Is QF8 BNE-SYD worth a morning fun run? Should I book J or count on an upgrade?

[leon_rex]

Greetings AFFers,

I was thinking about booking QF8 from Brisbane to Sydney. It would be nice to get into a jumbo for such a short flight, as these are my favourite aeroplanes.

1. Does QF8 use a 3 or 4 class plane?
2. Do they do the full International theme with pre-flight Champagne etc?
3. Is it worth buying a full priced Business ticket, or should I expect to find an empty J cabin when I get to the airport?
4. Is the First Lounge at Brisbane still a heap of junk?

I await your advice with great interest!

 

[harvyk]

+1 on the jumbo, my fav as well.

Last time I flew on QF8 it was a 3 class.
It feels like an international service thanks to departing / arriving at int terminals, and the type, but the service feels more like a dom service. Can't speak about J.

Beware that QF8 often runs late on the BNE-SYD, I've flown it a few times and it has never left on time. So don't have anything in SYD that you actually need to get to.

 

[markis10]

It's always a three class as only the ERs operate it (there was one exception last month when a 400 operated it), IMHO not worth doing, you don't get much time in BNE as customs opens late, not that a crowded lounge is worth much time.

 

[Simo]

Yep on time performance is not great for that service.

I have not done QF8 mainly due to poor on time performance even when doing international flights as I want max time in Flounge

 

[mr_pb]

IME QF8 is not really worth it for the hop to SYD. Customs is a doozy that early in the morning, as Simo said the on-time performance's quite bad from the DFW sector, you don't get the bubbly as it's a morning flight, the breakfast service is pretty much lifted from a Cityflyer service, the BNE lounge is not even worth walking up to in the mornings, etc. etc.

Depending on your status you may get an upgrade - but don't get your hopes up, I usually do both DFW-BNE-SYD sectors and while J normally clears up between BNE-SYD, it's still notably full with only a handful of seats typically available in my past 3 times. Really, for such a short flight, the benefits of a 744 is not worth it at all. Save your sanity and stick with Cityflyer

 

[amaroo]

Greetings AFFers,

I was thinking about booking QF8 from Brisbane to Sydney. It would be nice to get into a jumbo for such a short flight, as these are my favourite aeroplanes.

1. Does QF8 use a 3 or 4 class plane?
2. Do they do the full International theme with pre-flight Champagne etc?
3. Is it worth buying a full priced Business ticket, or should I expect to find an empty J cabin when I get to the airport?
4. Is the First Lounge at Brisbane still a heap of junk?

I await your advice with great interest!

1. 3 class skybed MKII the times I've caught it.
2. Can't recall. I've caught it twice this year and at OMG o'clock - it's the last thing on my mind! Although, I've seen some down a glass or two in flight.
3. No......unless you've got a DSC and someone else is paying
4. Still a junk.

Our next QF8 is mid Dec....connecting to QF11. IMO this is a beauty......easy connection and plenty of Flounging (assuming the thing doesn't stop in Vanuatu or Auckland)

I miss QF19 SYD-BNE......that was a flight worth taking!

 

[leon_rex]

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any international flights booked in the months ahead and I can't think of any other suitable ways to get on a 747, so I might have to bite the bullet and do it. I will enquire further about the Champagne business as I couldn't possibly do it without a pre-take off drink. None of my flying is for work so delays are welcome!

 

[harvyk]

IME QF8 is not really worth it for the hop to SYD. Customs is a doozy that early in the morning, as Simo said the on-time performance's quite bad from the DFW sector, you don't get the bubbly as it's a morning flight, the breakfast service is pretty much lifted from a Cityflyer service, the BNE lounge is not even worth walking up to in the mornings, etc. etc.

I've never really found customs to be that much of an issue with the 'D' sticker, except for the one time that customs in BNE forgot to stamp the D sticker on departure, so SYD customs where unsure if the 'D' sticker was valid or not.

 

[under the radar]

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any international flights booked in the months ahead and I can't think of any other suitable ways to get on a 747, so I might have to bite the bullet and do it. I will enquire further about the Champagne business as I couldn't possibly do it without a pre-take off drink. None of my flying is for work so delays are welcome!

i'd guess it will depend on the crew and supply available for the BNE-SYD flight (whatever is left over from the DFW-BNE flight)....being a 'domestic breakfast' flight, i doubt stock will be loaded in BNE for the short hop to SYD as the service offering is more aligned to what other domestic flights offer (ie..pre takeoff juice/water offered)....BUT it never hurts to ask....nicely

 

[samh004]

It's always a three class as only the ERs operate it (there was one exception last month when a 400 operated it), IMHO not worth doing, you don't get much time in BNE as customs opens late, not that a crowded lounge is worth much time.

I haven't set foot in an Flounge for 2 years, and as my comeback special on QF19 was canned the BNE shoebox will be my only chance to experience some Champagne, do you think I should still keep the flight? My next flight isn't till 12!

 

[craven morehead]

Last time I caught QF8 was booked J as a PS and was upgraded to F for the entire 90 mins or so !! Woohoo :mrgreen: Was connecting to a J flight SYD-NRT if I remember .......

 

[markis10]

Last time I caught QF8 was booked J as a PS and was upgraded to F for the entire 90 mins or so !! Woohoo :mrgreen: Was connecting to a J flight SYD-NRT if I remember .......

QF8 has never had F, you might get F seating on the tag flight when they need the aircraft in Sydney but it would be J service.

 

[craven morehead]

QF8 has never had F, you might get F seating on the tag flight when they need the aircraft in Sydney but it would be J service.

Yes was definitely F seating with J service I stand corrected.

 

[k_sheep]

When it's running late they just move you to the domestic service, so be prepared for that.

 

[leon_rex]

Definitely J then, would be too sad to plan a boozy fun-run and end up in Row 29

 

[JohnK]

I was on this flight last week in premium economy after coming in from SIN.

Definitely impressed with the breakfast where eggs actually tasted like eggs.

 

[harvyk]

When it's running late they just move you to the domestic service, so be prepared for that.

I've found unless it's running really late and / or going to make problems with connections in SYD, they will give you the choice...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm taking this flight in Jan as part of a JASA HKG-BNE-SYD. Originally no U class on any decent domestic connection without a really long layover. Agent laughed when I asked him to change the long layover to QF8 and said I'll likely end up on domestic anyway

 

[harvyk]

I'm taking this flight in Jan as part of a JASA HKG-BNE-SYD. Originally no U class on any decent domestic connection without a really long layover. Agent laughed when I asked him to change the long layover to QF8 and said I'll likely end up on domestic anyway

I didn't have agents laughing when I did SIN-BNE-SYD a couple of months ago, but it confused everyone as to what I needed to put on my arrivals card, Customs included...

 

[Canny man]

I've done this four few times. It's only once been on time.
Positives:
champagne available in the first class cupboard, and I've never been the only one having breakfast bubbles!!!
Decent breakfast in J (although I usually decline if I've got time in the Sydney FLounge ahead of me.
Once had real champagne on board (but note domestic pre-take off drinks)
Avoids transfer bus and wait

Negatives

On-time performance sucks - I once had to do a mad dash to the domestic terminal. You will probably get a seat if high status, but no guarantee
Normally, the security clearance in Sydney is a breeze and is much better than the bus transfer. However, on a trip in June it was a nightmare, only one x-ray operating, huge queue, took 25 minutes to get through. Along with a delayed flight, this meant that I lost almost all my Flounge time before my next departure.

All in all I'd agree with the other posters. It's just not worth the risk of delays if you have anything less than 2 hours at the Sydney end.