Qantas from Hobart to London via Perth - has anyone done it?

[Flyingwombat]

I'm looking at flying to London from Hobart with the great Premium Economy fares on offer in early 2026...

The usual HBA-SYD in Y and then SYD-SIN-LHR in premium on QF1 comes up but also via Perth. It is the network aviation A319 in Y to PER and then the nonstop 787 in premium from PER to LHR.

The connection in Perth seems tight but it looks like the domestic arrives T4 and the international leaves T4 as well?

Wondering if anyone has done this connection and how it worked out? Also the A319 is getting bad press for JQ style seating (they were Spirit planes) - has anyone flown in row 1 and what was it like? I can get this for $70 extra.

 

[Cessna 180]

I'm looking at flying to London from Hobart with the great Premium Economy fares on offer in early 2026...

The usual HBA-SYD in Y and then SYD-SIN-LHR in premium on QF1 comes up but also via Perth. It is the network aviation A319 in Y to PER and then the nonstop 787 in premium from PER to LHR.

The connection in Perth seems tight but it looks like the domestic arrives T4 and the international leaves T4 as well?

Wondering if anyone has done this connection and how it worked out? Also the A319 is getting bad press for JQ style seating (they were Spirit planes) - has anyone flown in row 1 and what was it like? I can get this for $70 extra.

Hello,

I cannot comment on the HBA-London bit, however the Perth QF terminal is all one and a few minutes walk between any of the gates. Sometimes the domestic arrival will be directly across from the immigration doors.

Re the Netlink A319/20, I was on one last week in seat 1A to ZNE. A bulkhead between the door and me and a tiny bit of extra legroom. I had no one else in the row so that helps. Generally they are a tight seat if you are 6ft 3 and I find them cramped. As I do on any of the other QF or VA planes as well.
Possibly it is worth $70 for it, but probably not if you are lucky enough to have an empty seat next to you.
Catering is ok. Cheese and biccies or a pie depending on the time and booze in the arvos. (intra WA anyway)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking at flying to London from Hobart with the great Premium Economy fares on offer in early 2026...

The usual HBA-SYD in Y and then SYD-SIN-LHR in premium on QF1 comes up but also via Perth. It is the network aviation A319 in Y to PER and then the nonstop 787 in premium from PER to LHR.

The connection in Perth seems tight but it looks like the domestic arrives T4 and the international leaves T4 as well?

Wondering if anyone has done this connection and how it worked out? Also the A319 is getting bad press for JQ style seating (they were Spirit planes) - has anyone flown in row 1 and what was it like? I can get this for $70 extra.

Is there a reduction in fare for the a319 flight? If not, 5 hours is a long time in economy.

I’d take the a380 premium economy the whole way. Enjoy a good meal and entertainment for the day time flight to Sin. Stretch the legs in Singapore, and then get a good sleep on the flight to London!

I’m surprised there’s an a319 all economy aircraft flying SYD-PER? Is it perhaps the a32Q? but even then, I wouldn’t fancy a long flight in economy on that. (edited… I see… a319 from HBA)

 

[Warragul]

The A319 is HBA-PER. Even better.

 

[jase05]

I’m surprised there’s an a319 all economy aircraft flying SYD-PER? Is it perhaps the a32Q? but even then, I wouldn’t fancy a long flight in economy on that.

My read on it was the A319 all Y is HBA-PER and then connect to QF9 in PER

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The A319 is HBA-PER. Even better.

Ah, that makes sense! Even still… I’d prolly skip 5 hours in economy?

 

[Daver6]

As others have said, the connection in PER is simple. At most you'll have a 5 minute slow walk from the arrival gate to the doors to the international section. Immigration and secondary security is quick.

I really like the timing of QF9 as direct flight. Get on board, have a meal, watch a movie, kip for 8-10 hours. Wake-up, breakfast and you're in London. T3 LHR is dead so you're through very quickly.

Obviously 5 hours in Y is a downside. But so is the dreadful domestic to international experience in SYD.

Is there any fare difference between the two options?

As an aside, I've seen Y+ prices from the east coast to Europe via PER sometimes have Y+ book into J cabins for the domestic sector. What I'm wondering is, is there a HBA-MEL-PER-LHR option? Even if it only books into Y, its usually flexi Y to J upgrades on points. Could be nice if you time it with an A330 transcon.

 

[Flyingwombat]

Hello,

I cannot comment on the HBA-London bit, however the Perth QF terminal is all one and a few minutes walk between any of the gates. Sometimes the domestic arrival will be directly across from the immigration doors.

Re the Netlink A319/20, I was on one last week in seat 1A to ZNE. A bulkhead between the door and me and a tiny bit of extra legroom. I had no one else in the row so that helps. Generally they are a tight seat if you are 6ft 3 and I find them cramped. As I do on any of the other QF or VA planes as well.
Possibly it is worth $70 for it, but probably not if you are lucky enough to have an empty seat next to you.
Catering is ok. Cheese and biccies or a pie depending on the time and booze in the arvos. (intra WA anyway)

Sounds like an easy transfer and thanks for thoughts on A319 row 1

 

[Flyingwombat]

Is there a reduction in fare for the a319 flight? If not, 5 hours is a long time in economy.

I’d take the a380 premium economy the whole way. Enjoy a good meal and entertainment for the day time flight to Sin. Stretch the legs in Singapore, and then get a good sleep on the flight to London!

I’m surprised there’s an a319 all economy aircraft flying SYD-PER? Is it perhaps the a32Q? but even then, I wouldn’t fancy a long flight in economy on that. (edited… I see… a319 from HBA)

The price is about $29 less through Perth. I do like Singapore transit but Perth would be a novelty… and saves 4 hours in total travel time.

The new Hobart Perth nonstops are all economy A319s.

 

[Flyingwombat]

As others have said, the connection in PER is simple. At most you'll have a 5 minute slow walk from the arrival gate to the doors to the international section. Immigration and secondary security is quick.

I really like the timing of QF9 as direct flight. Get on board, have a meal, watch a movie, kip for 8-10 hours. Wake-up, breakfast and you're in London. T3 LHR is dead so you're through very quickly.

Obviously 5 hours in Y is a downside. But so is the dreadful domestic to international experience in SYD.

Is there any fare difference between the two options?

As an aside, I've seen Y+ prices from the east coast to Europe via PER sometimes have Y+ book into J cabins for the domestic sector. What I'm wondering is, is there a HBA-MEL-PER-LHR option? Even if it only books into Y, its usually flexi Y to J upgrades on points. Could be nice if you time it with an A330 transcon.

The attraction of Perth is reduction in flying time and transit time. And a bit of a novelty. I’d come home on QF2 anyway via SIN. Thanks for info. Transit sounds easy. Yep I hate Sydney transits…

 

[Daver6]

The attraction of Perth is reduction in flying time and transit time. And a bit of a novelty. I’d come home on QF2 anyway via SIN. Thanks for info. Transit sounds easy. Yep I hate Sydney transits…

I'm not sure if you have lounge access based on status etc and it's been a long time since I've been in the SYD international J lounge, but from I do recall the PER J lounge is much better. If you have F lounge access then obviously SYD and SIN win that one.

 

[Flyingwombat]

I'm not sure if you have lounge access based on status etc and it's been a long time since I've been in the SYD international J lounge, but from I do recall the PER J lounge is much better. If you have F lounge access then obviously SYD and SIN win that one.

I’m Qantas club so J lounges for me internationally. Sydney lounge sucks… it is the same as when I started flying to Shanghai for work in 2010! Nothing has changed. We were just there 6 weeks ago and it was horrible. We ended up in the overflow area under the escalator to F lounge… that was ok in the end as you can see all the greenery in the vertical garden and the brekkie food is good. But for their premium home port it is terrible experience overall.

I do enjoy SIN lounge especially when the har gow and French fries trolley is wheeled out. Ultimate in fusion cuisine