New routes floated to ATH, SEA, ORD and LAS

[justinbrett]

You would be surprised

I would be surprised. The city is a [cavity full of excrement]

Except AA who preface DFW and ORD ahead of LAX

I meant for the Aus/NZ flights.

 

[Quickstatus]

The city isn’t nice.

As are a lot of American cities, but I was referrring to the SLC not the city.

 

[justinbrett]

As are a lot of American cities, but I was referrring to the SLC not the city.

My point is I don't see the O/D traffic (apart from some Mormons who I would assume are very price conscious)

UA better served with their SFO hub, SLC is too close to benefit (like PHX is close to LAX for AA).

 

[jase05]

Actually easier via DFW or Miami which have more direct flights into Costa Rica which is the most tourist friendly of the Central American countries. Belize has some charm as does Panama but Nicaragua and Guatemala arent the safest places.

Too many people think Mexico is Central America when it is in fact part of North America (also easier to get to Mexico City and Cancun from DFW than LAX).

Yes, Costa Rica is where they might be moving to. Looks like AS flies from LAX otherwise most OW airlines are out of MIA or DFW. UA flies out of LAX and IAH which could also be an option

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't see the O/D traffic

Me neither but Im not referring to Mormon traffic or City of Salt Lake traffic
As I said, its a wish. a Seasonal might work though.

UA better served with their SFO hub

Sure but I was referring to a long thin routes that this thread is referring to, not a hub
UA has their hub which they are tied to. However another airline not tied to a hub could do a long thin into DEN

SLC is too close to benefit

DL's "mini" hub. Of course UA and DL could also do the same on the SLC/ DEN-SYD route if they had the aircraft.

 

[Daver6]

I think QF just make these nonsense announcements to get some free publicity in the news.

 

[SeatBackForward]

QF should ensure they play this UB40 song in one of their next marketing campaigns about routes:

 

[RSVKanga]

I think QF just make these nonsense announcements to get some free publicity in the news.

People holding this sentiment need to take a look at the 2019 QF route map and compare it to what it is today.

Pre-Covid (2019), Qantas didn’t fly to India, Italy, France and South Korea. They didn’t fly to the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and East Timor. They also didn’t fly to Canada year round.

All of those destinations are now a reality in 2024. So QF is growing and I fully believe these “floated” routes are genuine business intentions, one of which could begin as early as next year when the aircraft become available.

 

[Daver6]

People holding this sentiment need to take a look at the 2019 QF route map and compare it to what it is today.

Actually, no I don't.

Pre-Covid (2019), Qantas didn’t fly to India, Italy, France and South Korea. They didn’t fly to the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and East Timor. They also didn’t fly to Canada year round.

All of those destinations are now a reality in 2024. So QF is growing and I fully believe these “floated” routes are genuine business intentions, one of which could begin as early as next year when the aircraft become available.

Why don't you put your money where your mouth is then. Let's wager on QF flying to all these destinations mentioned in the article. If you're going to announce something it should happen in the near future. I'm going to be ridiculously generous here and say in five years QF won't be flying to all the destinations listed in the article. Game to take that bet?

 

[p--and--t]

And you can get to Central America via LAX. What's your point?

Not everyone wants to transit via US, let alone one of the least desirable transit airports.


Unfortunately the options to reach central Sth American countries in a timely manner are sorely lacking (Equador, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru)

 

[Gremlin]

Not a chance in hell of a direct service to Central America. A flight to Sofia would be more viable

From Adelaide?

 

[justinbrett]

Not everyone wants to transit via US, let alone one of the least desirable transit airports.

Well you can’t really avoid the US if you want to go to Central America. Definitely the long way round through SCL and LATAM isn’t in Oneworld anymore which makes it harder.

I agree DFW is better than LAX but you’re really at the mercy of the airline schedules. I will say on the return LAX is better as D-I is pretty easy and the QF F lounge is better than the DFW AA Flagship lounge.

 

[p--and--t]

Well you can’t really avoid the US if you want to go to Central America

Well we did in the last couple months, deliberately via Vancouver.

 

[justinbrett]

Well we did in the last couple months, deliberately via Vancouver.

Pffft. Avoiding the US in name only.

But also - I just looked it up and there’s not a single direct flight to CA from YVR. What were you on?

 

[p--and--t]

Pffft. Avoiding the US in name only.

[OT] Avoided US no Esta cough because we went to Cuba, and rude immigration, LAX which I despise, and belt and shoes off stuff and elapsed air time to MEX virtually the same.

 

[justinbrett]

[OT] Avoided US no Esta cough because we went to Cuba, and rude immigration, LAX which I despise, and belt and shoes off stuff and elapsed air time to MEX virtually the same.

Hate to play semantics but Cuba is in the Caribbean which is traditionally considered part of North America. As is Mexico. CA is usually the mainland countries of Belize south to Panama.

But yes, Cuba is definitely a great destination to avoid the US over. Unfortunately it will prevent you from getting an ESTA in the future.

I went to Cuba but in 2013 so I’m still eligible for an ESTA.

 

[RichardMEL]

Vegas? Huge gamble.

Never happen - way too close to major gateway LAS.

ATH? Pure leisure. Nope.

SEA and ORD have potential imo, but ORD is far less an AA hub than it once was imo(and QF like DFW) but really the biggest issue is aircraft - there ain't none to spare anytime soon.

 

[RichardMEL]

I wish someone would do a SYD-DEN/SLC/YYC non stop. Seasonal. Shorter than PER-CDG, SYD-DFW. Though DEN is elevated so there might be performance issues.

Fly into a fortress hub of a competitior and a large hub of another? Thus little feed, and relatively close (between) two gateways already served? Makes no sense.

If there were the resources and crazy network planning, theyd3 pick PHX - but they would mever.

DFW is not a great connection hub TBH into these airports.

DFW would require a backtrack to the Western states yes, but that us why most pax would route via LAX or SFO...

Potentially some good optionsvua SEA if that ever happens too.

 

[Quickstatus]

Fly into a fortress hub of a competitior and a large hub of another?

QF already does that currently or in the past at other locations.

These secondary hubs are not operating non stop to Australia, so no direct competition.

Would not make sense as a year round but as a seasonal long thing route with those "hubs" as destinations.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF already does that currently or in the past at other locations.

These secondary hubs are not operating non stop to Australia, so no direct competition.

Would not make sense as a year round but as a seasonal long thing route with those "hubs" as destinations.

So you mean like the original YVR winter service for ski (mostly) traffic