Avoid QF3/QF4 To/From Honolulu

[crumycat]

Hi Everyone,

I recently returned from flying Qantas to/from Honolulu. I would suggest that anyone thinking of flying QF to Honolulu to avoid it at all costs. This was the worst Qantas flight I have ever taken.

The 767 aircraft should have been taken out of operation years ago and the aircraft is designed for domestic use, not a 10 hour international flight.

The entertainment options don't exist and the service offered is non existent. The bathrooms were disgusting and limited. The staff were rude and no like any other Qantas staff I have come across.

I would recommend flying Jetstar rather than Qantas as the aircraft are more modern and the entertainment options are much superior. The staff on Jetstar are also much better.

Ps... To those frequent flyers expecting an upgrade to business... Good Luck. I was standing by the Service Desk when 2 staff were given seats in business, even though as a FF, I had requested 2 seats in business.


Crumycat

 

[jdlover23]

Have to agree I did that flight to HNL a few years back on a points ticket, on the way to LAX. Luckily had a direct flight back. The plane then, was ridiculously old, I think I pulled 23k or something which had no one in front of me but also meant I had the wall, I'm 180cm and was cramped the whole flight as I couldn't even put my feet under the seat in front of me, as there was only that damn wall!

Was also funny I had a WP sitting next to me, and we had swapped seats as I wanted the window and he wanted the isle. Before take off the FA came by and welcomed me on board, as PS at the time I was surprised until she said thanks Mr X which was the chaps name sitting next to me. So this was back when the FA's gave a cough about WP's, since ive been WP have never been welcomed on a flight....

 

[Blackswan]

Similar to QF79/80 PER-NRT. This is almost a 10 hr flight, in a 767. No AVOD in Y, and looped entertainment in J.

I flew this sector in Dec 2010/Jan 2011 in J. Seats are dreamtime (not lie flat). Comfortable enough, but still a kick in the teeth given the price paid.

Unfortunately not much choice for direct flights to Tokyo from Perth - and I was connecting through to AA. So, whilst I would have liked to have avoided it, there wasn't much choice.

At least with HNL, you've got a choice of Jetstar or Hawaiian Airlines.

 

[clifford]

Unfortunately not much choice for direct flights to Tokyo from Perth - and I was connecting through to AA. So, whilst I would have liked to have avoided it, there wasn't much choice.

Should've flown an Asian airline via SIN/BKK/HKG then.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Hi Everyone,

I recently returned from flying Qantas to/from Honolulu. I would suggest that anyone thinking of flying QF to Honolulu to avoid it at all costs. This was the worst Qantas flight I have ever taken.

The 767 aircraft should have been taken out of operation years ago and the aircraft is designed for domestic use, not a 10 hour international flight.

The entertainment options don't exist and the service offered is non existent. The bathrooms were disgusting and limited. The staff were rude and no like any other Qantas staff I have come across.

I would recommend flying Jetstar rather than Qantas as the aircraft are more modern and the entertainment options are much superior. The staff on Jetstar are also much better.

Ps... To those frequent flyers expecting an upgrade to business... Good Luck. I was standing by the Service Desk when 2 staff were given seats in business, even though as a FF, I had requested 2 seats in business.


Crumycat

It's a disgrace, but it will be upgauged to a 332 or 333 soon apparently.

What's more frustrating is award availability is really poor too in Y, but JQ is always wide open (when you add up an extra piece of baggage, meals and entertainment, it's quite an expencive award).

HA/JQ/QF's product is all pretty much on par here. AC's was just as bad.

 

[Durin's Bane]

Should've flown an Asian airline via SIN/BKK/HKG then.

That's what I now do. After a few NRT-PER flights in QF J in what is arguably the worst value J in the air, where possible I'll book NRT-HKG-PER (CX/CX) or NRT-SIN-PER (JL/QF).

 

[Major]

Qf3

I notice QA is still using 763's for the SYD to HNL flight. Is anyone aware of any aircraft changes on this route in the near future ?

 

[Awesom Andy]

Re: Qf3

This isn't exactly QF's most prized route, and, IMHO, the most likely change (some time in the distant future) will be a change to an A332, with an orange star on its tail rather than a marsupial (which, currently, is already true for approximately half the days).

 

[Mrmaxwell]

My QF3 flight last Nov was also nasty...my first and hopefully last 10hr 'experience' in a 763.

To makes things worse my 388 return flight from LAX was swapped out to a 744 during the A380 grounding so you could say I was robbed both ways...

 

[gumpy]

Sad to hear... my parents are on this flight tomorrow...

 

[mannej]

To makes things worse my 388 return flight from LAX was swapped out to a 744 during the A380 grounding so you could say I was robbed both ways...

Not much you could do about the A380 though...



Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[dizperliz]

From my understanding its due to a lack of airframes available, was meant to be swapped to 332i last year but due 380 problems and new 332i AKL/JFK route ect. I understand it should be 332i from mid 2011.

 

[niemann]

Hi Everyone,


Ps... To those frequent flyers expecting an upgrade to business... Good Luck. I was standing by the Service Desk when 2 staff were given seats in business, even though as a FF, I had requested 2 seats in business.

Crumycat

The staff may have been on a special QF staff fare (annual leave confirmed, or a 'special' they ran last year), not a normal space available ordinary one. These trump a FF requesting an upgrade. The HNL route is a low yield budget traveller one: as someone said this will go to JQ ASAP.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: Qf3

This isn't exactly QF's most prized route, and, IMHO, the most likely change (some time in the distant future) will be a change to an A332, with an orange star on its tail rather than a marsupial (which, currently, is already true for approximately half the days).

Unlikely, as Alan Joyce commented quite recently that QF (by which I mean mainline QF with its own metal) makes a nice profit on the HNL run.

Ports only get shifted to JQ if they aren't making a profit for QF.

My Joyce also noted that HNL appears to be that rarest of ports - one that is profitable for both QF mainline and JQ.

I'm a reasonably frequent traveller to HNL, and I much prefer the QF 763 to the JQ A330. Would love to see the 744s back on this route, but don't think that will happen; much more likely is that A330s will replace the 763s, and supposedly before the end of this year, if you believe the scuttlebut .....

 

[pauly7]

The staff may have been on a special QF staff fare (annual leave confirmed, or a 'special' they ran last year), not a normal space available ordinary one. These trump a FF requesting an upgrade. The HNL route is a low yield budget traveller one: as someone said this will go to JQ ASAP.

Actually the yields on this route are good for both QF and JQ.

No idea where you are pulling that information from....

If there is going to be any change it will be QF putting on an A330. The strong AUD is making all QF US routes popular atm.

 

[Philbyau]

I have been to HNL a few times, I have not had the pleasure (*cough*) of trying out the 763 but it has been a pretty colorful fleet for this route for a while, I have had the pleasure of trying these:

QF - 747-SP (complete with spiral staircase and was seated in Y upstairs )
QF - 747-200 (or was it 100?) in Y
FJ - 747 to Nadi then 737-800 HNL all in J

I would have to say aside from the novelty of the 747-SP, FJ in J was a fun experience, although slightly long, its a quirky route, nice staff and price isn't too bad. Although you do feel like you have gone back in time (especially J on the 747 ).

 

[mango]

That is what I experienced as well on an even longer flight from LHR to SYD via BKK. Old 747 aircraft, flickering small screen, terrible entertainment and horrible food...

 

[Kefci2000]

From my understanding its due to a lack of airframes available, was meant to be swapped to 332i last year but due 380 problems and new 332i AKL/JFK route ect. I understand it should be 332i from mid 2011.

Any updates on when 767 are likely to be swapped out.

 

[ajw373]

The 767 aircraft should have been taken out of operation years ago and the aircraft is designed for domestic use, not a 10 hour international flight.

Ahh this comment has made my day, just picked myself off the floor having fallen off my seat laughing.

Now of course I agree with your whole sentiment that the 767's have had there day and for an airline like Qantas to be running them on such a long route in 2011 is a little bit poor. However your statement they are designed for domestic use couldn't be futher from the truth. The versions that Qantas has were purchased for exactly this kind of mission and indeed for many many years Qantas operated them all around Asia, before moving the bulk of them to domestic. I guess many people just don't realise how good we have it this day. What we have and expect these days is light years ahead of the past. Indeed I recall it was only in 2003 that I first flew business class on a Qantas 747 going to the US with a seat that didn't turn into a bed and IFE that was on loop. Oh how times have changed.

 

[nlagalle]

I have been to HNL a few times, I have not had the pleasure (*cough*) of trying out the 763 but it has been a pretty colorful fleet for this route for a while, I have had the pleasure of trying these:

QF - 747-SP (complete with spiral staircase and was seated in Y upstairs )
QF - 747-200 (or was it 100?) in Y
FJ - 747 to Nadi then 737-800 HNL all in J

I would have to say aside from the novelty of the 747-SP, FJ in J was a fun experience, although slightly long, its a quirky route, nice staff and price isn't too bad. Although you do feel like you have gone back in time (especially J on the 747 ).

IIRC correctly AP have never had a 747-SP. perhaps you are thinking of an older 100 or 200 series?