Qantas no longer selling J on CBR-BNE 717 flights from 28/3/21?

[Mattg]

Just having a look and flights between Canberra and Brisbane. I've noticed that, from 28 March (start of IATA northern summer period), none of the 717 flights on this route have business class seats available for purchase. The majority of flights on this route are 717s, so this affects most flights. (There are still J seats available on the small number of 737 flights on this route.)

From the seat maps, it looks like Qantas is planning to switch from two-class 717s to one-class 717s with an all-economy configuration on this route. How bizarre.

Anyone know what's going on here?

 

[Billtrain]

No idea what is going on there, but I thought I noticed something odd yesterday! Thanks for the confirmation.

CBR-SYD flights to catch the DRW connection in the morning are Dash's now as well. Have had to move my flight's to DRW to be via MEL on the Sunday night (assuming they don't get changed...) rather than the Monday morning from April onward.

Weird that they are pulling J capacity out of CBR. Only thing I can think of is that Parliament isn't sitting from the end of March until mid May, but I haven't looked to see what is happening flight wise after that as I have a few months at home coming up.

 

[Mattg]

Weird that they are pulling J capacity out of CBR. Only thing I can think of is that Parliament isn't sitting from the end of March until mid May, but I haven't looked to see what is happening flight wise after that as I have a few months at home coming up.

It seems to be the same thing for the rest of the current published schedule - no J on any CBR-BNE 717 flight after 28 March.

Business class is still being sold on the CBR-SYD, CBR-MEL, CBR-OOL, CBR-HBA, CBR-MCY and CBR-CNS 717 flights.

 

[DC3]

... Anyone know what's going on here?

Not that long ago, but Red Roo would have probably provided an answer by now.

 

[Seat0B]

Well that will make my decision to avoid Qld at all costs even easier.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think I read somewhere that some of the 717s that QF uses, do not have a J product.
Seatguru shows it as the 717-200 (1 class) and describes it as "most common".

 

[AIRwin]

Well that will make my decision to avoid Qld at all costs even easier.

Fly Virgin instead once the new business class offering is in place?

 

[justinbrett]

They pulled J out of NTL-BNE only about a month after launching.

 

[justinbrett]

I think I read somewhere that some of the 717s that QF uses, do not have a J product.
Seatguru shows it as the 717-200 (1 class) and describes it as "most common".

Thats not correct. 12 have J and 8 don’t.

Boeing 717-200 seat map | Qantas AU

View the onboard seat map for the Qantas Boeing 717-200 aircraft.

www.qantas.com

 

[Mattg]

They pulled J out of NTL-BNE only about a month after launching.

Lack of premium demand or did they need the aircraft with J seats elsewhere?

 

[justinbrett]

Lack of premium demand or did they need the aircraft with J seats elsewhere?

Lack of spirits in J is my theory...

They didn’t really give it a chance, and it was launched at a time of year there were very few business travellers.

 

[Mattg]

Lack of spirits in J is my theory...

They didn’t really give it a chance, and it was launched at a time of year there were very few business travellers.

Was it even marketed/promoted? I suspect very few people knew it was even available.

(This certainly isn't the case on a route like CBR-BNE, were J is often filled.)

 

[justinbrett]

Was it even marketed/promoted? I suspect very few people knew it was even available.

(This certainly isn't the case on a route like CBR-BNE, were J is often filled.)

In local media it was

Newcastle Airport | Newcastle welcomes Qantas Boeing 717 jet on popular Brisbane route

From 12:15pm today, people of the Hunter and northern NSW will have access to more seats and the option of a two-class aircraft when Qantas begin flying their Boeing 717 on the airline’s popular route between Newcastle Airport and Brisbane.

www.newcastleairport.com.au

QANTAS INCREASES CAPACITY ON NEWCASTLE TO BRISBANE FLIGHT - NBN News

As Queensland continues to open up, Qantas is increasing its capacity on the popular Newcastle to Br

www.nbnnews.com.au

We lost it during the Brisbane lockdown. When it came back it was all Y.

Virgin has been neglecting NTL as well, their latest flight NTL-BNE departs NTL before noon, ruling them out for most weekend travellers. Qantas Group are sitting pretty regardless what platforms and services they offer.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I booked J awards to Brisbane for a flight in May - probably booked late Feb and yes have had two changes, both to an all economy version. Didn’t check the actual equipment but in the first change the flight lengthened and I couldn’t select seats, second iteration flight shortened again and I could. I was a bit surprised, as it’s a Friday flight and that is usually quite popular with J flyers (talking pre Covid here). I can only assume public service demand is still low.

I had booked a J award for Dr FM to fly to Brisbane in mid Feb and that was changed to all economy a few days before the flight, on a Saturday so less surprising, but clearly J demand is not high.

 

[DC3]

... I had booked a J award for Dr FM to fly to Brisbane in mid Feb and that was changed to all economy a few days before the flight, on a Saturday so less surprising, but clearly J demand is not high.

Yes. Due to popular demand, Business has been removed from some flights and we will now sit in economy.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes. Due to popular demand, Business has been removed from some flights and we will now sit in economy.

It’s very sad. I have all these points desperate to be spent on J awards and they take them away ......

 

[Mattg]

I had booked a J award for Dr FM to fly to Brisbane in mid Feb and that was changed to all economy a few days before the flight, on a Saturday so less surprising, but clearly J demand is not high.

FWIW there were 9/12 passengers in J on my CBR-BNE 717 flight yesterday (Saturday).

That’s significantly better than the load factor in economy on my flight, where 19/98 seats were filled.

 

[pippen_2k]

''Since safety is our main priority, we are removing business class from our current flight schedule.'' - Wouldn't be surprised if they said something like this. The old covid throw away.

 

[AIRwin]

''Since safety is our main priority, we are removing business class from our current flight schedule.'' - Wouldn't be surprised if they said something like this. The old covid throw away.

Or "We've listened to what our customers want"...

 

[DC3]

Or "We've listened to what our customers want"...

You asked for it and we delivered