Will Qantas bring back PER-NRT?

[Cynicor]

Midwinter means it's time to consider the viability of another January Japanese ski trip, and to start the recruiting process. Not having much leave cover available, I need to plan a very tight trip and decent connections are fairly important.

On previous trips I would take the awful 767 from PER-NRT then hit CTS on any number of internal flights, doing the long-haul flying at night and having the days to fly CTS-NRT and take the bus to the ski fields. Since the earthquakes, unfortunately, Qantas have 'suspended' the PER-NRT service indefinitely.

It was a 2nd daily service to begin with, and I feel it was very lightly loaded most times of the year until the northern winter, when it would pack out for 3-4 months, but its loss has not left many great options. The ski wholesalers are mostly routing through SYD but I could book JAL via SIN for less, and on a more direct route. The only issue is the NRT-SIN departure is too early, and would necessitate a night in Tokyo.

Does anyone think that Qantas will resurrect the PER-NRT flights at all?

 

[markis10]

No way, from next month I expect the only red tail you will see at NRT might be the occasional freight op!

 

[Blackswan]

This was a good flight to connect with AA to LAX, JFK, ORD. Was a shame about the equipment used.

Would be nice if they started it back up with a 330, but I doubt either is going to happen.

 

[SeaWolf]

It would be nice if JAL or ANA would start operating into PER to connect with their North American services. You'd think it would be quite lucrative, being one stop to any of their destinations in North America.

 

[V1213]

I concur that it has been a useful route for me over the years but I doubt it will be back, at least not for a long time.
Flown PER-NRT and vv many times for trips to Japan, Korea, Europe and US for handy oneworld (AA & AY) connections with good journey times and relatively even flight times for both legs, plus NRT isn't a bad transfer airport, unlike SYD. 763 was pitiful though.

Anyway, back to topic: the best option to get to CTS from PER now appears to be CX via HKG, which can easily be grouped with a return leg from TYO (NRT or HND ).
At least the prices to go via SYD or SIN don't appear to be any different to the direct prices, although it always was on the expensive side for a 10.5 hour 763 experience...

 

[wandering_fred]

While I would settle for a decent connecting flight for SIN-NRT, my first choice would be AA flying its own metal DFW-HKG. At the moment, the connection for PER-SIN-HND isn't all that bad. Just not very useful TPAC connecting flights when you get there. Or about a useful and convenient (and expensive) as the LHR - LGW shuffle in the UK :shock:. But if skiing in northern Japan is the prupose - go for it.

While I think the QF flights PER-HKG will also disappear, perhaps said disappearances will prompt the appearance of AA codeshares on the CX PER-HKG flights, since AA would no longer be "picking favorites" in the code share choice.

Happily wandering

Fred

 

[Captain Paul]

This is a very good route and I have used it as an excellent connector to the North American continent travelling from Perth. Why go via 2 domestic hubs in SYD and LAX when you can say goodbye to your luggage in PER and not see it again until NYC or O'Hare or any number of other North American cities using AA or JAL from NRT as a connection?

I also think QANTAS have underestimated the demand for Japanese Snow during the hot WA summer. Very crowded previously on QF79/80 from Nov-Mar.

 

[Cynicor]

It's selfish, but I wouldn't mind if they only brought it back for the Summer (northern Winter) months. Other times of the year I'm happy to take a bit longer but for the skiing I want good connections and as direct as possible.

 

[rechoboam]

Deleted - didn't read properly