A380 to Hong Kong [from Jan 15th, QF127/QF128]

[serfty]

...

what are the good J seats? im in 13A at the moment

Solo? 12/13-E/F

 

[browski]

And yet at MEL, they get a time change (8hrs earlier), downgraded aircraft (from 744 to 330), and lost HKG-LHR connection.

What about something for MEL?!

I know for most travelers on the MEL-HKG-LHR, this change is a bummer. But.......for MEL-HKG travelers , this is a huge win.:!: We can finally depart on Sunday afternoon (very civilized, post hangover) and arrive in HKG at 9.45pm (at HK Central by 11pm) and get a good sleep before work on Monday.

.......And we can now fly Qantas again on that route instead of enduring the slow lumbar death of the Cathay Pacific "Shell Seats".
FWIW, I actually prefer the A330 to the 744, so I don't really see it as an equipment downgrade.

For those wanting to carry on to LHR, you cannot do it on Qantas metal anymore so you might as well fly CX the entire way. The 11.45pm evening departure from MEL on CX178 still exists. it connects well with the CX257 9.40am departure from HKG-LHR (on an A340 though)

 

[samh004]

A real shame it cannot continue ops to LHR via HKG. A great stopover point + no other A380 operators from HKG, so surely there must be a market there?

I thought SIA and maybe someone else operated an A380 to HKG, sure it’s another stopover point onwards, but there are others I thought?

 

[markis10]

I thought SIA and maybe someone else operated an A380 to HKG, sure it’s another stopover point onwards, but there are others I thought?

EK run the A380 ex BKK to HKG, and ironically HKG airlines are looking at taking over the QF A380 slots form their deferment of deliveries:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/hong-kong-airlines-eyes-qantas-a380-slots-364313/

 

[Deleted member 18152]

So what are the bets on the destinations the spare (12th) 4 class A380 frame?

 

[crispycrouton]

These first 12 are the only ones currently scheduled to have First Class. I'd expect that once the 3 class 388's begin to come online, the HKG flights will lose F.

Does that mean QF127/8 will retain F service for the entire 2012, given that the 3-class A380 (no.13 onwards) are not delivered until 2013?

Also, any speculations when it will become daily A380?

 

[Hawkeye]

Does that mean QF127/8 will retain F service for the entire 2012, given that the 3-class A380 (no.13 onwards) are not delivered until 2013?

A very fair question, the answer to which which I am currently interested in.

I had decided never to book F from Australia to HKG (or vice versa) on QF again because on each of the last 4 occasions I had segments booked in F, aircraft subs left me without an F cabin. 2 of those were due to near-disasters on the QF fleet leading to major disruptions, so hard to get upset about that. It does seem that this route ranks at the bottom of F segment priority, so is the first to be dropped when circumstances arise.

Anyways, I'm in the contemplation stage of an AONE4 itinerary for next year. Do I take a gamble on QF127 retaining F, allowing me to overnight in HKG, followed by CX253 the next day to LHR, OR go QF31 SYD-LHR. By xONEx rules, the latter option would also change London to a stopover, rather than a transit, with the flow-on implications of a hefty UK APD cost.

Hmmm ... decisions, decisions.

 

[el_rooto]

I assume if they're starting the A380 to HKG and they're investing in building a new F Lounge there (Maybe it will be joint with BA?) that they are going to be flying the F outfitted A380's from SYD at least.

 

[Hawkeye]

I assume if they're starting the A380 to HKG and they're investing in building a new F Lounge there (Maybe it will be joint with BA?) that they are going to be flying the F outfitted A380's from SYD at least.

Ah, assumption. What was that classic line from Under Siege 2: "Assumption is the mother of all ****-up's".

Don't take that personally, btw. Just a line that sometimes can seem so profound!

 

[el_rooto]

Ah, assumption. What was that classic line from Under Siege 2: "Assumption is the mother of all ****-up's".

Don't take that personally, btw. Just a line that sometimes can seem so profound!

Why would QF spend the CAPEX on building a new F lounge in a port that didn't have F PAX?

 

[NM]

Why would QF spend the CAPEX on building a new F lounge in a port that didn't have F PAX?

It has a lot of Emerald PAX. And its a shared lounge with BA who do have F on the route.

CX stopped operating F cabins to Australia several years ago, so there is no competition for F on the HKG-Australia non-stop services. And if people want to fly QF F to London they can always go via SIN.

 

[crispycrouton]

Starts from Sunday 15th Jan, 4 x weekly , I have been waiting for this, yipeee! Although an overnight option would be better than the day flight.

Annoyed about the LHR option dropping from HKG but this certainly makes up a little for that.

P.s. looks like mainly Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (although occasionally I did find some Tuesdays thrown in)

It appears that the occasional Tuesday A380 flight only operates in January, perhaps due to Chinese NY.

Looking to fly on Tuesday 24 Jan and hoping it would remain an A380, but what are the chances that the A380 will be swapped on the day to a 4-class B744, or even 3-class B744?

 

[frankxinyu]

im pretty sure they are still seliing F tickets on QF 127/128?

 

[simongr]

I assume if they're starting the A380 to HKG and they're investing in building a new F Lounge there (Maybe it will be joint with BA?) that they are going to be flying the F outfitted A380's from SYD at least.

Ah, assumption. What was that classic line from Under Siege 2: "Assumption is the mother of all ****-up's".

Don't take that personally, btw. Just a line that sometimes can seem so profound!

Why would QF spend the CAPEX on building a new F lounge in a port that didn't have F PAX?

They have already announced a Marc Newsom designed F in HKG into be built.

 

[crispycrouton]

They have already announced a Marc Newsom designed F in HKG into be built.

So will it be pretty safe to assume that even with an A380 substitution, there will still at least be a 4-class B747 with F?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'd imagine from 2012 when they won't have F, as it's not good practice to sell F from a port that has a cubicle as an F lounge.

Yes to my mind QF under service BNE in many ways. coughpy lounges and not the best schedules for a start.

It's in many respects, economically our second most important state.

QANTAS should review their positioning towards Queensland.

BTW I don't live there and try to avoid it where I can!!

 

[awilcockson]

So, if someone where hypothetically booked on a FASA SYD-HKG on QF127 in an A380, and it were this hypothetical person's first ever trip in F, what could said person expect with regards to meal service (8 course tasting?) and choice of alcoholic beverages?

All hypothetically speaking, of course ...

 

[simongr]

They don't offer the tasting menu in F to HKG at the moment so I wouldnt be expecting it just because it is an A380 - they do serve the tasting menu on 744s...

 

[awilcockson]

They don't offer the tasting menu in F to HKG at the moment so I wouldnt be expecting it just because it is an A380 - they do serve the tasting menu on 744s...

OK thanks Simon, so if I were hypothetically in F on the QF30 (747 service HKG to MEL) on the way home then I might get to try the tasting menu on that flight?

 

[serfty]

AFAIK, the "Tasting" or "Degustation" Menus are only available for "Selected" flights out of SYD/MEL.

I believe these flights are QF1/QF11/QF31/QF93/QF9.