appreciate this change may impact your travel plans and we’d like to provide you with the following options: • If you’ve booked through Qantas and you’d like to travel on these new flights, confirm the changes at Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Once you have confirmed your new flight details, we will process a refund of the difference in fare to your original form of payment over the next 2 weeks. If your booking was made using Qantas Points (i.e. a Classic Flight Reward or Points Plus Pay – Flight booking), we will credit the points difference {would be 2 pax x 94800 = 189600 Qf pts refund - the only positive ) to the Frequent Flyer account used to make your booking. If you have any questions, please call our priority number on...... • To view more options, including how to request a full refund or, where applicable, a Flight Credit at ... or Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Thank you for your understanding. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.

 

[bPeteb]

F.rk!! just got this email:

Hi kpc, We’re sorry to let you know that your cabin class on your upcoming flight QF63 to Johannesburg has changed. Unfortunately, due to supplier delays and supply chain issues impacting the plans for routine heavy maintenance on some Airbus A380 aircraft, your flight will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. There are no First (P) cabin seats available so we’ve booked you in Business (U) cabin for your flight should you still wish to travel on the same flight. For your reference, we’ve included your new flight details below. Accept these changes or view more options We appreciate this change may impact your travel plans and we’d like to provide you with the following options: • If you’ve booked through Qantas and you’d like to travel on these new flights, confirm the changes at Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Once you have confirmed your new flight details, we will process a refund of the difference in fare to your original form of payment over the next 2 weeks. If your booking was made using Qantas Points (i.e. a Classic Flight Reward or Points Plus Pay – Flight booking), we will credit the points difference to the Frequent Flyer account used to make your booking. If you have any questions, please call our priority number 1300 041 605 or +612 9123 7494. • To view more options, including how to request a full refund or, where applicable, a Flight Credit at Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Thank you for your understanding. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.

We just got the 'your flight has changed' email. It was a 787 to start with!

We're only flying Y over so just going to get bAlt moved to 59B beside me after I moved myself to the back of the bus. Coming back we're in J. Happy with my seat 3A and will try to get bAlt moved from 8K over to 5 or 7A.

We were very much looking forward to flying on an A380 there and back

 

[born2fish]

F.rk!! just got this email:

Hi kpc, We’re sorry to let you know that your cabin class on your upcoming flight QF63 to Johannesburg has changed. Unfortunately, due to supplier delays and supply chain issues impacting the plans for routine heavy maintenance on some Airbus A380 aircraft, your flight will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. There are no First (P) cabin seats available so we’ve booked you in Business (U) cabin for your flight should you still wish to travel on the same flight. For your reference, we’ve included your new flight details below. Accept these changes or view more options We appreciate this change may impact your travel plans and we’d like to provide you with the following options: • If you’ve booked through Qantas and you’d like to travel on these new flights, confirm the changes at Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Once you have confirmed your new flight details, we will process a refund of the difference in fare to your original form of payment over the next 2 weeks. If your booking was made using Qantas Points (i.e. a Classic Flight Reward or Points Plus Pay – Flight booking), we will credit the points difference {would be 2 pax x 94800 = 189600 Qf pts refund - the only positive ) to the Frequent Flyer account used to make your booking. If you have any questions, please call our priority number 1300 041 605 or +612 9123 7494. • To view more options, including how to request a full refund or, where applicable, a Flight Credit at Manage Booking or on the Qantas App. Thank you for your understanding. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.

Yeah, got the same email. The A380 schedule has been pushed back to now start SYD-JNB on 30th Sept. If it works for you to travel 30th Sept onwards, call the number on the email and they can escalate a request to Yield Management to unlock a later points seat for you, depending on your status / yield history.
The disruptions team can only swap points seats over if there is same cabin available within a few days either side of original date. For something 5+ months out, it needs to be considered by Yield Mgt (they will take a few days to respond to the escalation).
And to save you the hassle of asking, going up via DXB then down to JNB on the many Emirates flights is not an option, even if you pony up the extra points. You would have better luck finding a F or J points seat to LHR...... Good luck.

 

[kpc]

Yeah, got the same email. The A380 schedule has been pushed back to now start SYD-JNB on 30th Sept. If it works for you to travel 30th Sept onwards, call the number on the email and they can escalate a request to Yield Management to unlock a later points seat for you, depending on your status / yield history.
The disruptions team can only swap points seats over if there is same cabin available within a few days either side of original date. For something 5+ months out, it needs to be considered by Yield Mgt (they will take a few days to respond to the escalation).
And to save you the hassle of asking, going up via DXB then down to JNB on the many Emirates flights is not an option, even if you pony up the extra points. You would have better luck finding a F or J points seat to LHR...... Good luck.

We are flying Syd-Jnb rtn in August....have already booked and paid a non refundable deposit for a safari / tour from Namibia to Botswana to Victoria Falls so can't really change the dates So with a heavy heart, accepted the changes so I can select some decent seats (by the left window) to Jnb to hopefully glimpse Antarctica and there are not many left window seats left!...at least we will get refunded nearly 200K QF points for 2 pax . They are not selling any J seats in August so the J cabin may be overbooked with the aircraft swap!

 

[born2fish]

We are flying Syd-Jnb rtn in August....have already booked and paid a non refundable deposit for a safari / tour from Namibia to Botswana to Victoria Falls so can't really change the dates So with a heavy heart, accepted the changes so I can select some decent seats (by the left window) to Jnb to hopefully glimpse Antarctica and there are not many left window seats left!...at least we will get refunded nearly 200K QF points for 2 pax . They are not selling any J seats in August so the J cabin may be overbooked with the aircraft swap!

August is a good time to visit Okavango Delta in Botswana - enjoy.

 

[Mr Bill]

If traveling using $$$rather than points, check out QR, they MAY provide a viable option. Early March, I am traveling back to BNE from JNB with QR via DOH. J fare, when I booked was between $500 and $1500 cheaper than QF in the week of travel. For me,travel time is not an issue particularly when QR throw in accommodation and meals in DOH for a 22hr transit, not to mention their great in-flight service and Q-suites. BTW......my flight from DOH is direct to BNE.
My SYD/JNB leg, QF

Yeah, got the same email. The A380 schedule has been pushed back to now start SYD-JNB on 30th Sept. If it works for you to travel 30th Sept onwards, call the number on the email and they can escalate a request to Yield Management to unlock a later points seat for you, depending on your status / yield history.
The disruptions team can only swap points seats over if there is same cabin available within a few days either side of original date. For something 5+ months out, it needs to be considered by Yield Mgt (they will take a few days to respond to the escalation).
And to save you the hassle of asking, going up via DXB then down to JNB on the many Emirates flights is not an option, even if you pony up the extra points. You would have better luck finding a F or J points seat to LHR...... Good luck.

B787 in J using points.

 

[flyguy77]

accepted the changes so I can select some decent seats (by the left window) to Jnb to hopefully glimpse Antarctica and there are not many left window seats left!

I lost my 'Antarctica views' window seat (from the A380) and was automatically moved to the back row of J sitting in the middle.....can't select anything else as it's all X'd out. A Bronze member being put where I belong I guess

 

[AIRwin]

I lost my 'Antarctica views' window seat (from the A380) and was automatically moved to the back row of J sitting in the middle.....can't select anything else as it's all X'd out. A Bronze member being put where I belong I guess

Wait until T-80?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Offish topic
More of QF aircraft changes in ExecTrav. QF looks to be short of suitable aircraft and over committed what they have. Maybe even not selling seats on "cancelled" flights.

--> Qantas cuts A380 flights, trims New York schedule

While international travel continues to surge, Qantas is being forced to rein in its ambitions for a larger slice of the pie
<snip>

 

[NSun]

'Supply chain issues' - if I had a dollar for every time I have heard that excuse word from various companies across all industries in the last 2 years...

 

[cpatters]

I think its more to do with no flight or cabin crew to operate the aircraft. Its pretty disappointing considering other airlines have been able to get their A380's back & operating alot quicker. Melbourne always seems to get shafted!

 

[jb747]

'Supply chain issues' - if I had a dollar for every time I have heard that excuse word from various companies in the last 2 years...

The supply chain won't supply what you haven't ordered.