Is it just me, or are Japan flights disrupted a lot?

[yachty]

Hi all,
First time poster but long time lurker

I'm a frequent flyer between HND and SYD and the QF25/26 has had two major delays (overnight, and up to almost 24 hours later) and two cancellations in the last month alone.

Some data points, Monday's QF25 was delayed until 10am this morning (Tuesday), it was cancelled the week before last on July 6, on July 4th it also had an overnight delay until 7:30pm the next day (almost 24 hours late), around 14 June it was cancelled too... I used to fly QF25/6 regularly pre-COVID and don't ever being disrupted or seeing a disruption before, it used to be pretty smack on.

Just wondering if any of the brains trust know what's going on, or is it just a run of bad luck of late?

 

[Peasant]

Not to go on like a broken record, but QF international is disproportionately affected by QF's many maintenance issues with its aging fleet.

 

[Mattg]

I wonder if QF25 is an "easier" flight to delay than other services, since the plane sits in HND all day? In other words, if they need to delay QF25 overnight, the aircraft can still operate its next flight (either QF80 to MEL or QF62 to BNE) more or less on time.

 

[Himeno]

For the last few years before the pandemic, the HND flights didn't have as much fleet disruption issues as the 747s were only operating on 3 routes (HND, SCL and JNB) and if there was a disruption, it could be recovered within 12 hours (unless it was a major tech problem).
With the current operating pattern, QF25/26 uses 2 aircraft while the route only requires 1 to operate a daily service.

Now that they are using A330s, it is harder to recover from a delay somewhere on the network as the A330s are more heavily used on more routes. A long delay to a SIN flight could lead to delays on other routes for days afterwards. The SYD curfew and slot timing limitations at HND just make it more complex.
The easiest way to recover from a long delay for the 330 fleet is to delay QF25 overnight and depart SYD in the morning. (of course that will change soon when SYD-HND goes twice daily and BNE+MEL-HND move back to NRT and resume daily on both routes)

 

[drron]

So what cabin do you fly @yachty . I see that QF is just the cheapest direct flight in economy, QF aren't qoting a PE price for next month but in J they are nearly twice the price of ANA or JAL. Even ~ $2000 dearer for return than SQ.
We fly J so wouldn't even consider QF.

And welcome to AFF. Stick around I am sure you will have a few tips for Japan which has become very popular on here.

 

[trendwhore]

Been dozens of times to Japan and only once (most recent trip actually) was there a flight change. Always with JAL or Air NZ (when living in NZ). Haven't tried Qantas but perhaps I'll do my best to avoid it going by info on this post.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @yachty .

 

[yachty]

Thank you everyone for the detailed replies!

I wonder if QF25 is an "easier" flight to delay than other services, since the plane sits in HND all day? In other words, if they need to delay QF25 overnight, the aircraft can still operate its next flight (either QF80 to MEL or QF62 to BNE) more or less on time.

That makes a lot of sense, when I saw the QF25 in was cancelled but then QF80 was axed on the way back I thought maybe something like that was going on.

For the last few years before the pandemic, the HND flights didn't have as much fleet disruption issues as the 747s were only operating on 3 routes (HND, SCL and JNB) and if there was a disruption, it could be recovered within 12 hours (unless it was a major tech problem).
With the current operating pattern, QF25/26 uses 2 aircraft while the route only requires 1 to operate a daily service.

Now that they are using A330s, it is harder to recover from a delay somewhere on the network as the A330s are more heavily used on more routes. A long delay to a SIN flight could lead to delays on other routes for days afterwards. The SYD curfew and slot timing limitations at HND just make it more complex.
The easiest way to recover from a long delay for the 330 fleet is to delay QF25 overnight and depart SYD in the morning. (of course that will change soon when SYD-HND goes twice daily and BNE+MEL-HND move back to NRT and resume daily on both routes)

Thank you for this info - I had thought the 747 was doing more flying back then than just HND, SCL and JNB but it must have been much easier to manage with that sort of schedule. I had always thought QF25 was meant to be a high yielding route so I've just been surprised seeing the reliability of late!

So what cabin do you fly @yachty . I see that QF is just the cheapest direct flight in economy, QF aren't qoting a PE price for next month but in J they are nearly twice the price of ANA or JAL. Even ~ $2000 dearer for return than SQ.
We fly J so wouldn't even consider QF.

And welcome to AFF. Stick around I am sure you will have a few tips for Japan which has become very popular on here.

Hi drron, I fly J - I used to love the 747 so went out of my way to fly it when QF had it on the route. You're right about pricing, I have been booking JL to SYD as of late and will stick to them for my future trips. I also gave CX a go who were great, but the HKG transit is a bit too much of a dogleg to Aus!

 

[encryptededdy]

I have been booking JL to SYD as of late and will stick to them for my future trips

Just wish they offered an overnight outbound option

 

[Himeno]

Thank you for this info - I had thought the 747 was doing more flying back then than just HND, SCL and JNB but it must have been much easier to manage with that sort of schedule. I had always thought QF25 was meant to be a high yielding route so I've just been surprised seeing the reliability of late!

We'll have to see if it improves when the new flight starts
QF59 SYD-HND 1220-2015 A330
QF60 HND-SYD 2200-0955+1 A330
QF25 SYD-HND 2145-0525+1 787
QF26 HND-SYD 0700-1850 787

When QF25/26 was a 747, almost every time I booked it in PE, I'd get an opup upon check in because it was oversold in economy with a Japanese school group.

 

[jpp42]

QF59 SYD-HND 1220-2015 A330
QF60 HND-SYD 2200-0955+1 A330
QF25 SYD-HND 2145-0525+1 787
QF26 HND-SYD 0700-1850 787

Very much looking forward to this timing as I can fly QF59 outbound and QF26 back to get day flights. Previously I used the BNE-NRT flight as I can't stand overnight flights before a week of business meetings (even in J the amount of sleep I got was too little). The early start for QF26 will make it a bit tricky to get to Haneda on time (always a problem with Haneda's night flights and limited public transport hours).

For the last few years before the pandemic, the HND flights didn't have as much fleet disruption issues as the 747s were only operating on 3 routes (HND, SCL and JNB) and if there was a disruption, it could be recovered within 12 hours (unless it was a major tech problem).
With the current operating pattern, QF25/26 uses 2 aircraft while the route only requires 1 to operate a daily service.

What aircraft was on BNE-LAX in this period? I didn't think they had the A330's on that long a sector back then?

 

[stm1sydney]

VA has now restarted its alliance with ANA, so ANA should be a strong option for anyone looking for VA status. ANA is a great airline in any case.

 

[jrfsp]

Japan flights seem similar to most of the QFi schedule at the moment, frequently delayed

 

[jpp42]

VA has now restarted its alliance with ANA, so ANA should be a strong option for anyone looking for VA status. ANA is a great airline in any case.

Slightly OT, the SC/points earn is good but there is no lounge access for Virgin elites on ANA flights which is a disappointment.

 

[Himeno]

Very much looking forward to this timing as I can fly QF59 outbound and QF26 back to get day flights. Previously I used the BNE-NRT flight as I can't stand overnight flights before a week of business meetings (even in J the amount of sleep I got was too little). The early start for QF26 will make it a bit tricky to get to Haneda on time (always a problem with Haneda's night flights and limited public transport hours).



What aircraft was on BNE-LAX in this period? I didn't think they had the A330's on that long a sector back then?

The first 4 787s (arrived late 2017-early 2018) were MEL based and used for MEL-US and MEL-LHR. The next 4 (mid-late 2018) were BNE based and replaced the 747 flights (BNE-LAX-JFK in Sep 2018). By Dec 2018 all US flights were 787s or A380.