Any idea if/when QF1 will go A380?

[N860CR]

I'm about to book an award J flight from SYD-BKK and HKG-SYD in March next year. Does anyone know if QF1 is on on the cards for an upgrade to the A380? I know there is no official word... but thought somebody might be in the know.

Otherwise I think I'll give BA a shot, haven't tried their J before and I'm guessing it might be a little better than the big Q.

 

[Evan]

I rate QF J as better than the older BA products and more or less same as the newer one. They really are pretty similar i feel, each has small advantages and disadvantages but for the most part they are interchangable for peoples preference.

As for QF1 i have no idea what QF have said but i would think it wont be a 380 until after some of the SIN services start to be A380, then BKK, then last would be HKG i would think.

By end of this year QF will have 7 x A380 which is really enough for every day flights for 3 routes, each route to Europe or USA requires 2 aircraft.

 

[pblackm]

I'm with Evan - the J products of BA and Qantas are line ball.

 

[simongr]

Overall I prefer BA to QF J. I find the service on QF to be a total gamble in J, I can preallocate exit row seats on BA and the seats are lie flat.

 

[NM]

Given that Qantas has deferred the delivery of some A380s, I think the plan will be to make the current routes go daily before adding new one. But that is just my guess.

 

[dot]

As for QF1 i have no idea what QF have said but i would think it wont be a 380 until after some of the SIN services start to be A380, then BKK, then last would be HKG i would think.

Why do you think HKG would be last? IMO, it is a superior airport for transit than BKK (by a long way) and better than SIN as well - it is my preferred stop on the kangaroo route...

By end of this year QF will have 7 x A380 which is really enough for every day flights for 3 routes, each route to Europe or USA requires 2 aircraft.

While you can do one pacific route with two aircraft (that's six required for BNE,MEL & SYD to LAX return), then another two required for SYD-SFO and then another three for SYD-LAX-JFK. To handle all the pacific routes, that's 11 by my count.

For the kangaroo route, QF will need four aircraft to service completely each route with A380s. To service SYD-LHR via SIN, BKK and HKG and MEL-LHR via SIN and HKG, that's a total of 20 A380's required! :shock: (not including QF5/6 SYD-SIN-FRA return which is operated by a two class 744)

So, for QF to offer the A380 on all it's Kangaroo and Pacific routes, we will need to wait until they have at least 31 A380s or 35 if you add FRA as well! Problem is that QF have only ordered 20 with four options :shock:.

I reckon QF will use it's three new A380's this year on SYD-LAX and MEL-LAX to make them totally A380, then add another one to the QF31/32 which will make every second day an A380 service.

 

[docjames]

I would expect US to go A380 for SYD and MEL to US (LAX/SFO/JFK), but BNE-LAX-AKL and vv to remain as 744 (hopefully move to a 3 class at least!) I dont think they'll jump to BNE-LAX as a 380 given they still run 2 class fleet on that route.


Once US routes are fully operational with their allocation of 380s, more should roll out on kangaroo via SIN and LHR via HKG.

I'd say via BKK and route to Frankfurt will be last.

So this means 744s to stay on:
SYD-EZE
SYD-JNB
BNE-LAX
AKL-LAX
-Frankfurt
-BKK (? move Frankfurt connection to BKK and run them MELorSYD-BKK-Frankfurt and vv)


Crewing issues have to come into it as well - you dont want an a/c to go U/S and then not have available crew b/c they're typed on 380 and not 744 (not that easy to sub a 744 for a 380 so to me you want to consolidate on one route with one type of a/c as much as possible).

 

[JohnK]

Once US routes are fully operational with their allocation of 380s, more should roll out on kangaroo via SIN and LHR via HKG.

I'd say via BKK and route to Frankfurt will be last.

I tend to agree although one factor to consider is the SYD-LHR via BKK route is one of the most popular and very hard to get QF award seats and cheaper WHY airfares on this route. Most times I can easily find availability to/from LHR from SIN/HKG than via BKK.

So in my opinion people are wrong to say that the route to LHR via BKK is not popular and BKK is an inferior airport to HKG and SIN. It is all relative and I would much rather go via Suvarnabhumi, even Don Muang, than HKG airport.

 

[docjames]

Just to be clear I was not implying in any way the BKK is inferior or that SYD-BKK-LHR is not popular. But there are two flights/day via SIN, plus all of QFs other connections in SIN (BNE-SIN, PER-SIN, ADL-SIN, route to BOM via SIN).

It makes sense to have the bigger, newer a/c going through SIN competing with SQ rather than via BKK (vs mostly BA with 744s).

Two flights suggests probably more FF seats via SIN than via BKK.

There are also more fights from other capitals to HKG.

 

[JohnK]

Just to be clear I was not implying in any way the BKK is inferior or that SYD-BKK-LHR is not popular. But there are two flights/day via SIN, plus all of QFs other connections in SIN (BNE-SIN, PER-SIN, ADL-SIN, route to BOM via SIN).

I wasn't having a shot at you or anyone else but yes it was someone else that mentioned HKG is a far superior airport to BKK. That is highly debateable and all HKG has going for it is a couple of lounges. Big deal. I would rather go through BKK than HKG, SIN, KUL, PEK, NRT, PVG any day.

Yes I do agree that the SIN or HKG routes have more connections from Australia but I think you will find that QF1/2 are more popular flights? Why? Yes I know it is only one flight a day via BKK but why is it more popular? If someone is going to spend 3-4 days stopover in SE Asia from/to Europe I have a fair idea where most people would want to spend it....

 

[docjames]

Whilst i dont necessarily disagree about stopovers, the sheer fact there's 2 flights per day via SIN (approx=700 seats) vs approx 350/day via BKK suggests SIN is more popular. This maybe not the case though with those redeeming award seats who are (more) likely to be on leisure travel. That would lend weight to your theory of BKK being a more popular stopover, SIN more popular as transit. And why you cant get awards as easily via BKK (half the number Plus more popularity with award bookers).

See, we do agree!

I havent been to BKK or HKG for ages so not really placed to judge. Old BKK was a terrible transit airport last time i was there, admittedly that was c.2002 (? and now it's a new airport is it not? )

 

[serfty]

... Old BKK was a terrible transit airport last time i was there, admittedly that was c.2002 (? and now it's a new airport is it not? )

Transit is fine at Suvarnabhumi, just be prepared for a long walk or two ...

 

[JohnK]

Transit is fine at Suvarnabhumi, just be prepared for a long walk or two ...

Which is what most people should be doing after 8-9 hours in the air and another 10-12 hours to go. Use transit time wisely to stretch the legs....