Qantas ditches SAA codeshare

[markis10]

#Qantas has ditched its alliance with South African Airways on flights between Australia and South Africa, The code-share will end on May 31

https://twitter.com/Mattonews

 

[Intra]

Is anyone surprised, given the new SAA/VA Code-share amongst other things?

 

[markis10]

Not surprising, and given the current sale which I suspect is being used as a litmus test for the routes viability, I suspect it will eventually be cut altogether as a QFF service.

 

[cmon0005]

I guess this is an 'Advance screening' of the 27th Feb results announcement... sad if it is true that another QFi route(s) are to go...

 

[markis10]

Some more info:

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/201402/0218

Qantas and South African Airways are winding up their codeshare agreement, effective 31 May 2014.

Qantas will remove its 'QF' flight numbers on South African Airways operated flights between Perth and Johannesburg (PER-JNB v.v.) effective on/after 01 June 2014.

All impacted Qantas customers will:


remain on the same services operated by South African Airways but reaccommodated from the 'QF' flight number onto the South African Airways 'SA' flight number. Apart from the flight number change, there are no other changes - the flight, date, schedule, routing/destination, class of service, inflight product and experience remain the same; or
will be reaccommodated to Qantas operated services QF63/64 between Sydney and Johannesburg (SYD-JNB v.v.) on same day of travel within the same cabin.


Travel Agents will receive a cancellation message from Qantas via the GDS schedule change queues.

The following options are available to affected customers holding a valid ticket issued on/before 21 February 2014 for travel on/after 01 June 2014.


For customers holding a Qantas (081) issued ticket:

Passengers may, without fee:
Reissue ticket from the Qantas 'QF' flight number operated by South Africa Airways that has been automatically reaccommodated to the same service with 'SA' flight number operated by South African Airways.
Rebook/Reroute travel via Sydney gateway on alternative Qantas service with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas.


Conditions
All changes must be made prior to the original ticketed departure.
New travel dates must be within ticket validity.
All tickets must be reissued before a customer can travel. Failure to reissue a ticket may result in customers not being able to travel.
Rebooking on Qantas (QF) flights, if the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking class within the same cabin may be booked (e.g. within Business or Economy cabin)
Qantas will not be responsible for paying any other costs or expenses such as hotel or other ground operator fees arising due to events beyond our control, unless required by applicable laws.
All other rules and conditions of the ticket remain unchanged.
Customers are permitted to make changes as outlined in this policy. Any subsequent changes made after the ticket is reissued will be subject to the rules and conditions of the original ticketed fare purchased.


For customers holding a ticket issued by another carrier (non-081):

Passengers may, without fee:
Reissue of ticket from the Qantas 'QF' flight number operated by South Africa Airways that has been automatically reaccommodated to the same service with 'SA' flight number operated by South African Airways.
Rebook/Reroute travel via Sydney gateway on alternative Qantas service with 'QF' flight number operated by Qantas. If the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking class within the same cabin may be booked (e.g. within Business or Economy cabin)


For customers with unticketed bookings:

For unticketed bookings, alternate flights/routings can be rebooked subject to availability and tickets issued in accordance with fare conditions.

For customers on Frequent Flyer Award Tickets:

Passengers who are travelling on Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award tickets are entitled to the same options and conditions as listed above.

Passengers who are travelling on Qantas & Partner Classic Award tickets are entitled to the same options and conditions as listed above provided any travel rebooked or rerouted is made on an eligible Qantas Frequent Flyer Partner Airline and any travel booked on a partner airline is subject to award seat availability. Classic Award tickets cannot be retained in credit.

 

[Barks]

Not surprising, and given the current sale which I suspect is being used as a litmus test for the routes viability, I suspect it will eventually be cut altogether as a QFF service.

I'm guessing you mean the PER-JNB (return) route and not QF63/64?

I really hope they don't cut QF63/64. I've flown SYD-JNB return quite a few times (in either Y+ or J) and it's fantastic! Each time, the flights have been completely full so why would QFi cut the route?

 

[RooFlyer]

I guess this is an 'Advance screening' of the 27th Feb results announcement... sad if it is true that another QFi route(s) are to go...

I think it shows that routing is not a "big announcement" requiring such a big deal. I'm expecting (besides results) some significant corporate announcement - most likely a 'review' or 'assessment' of selling QFF. or management changes.

 

[williamsf1]

Qantas to end codeshare with SAA

Qantas and South African Airways have just announced the termination of its long-running codeshare agreement from 31 May this year in the wake of ongoing opposition from Australian competition watchdog, the ACCC.
No changes will be made to QF's existing daily services Johannesburg, which are unaffected by the decision and will continue to operate as normal. The carrier says ending the agreement early will allow for new options to be developed to connect passengers in Perth with the South African capital.
Current options for PER-JNB travellers include thrice-daily services to Dubai with alliance partner Emirates and a subsequent onward connection to Johannesburg, which take off approx 1 hour and 40 minutes after EK flights arrive from Perth.
All Qantas customers with bookings for travel past 31 May will be contacted for alternate arrangements to be made

 

[markis10]

I'm guessing you mean the PER-JNB (return) route and not QF63/64?

I really hope they don't cut QF63/64. I've flown SYD-JNB return quite a few times (in either Y+ or J) and it's fantastic! Each time, the flights have been completely full so why would QFi cut the route?

No I mean QF63/4, Qantas are on the record as saying it's not viable sans codeshare.

 

[moa999]

Not surprising given ACCC opposition.

Would not surprise me to see QF drop SYD-JNB, for SYD-PER-JNB or alternatively SYD-DXB-JNB via EK,
which lets them also take some PER-JNB traffic off SA

Afterall can't see SA successfully running out of SYD.

 

[zainman]

Not surprising, and given the current sale which I suspect is being used as a litmus test for the routes viability, I suspect it will eventually be cut altogether as a QFF service.

+1. Cancellation of this route will be announced perhaps on the 27th.

 

[Danger]

It really erks me how, at the time of the announcement of the EK alliance, QF said one of the big reasons was passengers didn't want to fly all the way to London and then back-track to Europe. But now Qantas has the hide to suggest passengers who want to fly to JNB should add an extra 85% mileage (according to Great Circle Mapper) and go via DXB.

What's changed? Does Qantas think passengers are now happy to back-track?

Obviously not but it just really angers me how one side of the mouth says one thing and the other says something completely different when it suits it.

 

[drron]

Certainly some of the media think JNB will go-
Qantas expected to cut 3000 jobs, routes: Reports | News.com.au

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Im probably being optimistic , but do people think EK might code share on QF 63/64 or is that a bit far fetched?

Or could EK operate the route (SYD > JNB) & QF codeshare on EK metal?

The ACCC wants competition.... Well it will be sadly lacking if QF pullout.

 

[Danger]

Or could EK operate the route (SYD > JNB) & QF codeshare on EK metal?

Well EK operates nearly every other route for QF, apparently, why not this one.

 

[Jos888]

Well EK operates nearly every other route for QF, apparently, why not this one.

I don't think EK operates any flight to anywhere that doesn't go via DXB first :-|

 

[flyingfan]

I don't think EK operates any flight to anywhere that doesn't go via DXB first :-|

What about EK412 SYD-AKL and EK406 MEL-AKL?

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I don't think EK operates any flight to anywhere that doesn't go via DXB first :-|

True, although EK could fly DXB > JNB ..... Then could fly onto SYD as an extra leg..... Similar to DXB > SIN > MEL or DXB> KUL > MEL

Was wondering if this is allowed / could it work?

 

[Jos888]

What about EK412 SYD-AKL and EK406 MEL-AKL?

You got me there flyingfan

 

[zainman]

True, although EK could fly DXB > JNB ..... Then could fly onto SYD as an extra leg..... Similar to DXB > SIN > MEL or DXB> KUL > MEL

Was wondering if this is allowed / could it work?

I believe EK has reached its maximum allowable services to australia under the bilateral..