Qantas to maybe axe Melbourne-London A380 Flights

[mviy]

The thought though that the QF MEL-DXB-LHR is under threat would actually make me reluctant to book one anyway now, for fear that your flight will be summarily cancelled and you'll find yourself in a middle seat on a MEL-PER-LHR, or worse EK on the same route instead. No thanks!

If the flight is unfortunately cancelled it would likely be from around when they start the new services from Perth one would think, and if that's the case then the last A380 service won't even be able to be booked yet. One would think they would try to manage things so that minimal services need to be cancelled.

If my flights for 2017 are cancelled I'll probably ask QANTAS to move me onto a flight via SYD on QF metal if there's no other A380 route on QF metal.

 

[fairbasa]

While QF is downsizing at MEL, QR is upsizing:

Qatar Airways plans Airbus A380 flights to Melbourne - Australian Business Traveller

 

[mviy]

While QF is downsizing at MEL, QR is upsizing:

Qatar Airways plans Airbus A380 flights to Melbourne - Australian Business Traveller

After reading that article I'm starting to wonder about AusBT's sources. Why pull out of servicing something for which the demand is growing?

 

[fairbasa]

In their defence, I don't believe they said QF were pulling out of MEL flights to Europe, just that the A380 wouldn't be operating MEL-DXB-LHR after the PER-LHR flights were added.

This could mean QF downsize MEL-DXB-LHR to a 789? Maybe operate MEL-DXB-FRA or similar?

 

[mviy]

I think this article goes to show that there should be sufficient demand for QF to run an A380 on its flagship route.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

After reading that article I'm starting to wonder about AusBT's sources. Why pull out of servicing something for which the demand is growing?

It's the opposite. Demand to fly Qantas is shrinking.
if new entrants (emirates is an excellent example) can fill a380s and other airlines are downsizing their aircraft, its a problem with qantas and not with the route.

 

[Chalkie]

I think this would be terrible. As I always choose to fly F when it is available, it looks like in 2018 for my MEL-LHR sectors I may be flying via SYD. Ugh. At least if the F cabin remains available SYD-DXB-LHR, that is more palatable than MEL-PER-LHR in J.

2018 looks as though it will be my last regular long haul flying year though (retirement is starting to beckon...). I am fairly sure most of my long haul sectors that year will be the USA, although I may do a couple of RTWs. If QF10 gets dropped, I probably won't turn myself inside out trying to maintain P1 that year, and instead enjoy some CX F sectors that I've been eschewing in favour of flying QF F to keep the status points up.

One way or the other it will mean less rev to QF. Doubtless though QF has crunched the numbers and it makes sense from an overall economic perspective.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think this article goes to show that there should be sufficient demand for QF to run an A380 on its flagship route.

I think they are having problems filling their cabins in the offpeak seasons.
I suspect the B789 service MEL-PER-LHR is all about getting the right aircraft to service a shrinking market for the airline.

Most passengers are after best fare of day with $$ being the most important factor.

Oil prices going up, interest rates on the up, economy is uncertain. I think some headwinds coming to the Qantas corporate headquarters.

 

[Franky]

'it looks like in 2018 for my MEL-LHR sectors I may be flying via SYD. Ugh.'

Chalkie - it would seem that your statement flies in the face of Alan Joyce's stickup of Perth Airport and two Governments to provide space at Perth to allow a 'seamless transfer' twixt DOM-INTL. Doing the same thing thru Sydney is not considered seamless by many.

 

[TomVexille]

Chalkie - it would seem that your statement flies in the face of Alan Joyce's stickup of Perth Airport and two Governments to provide space at Perth to allow a 'seamless transfer' twixt DOM-INTL. Doing the same thing thru Sydney is not considered seamless by many.

But would be worth it to fly F vs J

 

[mviy]

Doing the same thing thru Sydney is not considered seamless by many.

Yes, but if QANTAS ditches its flagship MEL A380 service to LHR what choice will flyers have if they want to fly on QF metal on the A380 to LHR? The A380 is a great aircraft.

The PER-LHR flights are just a stop gap measure till they can go MEL/SYD-LHR non-stop.

 

[Quickstatus]

The PER-LHR flights are just a stop gap measure till they can go MEL/SYD-LHR non-stop.

Nontop flights such as this IMHO are no good from a crew fatigue issue unless new technology makes the journey much quicker - ie >Mach 1

 

[JohnPhelan]

I think this article goes to show that there should be sufficient demand for QF to run an A380 on its flagship route.

Yes, there is, and they are. MEL-LHR is not QF's flagship route.

 

[Franky]

But would be worth it to fly F vs J

Hmmmm - maybe, but then you dont have to do a red-eye from Perth to get an F flight out of Sydney..

 

[TomVexille]

Hmmmm - maybe, but then you dont have to do a red-eye from Perth to get an F flight out of Sydney..

Huh? You replied to a comment about MEL-LHR. If one was already in PER, then giving up F for J on the QF flight might make sense, assuming that one doesn't want to fly EK. But from MEL, MEL-SYD (J) SYD-LHR (F) wins every time over MEL-xPER-LHR in J, even with a "seamless" transfer at PER.

 

[Chalkie]

'it looks like in 2018 for my MEL-LHR sectors I may be flying via SYD. Ugh.'

Chalkie - it would seem that your statement flies in the face of Alan Joyce's stickup of Perth Airport and two Governments to provide space at Perth to allow a 'seamless transfer' twixt DOM-INTL. Doing the same thing thru Sydney is not considered seamless by many.

I agree. Via SYD is definitely not seamless. But MEL-PER-LHR on a Dreamliner in J doesn't stack up against SYD-DXB-LHR in F in an A380. The QF "new" J seat is wonderful in many respects and perfect for Australia to Asian destinations. I am less thrilled with the idea of it for transpac or Kangaroo route. The A380 F cabin on QF has spoiled me - it is spacious, comfortable and has the best bed in the sky on Oneworld, IMO. I have my A380 routines for Kangaroo route down pat now and am arriving in LHR and MEL happy and reasonably rested. The idea of spending PER-LHR in a J cabin seat does not thrill me (and I simply would not travel if I had to do it in Y).

 

[levelnine]

Deeply disappointing for MEL-based Y travellers to Europe who like to use their QFF points to upgrade from Y to J. While the Emirates Y product is perfectly acceptable on the A380, no options for upgrade make it unappealing.

 

[mannej]

Deeply disappointing for MEL-based Y travellers to Europe who like to use their QFF points to upgrade from Y to J. While the Emirates Y product is perfectly acceptable on the A380, no options for upgrade make it unappealing.

Sounds like the current status quo in PER...

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Deeply disappointing for MEL-based Y travellers to Europe who like to use their QFF points to upgrade from Y to J. While the Emirates Y product is perfectly acceptable on the A380, no options for upgrade make it unappealing.

Nothing has happened yet so why are you disappointed? And if it goes via PER to LHR with no A380 optiom you can use your points and upgrade to the far superior business suite product.

 

[levelnine]

Nothing has happened yet so why are you disappointed? And if it goes via PER to LHR with no A380 optiom you can use your points and upgrade to the far superior business suite product.

We are talking about the proposal to axe MEL-DXB-LHR A380 flights and I am saying that it is a deeply disappointing proposal.

The problem with your alternative is what happens if your Y to J upgrade is unsuccessful. You are a stuck in an inferior Y product (the 787's larger pitch does not make up for its substantially narrower seat width compared to the A380) for 17+ hours without the benefit of a shower half way through the flight.

This is a huge loss for, as I said above, 'MEL-based Y travellers to Europe who like to use their QFF points to upgrade from Y to J.'