Article: Qantas Shelves Plans for London First Lounge

[half-hour]

I imagine this new plan (and the old one) is likely to result in a downgrade for non first class passengers through the removal of a la carte service.

 

[Assassin]

Is there some connection with the reporting of Qantas scrapping the A380s? The sunrise A350s will only have 6 F seats and so far fewer F passengers once the A380s go.

Having said that, for an F passenger the current Qantas lounge is hardly a premium experience given how busy it is.

 

[hutch]

Is there some connection with the reporting of Qantas scrapping the A380s? The sunrise A350s will only have 6 F seats and so far fewer F passengers once the A380s go.

Having said that, for an F passenger the current Qantas lounge is hardly a premium experience given how busy it is.

Qantas have indicated they will replace the A380 by early next decade. So, barring something happening, the end of the A380, is still some years away.

For a while, it seems likely there will be 20F seats into London (A380 + A350).

Given the shift in sunrise, potentially Perth swaps to a A350 and then F seats into London will be 12. So pretty similar to current.

 

[Assassin]

Qantas have indicated they will replace the A380 by early next decade. So, barring something happening, the end of the A380, is still some years away.

For a while, it seems likely there will be 20F seats into London (A380 + A350).

Given the shift in sunrise, potentially Perth swaps to a A350 and then F seats into London will be 12. So pretty similar to current.

There have been suggestions that Qantas will bring forward the date for getting rid of the A380s. See for example

Qantas poised to nix A380s

Joe Aston heads to the Airbus factory in Toulouse with Vanessa Hudson

www.rampart.news

 

[hutch]

There have been suggestions that Qantas will bring forward the date for getting rid of the A380s. See for example

Qantas poised to nix A380s

Joe Aston heads to the Airbus factory in Toulouse with Vanessa Hudson

www.rampart.news

Yeah, but I don't know if early 2030s is the beginning or the end of the process. I imagine swapping from one fleet type to another, generally isn't an overnight thing... so unless they have a plane to replace the capacity or frequency with in the near future, they would just be ceasing routes. If QF announces they are canning the A380 earlier, how much earlier can the actually realistically do given delays in getting planes!

In any case, I imagine it has zero connection with not proceeding with a F lounge in London. Will probably end up with 12F into London each day - not much less than current.

 

[moa999]

The stated theory was Sunrise 350s were growth aircraft. The 24 787/350s were to replace 332/333s.
And then you had the options or this rumoured order - but deliveries for that aren't going to come until is say 2032+.

But I definitely see the possibility that QF might say choose to retire some A380s before the soon to be refurbed 332s for example.

 

[hutch]

The stated theory was Sunrise 350s were growth aircraft. The 24 787/350s were to replace 332/333s.
And then you had the options or this rumoured order - but deliveries for that aren't going to come until is say 2032+.

But I definitely see the possibility that QF might say choose to retire some A380s before the soon to be refurbed 332s for example.

Yep, could definitely see some A380s exit earlier... Say DFW may go to a sunrise a350.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see the already ordered A350s due in late decade to replace some more of the A380s

 

[SYD]

Yep, could definitely see some A380s exit earlier... Say DFW may go to a sunrise a350.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see the already ordered A350s due in late decade to replace some more of the A380s

QF worked the last couple of 4x Class config 744s hard. Including rotations through JNB, HND, SCL and HNL. Managed to score a 1st seat on J fare several times.

Not doubt, QF will continue to crunch the numbers and if they can keep operating them on profitable routes, we should expect to see a couple A380s run down to the end.

 

[mviy]

My last international trip from MEL pre-COVID was on the QF A380 to/from LHR with successful upgrades to F in both directions. It was an amazing experience. It was off peak and one of the lights only had 4 passengers in F

 

[Melburnian1]

In any case, I imagine it has zero connection with not proceeding with a F lounge in London. Will probably end up with 12F into London each day - not much less than current.

But wouldn't at any one time only a maximum of six passengers be in an 'F lounge' if it had been built?

Not very many compared to the A380's maximum of 14.

 

[Assassin]

Exactly. With the upcoming drop in F passengers there’s less pressure for a dedicated F lounge.

 

[hutch]

Exactly. With the upcoming drop in F passengers there’s less pressure for a dedicated F lounge.

But there was always going to be a some drop in F passengers at some point... we just don't know when.

It seems doubtful that Qantas was going to go to the capex of opening a F lounge for the 5-7 odd years they've indicated they intended to keep the A380 flying purely to serve an additional 8 customers.

But wouldn't at any one time only a maximum of six passengers be in an 'F lounge' if it had been built?

Not very many compared to the A380's maximum of 14.

Very true. But is the point of F lounges, purely to serve F passengers.

How's the Melbourne F lounge going to go with that?