HNL Rumour

[maninblack]

As some of you know I am a frequent traveler to HNL and I have just been given some interesting information by a mate who is in the travel industry in Hawaii. One could only call it rumour at this time but the story is as follows:

QF is not happy with the loads JQ are achieving on the SYD-HNL route and it has not been running at a profit. Either late 2008 or more likely early 2009 JQ will dump the route. QF will increase services to at least 5 flights per week, with the possibility of daily using QF A330 aircraft or even the possibility of 2 class 744's. I don't know the operational truth on this but i am told that the route can essentially be serviced by a single aircraft for the daily return, which seems to make sense.

If true, an interesting rumour...and...if true, most welcome.

 

[moa999]

Seems interesting that QF would replace JQ on a 'light route'
- afterall it is JQs lower cost base that is meant to allow it to operate routes that were unprofitable to QF (eg Japan etc)

And particularly to HNL which would be primarily described as a holiday route

 

[Platy]

Brand and service levels are also factors. For example, here in Cairns there is much talk as to whether the low service Jetstar brand is suitable for the Japanese market with the conclusion that the full service QF product is more appropriate to fulfill customer expectations (other issues aside).

Mind you that has never appeared to stop QF replace QF with Q in the past...

 

[maninblack]

I have noticed QF is increasing its HNL service from 3 to 4 flights a week from April, which perhaps gives some credence to the rumour. I agree with Platy that brand and service is still important on some routes. Hawaii is still a popular "luxury" market to some extent with many high net worth customers who won't be keen on JQ.

Also QF may have little choice as they threw the JQ option out there to customers who still seem to want QF instead. Partly I think the perception of what people expect on a long haul route and also many sales through Qantas holidays and other package operators.

As for CNS, I go there 3-5 times a year and always fly QF but with Virgin Premium econ now available with the Live2Air feature, I may be changing.

 

[ANstar]

I have noticed QF is increasing its HNL service from 3 to 4 flights a week from April, which perhaps gives some credence to the rumour.

I think QF is increasing services because JQ don't have any spare aircraft due to 787 delays.... where as QF have some spare 767 capacity with the new 332's that have been delivered this year.

I have done this route twice in the past 6 months and both times it has been chocker in Star and chocker down back.

I think the better chance is that QF will stop flying to HNL once JQ have some more planes

 

[Bundy Bear]

JQ dropping HNL because of light loads and being replaced by Qantas. I don't buy it.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

I think QF is increasing services because JQ don't have any spare aircraft due to 787 delays.... where as QF have some spare 767 capacity with the new 332's that have been delivered this year.

I have done this route twice in the past 6 months and both times it has been chocker in Star and chocker down back.

I think the better chance is that QF will stop flying to HNL once JQ have some more planes

That is my experience from Jan this year as well. Totally full flight. Of course, point sampling does not concrete evidence make, but still...

mt

 

[simongr]

JQ dropping HNL because of light loads and being replaced by Qantas. I don't buy it.

That is my gut instinct too - but if the loads are good on QF and bad on JQ it might reflect the perception problem that QF have with JQ.

I personally hav a small interest in flying to HNL but would not fly JQ and would not be keen on a 763 - having more availability on QF might interest me.

 

[maninblack]

JQ dropping HNL because of light loads and being replaced by Qantas. I don't buy it.

Qantas has run a service to HNL (without break) for over 50 years so I wouldn't describe it as, being replaced by Qantas. I am told that JQ has poor loads over the Easter period and some flights between Easter and June are very light.

There is also some issue with QF's OW commitments to RTW ticketing but not clear on this.

Anyway, time will tell.

 

[tassiedude]

JQ is about the same cost as QF to HNL so why would anyone fly JQ when they can fly QF for the same cost.

JQ need to lower the costs by a hundred or so $$$

 

[ANstar]

JQ is about the same cost as QF to HNL so why would anyone fly JQ when they can fly QF for the same cost.

JQ need to lower the costs by a hundred or so $$$

Actually I would choose Jetstar... why? becuase for $2000 I can fly star class return and have relative comfort for the long flight. QF can't offer that.

 

[Petch]

JQ is about the same cost as QF to HNL...

I think you mean...about the same price... (for a Discount Economy ticket)

Although once teamjetstar starts operating Qantas brand services, it may indeed become the same cost!

JQ need to lower ...by a hundred or so $$$

As Qantas Group leverages worth out of its valuable Qantas brand, the more likely (and indeed more observed) movement will be the Qantas brand airline prices going up!:evil:

 

[jaffa]

Whilst l agree with most of what the other posters have had to say here, there's one point of contention for me.

Why is it that some people believe that a full service airline is somehow, "luxury"

I have been seeing this a lot on the boards lately.

There really is nothing "luxury" about Econ on any airline. Maybe in J,F on some but certainly not in Econ.

Just because an airline is full service does not justifie the title of luxury. The seats on both QF and Jet* are pretty similar as most posters here keep repeating.

The only diference is service levels, food and beverage, luggage ect.
QF in econ is certainly better than Jet* a little,

But its certainly not luxury.

Just my opinion though!

 

[file51]

Having done the SYD-HNL return sector 5 times in 14 months (3 with Jet*, 2 on QF) this rumour would not surprise me at all.

All 6 sectors on Jet* have been very light, on average I would say less than 25-30% load, which IMO is great to find an entire middle row and stretch out over the 4 seats (combined with sub $300 each way fares, this is as close to a lie flat sleeper you will ever find ).

On the other hand, both return legs with QF and it has been chock a block (only the occasional single empty seat).

All these flights have been taken in non peak periods and usually on weekdays.

I guess with V-Australia about to start U.S. services there will be quite a few changes in the months to come.

 

[Standby]

Any further delay on 787s impacts JQ more tha QF mainline.
JQ needs to expand from Aust to Europe before the Likes of Air Asia X ,Oasis etc get into the market first.
It makes sense that a shared market like HNL be handed back to QF.
QF was struggling because of the Aust travellers were increasing looking for cheaper beach like hols,thus the growth of coughet etc. With the strength of the $A looking to hang around 90C to USD parity QF could expect strong continued loads,so the route should return to being pretty profitable to them allowing JQ to move probobly onto markets like Rome and Athens, both easily accomodated in the near term by A300-200s . They were planning this towards the end of 2008 on the orig delivery dates of the 787

 

[pauly7]

Any further delay on 787s impacts JQ more tha QF mainline.
JQ needs to expand from Aust to Europe before the Likes of Air Asia X ,Oasis etc get into the market first.
It makes sense that a shared market like HNL be handed back to QF.
QF was struggling because of the Aust travellers were increasing looking for cheaper beach like hols,thus the growth of coughet etc. With the strength of the $A looking to hang around 90C to USD parity QF could expect strong continued loads,so the route should return to being pretty profitable to them allowing JQ to move probobly onto markets like Rome and Athens, both easily accomodated in the near term by A300-200s . They were planning this towards the end of 2008 on the orig delivery dates of the 787

If you read between the lines of the latest QF update by GD you get that as well - QF is really well positioned to build even more US services, especially with the A380's coming on line in a couple of months. Also the x-change rate will give Virgin Australia a huge leg up as well (ex Aus anyway!).

 

[coco50]

I have flown HNL-SYD on a QF 744 that has been absolutely chockers (before JQ started the run). This was at the end of the school holidays. I've also flown HNL-SYD at the end of June last year the week before the school holidays and there was room to burn on the A330. Perhaps different marketing would increase the JQ loads but I wouldn't be surprised if the rumour is correct.

 

[JohnK]

Why is it that some people believe that a full service airline is somehow, "luxury"

Could have something to do with past experiences travelling LCC.

Whilst it may not be luxury it is very important for an airline to offer good customer service, running to schedule with very little or no cancelled services, meals and beverages for the duration of the flight included, some form of IFE, baggage interlining, status etc.

There really is nothing "luxury" about Econ on any airline. Maybe in J,F on some but certainly not in Econ.

True it is not luxury but I would prefer QF economy to LCC economy any day.

The only diference is service levels, food and beverage, luggage ect.
QF in econ is certainly better than Jet* a little,

The things you mentioned above are probably the most important things of the flight. JQ fails miserably in most categories although sometimes I think a meat pie would be much better than the food served in WHY.

 

[coco50]

Could have something to do with past experiences travelling LCC.


True it is not luxury but I would prefer QF economy to LCC economy any day.


The things you mentioned above are probably the most important things of the flight. JQ fails miserably in most categories although sometimes I think a meat pie would be much better than the food served in WHY.

I booked to fly to HNL from SYD last June. Our flight was delayed and a QF 767 substituted for the JQ A330. The service was therefore provided by QF. QF charged QF prices for the alcohol (=0) and the blankets and food which would have cost $50 on JQ were free. I'm with you JohnK

 

[imapringle]

JQ is about the same cost as QF to HNL so why would anyone fly JQ when they can fly QF for the same cost.

JQ need to lower the costs by a hundred or so $$$

Yes $669 or whatever it is is to much for JQ, mabye $550 one way, and they should only do 2 flights per week, not 5 flights

And guys, you said light loads, actually how light are we talking about:?: