A380 To Fly Special MEL > SYD Flight 23feb24 (QF7168)

[TheDefenestrator]

A mate of mine is being put on QF7168 (MEL-SYD) after their original flight got cancelled.
Will be waiting with bated breath to hear how it goes as it looks like it's departing from MEL T2 (so one of those increasingly rare domestic flights departing from the international terminal).

 

[A321]

A mate of mine is being put on QF7168 (MEL-SYD) after their original flight got cancelled.
Will be waiting with bated breath to hear how it goes as it looks like it's departing from MEL T2 (so one of those increasingly rare domestic flights departing from the international terminal).

Hope they can fit in the cargo aircraft's hold, bring earplugs!

 

[TheDefenestrator]

Hope they can fit in the cargo aircraft's hold, bring earplugs!

I sure hope they won't need to, because if the timetable is correct, I reckon they've gotten themselves a very nice seat upgrade from a measly B738 to an A388!

 

[Big John]

Correct. Just need SWZ to hurry up and open, that will be a game changer (and lead to more bonuses )

Sorry, I'm late to the conversation.

I thought the IATA code for the new Sydney airport was WSI ?

Or has it changed to SWZ when I wasn't looking ?

 

[yachty]

Sorry, I'm late to the conversation.

I thought the IATA code for the new Sydney airport was WSI ?

Or has it changed to SWZ when I wasn't looking ?

The airport formerly known as SWZ... haha. It was SWZ until allocated the WSI IATA code.

 

[Himeno]

Sorry, I'm late to the conversation.

I thought the IATA code for the new Sydney airport was WSI ?

Or has it changed to SWZ when I wasn't looking ?

WSI is the current code. It is provisional. Final code is assigned next year.

 

[TheInsider]

I sure hope they won't need to, because if the timetable is correct, I reckon they've gotten themselves a very nice seat upgrade from a measly B738 to an A388!

Due to SYD slots, the airlines had to cancel a few flights, so QF has decided to run the A380.

 

[TheDefenestrator]

Due to SYD slots, the airlines had to cancel a few flights, so QF has decided to run the A380.

Yep, mate sent me this not long ago (though part of me wonders if there's a fair few Swifties heading up to Sydney as well):

Hi,

Due to forecast storms in Sydney this afternoon, Air Traffic Control is limiting arrivals and departures in Sydney and as a result, we have had to change your flight.

To make sure we can get you to your destination as close to schedule as possible, we are using a larger A380 aircraft today. This means that your new flight QF7168 will depart from Melbourne International Terminal 2 at 5:00pm and arrive at Sydney International Terminal.

Please ensure you have government issued physical photo identification, or Medicare card for children, for check in. This does not need to be a passport. If you have checked in online you must obtain a physical boarding pass from the international check in counter prior to check in close.

Check in and bag drop for your flight will close 60 minutes before departure and please proceed to the gate 40 minutes before departure.

As you are departing from an international terminal, international carry-on limits for liquids, aerosols, gels and powders will apply. You can find more information at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-baggage.html

 

[AIRwin]

A mate of mine is being put on QF7168 (MEL-SYD) after their original flight got cancelled.
Will be waiting with bated breath to hear how it goes as it looks like it's departing from MEL T2 (so one of those increasingly rare domestic flights departing from the international terminal).

Hope they all have photo IDs ready!

 

[elanshin]

I just had a thought. Normally I expect QF to just cancel a bunch of flights and say sorry weather problems and send you off tomorrow instead of trying to squeeze and a380 in.

I wonder if it's because Taylor Swift is in town and there should still be a horde of swifties going to SYD for some of the concerts (starts tonight). They likely don't want the media backlash of not being able to get the swifties into town. (Taylor swift seems to be everything the Mainstream media is churning out atm).

 

[Himeno]

(Taylor swift seems to be everything the Mainstream media is churning out atm).

The only place that I've ever heard of her.

I guess they had to get an A380 up to SYD anyway, so might as well save on some slots with the decreased slots at SYD due to weather and not have as many people to recover later from cancelled flights.

 

[UP4014]

A couple of 737 cancellations Melbourne to Sydney tonight have resulted in an A380 on the 5pm QF7168 from Melbourne.

Need to get those Taylor fans to Sydney!

 

[Bundy Bear]

A storm in Sydney later tonight will make things interesting

 

[elanshin]

A storm in Sydney later tonight will make things interesting

It's because of the storm that this a380 is put in place instead of 3 or 4 737s.

I'm sure QF is giving QF7138 full priority with their available slots at SYD when the weather hits.

But hey some lucky pax will have F seats tonight.

 

[gaz0303]

Cutting it fine! Going to be some stressed swifties. Int departure and arrival will slow things down further.

 

[MooTime]

It's because of the storm that this a380 is put in place instead of 3 or 4 737s.

I'm sure QF is giving QF7138 full priority with their available slots at SYD when the weather hits.

But hey some lucky pax will have F seats tonight.

Well there's 3 cancelled QF 737's around 4pm so not like they putting on extra capacity. Just shuffling the decks for whatever reason.

 

[SeatBackForward]

But hey some lucky pax will have F seats tonight.

They'll be in the landing sequence by the time the tablecloths are being laid.

 

[Himeno]

Going to be some stressed swifties.

✂️ whatever

5 seconds · Clipped by Magical Catgirl · Original video "Qantas Safety Video - 2020 Centenary" by Qantas

youtube.com

 

[TheDefenestrator]

Looks like VH-OQD will be the likely plane for QF7168:

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

 

[dylarr]

This is pretty cool that they are doing this and I'd love to be onboard.

Qantas have issued a media release:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-a380-to-fly-special-melbourne-to-sydney-flight/

According to Qantas, the impacted flights were later in the afternoon anyway so should not have impacted Swifies travelling to the concert tonight.

These customers were originally travelling on three separate flights from 4pm onwards, so it is unlikely they were travelling to Sydney for tonight’s Taylor Swift concert.