Where have the 717s gone SYD - CBR over Christmas

[love_the_life]

Looking to book flights SYD - CBR on NYE and the only flights coming up are Dash 8s. 717s not mentioned at all. Connecting from international flights so not a happy chappy here (besides the fact that I really do not like the Dash 8s). Flying out before Christmas and that's fine.

Don't remember this happening in the past.
Can someone remember?

 

[trixydoza]

Unfortunately it happens pretty often. Sunday November 16 is one example, I think... I got moved from CBR-SYD-DXB to CBR-MEL-DXB because of no J availability that day.

I also remember it happening on Anzac Day.

 

[kermatu]

Can't comment re Christmas, but of approx. 8 flights Canberra to or from Sydney or Melbourne over past 4 months and future bookings over next 3, all but two of them have had cancellations or schedule changes involving being moved from a J seat in a 717 or 737, to a Dash 8. About half of these were schedule changes and a minor adjustment (which was still annoying and required time on the phone) allowed me to find an alternative, but the other 2 or 3 had no 717 services operating.

Doesn't surprise me as I am yet to see a full 717 to Sydney outside of Parliament sitting dates.

 

[AIRwin]

On Christmas Day last year I tried out the new J class on the 717 but the J lounges were closed and this year it looks like it's the other way around... Sigh!

 

[PaulST]

How new are those 717s? Reliability problems or there's not enough demand?

 

[clazman]

thye are getting a flogigng in WA ...... just about every intra state destination has 717's.... if i recall rightly even trips to Alice are all 717.... hopefully thye are starting to retire them...there is only so much polishing a turd you can do

 

[roncritch]

thye are getting a flogigng in WA ...... just about every intra state destination has 717's.... if i recall rightly even trips to Alice are all 717.... hopefully thye are starting to retire them...there is only so much polishing a turd you can do

None of the WA 717's have J class....I think they are run by national Jet so different operator to eastern states.

 

[Austman]

On Christmas Day last year I tried out the new J class on the 717 but the J lounges were closed and this year it looks like it's the other way around... Sigh!

I get to do both this year!

The 717s are fine. But only some have business class (about 5 of 18). 717s are really an advanced version of a DC9. The front seats give a very quiet travelling experience.

I've done many 100s if not 1,000s of flights in DC9s, MD80s, MD90s, 717s. Really an excellent narrow body aircraft with over 2,400 units built.

717 or Q.400? Mmmm no contest! 717 or 737-8? Mmm closer but with a 2-3 layout in Y cabin, the 717 can be a good choice, especially for couples.

 

[TomVexille]

thye are getting a flogigng in WA ...... just about every intra state destination has 717's.... if i recall rightly even trips to Alice are all 717.... hopefully thye are starting to retire them...there is only so much polishing a turd you can do

Not necessarily disagreeing, just wondering what you propose they replace them with?

 

[love_the_life]

They sure beat the clapped out old 737s on the CBR - SYD run!

 

[Austman]

Not necessarily disagreeing, just wondering what you propose they replace them with?

Well, I was in WA recently and noted that Virgin use Fokker 100s! Seems they have 10 of them.

The average age of Cobham (QF) 717s is 12.2 years.
The average age of Virgin F100s is 21.4 years.

 

[TomVexille]

Well, I was in WA recently and noted that Virgin use Fokker 100s! Seems they have 10 of them.

The average age of Cobham (QF) 717s is 12.2 years.
The average age of Virgin F100s is 21.4 years.

Again. What would you buy as the replacement in the ~100 seat airframe market? E190/195 seems like the only viable option that is currently in production.

 

[Austman]

Again.

???

I'm for the 717 !

They are not actually old.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

No need for polishing the turd. The 717 is a very comfortable aircraft and i enjoy flying on them

 

[TomVexille]

???

I'm for the 717 !

They are not actually old.

Ah. Gotcha

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Again. What would you buy as the replacement in the ~100 seat airframe market? E190/195 seems like the only viable option that is currently in production.

They are getting the E190 for Barrow Island.

???
I'm for the 717 !

They are not actually old.

Part of the avionics suite of the B717 was used as a test bed for the B777.

 

[love_the_life]

The 717 is much preferred to the Dash. VA is not much better - the E190 is ok but the AT7 eek.

 

[ajw373]

None of the WA 717's have J class....I think they are run by national Jet so different operator to eastern states.

Nope same operator, which is Cobham, ne National Jet.

The aircraft are owned/leased by Qantas and operated by Cobham. Qantas decided the 5 east coast ones they recently aquired needed business class, my guess is because they have essentially replaced 734's , especially into Canberra where the J market is strong because of the pollies and hanger-ons.

Must admit I was surprised to see no jet services to Canberra (to/from Sydney) the week between Christmas and new year. Don't recall ever seeing that in the days where the 734's were doing the jet services. My wife is not happy she hates dash-8's, we are flying out of Canberra on the 29th December connecting to a QF international flight that only leaves from Sydney and no jets to get. Biggest gripe is the differing cabin baggage allowances, especially when the international flight is in J.

 

[love_the_life]

Luckily we fly out the week before Christmas but are coming back on NYE. The baggage allowance is a bit of a pain though as we are only away for a week or so, should be OK. Like you, our QFi is J so technically we could have a truckload. I fly Dash if I must but Mr LtL really doesn't like them. I got stuck on one BNE - CBR once, never again for anything more than the short hop to SYD.
Have been toying with flying SYD-MEL-CBR on our return but seems a bit OTT and possibly taking it a bit far