Article: Qatar Airways’ Bizarre Daily Melbourne-Adelaide Flight

[Sprucegoose]

We‘re currently booked on QR915 in late June 2023 (the ADL-DOH leg after it arrives from AKL ) and then DOH-ATH 3 hours later. Do you think there’s a significant risk that they cancel the ADL-DOH flight if they succeed in being allowed another MEL-DOH flight? Hopefully we‘d get the opportunity to get equivalent seats on that new MEL-DOH flight and somehow find our way from ADL to MEL if necessary.

On paid seats - for sure. QR is an OW member, so I would expect an ADL-MEL add-on QF sector. They also saddle up with VA.

It is speculation, and it may be reasonable speculation that ADL-DOH will be dropped; however, it is best to deal with issues as they arise.

 

[jase05]

We‘re currently booked on QR915 in late June 2023 (the ADL-DOH leg after it arrives from AKL ) and then DOH-ATH 3 hours later. Do you think there’s a significant risk that they cancel the ADL-DOH flight if they succeed in being allowed another MEL-DOH flight? Hopefully we‘d get the opportunity to get equivalent seats on that new MEL-DOH flight and somehow find our way from ADL to MEL if necessary.

I think they will stick with the route

 

[Mattg]

We‘re currently booked on QR915 in late June 2023 (the ADL-DOH leg after it arrives from AKL ) and then DOH-ATH 3 hours later. Do you think there’s a significant risk that they cancel the ADL-DOH flight if they succeed in being allowed another MEL-DOH flight? Hopefully we‘d get the opportunity to get equivalent seats on that new MEL-DOH flight and somehow find our way from ADL to MEL if necessary.

I think QR915 is safe. I don't think they'll keep the MEL-ADL add-on of QR989 though if they get extra frequencies into the major airports.

 

[Withnail & I]

On paid seats - for sure. QR is an OW member, so I would expect an ADL-MEL add-on QF sector. They also saddle up with VA.

It is speculation, and it may be reasonable speculation that ADL-DOH will be dropped; however, it is best to deal with issues as they arise.

Rewards seats booked with QF points. Perhaps more likely to just get the QF points refunded which would be a disaster!

I agree though, you can go crazy worrying about all these things.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Rewards seats booked with QF points. Perhaps more likely to just get the QF points refunded which would be a disaster!

I agree though, you can go crazy worrying about all these things.

Ok, I would have a quiet plan B!

 

[Withnail & I]

I think QR915 is safe. I don't think they'll keep the MEL-ADL add-on of QR989 though if they get extra frequencies into the major airports.

I expect you’re right - thinking about it, QR915 has nothing to do with the major 4 cities QR wants to schedule more flights to.

 

[Withnail & I]

Ok, I would have a quiet plan B!

Plan B’s from OZ to Europe in July school holidays for 4 people are very difficult to put together in these times. Plan B will probably be keep an eye out for any further reward flights that are miraculously released, get ready to fight and plead with QF and QR, fork out the cash for any overpriced coughpy flights available or buy a tent and cry.

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh I reckon they'll exit entirely. But I'm a cynical person, I'm not actually sure of how well that route is doing

It's doing, and had always done, nicely from my observation. It's been my preferred westerly exit from Australia for many years and again very soon. I commute from HBA to get on this flight. QSuites on this one get filled slower than the main cities ( so I can book later and still get my preferred seat or next one) but in the end the flights are always full ( at least in J ).

I think they will stick with the route

I think ( hope) so too.

 

[Quickstatus]

Question:

Does QR use a fresh crew for the MEL-ADL-MEL (QR988/989) zsector? I’m assuming no layover in ADL

What happens on the ADL-AKL-ADL (QR914/915) sector?. The flight is 5 hrs and the layover is about 6hrs. Do they spend one night in AKL?

 

[Voron]

Qatar Airways’ Bizarre Daily Melbourne-Adelaide Flight is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Qatar Airways' Bizarre Daily Melbourne-Adelaide Flight

Since the beginning of October, Qatar Airways has been running a Boeing 777 every day from Melbourne to Adelaide and back without passengers. The Oneworld

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Hello, thank you for this article, it really helped me prepare for this strange flight!
I booked last minute FRA-ADL (return, I live in Germany and wanted to go home for Christmas after my nice boss gave me a surprise bonus) with Qatar Airways and saw that there was a “Technical Stop” in MEL but didn’t pay attention to the fact that it was a 29 hr trip to ADL. (Return flight was 26, but with delays it ended up being longer).
We flew directly over ADL, I could have jumped out and had the evening with my family
They gathered the ADL passengers in MEL as everyone left the plane, (at 11:30ish pm) and escorted us through a security check and up to the international transit area. They told us to be at the gate for 3:45am, and that we were not to leave the international transit area.
All lounges close over night, and not much else was open.
I tried to get some duty free stuff but they refused to sell it to me (the manager was really nice about it), saying they’d take it off us at the gate, because I was flying from one domestic airport to another. (No one checked our hand luggage, it would have been fine, but possibly illegal?!?!)
I had a shower near gate 7, the bathroom was filthy, but I had some spray disinfectant with me, and thongs. I just used up a shedload of bog roll cleaning the basin etc.
They turned up at the gate at about 4:30-4:45am. They told us to sit in the same seats again when we boarded (not everyone did) and we arrived in ADL just as they were opening up everything - someone had to run down the air bridge and unlock the door into the airport.
There’s no info about how long the “technical stop“ is, I only found out through reading this article, AFTER I’d already booked and paid! So, thank you again for helping me be prepared!
On the way back yesterday it was the same in reverse, without the security rigmarole. MEL Int. Airport was crowded, and we had about 3-4 hrs there. Most passengers didn’t know that we had to get off the plane & take all hand luggage with us, as the crew was changing. Then we flew over Adelaide again on the way to Doha
Hope this helps anyone who has made the same mistake I did!
I’m glad I found a flight, and that I could go home at short notice, it turned out ok, even though it felt a bit ridiculous.
Cheers,
Veronica
P.s. Adelaide airport international area has been changed, you can only get some coughpy sandwiches and water (maybe also coffee, I think) after you go through security & customs. The duty free area is ok, but if you want something decent to eat or have a bevvy before you fly, do it before you go down to security & customs. You can watch everyone else having nice food and a beer on the other side of the glass while you sip your water and regret buying your gross expensive sammich!
I remember there being at least a nice-ish sandwich type place in the old set up, with beer & wine… but maybe I’m wrong… no idea what they’re thinking

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for your report, Veronica; it's painful to read, to be honest. Of course, you can buy duty-free and take it on a domestic flight; I always do it. I am not sure why you couldn't leave the airport, especially given the cough facilities provided by QR. Having flown from Europe, the importance of rest at night (on arrival) is key to your well-being, so being herded like cattle would have been debilitating.

I see that technical stop as nothing short of modern-day torture!

Thanks for taking the time to inform us.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Voron

 

[jrvk]

Hello, thank you for this article, it really helped me prepare for this strange flight!
I booked last minute FRA-ADL (return, I live in Germany and wanted to go home for Christmas after my nice boss gave me a surprise bonus) with Qatar Airways and saw that there was a “Technical Stop” in MEL but didn’t pay attention to the fact that it was a 29 hr trip to ADL. (Return flight was 26, but with delays it ended up being longer).
We flew directly over ADL, I could have jumped out and had the evening with my family
They gathered the ADL passengers in MEL as everyone left the plane, (at 11:30ish pm) and escorted us through a security check and up to the international transit area. They told us to be at the gate for 3:45am, and that we were not to leave the international transit area.
All lounges close over night, and not much else was open.
I tried to get some duty free stuff but they refused to sell it to me (the manager was really nice about it), saying they’d take it off us at the gate, because I was flying from one domestic airport to another. (No one checked our hand luggage, it would have been fine, but possibly illegal?!?!)
I had a shower near gate 7, the bathroom was filthy, but I had some spray disinfectant with me, and thongs. I just used up a shedload of bog roll cleaning the basin etc.
They turned up at the gate at about 4:30-4:45am. They told us to sit in the same seats again when we boarded (not everyone did) and we arrived in ADL just as they were opening up everything - someone had to run down the air bridge and unlock the door into the airport.
There’s no info about how long the “technical stop“ is, I only found out through reading this article, AFTER I’d already booked and paid! So, thank you again for helping me be prepared!
On the way back yesterday it was the same in reverse, without the security rigmarole. MEL Int. Airport was crowded, and we had about 3-4 hrs there. Most passengers didn’t know that we had to get off the plane & take all hand luggage with us, as the crew was changing. Then we flew over Adelaide again on the way to Doha
Hope this helps anyone who has made the same mistake I did!
I’m glad I found a flight, and that I could go home at short notice, it turned out ok, even though it felt a bit ridiculous.
Cheers,
Veronica
P.s. Adelaide airport international area has been changed, you can only get some coughpy sandwiches and water (maybe also coffee, I think) after you go through security & customs. The duty free area is ok, but if you want something decent to eat or have a bevvy before you fly, do it before you go down to security & customs. You can watch everyone else having nice food and a beer on the other side of the glass while you sip your water and regret buying your gross expensive sammich!
I remember there being at least a nice-ish sandwich type place in the old set up, with beer & wine… but maybe I’m wrong… no idea what they’re thinking

HI Voron!
Work has booked me from ADL to CDG on this flight (ADL-MEL-DOH-CDG), leaving at 12:40 with a two hour 'technical stop' in Melbourne.

No one in Adelaide or on the phone is able to answer the question for me as to whether I need to go through customs in ADL or not (I presume yes given your explanation). Can you elaborate?

It potentially means an extra 60-70 mins in bed before the travel, so it's worth it

 

[Pushka]

HI Voron!
Work has booked me from ADL to CDG on this flight (ADL-MEL-DOH-CDG), leaving at 12:40 with a two hour 'technical stop' in Melbourne.

No one in Adelaide or on the phone is able to answer the question for me as to whether I need to go through customs in ADL or not (I presume yes given your explanation). Can you elaborate?

It potentially means an extra 60-70 mins in bed before the travel, so it's worth it

You won't be able to board Qatar airlines from the domestic side.

 

[Mattg]

You won't be able to board Qatar airlines from the domestic side.

Yep. Definitely need to clear immigration in Adelaide.

 

[jrvk]

You won't be able to board Qatar airlines from the domestic side.

As expected! Thanks for confirming @Pushka

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2023

Yep. Definitely need to clear immigration in Adelaide.

As expected! Thanks for confirming @Mattg

 

[Voron]

HI Voron!
Work has booked me from ADL to CDG on this flight (ADL-MEL-DOH-CDG), leaving at 12:40 with a two hour 'technical stop' in Melbourne.

No one in Adelaide or on the phone is able to answer the question for me as to whether I need to go through customs in ADL or not (I presume yes given your explanation). Can you elaborate?

It potentially means an extra 60-70 mins in bed before the travel, so it's worth it

Post automatically merged: Jan 17, 2023

Hey Jrvk,
Yes, you’ll need to go thru customs & security in ADL I‘m afraid…. No lie-in for you!
Cheers,
V

 

[bradfaulks]

Would it be possible if you only have carry on luggage to book this route (Doh-Adel via Mel) and get off at Melbourne and skip the last leg of the journey ?

 

[Mattg]

Looks like all DOH-MEL-CBR flights have been completely removed from the schedule. That route ain't happening.

DOH-MEL-ADL will likely continue unless/until Qatari airlines are permitted more than 28 weekly frequencies into Australia's four major airports.

Would it be possible if you only have carry on luggage to book this route (Doh-Adel via Mel) and get off at Melbourne and skip the last leg of the journey ?

I doubt that you would be let through immigration?

 

[Berlin]

Call me a Germophobe (I mean germs, not Germany ) but that story about the filthy shower made me cringe really REALLY badly…