QF19 to Manila 'operated by Australian'

It will look, breathe and smell like its a Qantas plane and have Qantas service.

 

If you check out www.airlinequality.com/Forum/australian it is apparent that Australian get a pretty good rap from pax.

Word of caution about flying the 'direct' Sydney to Manila route. I have flown QF19 / QF20 a couple of times. Even when it is noted as being a direct flight it is often operated via Brisbane (the email arrives a couple of days prior advising you of the new flight schedule).

 

Direct means that there is no aircraft change at a transit point (even if you do have to get off it's the same plane all the way to wherever) Non stop is the indication your looking for if you want exactly that.

 

One of the problems with the way some US-based airlines do have direct flights involving a/c change, means you can missconnect even though on a single flight number. (Also hassles with seating requests if layout is not identical.)

 

After reading NM's post, I actually wondered if such a circumstance existed. Obvioulsy they do!

I like the system where you stay on the same plane and the flight number changes

 

Yes there are lots of them. Some can be handy on xONEx for getting a 2nd (or more) transcon (if not listed in the specified city pairs - quite a few are not), or for increasing SC/mile earning.

 

Actually on QF whilst the latter are common (same plane, change flight number) the former even exist travelling on QF, have travelled on QF74 SFO-SYD-MEL and there was a change of planes at SYD.

 

Yep - I did the same thing. Having selected a non-stop flight, Qantas chose to amend the schedule and go via Brisbane anyway.

Outbound flight is not too bad. You have to waste an hour and a bit in Brisbane airport late afternoon / early evening. You can get a beer or coffee, you can browse in the shops.

The return flight goes overnight - you arrive into Brisbane early morning. If you have been struggling to get some sleep the cabin lights come on just as you are getting some benefit. Brisbane is deserted, there are no other passengers. You are dog tired, everything (bar Downtown Duty Free) is shut - you can't get a coffee, there are no bookshops to browse. All the time you are aware that you are basically within spitting distance of your final destination.

In selecting a long haul flight I focus on comfort and convenience. A direct, non-stop flight is usually the best option, failing that I look at departure times, layovers, and flight duration on each leg. Any flight that enforces a stop one hours flight time from my final destination is a poor option. I've got to admit I don't tend to get too deeply involved in the pedantics of whether the flight number changes, whether my seat number changes. the technicalities of 'direct' versus 'non-stop', I'm pretty much focused on getting comfy in my seat, getting a glass of Shiraz and getting stuck into a book -hopefully having a chance at some sleep when the wine kicks in.

 

Just out of interest dajop, did you happen to fly on the A330-300 on SYD-MEL (operating as flight QF74)? I suppose its easier to do this when MEL-SYD-SFO-SYD-MEL is operated by a 2 class 744 (so no F pax) instead of running an empty 333 between the 2 cities or having to operate it under another flight number.

Cheers

 

744 operated both sectors, but apart from the fact we departed from a different gate, it was quite obviously a different aircraft because I had to walk through economy to get up to 16K and the crew rest seats swapped to other side of aircraft, therefore went from three class 744 (SYD-SFO) to 2 class version.