Recent QF aircraft substitutions affecting seat allocations

[arraitch]

Folks,

We don't fly as frequently as many AFFers, but we currently have bookings for eight QF flights covering March to November. In the space of the last week, no less than five of those flights appear to have been affected by aircraft substitutions. Sometimes we've lost our seat allocations entirely; other times re-allocated to (slightly/rather) less favourable seats. Is this likely to be a fallout from the return of the 388s, or just par for the course? Either way, it reinforces the need to keep checking those bookings!

BTW, the 747-400ER on both segments of our SYD-DFW-SYD booking has been subbed with a 744.

Cheers,
arraitch

 

[TheInsider]

The SYD-DFW-BNE-SYD was always a 747, and hasn't changed from an A380???

747-400 is a 744 or am i reading something incorrect?

 

[arraitch]

The SYD-DFW-BNE-SYD was always a 747, and hasn't changed from an A380???

747-400 is a 744 or am i reading something incorrect?

Sure, just not an ER.

 

[mannej]

Sure, just not an ER.

Does QF even differentiate between the two? I've just searched the QF7/8 duo and it comes up as 747-400.


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[arraitch]

Does QF even differentiate between the two? I've just searched the QF7/8 duo and it comes up as 747-400.

Some time between booking the flights and yesterday, the seat maps changed from http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744ER-14P66J40W187Y.pdf to http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744-14P66J40PY187Y.pdf. I must confess that I can see no difference between them. What's making me twitchy is that we lost 29A & 29B and were not reassigned. We're now in 30J & 30K, which is fine. Given that we're flying on Y+ fares though, I'm anxious to remain in J seats!

 

[JohnK]

It happpens to me on domestic flights often enough for me to worry.

I usually go through my bookings every couple of weeks to ensure I have a seat allocation if there has been substitutions from 767 to 737.

 

[jb747]

From a pilot's point of view..whilst the booking system may not differentiate between a 747 RR and a 747 ER, there is a vast difference. Whilst I'm now on another fleet, there is no way that Dallas will see anything other than ERs.

 

[Timtammi]

Those seat maps look identical to me?

The only difference that I can see between the 2 maps is that one refers to 3 particular plane registrations (B,C,D) and the other for E through J. But the actual maps appear to be the same. I just checked my SYD-DFW RTN booking and we are still in 30 A and B so no change there.

Cheers

 

[docjames]

From a pilot's point of view..whilst the booking system may not differentiate between a 747 RR and a 747 ER, there is a vast difference. Whilst I'm now on another fleet, there is no way that Dallas will see anything other than ERs.

Unless ops are planning a fuel stop somewhere along the way for an RR....

 

[under the radar]

Unless ops are planning a fuel stop somewhere along the way for an RR....

or...restricting pax/cargo load for a flight that does not use the ER

 

[NM]

or...restricting pax/cargo load for a flight that does not use the ER

The restrictions would be such that they were only carrying fuel and no other payload (cargo, passengers etc) so its just not going to happen. jb747 has stated that only the -ER will be going to DFW.

 

[serfty]

I would not be surprised if someone at Qantas made a mistake that resulted in a reshuffle..

The seat maps are basiclly identical; other than referring to the six 744ER Qantas have in their fleet rather than their three 4 class of "pacific" configuration (66J).

 

[arraitch]

Thanks for your comments, folks. It was my clear understanding that the route would be operated by ERs. I shall keep a very close eye out for a re-reshuffle! :shock:

 

[jb747]

In round figures, the distances from Dallas to Mel/Syd/Bne are about 500 NM further than the distances to LA. Fuel wise, on the way over, that's not really an issue from any of those ports. But, coming back, into the prevailing winds, you simply will not be able to get enough fuel onto a standard RR to make the journey. Max I can recall getting onto a -438 was about 166 tonnes (and then the max take off weight of 397 tonnes), whereas you can get about 180 tonnes onto an ER (and have up to 412 tonnes to go to).

There is also the capacity on the ERs to fit a second auxiliary fuel tank, which, if I recall correctly, would give another 10 tonnes. By the time you paid the penalty for actually carrying it, that would translate to about another 250 miles.

Planning on a fuel stop along the way isn't a simple exercise either. The flight time regulations allow for unplanned ops, and allow some level of extension. They do not allow the same for something planned before take off.

 

[docjames]

In round figures, the distances from Dallas to Mel/Syd/Bne are about 500 NM further than the distances to LA. Fuel wise, on the way over, that's not really an issue from any of those ports. But, coming back, into the prevailing winds, you simply will not be able to get enough fuel onto a standard RR to make the journey. Max I can recall getting onto a -438 was about 166 tonnes (and then the max take off weight of 397 tonnes), whereas you can get about 180 tonnes onto an ER (and have up to 412 tonnes to go to).

There is also the capacity on the ERs to fit a second auxiliary fuel tank, which, if I recall correctly, would give another 10 tonnes. By the time you paid the penalty for actually carrying it, that would translate to about another 250 miles.

Planning on a fuel stop along the way isn't a simple exercise either. The flight time regulations allow for unplanned ops, and allow some level of extension. They do not allow the same for something planned before take off.

Thanks, interesting to see some of the numbers.

(I was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek with my prior comment about fuel stop )

 

[Jasecoop]

It happpens to me on domestic flights often enough for me to worry.

I usually go through my bookings every couple of weeks to ensure I have a seat allocation if there has been substitutions from 767 to 737.

Bonus from ADL 2 weeks ago, 738 subbed to 767

 

[medhead]

Bonus from ADL 2 weeks ago, 738 subbed to 767

Yep and my SYD-ADL on Friday has had a 734 subbed for a 767. I booked the flight an hour earlier than is really acceptable to get the 767.

I am seriously considering ringing to ask for a change at no charge due to the aircraft sub. I'm sure that'll work

 

[docjames]

Yep and my SYD-ADL on Friday has had a 734 subbed for a 767. I booked the flight an hour earlier than is really acceptable to get the 767.

I am seriously considering ringing to ask for a change at no charge due to the aircraft sub. I'm sure that'll work

Try and let us know how you get on?

 

[medhead]

Try and let us know how you get on?

Or I could just leave my meeting an hour early and get home an hour early. What to do?