Qantas to recommence A380 services

[NM]

Still would love to know the state of play with SQ???????

My understanding is that they are following the directive to inspect the engines every 20 cycles.

 

[bossreggie]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand why you would care which 380 is doing a particular service. I never look until I get there...why does it matter to you?

jb747.

I am a pretty nervous flyer. I personally will not EVER fly on Nancy Bird. Thankfully my fare would allow a last minute change if it ever came up.

My reason is due to a few previous hull loses which have occured to aircraft involved in previous "incidents". (Japan Airlines Flight 123 and China Airlines Flight 611) They are both Tail Strikes but are the ones I can remember for now.

A380 being such a new aircraft... I think no-one can yet know how all the damage will be repaired and what any long term, yet unknown things could occur. I don't want to be a guinea pig! If it was just the engine.. I would think differently.

 

[jb747]

I am a pretty nervous flyer. I personally will not EVER fly on Nancy Bird. Thankfully my fare would allow a last minute change if it ever came up.

You are not alone. I don't know the numbers, but a very large percentage of the people that I talk to in flight admit to some degree of nervousness.

My reason is due to a few previoos hull loses which have occured to aircraft involved in previous "incidents". (Japan Airlines Flight 123 and China Airlines Flight 611) They are both Tail Strikes but are the ones I can remember for now.

The list of aircraft lost as a result of maintenance activity is pretty long. But, so too is the list of aircraft which have had issues for which there was never any maintenance involved. I really don't consider there to be any difference between an aircraft that has been repaired by the manufacturer and one which has just come off the production line.

In the case of OJK...they made up an enormous jig to carry the loads, and proceeded to remove the structure of the aircraft back to manufacturing joints. There were no doublers, or actual 'repair's...just new bits, inserted exactly where it would have happened when originally made.

A380 being such a new aircraft... I think no-one can yet know how all the damage will be repaired and what any long term, yet unknown things could occur. I don't want to be a guinea pig!

I think you might be surprised. The aircraft may be new, but it wasn't designed to be just used and thrown away. Repair procedures are part of the design of any new aircraft...in fact, if an aircraft had to be scrapped as a result of a turbine failure, then I would consider it very poor design indeed. Airbus, most definitely considered the possibility, and that shows up in the placement of many items that could be in the burst area.

Basically I consider most of what has been said about repairing or scrapping her to be just the normal internet gibberish.

Will it be repaired where it is, or partially repaired an flown to Toulouse to go back onto the production line. No idea....I'm sure that hasn't been decided. But, I'm quite sure she won't come back with a bunch of patches and some bog. I expect she will be 'as new'.

If it was just the engine.. I would think differently.

All aircraft, with no exceptions, will have many issues throughout their lives.

 

[pblackm]

Are any AFFers on QF31 this Saturday? it would be interesting to read a little TR

Cannot do QF31, but I'm coming back on QF32 on Wed and whilst it had shown as a 747 when booked last week, it is now showing as the A380.

Happy to do a reportlet on QF32.

 

[Mal P]

Just got an update from Qantas that QF10 from LHR to MEL on 24/12/2010 has been changed to a 747. Blast! Any chance this might change back, or will they be running with the A380 only on the SYD services?

 

[NM]

Just got an update from Qantas that QF10 from LHR to MEL on 24/12/2010 has been changed to a 747. Blast! Any chance this might change back, or will they be running with the A380 only on the SYD services?

I would expect Qantas now has a very good idea of the flights they plan to operate with each aircraft type. They now know they have 2 A380s available today and will have 4 by the end of the year. So unless the deliver dates for the two new aircraft slip (quite possible but unlikely) or the planned rotations get out of sync due to unscheduled maintenance requirements, expect the current plans to stick.

 

[JohnK]

Just got an update from Qantas that QF10 from LHR to MEL on 24/12/2010 has been changed to a 747. Blast! Any chance this might change back, or will they be running with the A380 only on the SYD services?

Hmmm.... Not looking good if they are changing scheduled aircraft that far out. I am due to fly QF9 MEL-SIN on 26 December 2010 and still not sure what is happening.

 

[jb747]

Hmmm.... Not looking good if they are changing scheduled aircraft that far out. I am due to fly QF9 MEL-SIN on 26 December 2010 and still not sure what is happening.

Quite honestly, the 24th and 26th of December are literally an age away. Anything could happen between now and then. But, for what it's worth, both of those services are currently crewed by 380 people.

 

[JohnK]

I spoke too soon. I received an email around noon to advise that my flights had changed.

It would appear that QF9 on 26 December 2010 is now a 747. Seat 80K on the A380 is going to have to wait. I was pre-allocated 40A on the new flight (I have aisle preference but I am guessing 80K on the A380 confused ALTEA) and it would appear to be light on status passengers as only one 1 other seat is pre-allocated in the first 2 rows. The rest of the economy looks relatively busy.

Should I stay in 40A or move over to 40C, 40D or 40G? Leg room is the same but it may be better chance to have a vacant seat in 40E/F.

I would be extremely disappointed if the flight was re-scheduled back to an A380 and I did not get the opportunity to pre-allocate 80K again....

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

It would appear the travelling public is getting a little jumpy...

I'd suggest - get over it. You're more likely to be struck by lightning.

Qantas checks another engine incident - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[serfty]

I spoke too soon. I received an email around noon to advise that my flights had changed. ...

F1 A0 J0 C0 D0 I0 W0 R0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0 E0

I doubt you'll get a spare seat beside you ... in fact, looking at the seat map, as a WP, you may not get to travel in your booked class ...

 

[moa999]

So at the moment
2 - OQE, OQF - in service - as the newest two aircraft presumably already had the new engines
2 - OQG, OQH - to be delivered Dec - also with the new engines - Note OQH will be call "Sir Reginald Ansett"

Then
3 - OQB,OQC,OQD - need new engines (presumably almost all the unomodified types)
1 - OQA - awaiting a new wing or some pretty serious repairs

So by December we will be back to 4 which is where we were in mid-10 (OQE first flew in Jun-10)

 

[samh004]

So by December we will be back to 4 which is where we were in mid-10 (OQE first flew in Jun-10)

But less routes as LAX isn’t being serviced so they might have all A380’s shortly to the UK?

 

[JohnK]

I spoke too soon. I received an email around noon to advise that my flights had changed. ...

F1 A0 J0 C0 D0 I0 W0 R0 T0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0 E0

I doubt you'll get a spare seat beside you ... in fact, looking at the seat map, as a WP, you may not get to travel in your booked class ...

Is this for my flight on 26 December 2010? Is it possible to get lower than economy class?

 

[serfty]

Is this for my flight on 26 December 2010? Is it possible to get lower than economy class?

Yes ... and I doubt it ...

(Sorry for the confusion, I have now quoted your post ....)

 

[JohnK]

Yes ... and I doubt it ...

(Sorry for the confusion, I have now quoted your post ....)

So it is a full flight and no chance of an op-up or a spare seat beside me.

Interesting that for a full flight I have the choice of 40ABCDEFG, 41ABCDEFGHJ, 47ABCHJK, 48ABCDEFGHJ and 49ABCDEFGH. Also exit row 46BC and 46HJ are available.

 

[serfty]

So it is a full flight and no chance of an op-up or a spare seat beside me.

Interesting that for a full flight I have the choice of 40ABCDEFG, 41ABCDEFGHJ, 47ABCHJK, 48ABCDEFGHJ and 49ABCDEFGH. Also exit row 46BC and 46HJ are available.

Remember, those with no status cannot normally pre-select a seat. Those rows down to 49 are blocked for WP; I am thinking that SG and PS have selected/allocated seats further back.

More than that, Qantas see X seats though all classes; since the 4 class Kangaroo aircraft has 287 PE/Y seats in total and the 388 has 364 and it's a busy time of year I am very confident that there will be some "Proactive Upgrades". (Hopefully you are not on an award.)

 

[JohnK]

Remember, those with no status cannot normally pre-select a seat. Those rows down to 49 are blocked for WP; I am thinking that SG and PS have selected/allocated seats further back.

Then that would suggest not many Platinums on this flight travelling in economy.

More than that, Qantas see X seats though all classes; since the 4 class Kangaroo aircraft has 287 PE/Y seats in total and the 388 has 364 and it's a busy time of year I am very confident that there will be some "Proactive Upgrades". (Hopefully you are not on an award.)

No I am in V class as are most of my bookings ex-SIN. Not holding my breath for any op-ups.

 

[maninblack]

I noticed that my scheduled A380 flight to LAX in Jan was showing J9 the other day and is now showing J3 and a flight a few days later my brother is on was showing J8 now showing J2 so I am assuming they are cutting 6 business class seats off the inventory to allow for the change to a 744ER.

I should add that it's showing zero available for all economy fares whereas there was quite a bit of available a few days ago.

 

[serfty]

Then that would suggest not many Platinums on this flight travelling in economy.

No I am in V class as are most of my bookings ex-SIN. Not holding my breath for any op-ups.

No - always expect to travel in the class booked.