New Qantas route - Perth to Paris from July 2024

[AustraliaPoochie]

As you are a QFF WP, if I were in your position, I would go with the EK with a/the QF code, as you will have access to the QFi F SYD lounge of course, but also the EK lounge in SYD for the salmon, and also the food at the EK lounge at DXB.
((Right now, I am QFF NB)).
Think of having a large selective loo for only J pax on the 380!
No sneaking from downstairs on the EK 380.
Most people wouldn't dare, but I have seen it once, an Asian man snuck up from downstairs Y on the EK 380, no FA in sight, and he nabbed himself a blanket!
But that was a once in at least 6 flights I took with the EK 380, Au - NZ (before they stopped the Au - NZ flight).
Made QFF SG quite easily at that time, few years ago now.
QF via PER might be faster, but with 2 flights (QF9 and now QF33) both leaving PER at the same time, the T3 "transfer lounge" at PER will be full to chockers.
I have not passed DXB, but loved the flight from SYD to CHC, the salmon in the EK SYD lounge is to die for, so to speak.
Flying the EK flight with a QF code, means you can have the squid in the QFi F lounge, and the salmon in the cup in the SYD EK lounge too.

 

[SYD]

Has anyone here done the SYD to CDG on EK relatively recently as comparison? Seriously considering the QF or EK options in J for September 2024.

I’ve done QR and EY SYD-X-CDG in J many times. The evening departure out of SYD and then early arvo arrival at CDG works for me. I’d try and get options back that arrived back in SYD in the evening and go straight to bed.

If I was booking QF codes, I’d probably look for EK over and QF34 home.

 

[sudoer]

Flying the EK flight with a QF code, means you can have the squid in the QFi F lounge, and the salmon in the cup in the SYD EK lounge too.

Nope - you can be on the EK code also.

 

[exceladdict]

EF stats for past 2 months:

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IMO the real benefit of having the same equipment flying the onward leg is the assurance that you won't misconnect, and that you don't need to stuff around with terminal changes and immigration halfway through your journey.

Oh sorry I was more thinking loads, but that's really interesting too. Reason being, when I flew QF5 SYD>PER there weren't more than a handful of people in Y. Was great as I spread out and had a row to myself, after an F lounge visit, but can't imagine it was commercially viable other than to capture any possible revenue while the aircraft repositions from SYD to PER for the flight to FCO.

It won't be more than a 5 minute walk between T4 and T3 in PER, but I haven't done outbound immigration there so don't know don't know what it would be like doing it in between rather than in mel at the start of the journey.

 

[levelnine]

Someone on ET also helpfully pointed out this means there's no longer any premium economy from Melbourne to London as MEL-SIN is run by A330s.

Truly astounding decision.

 

[Quickstatus]

Melbourne to London as MEL-SIN is run by A330s

Only if limiting your option to a certain airline. There is another airline which runs A350 which does have W class (if its the long haul version). In fact the long haul version is operating today on the 1035am

 

[levelnine]

Only if limiting your option to a certain airline. There is another airline which runs A350 which does have W class (if its the long haul version). The long haul version operating today on the 1035am

If you're willing to go beyond QF, the options are incredible. I'm more astounded that Qantas would make the decision to stop offering W on one of its most important routes.

 

[Cognac]

Oh sorry I was more thinking loads, but that's really interesting too. Reason being, when I flew QF5 SYD>PER there weren't more than a handful of people in Y. Was great as I spread out and had a row to myself, after an F lounge visit, but can't imagine it was commercially viable other than to capture any possible revenue while the aircraft repositions from SYD to PER for the flight to FCO.

It won't be more than a 5 minute walk between T4 and T3 in PER, but I haven't done outbound immigration there so don't know don't know what it would be like doing it in between rather than in mel at the start of the journey.

Outbound immigration from the Qantas terminal in Perth takes about 30 seconds. With only one airline operating, the 3 automated gates are more than enough. The transit lounge does get a bit busy though, even with only one flight at a time - there are a LOT of status members in Perth. Outbound at T1 however is much more variable. Having said that, life will be easier for everyone once Qantas finally shifts its gear across to T1. The T3/T4 complex is getting very old and isn't the most attractive, nor efficient, use of space.

I have no sympathy for the MEL flyers who will now have to deal with the A330s MEL-SIN. PER-SIN is A330s all the way down. I won't be surprised if they downgrade to A321s when they arrive either. Disappointed, but not surprised. And flying anywhere to the east coast it's getting increasingly more difficult to not be on a 737.

While I would book the QF10/9 or QF6/5 trips where possible (both for the lounge access and the seat), they aren't a big loss in terms of flexibility flying west-east-west. And as mentioned by Excel, loading was usually not 100%, so it makes sense to me that Qantas might increase their utilisation and revenue by allocating those aircraft elsewhere. Having the domestic leg on the same flight number is a convenience that obviously not enough people are taking advantage of ex-MEL - I know that Qantas has said in the past that the majority of their QF9/10 business is originating/terminating in Perth.

I'll probably do PER-CDG at some point. I prefer the single hop rather than a midway connection (SIN, DXB, or other).

 

[jrfsp]

If you're willing to go beyond QF, the options are incredible. I'm more astounded that Qantas would make the decision to stop offering W on one of its most important routes.

Maybe they are trying to improve consistency by reducing W out of MEL

 

[elanshin]

I wonder if they'll bring back a 380 onto MEL <> SIN to help balance this when the 380s are back.
Also we don't really know at this point how sunrise is tracking . If it is keeping to the timeline (I'd bet on delays however), it actually would only be a year or so left in service for QF9 from mid next year. I can't see them keeping PER <> LHR if SYD <> LHR is running.

Sunrise was scheduled for 2025 sometime wasn't it?

 

[Quickstatus]

If you're willing to go beyond QF

"Willing" implying there is some perceived difficulty in jumping ship?

PER-SIN is A330s all the way down

Used to also be a 737?

 

[jase05]

"Willing" implying there is some perceived difficulty in jumping ship?

For many there is.
The blinkers are surgically attached

 

[PineappleSkip]

Sunrise was scheduled for 2025 sometime wasn't it?

That's what they still reckon, last email on this was a few days ago

The inaugural flights are scheduled for take-off in late 2025, starting with Sydney to London and New York.

The blinkers are surgically attached

The pineapples are not blinkered, just rusted on. You have a lot of rust by the time you hit LTG.

Cheers skip

 

[HS-TQE]

Given that they use this for BNE <> LAX it's not just "medium" distance. At this point though i doubt we'll see the 330s overhauled. Maybe they'll put them back onto transtasman or transcontinent after the replacement 787s start rolling in.

IIRC the BNE-LAX and India subfleet A330s have different certifications enabling those A330s to fly long haul into LAX/India.

As for BNE and LAX in upthread, I have to agree that premium demand would be lower and the timing more aimed at O&D and the low yield Disney crowd.

Pretty much the only chance of BNE-LAX returning to a 787 is of course, if Premier Annastacia throws out the joint private/taxpayer funded AAIF money to QF to swap out the A330 for the 787 in the name of "Premium leisure Tourism for Queensland"

Of course the 787 would be a "Rob Peter to Pay Paul" situation, with a existing 787 to be downgauged if Queensland Government pulls out the AAIF money to QF prior to the start of the Queensland election campaign.

 

[LondonAussie]

I’ve done QR and EY SYD-X-CDG in J many times. The evening departure out of SYD and then early arvo arrival at CDG works for me. I’d try and get options back that arrived back in SYD in the evening and go straight to bed.

If I was booking QF codes, I’d probably look for EK over and QF34 home.

This is my strategy for Europe-Aus, I absolutely hate the 5am/6am arrivals, which is why I've avoided QF flights on most trips. The exception has been QF10 LHR-PER-MEL which worked well for me, but if they change the PER-MEL to a 737, I'm going EK both ways, or looking at non-QF code options.

 

[Himeno]

QF should scope up the 3 787-9s Bamboo Airways are returning to the lessor, at least on an interim basis.

 

[HS-TQE]

QF should scope up the 3 787-9s Bamboo Airways are returning to the lessor, at least on an interim basis.

Not sure if QF are in the market for short term WB dry leases. I wonder if they are the same GE engines/specs as QF's 789s.

 

[AIRwin]

QF should scope up the 3 787-9s Bamboo Airways are returning to the lessor, at least on an interim basis.

From QH to QF

 

[Digicola]

I wonder if we could see the Finnair A330 moved to MEL-SIN eventually to provide a Y+ option through to LHR.

 

[PERLHR]

I can’t really understand how the reality of getting passengers is going to work versus the cost of running two planes to the other side of the world that are 3 hours apart by train.

I guess someone has done their homework.

Maybe by train city centre to city centre, but I would suggest significantly longer either landing at CDG then getting to the train station and likewise leaving LHR and getting to international station from Paddington and if with baggage not a pleasant transfer. The flights in and out makes sense. Also look at how many flights there are between CDG and LHR daily and that will.give you an idea of why perhaps people don't take the train.