Qantas to fly MEL-SFO with 787

[milehighclub]

FLYING KANGAROO MEETS JOLLY JUMBUCK AS FIRST DREAMLINER SERVICE TAKES OFF TO LA

 

[mbell1510]

So I wonder if this means the second batch of Dreamliners won't all go to Brisbane now. Especially as the first four are being used to support MEL-LAX and MEL-PER-LHR. Or will the MEL-LAX Dreamliner service be dropped in favour of this service? Could be as Joyce has long talked about Melbourne to Dallas flights.

 

[milehighclub]

MEL-LAX on the 787 (QF95/96) will be reduced in order to allow SFO

 

[docjames]

How does that tie in with the Brisbane base I thought they were having?

BNE-LAX looking pretty likely for the 4th 787 i guess so they can rotate the aircraft in LA to Brisbane base, although with so many legs through Melbourne, seems weird the base isnt there.

BNE-LAX-MEL-SFO-MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL-LAX-BNE?



Although re-reading the release, buried in the middle:

Capacity between Melbourne and the US will be rebalanced to match demand for the two Californian cities, meaning that the Dreamliner will fly to Los Angeles some days of the week and San Francisco other days

So looks like the LAX legs on the 787 wont run every day but some days to SFO. No word on the split between the two, but if they retain the A380 on MEL-LAX looks like they were worried 7 days per week additional on MEL-LAX would be too much capacity.

Fascinating development.

 

[mviy]

Wow. MEL to SFO will be fantastic! I was hoping for this. Though I wonder what WP upgrade chances will be like. If they aren’t good I’ll probably still want to go via SYD. Though I hope it doesn’t make it harder to visit the CX Lounge.

 

[moa999]

The patterns will be interesting.
Expect at least one of BNE/MEL-LAX will continue to JFK - likely the BNE service as it's daily.

All of BNE/MEL/SYD-LAX/SFO are 12-14hr flights, so fit in a 30-34hr pattern, apart from the ground time in LAX that currently exists.

If QF could reduce this it probably allows you to fit in a SFO service but with some different times.

 

[milehighclub]

BNE-LAX looking pretty likely for the 4th 787 i guess so they can rotate the aircraft in LA to Brisbane base, although with so many legs through Melbourne, seems weird the base isnt there.

The 3rd and 4th 787 will also be based in MEL to allow MEL-LAX-MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL. It won't rotate through BNE

Aircraft 5 and onwards will go to BNE and will do BNE-LAX-JFK-LAX-BNE, with another route to be announced next year

 

[mviy]

Considering the BNE plane currently flies onto JFK I’d be very surprised if that changed.

Will be interesting to see what time the SFO-MEL flight leaves SFO, whether it’s before or after the flight to SYD or at the same time.

 

[milehighclub]

I would imagine the times will be similar to Sydney. Allows for lower costs in SFO if you can do both departures at the same time with one set of ground staff.

 

[TheInsider]

Wow. MEL to SFO will be fantastic! I was hoping for this. Though I wonder what WP upgrade chances will be like. If they aren’t good I’ll probably still want to go via SYD. Though I hope it doesn’t make it harder to visit the CX Lounge.

As in free upgrades?? If that's the case, then maybe a 2% chance.

 

[mviy]

As in free upgrades?? If that's the case, then maybe a 2% chance.

No. Using points. Credit card churn and limited international trips helps with being able to apply for upgrades when flying internationally.

 

[TheInsider]

No. Using points. Credit card churn and limited international trips helps with being able to apply for upgrades when flying internationally.

Well it still has 42 business seats, compared to the A380 which has 64, and 747 about 58. So chances are still quite good. Especially since there are still daily flights to LAX on the A380 where people will still book J to SFO via LAX.

 

[moa999]

Was thinking something like
QF95 MEL 1425 LAX 0945
QF96 LAX 1235 MEL 2310 - reducing LAX downtine
QFxx MEL 0130 SFO 2045 (no MEL curfew, just ugly departure time)
QFxx SFO 2345 MEL 1100 (no SFO curfew)

Run both 6x/wk to provide ability to get back on schedule in event of disruptions.
Would use three frames.
Obviously could also interface with the MEL-LHR service which has slightly greater downtime.

All times very approximate based on current QF95 operating times.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Brilliant announcement, although I must admit I was preparing for BNE to receive a QF route announcement before MEL.
Needless to say, MEL > SFO is sure to be a hit, I can see this route being immensely successful!

 

[TheInsider]

Was thinking something like
QF95 MEL 1425 LAX 0945
QF96 LAX 1235 MEL 2310 - reducing LAX downtine
QFxx MEL 0130 SFO 2045 (no MEL curfew, just ugly departure time)
QFxx SFO 2345 MEL 1100 (no SFO curfew)

All times very approximate based on current QF95 operating times.

Published times for the QF95 (2140) are a lot later once the MEL-PER-LHR starts.

The current rotation with the same airframe is:
QF9 MEL 1515 PER 1715
QF9 PER 1845 LHR 0505
QF10 LHR 1315 PER 1300
QF10 PER 1430 MEL 1955
QF95 MEL 2140 LAX 1900 (MEL-SFO would be around the same times)
QF96 LAX 2355 MEL 0825 (SFO-MEL would be around the same times)
Then the QF9 again

 

[mviy]

Nice. An evening departure would be fun. Hope the FLounge is open for this flight.

 

[docjames]

Aus BT reporting likely to be a SFO 4 / LAX 3 split

 

[JRR]

According to AusBT, Qantas's Alison Webster stated:

"We’re proud that with the new San Francisco route too, it will strengthen tourism and trade links, particularly with Silicone Valley." [emphasis mine]

Are we sure it is flying to San Fran and not Los Angeles??

 

[TheInsider]

"We’re proud that with the new San Francisco route too, it will strengthen tourism and trade links, particularly with Silicone Valley." [emphasis mine]
Are we sure it is flying to San Fran and not Los Angeles??

Huh?

Qantas today also announced an all-new route to be operated by the Dreamliner, with the introduction of – Melbourne to San Francisco. The route will be on sale from early 2018 with flights expected to start by late 2018. Capacity between Melbourne and the US will be rebalanced to match demand for the two Californian cities, meaning that the Dreamliner will fly to Los Angeles some days of the week and San Francisco other days.

“A significant number of our Melbourne passengers flying to Los Angeles already connect on to San Francisco. We also see strong demand from San Francisco, both from a tourism perspective and because of the business links between Melbourne and Silicon Valley,” said Ms Webster

 

[JRR]

Huh?

“A significant number of our Melbourne passengers flying to Los Angeles already connect on to San Francisco. We also see strong demand from San Francisco, both from a tourism perspective and because of the business links between Melbourne and Silicon Valley,” said Ms Webster

Screenshot from AusBT



The text on the Qantas website says "Silicon" so either a) AusBT retyped with an error or b) Qantas fixed it.