QF33 Melbourne to Osaka subject to govt approval?

[Leeanda]

Planning to book Qantas flights to Osaka Kansai from Melbourne for 1st December and it says that QF33 on Mon Wed and Sat is subject to government approval. What does this mean? Is there a cancellation risk booking this flight? any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Leeanda!

I believe they have that warning for all new routes although QF33 is due to depart in a few hours. I wouldn't worry too much and it would be up to Qantas to get you to destination with alternate flights if route was cancelled.

For what its worth I still see that warning for QF2 on 30th November and that route has been going for close to 2 months.

 

[Leeanda]

Thanks John...appreciate the speedy reply.

 

[AIRwin]

I'm assuming you're not using points? QF has a Fly Away Sale to Osaka (KIX) until 14 May:
Dates and details

$819 one way on 1 December, but this drops to $669 if you depart between 16 and 28 November and only $348 before 16 November.

QF33 is routed SYD-KIX, so there'll be a domestic connection MEL-SYD. Given that it's not direct, have you considered other airlines like CX via HKG?

 

[love_the_life]

As I am flying on QF34 back in a few weeks, I am assuming that the approval has been received.

FWIW, I've found those one-way specials a bit of a take unless you have points for (and can book) an award for the other leg or only need one way. The return flight is always way more expensive than a half return (as expected) and I've seen sales with return flights to the same destinations come up not long after the one-way sale.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

99% of the time the government approval seems to come through ok. In rare cases it doesn't. There have been a couple of cases I recall this happening. The flights even sometimes start operating but then have to be withdrawn.

I wouldn't be concerned with a QF flight.

 

[Himeno]

Planning to book Qantas flights to Osaka Kansai from Melbourne for 1st December and it says that QF33 on Mon Wed and Sat is subject to government approval. What does this mean? Is there a cancellation risk booking this flight? any advice appreciated. Thanks!

QF has been operating the KIX flights QF33/34 3 weekly since last December. They are adding a 4th weekly flight later this year. They already have government approval. It is likely just an old message still sitting on the QF site.

At any rate, Australia and Japan have open skies (except to HND). Any new flight is going to be approved regardless. The "approval" is just someone in the JP MLIT and AU DOI rubber stamping some paperwork.