QF announce non-stop Perth-London B787 Services

[hutch]

MEL is on track for population to exceed that in SYD.

For MEL passengers the only thing that would've been an upgrade from the A380 service would be a direct non-stop service to London all the way from Melbourne but that's not currently possible.

Wish they'd kept the MEL A380 service and cut the SYD one or flew from MEL some days and SYD others or even flew the MEL A380 only as far as DXB.

Melbourne is on track for a greater population, but that is only part of the picture. Economically, SYD appears to provide better yields (i think EY's move this week confirms that).

I originally thought QF might keep the MEL-DXB leg, but apparently QF believes it can make more more flying it to SIN or HKG rather than offering connections to Europe via DXB.

 

[Ansett]

Well That's the end of me flying QF to LHR there is no way I will sit in a 787 for that length of flight. We have just under 1.6 million frequent flyer miles between Mrs Ansett and I. Time to burn and move.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: QF PER LHR still not for sale

Absolutely disgusting: QF axes A380 flights to DXB & LHR from MEL: https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-to-axe-melbourne-london-airbus-a380-flights

Why is it 'disgusting'?

 

[turtlemichael]

Well We have just under 1.6 million frequent flyer miles between Mrs Ansett and I. Time to burn and move.

Or use them at your leisure on a OW member with timetables and routes that suit you.

 

[Brettmcg]

Same for me.

I had enough stuff in the pipeline for P1 next year, and have flown in paid J or F to LHR at least four times a year with QF for the last 6 or 7 years.

Time to "reimagine flying" I think...

 

[flychrisfly]

The changes to QF9 should make the F lounge in MEL a tad roomier.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: QF PER LHR still not for sale

So is anyone else mad enough to consider doing the last A380 QF9 on the 23rd and first B787 on the 25th?

Or am I the only loony?

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: QF PER LHR still not for sale

So is anyone else mad enough to consider doing the last A380 QF9 on the 23rd and first B787 on the 25th?

Or am I the only loony?

Now there's a thought!
At least the last A380....

 

[Ansett]

Or use them at your leisure on a OW member with timetables and routes that suit you.

I shall use the points to best suit Mrs Ansett and I Only issue using them on OW airlines is the Extra cost in terms of points required so may have to use on current A380 to LHR and then use to Asia and use cash on other airlines with my LTG status.

 

[Ansett]

Same for me.

I had enough stuff in the pipeline for P1 next year, and have flown in paid J or F to LHR at least four times a year with QF for the last 6 or 7 years.

Time to "reimagine flying" I think...

I am 4 months into my year and sitting at 85% towards P1. I no longer see in any value in going for P1 now........

 

[Melburnian1]

QF's suggestion that the B789 (in Y) is built for comfortable travel must be one of the more laughable claims made by anyone in advertising thus far in 2017.

One can bet that we won't get any true, objective reports about the horrible Y experience PER to LHR or v.v. from the well known travel writers and operators of travel websites who will all be up the front.

This move by QF confirms how unsuccessful the company is on the Melbourne to London route, with as kvc above commented a 50 per cent forthcoming cut in capacity.

While the fares may not be 'sale fares', they are extraordinarily high.

Anyone who is a TonyHancock 'self funded traveller' could see this as the ideal opportunity to ditch terrible QF for good and enjoy SQ, KE, JL, PR, OZ, NH, CX, TG or others to Europe, the classy and interesting way via north or southeast Asia rather than via the desert or nonstop from PER in as one other remarked a cramped tube.

And by July 2017 from Melbourne and August 2017 from Sydney, even PR will have fully flat, up to date beds on its A333s to MNL, connecting to LHR that at some stage will also have an improved aircraft, a B773ER or A350 from memory. Like VN, PR's fares are way below what QF is indicating it will try to charge, perhaps half the fare.

I'd like to run bets on how sickly sweet all the reviews from freebies will be, and who will be first to publish such a review - but they'll all be on the introductory flight, which is never a 'typical' experience on any airline.

Too bad that once again Melbourne, which is increasingly an economic powerhouse to rival Sydney - and by 2050 if not before to have more residents than Sydney - has again been smacked in the teeth by QF's Sydney based management. Which city for expats has been named the most liveable worldwide for a number of consecutive years? It isn't Sydney!

 

[RichardMEL]

Time to "reimagine flying" I think...

Then that will most likely be out of SYD given EY are dumping all F service to MEL

 

[michaele]

Re: QF PER LHR still not for sale

So is anyone else mad enough to consider doing the last A380 QF9 on the 23rd and first B787 on the 25th?

Or am I the only loony?

Spot me the points and I'll join you!

 

[Ansett]

Looking at the flight departure time from Perth to LHR and QF9 ex MEL-PER with a duration of 4hrs, it seems around 90 minute turn around in Perth before what is showing as a duration of 18hrs and 20 minutes. Thank you BUT no Thank you.

23:25 Melbourne Duration: 23h 15m

12:40 Sun London (Heathrow) Stops: 1 current QF9

15:20 Melbourne Duration: 23h 50m

05:10 Tue London (Heathrow) Stops: 1 QF9 Via Perth

Now how is that a time saving?

 

[DavidFlynn]

One can bet that we won't get any true, objective reports about the horrible Y experience PER to LHR or v.v. from the well known travel writers and operators of travel websites who will all be up the front... I'd like to run bets on how sickly sweet all the reviews from freebies will be, and who will be first to publish such a review - but they'll all be on the introductory flight, which is never a 'typical' experience on any airline.

Can't speak for other travel websites but would like to think that reviews on AusBT are balanced and objective, and while as a rule we only cover front-end travel (premium economy and up) and will (likely) be in J MEL-PER-LHR inaugural, if QF were to also offer us PER-LHR review flights in Y and Y+ we'd certainly take 'em and report on 'em just as fairly.

 

[Catweazle]

Now how is that a time saving?

Not much of a huge difference compared to other not-quite-so-direct routes (DXB for instance).

I'd still rather spend 9 hours on a flight to SIN and party it up there for a night, followed by a 2 night spa getaway or desert safari in Abu Dhabi, before finally landing in LHR. Isn't that the better way to travel? :mrgreen:

 

[michaele]

QF's suggestion that the B789 (in Y) is built for comfortable travel must be one of the more laughable claims made by anyone in advertising thus far in 2017.

One can bet that we won't get any true, objective reports about the horrible Y experience PER to LHR or v.v. from the well known travel writers and operators of travel websites who will all be up the front.

Something I've been playing around in my head, in line with my profession...

Take out the last two rows of Y, is a total of 16 seats (row 59 is 7 abreast). This could give the other 17 rows 4-5 extra inches each. Completely revolutionary, something you could actually market as absolutely world-leading economy. (Maybe it's too much - so take out the final 7 seats and spread 2+ inches per row - to 34" pitch.)

Then you can position Qantas as the BEST and most spacious economy in the world, perfect for the only AUS-London direct route. A marketing dream, and as first mover something that will stick in people's mind.

The question is would the potential loss of $10-20k in revenue/AUS-LHR sector if all prices stayed the same AND when 100% full in Y make up for the additional bookings/ability to justify the higher pricing? How many people (lots) only purchase on cheapest price alone, and how many would have the idea of a significantly better economy experience stuck in their mind as the first to offer such great comfort at the back of the bus? Would this lead to overall higher loadings annually?

The main point, (and I agree the majority of pax do book on price) - how many of those people are already flying Qantas? I almost never find Qantas the cheapest option to anywhere international, especially ex AU.

Just my thoughts from a branding perspective.. Easy to say without the weight of having to follow through to market and without hard data to back up your assumptions.

 

[mviy]

Re: QF PER LHR still not for sale

So is anyone else mad enough to consider doing the last A380 QF9 on the 23rd and first B787 on the 25th?

Or am I the only loony?

Be careful. The start dates for the new flights could change (unlikely, but possible).

 

[TomVexille]

Then that will most likely be out of SYD given EY are dumping all F service to MEL

The article I read said that the 77W flight will still have F

 

[rakeman]

Too bad that once again Melbourne, which is increasingly an economic powerhouse to rival Sydney - and by 2050 if not before to have more residents than Sydney - has again been smacked in the teeth by QF's Sydney based management.

People use to say that about Perth and the East coast management and look what happened...

Isn't Melbourne also getting the 747 replaced with the 787-9 for LAX? Economy on any long haul flight stinks, it's never good.

Being Brisbane based I'd say this is a plus as I have another option though I don't think i'll ever take it, I'll keep with my SIN or HKG connection.