SYD/MEL-PER 'all A330' from April 2013

[Pleb Status]

As announced by QF a few months back, it would appear that most QF flights between SYD/MEL and PER will now be operated by A330 aircraft from April 2013.

As I had feared, it also appears that the A332 aircraft has been removed from the QF650/QF597 PER-BNE-PER rotation from the end of March 2013 (and replaced by an ageing 763). I have just spent the afternoon changing all my nicely pre-selected row 44 exit row seats on the 332 with not so roomy exit row seats on the 763. Obviously QF only care about their SYD/MEL based customers as normal (if 763 were any good they would not be removing them from the SYD/MEL services).

 

[cove]

I flew on a refurbed 767 over to Sydney and a non refurbed 767 back to Perth in J. The refurbed unit worked well with the IPads and the overall product worked ok.

 

[mooseup]

Now I miss the 737's on this run even more. Luggage was much quicker to come out. I always avioded the 747 on this run for that reason.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Obviously QF only care about their SYD/MEL based customers as normal (if 763 were any good they would not be removing them from the SYD/MEL services).

Actually its only their Syd Customers, if you listen to some.

 

[chrisb]

From memory this is weekdays only? A Friday flight has changed to a332, but a Saturday one hasn't.

 

[simongr]

Is there much difference really between an A330 and a 763?

 

[serfty]

Depends on the configuration ... Especially in business class.

333 & international 332

 

[Grooba]

No more 738's on SYD-PER vv is a welcomed enhancement in my books.

 

[oz_mark]

No more 738's on SYD-PER vv is a welcomed enhancement in my books.

They're still there on the weekends....

 

[mannej]

Now I miss the 737's on this run even more. Luggage was much quicker to come out. I always avioded the 747 on this run for that reason.

I would say you are one of few who prefers the 737's going cross country.

 

[codash1099]

Now I miss the 737's on this run even more. Luggage was much quicker to come out. I always avioded the 747 on this run for that reason.

I hesitate to call a fellow AFF member crazy but...........

 

[smit0847]

So they're just following what VA's done?!

 

[oz_mark]

So they're just following what VA's done?!

In a sense, but VA was more an upguage from 737s, while QF would be more characterised as a standardisation of widebody aircraft in use.

 

[simongr]

if you are P1 and snag the front row of whY and your hand luggage can fit end on in the overhead you have plenty of space - esp if they block 4B or 4D.

 

[Flyerqf]

Qantas has scheduled A330-200 on all weekday SYD-PER and MEL-PER services and all A330-300 aircraft are scheduled on international services to Asia.

How is Qantas going to do this? They need at least 5 aircraft to operate MEL-PER and 5 to do SYD-PER, yet they only have 9 A330-200 aircraft.

 

[mickeyc747]

Qantas has scheduled A330-200 on all weekday SYD-PER and MEL-PER services and all A330-300 aircraft are scheduled on international services to Asia.

How is Qantas going to do this? They need at least 5 aircraft to operate MEL-PER and 5 to do SYD-PER, yet they only have 9 A330-200 aircraft.

Steal one from J*

 

[mannej]

Steal one from J*

Possible - considering that the last few 330's that went to JQ are in QF domestic spec

 

[eastwest101]

Possible - considering that the last few 330's that went to JQ are in QF domestic spec

So to cut through all the spin, what they are doing in Apr 2013 is repainting a JQ 332 and returning it to QF service as a 332 with 2-3-2 Starclass interior and trying to sell them as QF business class on Mon-Fri only MEL/SYD transcon to PER. Most of the domestic B767s sit idle on the weekend anyway (stretching out hours to reduce maintenence and staff costs?), but for those Mon-Fri PER-BNE QF regulars you are now almost garanteed a QF domestic 767 which can be a good or a bad thing depending personal preferences. Don't forget the SYD-PER flyers have lost their QF B747 option a while ago.

For J pax VA looks pretty good value SYD/MEL transcon provided you can jag an A330 flight, and probably less value if on a B738. No change there.

For J or Y pax flying on the weekend you will cop a B738 no matter whom you fly with whether its PER-SYD or PER-MEL or golden triangle, neither airline seems interested in making money on the weekend.

 

[mannej]

I don't know, it's just a possibility as to where they may get a 332 from

 

[muppet]

For J pax VA looks pretty good value SYD/MEL transcon provided you can jag an A330 flight, and probably less value if on a B738. No change there.

For J or Y pax flying on the weekend you will cop a B738 no matter whom you fly with whether its PER-SYD or PER-MEL or golden triangle, neither airline seems interested in making money on the weekend.

I don't understand these two comments?

Provided you jag an A330? 90% of flights from MEL/SYD to PER are an A332?

And, 738 no matter whom you fly on weekends? Both airlines have between 50 and 90% scheduled A332s?