Mainline working Trans Tasman

[BD1959]

Apologies if posted elsewhere - I did search but couldn't find similar.

Looking through patterns on Qantassource for my return 172 WLG-MEL (interested in inbound delay) and saw that the regos switched from Kiwi to Aussie about halfway through July. Sure enough, my flight was operated by a mainline crew (as they described themselves). Apparently the kiwi bird is in for heavy maintenance (feel sorry for any contract FAs who are "benched" - if that's what happens).

Really great bunch, feedback provided to QF on one particular humorous individual.

Regards,

BD

 

[Mattg]

Interesting!

In the meantime, I'm sure the "surplus" Jetconnect crew aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs. There were actually a few Jetconnect FAs on my QF flight last week from SCL to SYD. I hear they're also being used on a few other long-haul routes.

 

[TomVexille]

AFAIK Jetconnect only has 8 aircraft. QF mainline have often operated Trans Tasman routes.

 

[medhead]

Interesting!

In the meantime, I'm sure the "surplus" Jetconnect crew aren't sitting around twiddling their thumbs. There were actually a few Jetconnect FAs on my QF flight last week from SCL to SYD. I hear they're also being used on a few other long-haul routes.

Pretty much the upshot of a conversation I had on my last trans tasman flight. The crew member had crewed LAX-SYD. Memory is not the best but I think they were actually normally long-haul crew who used to get a free trip to AKL-SYD, but Qantas had now decided to make them work. But my memory could be messing with me.

 

[yohy?!]

Jitconnect are present throughout the Int network similar to the way JQ use Thai crews, have a friend who who often overnights in SYD before starting int rosters, he doesn't do any TT

 

[blackcat20]

Noticed last week that some flights like CHC-BNE are QF operated.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yes, also have Jetconnect employed friends who are QF long haul cabin crew on A330/B744. Live in Auckland, get flown to Sydney to start a 15 or so day roster. You can't tell onboard who they are; just a different contract.

 

[moa999]

One ZK aircraft presently in BNE. But I believe VH as operated most of the ADL flights and will also operate the new BNE/MEL-CHC

 

[madrooster]

Yes, also have Jetconnect employed friends who are QF long haul cabin crew on A330/B744. Live in Auckland, get flown to Sydney to start a 15 or so day roster. You can't tell onboard who they are; just a different contract.

Don't they have CAA red ID cards instead of the AU ASICs?

 

[Boris spatsky]

Don't they have CAA red ID cards instead of the AU ASICs?

I think they have both. Have to have an AUS ASIC when departing an AUS port. They don't crew AKL to SYD as far as i know, just start in SYD and wear the ASIC like the rest of the crew.

 

[madrooster]

I think they have both. Have to have an AUS ASIC when departing an AUS port. They don't crew AKL to SYD as far as i know, just start in SYD and wear the ASIC like the rest of the crew.

Do any other countries have such a requirement? Is it just for AU carriers? Jetconnect crew on the tasman runs tend to just wear their red CAA ID.

 

[TomVexille]

Do any other countries have such a requirement? Is it just for AU carriers? Jetconnect crew on the tasman runs tend to just wear their red CAA ID.

Just guessing, but maybe ASIC when on VH registered aircraft and CAA when on ZK aircraft?

 

[Brettmcg]

Yes, also have Jetconnect employed friends who are QF long haul cabin crew on A330/B744. Live in Auckland, get flown to Sydney to start a 15 or so day roster. You can't tell onboard who they are; just a different contract.

In fact, most if not all JetConnect Longhaul crew are triple-rated on A380, B744 and B738. Not all of their patterns involve paxing between NZ and Australia, indeed sometimes they work one or both ways between NZ and Australia before/after a longhaul trip.

 

[njba]

The Jetconnect FA on my last TT flight was working on QF9 the next day, which I thought was odd at the time, so Brettmcg's information is very fascinating.

 

[Brettmcg]

The Jetconnect FA on my last TT flight was working on QF9 the next day, which I thought was odd at the time, so Brettmcg's information is very fascinating.

Depending on their pattern they usually have anywhere between 24-48 hrs slip in the Australian port, and sometimes up to 4 days slip in overseas ports.

 

[Mattg]

Depending on their pattern they usually have anywhere between 24-48 hrs slip in the Australian port, and sometimes up to 4 days slip in overseas ports.

I heard that some Jetconnect FAs are now having slips of as little as 24 hours in SCL. Not sure if that's true - I hope it's not.

 

[Boris spatsky]

In fact, most if not all JetConnect Longhaul crew are triple-rated on A380, B744 and B738. Not all of their patterns involve paxing between NZ and Australia, indeed sometimes they work one or both ways between NZ and Australia before/after a longhaul trip.

Ahh ok i don't believe that my acquaintances are 737 rated but i will find out.

 

[madrooster]

I heard that some Jetconnect FAs are now having slips of as little as 24 hours in SCL. Not sure if that's true - I hope it's not.

Compared to LAX, I think QF crew there (the ones not going through to JFK) generally get 40 hours or so, but that's most likely a function of the fact QF fly in early morning and fly out late evening. Whereas in SCL they fly in and then straight back out.

In fact, most if not all JetConnect Longhaul crew are triple-rated on A380, B744 and B738.

Which is something that is apparently not allowed with the AU-based crew either due to CASA reasons or union reasons...

 

[Brettmcg]

Which is something that is apparently not allowed with the AU-based crew either due to CASA reasons or union reasons...

This is my understanding also. Apparently allowed by the CAA but not by CASA.

 

[737]

In Australia at QF when the B767 was still around the "short Haul" crew were endorsed on the A330, B767 and B737, including two subtypes of each. In "mainline" there is a short haul division and a long haul division. The "long haul" division also used to be endorsed on the B767, A330 and B747, so three types. And the A380 is crewed by a separate group of crew.

Short Haul and Long Haul in Australia work under different work rules, duty limits, etc, so are not allowed to mix on flights even though they both operate on the A330 aircraft. It has to be all Short Haul or all long haul for QF mainline flights.

In AKL there is Long haul and short haul crew groups. Short haul operates strictly B737 trans Tasman under the ZK registered banner. Long haul operates under the ZK banner on trans Tasman in addition to on "mainline" B747 and A380 services. Long Haul crew from AKL, and Australia I believe have the same duty limitations, work rules, etc, so are able to be mixed.

There is also a small Tokyo base of perhaps 5 or 6 crew still there and I believe will remain til they resign as Japanese law prevents QF from closing it down (I think?)

LHR base is also under the Long Haul division and was operate with mainline/AKL base if they are both endorsed on the same aircraft and have applicable work visas (eg USA).