QF Dreamliner to fly MEL/SYD/BNE to HKG

[milehighclub]

QANTAS’ DREAMLINER GOES TO HONG KONG

 

[astrosly]

Qantas will also bring forward the peak season upgrade of one of its two daily Sydney-Hong Kong flights from a 747 to the A380 aircraft to early December, offering four cabins on the route including First Class through to the end of March 2019.

I flew QF128 from Hong Kong yesterday seated in the first class cabin and one of the crew told me that they going to sell F on this route from December for a few months.

 

[TheInsider]

I flew QF128 from Hong Kong yesterday seated in the first class cabin and one of the crew told me that they going to sell F on this route from December for a few months.

That seems to be correct.

 

[mviy]

"mini First Class". Seems the marketing department is getting a bit carried away. Suites with direct aisle access may be a step forward but it's definitely far short of First Class.

 

[astrosly]

That seems to be correct.

They've loaded the selection of the F on their website, selling fully flex $6.6K each way in December and January. A couple of classic awards available.

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

That's a bit of a surprise! Was expecting more non-stop European or US destinations.

I don't mind the A330's up to HK, especially the 2-4-2 down back. Wonder where the spare A330's will go?

 

[Ansett]

Thank god for LTG once the Nightmare Liner starts MEL- HKG then CX will become my carrier of choice.

 

[TheInsider]

Thank god for LTG once the Nightmare Liner starts MEL- HKG then CX will become my carrier of choice.

Have you actually flown it?

 

[TheInsider]

That's a bit of a surprise! Was expecting more non-stop European or US destinations

Won't be europe until PER airport allows them to use their own terminal.
Won't be the US until the joint AA/QF joint venture thing gets approved.

 

[mviy]

Wonder where the spare A330's will go?

Domestic perhaps for the peak season? Short international flights to NZ?

 

[TheInsider]

Domestic perhaps for the peak season? Short international flights to NZ?

Probably will be doing more short-haul flying in lieu of the 737s which will be doing longer flying, due to crew shortages etc etc.

 

[NSun]

That's a bit of a surprise! Was expecting more non-stop European or US destinations.

I don't mind the A330's up to HK, especially the 2-4-2 down back. Wonder where the spare A330's will go?

I like A330's except they don't have Premium Economy (which I generally fly in). Don't mind flying economy to Perth or Auckland, and if I had to fly economy I'd pick the A330 because of the 2-4-2 instead of the 3-4-3 layout - but I prefer having the option available.

 

[moa999]

So assume this means the BNE-ORD/SEA flight is gone

 

[kermatu]

"mini First Class". Seems the marketing department is getting a bit carried away. Suites with direct aisle access may be a step forward but it's definitely far short of First Class.

Agree re pathetic marketing spin, but given QF's F services aren't much greater than J (food, beverages)....

 

[Himeno]

So assume this means the BNE-ORD/SEA flight is gone

Such a route was never announced.

This means they can't decide on a NA route for the 787s without an approved joint venture with AA.

BNE-HKG 1 weekly from 19 Dec, 2 weekly from 30 Jan
MEL-HKG 5 weekly 13 Dec-27 Jan, 6 weekly 28 Jan-29 Mar
SYD-HKG 6 weekly from 30 Mar

Suggests a change to current/previously announced 787 flying from late Jan.

 

[Ansett]

Have you actually flown it?

Whilst I have flown other 787s in a 333 config, and not enjoyed it too cramp, I do admit I have not flown in the QF 787 and nor do I intend to. I have a lot of respect for Jessica Tam and others on here and based on hers and others feedback in Y then its a no no for me

To me the 787 is nothing more than a twin aisle 737 with a little extra leg room. Anything over 3 hours in a 737 is enough for me and cant wait to get off.

I will use CX where I have a choice of a 777, A330 or A350 all of which for me are much better options than a QF 787 in Y.

Again whilst I know others have gone 333 on the 787 it was originally designed for 242. 333 was the LCC option.

I would love to see AJ fly middle seat in Y from MEL-LHR non stop and then come back and tell us how damned good his 787s are in Y then....

Don't think that will ever happen some how.

 

[Pleb Status]

The only surprise here is how quickly the 789 has been consigned to the existing 'vanilla' routes rather than the new 'aspirational' routes like BNE-DFW and PER-CDG.

In five years time, most Asian services will be operated by the 789 (with its 737 like comfort in Y)....

 

[michaele]

Flew the 787 this morning, Y looked super cramped. The aisles were tiny - no surprise given it was designed for 8 abreast. Went back and sat in row 59.. will prefer the 380 for Y until the upper deck disappears.

 

[samh004]

I would love to see AJ fly middle seat in Y from MEL-LHR non stop and then come back and tell us how damned good his 787s are in Y then....

There's two problems with that statement.

1. Any ULH route is always going to be awful in Y. No airline would make money in a 2-2-2 config for Y passengers, they just have to put the best marketing spin on it they can.
2. He's not the sort of person who would fly Y anymore (I would expect). Therefore, he could have one seat in the whole of Y with no one around him or next to him and it still wouldn't work for him.

I haven't flown the QF 787, but from what I've read on this site there are definitely some things they should address, and who knows, they might do so in the future. Look at CX... those non-reclining Y seats didn't go down well. I believe @serfty (may be mistaken) mentioned that when Air NZ brought out their PE product they tested it in a warehouse for months (paraphrasing) to get the product right, but still buggered it up and ended up removing a row to make things work properly in the end.

 

[serfty]

Air NZ brought out their PE product they tested it in a warehouse

Paid people to sit in a cabin mock up. Then they had to remove an entire row, giving an extra 6" each to the remaining seats.

As far as AJ goes, he look to be small in physical size, so an economy seat may seem fine to him anyway.