Thoughts on Africa and the loss of One World options

[browski]

On the second last day of the QF/SA codesahare arrangement, I flew MEL-SYD-JNB on QF 64. It was on an ageing and typically loud 747 but it is one of the truly great longhaul flights; all completed in daylight hours. There is even time to connect to other African countries and get all the travel completed in the "One (greater than 24 hours) Day". The flight was only half full, and the general consensus (from the FAs) is that the imminent cease to the codeshare was now significantly affecting loads. I'm in JNB now.

I needed a one-way fare, but this was not possible through Qantas ($2400 one-way, $2200 return ). Alternatively, I wanted an open jaw SYD-JNB and then DXB-SYD; also not possible on QF ~$5000.

So I went to the SA website, purchased a SYD-JNB one-way fare for $900 (on the same QF metal flight, same Status and FF points) and then purchased a One-way JNB-DXB-SYD flight on EK for.......................$758.

From today there is no more SA/QF codeshare, and whilst for the time-being QF will still fly SYD-JNB, this only really benefits SYD/MEL/BNE residents.

If you are in Perth/Darwin/Adelaide, to fly "Qantas" to JNB, you must fly PER-DXB-JNB. Who would take this option when there is a direct PER-JNB flight on SA?

I think Qantas has again missed a trick here. I feel qantas should either re-instate the SA codeshare OR consider the following:
Move the flight from Sydney to make it PER-JNB, but just 4 days per week. On the other 3 days fly QF metal PER-DXB.

Otherwise, next time I fly to JNB, I feel QF will no longer be there and my options will only be SA or Air Mauritius.
Sad really.

 

[Himeno]

Maybe BA could send a few 747s to Comair and they could start JNB-SCL and JNB-PER-MEL flights.

 

[sydstar]

My understanding is the codeshare was not renewed by authorities on 'competition' grounds. Of course it's great for competiton when a comfortable duopoly becomes a monopoly :shock:

But what is QF actually doing to promote the JNB service? They have a daily 747 to fill, which departs and arrives SYD with enough time for connections from MEL/BNE/CBR/ADL/RegionalNSW/AKL/WLG/CHC. That is considerable feed that can be tapped into. Then on the other end there is Comair (BA) which takes in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth etc. Where's the codeshare agreement with BA on this to encourage feed?

I wouldn't be surpised to see JNB become a 3-4 times weekly service (like SCL). Although, I suppose it would be simpler and fairer to just send everyone via DXB

 

[codash1099]

My understanding is the codeshare was not renewed by authorities on 'competition' grounds. Of course it's great for competiton when a comfortable duopoly becomes a monopoly :shock:

But what is QF actually doing to promote the JNB service? They have a daily 747 to fill, which departs and arrives SYD with enough time for connections from MEL/BNE/CBR/ADL/RegionalNSW/AKL/WLG/CHC. That is considerable feed that can be tapped into. Then on the other end there is Comair (BA) which takes in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth etc. Where's the codeshare agreement with BA on this to encourage feed?

I wouldn't be surpised to see JNB become a 3-4 times weekly service (like SCL). Although, I suppose it would be simpler and fairer to just send everyone via DXB

Qantas + OneWorld Codeshare = oxymoron

 

[zainman]

Perhaps QR can also be considered as they are part of *O and fly from PER... Just don't credit to QF

 

[markis10]

My understanding is the codeshare was not renewed by authorities on 'competition' grounds. Of course it's great for competiton when a comfortable duopoly becomes a monopoly :shock:

The codes hard approval was renewed, and had 9 months or so to go.

 

[Himeno]

The codes hard approval was renewed, and had 9 months or so to go.

and was not expected to be renewed past that. Then VA got in and made a deal covering feed from the rest of Australia to the SA PER flight. QF didn't like that and said, nope. ending codeshare now.

 

[Pablo]

I just wish you could do JNB-NBO on BA - would make a trip to both Sth Africa and Kenya so doable.

 

[Isochronous]

BA in Sth Africa have a lot of options - even a flight to Seychelles I think. There should be a comprehensive QF codeshare.

 

[Pablo]

BA in Sth Africa have a lot of options - even a flight to Seychelles I think. There should be a comprehensive QF codeshare.

They don't do NBO though. I don't think anything to East Africa. I did them quite a few years ago to Mauritius - was so good on a RTW honeymoon on our way from LHR to JNB. But wish they went to Nairobi as well.

 

[browski]

FWIW, decided to change my flights. Now flying BA from JNB-Harare and then EK on Harare-Lusaka-Dubai. Great 5th freedom flight HRE-LUN
Also noticed that one world airline Qatar Airways fly JNB - Maputo; but sadly not a 5th freedom flight

As far as Africa is concerned, I'm thinking I need to learn to love Qatar Airways more.