Possibility of aircraft change on a SYD-PER flight

[Longtoo]

Dear FF braintrust,
What is the possibility of QF changing aircraft from A330 to B737 before departure?
Here is the background to my question. I will travel to Perth from Sydney in June and have deliberated book flights with A330 aircraft (by Qantas) for potential upgrade with points. My point budget is rather low atm, thus i would not want to get upgrade on a B373 metal.
TIA

 

[mviy]

It’s possible. A lot depends on the flight loading. If the flight is well booked (lots of passengers book that flight) a downgrade of aircraft is less likely.

 

[aus_flyer]

I would think quite possible - especially if WA implements border restrictions and with QF putting a lot of A330s on NZ flights

 

[jakeseven7]

QF have woken up a bunch of A330’s for Trans Tasman specifically so that will not impact it.

So it’s more about whether the loads hold up.

I’ve not had an airframe ‘downgrade’ on QF though in my last 4 trips. They seem to be quite full!

 

[esquire]

This is a key selling point for QF over VA.
My company does a lot of SYD-PER travel - and amazingly, even with a BFOD policy (which allows a buffer of $50 towards QF as the preferred airline) everyone magically seems to book a QF A330....

 

[drron]

Well if our experience is anything to go by the 330 is good to book if you are wanting an upgrade. For our 8/4 flight on a 330 we booked 2 AA J awards on 2/4.Selecting seats there were only 4 others selected yet the flight was full. We know that they were sending out upgrade emails so presumably a few were successful.

 

[Longtoo]

Many thanks for your enthusiastic input. it is assuring. I just don't want to spend points on 737 upgrade. No problem if upgrade does not come through.

Joyce is still bullish on some international travel beyond NZ by Oct.

 

[Longtoo]

On my return, they changed to 737 metal on the day of departure. 30K QFF points were wasted.

 

[jb747]

It’s possible. A lot depends on the flight loading. If the flight is well booked (lots of passengers book that flight) a downgrade of aircraft is less likely.

Not just that flight. All flights are pairings of some sort, so the load in one direction might be rubbish, but full in the other. WA‘s behaviour throughout must be nightmarish for airline planners. I’m surprised that they haven’t simply cancelled everything, with a TBA when WA feels like reconnecting.

 

[TMP]

On my return, they changed to 737 metal on the day of departure. 30K QFF points were wasted.

Why wasted? It's the same to upgrade regardless of the metal.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Flying a wide body for some does not make a difference, as to with that of a narrow body plane.
But having done one QF A330 MEL - SYD in discJ (paid by myself), and one AKL - BNE in J, also paid, I can tell you, there is a difference.
PIty Longtoo had to face that 737 on the transAust route, a very long one in J.

 

[Longtoo]

I am a Platinum QFF thus benefit from the upgrade is a bigger seat, a bit more incline, and a better meal that i declined. QF does not have spirit on board for coughtail atm. I agree the value is specific to each individual. For me, J is almost the same as Y in 737 metal.

On my PER-SYD flight, a few passengers changed their mind after checking in their baggage. We had to wait for ground staff to debag them. Then the coughpit window could not seal properly, while the engineers were fixing the problem (air bridge was reconnected), a few more pax literally walked off the plane. Seeing the WA announcement today, I would not blame them. Flying in pandemic time is an adventure!