US DOT Grants Tentative Approval to QF/AA Joint Venture

[pauly7]

Seattle gets thrown around a lot and personally and selfishly I’d love to see a QF 787 gracing that airport....!

 

[justinbrett]

Seattle gets thrown around a lot and personally and selfishly I’d love to see a QF 787 gracing that airport....!

Would mean strengthening ties with Alaska... strange thing to do immediately after getting the AA JV approved.

 

[pauly7]

Would mean strengthening ties with Alaska... strange thing to do immediately after getting the AA JV approved.

Yet AJ talks about it frequently! I can selfishly only hope.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm tipping BNE-ORD as the new route; I don't think BNE-DFW will open much business for them (those PAX are flying either through SYD or LAX); BNE-ORD will help QF compete with NZ and open new US routes to all Aussie PAX.

You are a winner! QF announces two new routes, BNE-ORD and BNE-SFO!

Qantas to launch non-stop Chicago flights under new joint venture

Qantas wants to fly from Brisbane to Chicago and to San Francisco once it has final approval for a joint venture with American Airlines.

thenewdaily.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

Yet AJ talks about it frequently! I can selfishly only hope.

I'm fairly certain the Alaska thing was an insurance policy in case the JV was denied.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Wondering if this might offer BNE-(USA)-LHR options and other similar. Only about 1200 more miles than BNE-PER-LHR. IIRC once upon a time both QF and NZ offered LHR in either direction.

Cheers skip

 

[jpp42]

There's plenty of diverts on each end (in Mexico and Noumea / Fiji / New Zealand) so it's probably easier than PER-LHR.

Regarding MEL-DFW, I'm sure the typical alternates would be US ports like LAX and PHX, just like QF7. There are numerous reasons to avoid Mexico if at all possible.

 

[justinbrett]

Regarding MEL-DFW, I'm sure the typical alternates would be US ports like LAX and PHX, just like QF7. There are numerous reasons to avoid Mexico if at all possible.

Not from an aviation safety point of view. LAX and PHX are a fair way north of the route. Completely safe to land the jet in Mexico. You’ve been watching too much Narcos! Commercially, much better to land in LAX or HNL. That would depend on fuel. But in order to prove the route possible, you’d use the Mexican diverts.

 

[docjames]

Nice discussion on the JV from Cranky Flier

American and Qantas Get Tentative Joint Venture Approval… With Conditions – Cranky Flier

crankyflier.com

 

[AFF Editor]

The DOT has granted final approval to Qantas and American Airlines.

Final Approval for Qantas, American Airlines Joint Venture

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially granted final approval for Qantas to commence its Joint Venture with American Airlines.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[airbound]

Has a start date for the JV been announced? I'm looking forward to seeing the improved points/SC earn rates on AA domestic flights...

 

[Mattg]

Has a start date for the JV been announced? I'm looking forward to seeing the improved points/SC earn rates on AA domestic flights...

Not that I’m aware of. So far there has been a lot of talk about “enhanced benefits” but little substance.

 

[DC3]

Has a start date for the JV been announced? I'm looking forward to seeing the improved points/SC earn rates on AA domestic flights...

I’ve seen nothing about the start date. I’m interested in more details. The QF website says pretty much nothing, just that there is a joint venture.

 

[pauly7]

I’ve seen nothing about the start date. I’m interested in more details. The QF website says pretty much nothing, just that there is a joint venture.

I’m looking forward to the return of better FF benefits.

 

[serfty]

I’m looking forward to the return of better FF benefits.

They may be on their way (if not already):

Access to More Frequent Flyer Benefits, Destinations for American and Qantas Customers

American Airlines and Qantas will roll out improved frequent flyer benefits, including higher earning rates for points and status credits on each airline’s network.

news.aa.com

 

[oz_mark]

improved SC and points earn is in the earning tables, from Oct 1

 

[justinbrett]

Whats happening with Global Entry for Australians? That was supposed to start late 2019.

 

[DC3]

Whats happening with Global Entry for Australians? That was supposed to start late 2019.

Any updates will probably appear here, in the US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens thread:

US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens

I sent an email to our immigration minister last month regarding the availability of the US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens. I received a response today from the Traveller Policy area. ... The Australian Government is actively considering the United States of America's (US) Global...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

improved SC and points earn is in the earning tables, from Oct 1

And they've broken the calculator.

Some of the routes show up at the new rate (eg LAS-LAX, AA in Business is 40 SCs, it used to be 20).

Many, many other routes though show an error "[x class] not available for the selected route".

 

[DC3]

And they've broken the calculator ...

Patience Grasshopper. Merely a work in progress.