Qantas upgrades SYD-JNB to A380 service

Big issue I see with SYD > DFW being serviced by an A380 is the distance is too much for such a plane. Yes, I understand the A380 can theoretically fly there, and QF even did it a while ago. But it can't be a tightly loaded plane. So you're running a super jumbo jet partially loaded a long distance meaning you tie that aircraft up for what? 1 flight a day? Meanwhile QF can easily do a turn in SIN with the same aircraft.

Much better to run a 787 that you can run at higher load to DFW and free that up for a lucrative route. With that being said, what does surprise me is why QF chose JNB for the A380. It doesn't seem to warrant such a jet given its flight length.

-RooFlyer88
 
what does surprise me is why QF chose JNB for the A380. It doesn't seem to warrant such a jet given its flight length.
Why? It's a perfect length - similar to SIN-LHR. And having four engines means they don't have to worry about ETOPS.
@justinbrett You beat me to it! In fact, I expect they’ll do a more efficient route flying further south? Loved the views of Antartica on the B747 to/from JNB, EZE and SCL at various times.
 
South Africa has long been a desired destination for me, will be nice to have more opportunity to burn QFF points to go over for a couple of weeks and check it out, despite the reports of various things not being safe etc.
 
Mmm… booked last week. I hope the day we’ve booked, Thursday Aug 1, is one of the days they are flying. This will also impact our return, not yet booked, but we might have a better chance of the elusive rewards seat for bAlt. Now what are the best Y seats on an A380?? Mini cabin upstairs but if not that where? No twos :(
 
Presumably this will mean First Class becomes available to South Africa. Flights are due to go on sale tomorrow.
Well, at least 1st seats. They used have the old B747 1st cabin on the various JNB/EZE/SCL routes but 1st not sold (but WP could select those seats).

But maybe they will sell it on this route? Guess we’ll find out tomorrow?
 
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Well, at least 1st seats. They used have the old B747 1st cabin on the various JNB/EZE/SCL routes but 1st not sold (but WP could select those seats).

But maybe they will sell it on this route? Guess we’ll find out tomorrow?

I checked with Qantas and they confirmed they will sell First Class on this route ;)
 
Haha. Of course our flight was on a day with no flights! They’d moved us to the day before but a slight problem with that - we had booked to fly down to Sydney the night before and we were now flying to JNB long before we arrived into Sydney! I’ve spent a long time on the phone getting it sorted but all good now. Sitting in 51A and C so we might hopefully get a view of some ice, and, I suppose a bigger plane could mean a better chance of an upgrade.
 
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