New Schedule Changes QF2 /QF11/12 for QFi Restart

[MEL_Traveller]

The SYD-LAX, MEL-LAX and SYD-SFO timings were pushed back to late evening departures when Qantas published its post-18 December schedule last month, and SYD-DFW has been pushed back to a 17:10 departure. However at this stage they are due to revert back to the old timings in late March 2022 (this could change).

Do you have any more info on this? I'm scheduled to fly SYD-SFO towards the end of March - currently showing as a 2225 departure.

 

[Mattg]

Do you have any more info on this? I'm scheduled to fly SYD-SFO towards the end of March - currently showing as a 2225 departure.

What did you want to know?

Actually, having another look new, they've extended the new schedule (late evening departure ex SYD) beyond the end of the IATA northern winter. So it looks like this could be a permanent (as far as these kinds of things are permanent) change.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What did you want to know?

Actually, having another look new, they've extended the new schedule (late evening departure ex SYD) beyond the end of the IATA northern winter. So it looks like this could be a permanent (as far as these kinds of things are permanent) change.

I was just wondering if you had an idea of what the revised flight timings might have been, but as you say I'm also seeing the current schedule well into April.

 

[BD1959]

That makes inbound and outbound connections impractical for QF2
I hope this won't extend post March, I have a booking with this flight in May, and this screw my connections.

Isn't this the whole business model for the 787?

Regards,

BD

 

[ChrisMars]

Isn't this the whole business model for the 787?

Regards,

BD

Could you elaborate?

 

[BD1959]

Could you elaborate?

Sure.

Airbus bet on hub-to-hub being the growth area of aviation fro their A380s, particularly slot-constrained hubs, whereas Boeing developed the 787 for point-to-point (or secondary airport growth) while building out capacity on the 777 for hub ops.

Qantas - through the retiming of the flights and the ceasation of connections into QF2 and out of QF11 - appears to be treating these routes as point-to-point (moreso with the removal of SIN as an intermediary hub). Consequently, it appears as though QF is adopting the point-to-point business model of the 787 despite the end-points being hubs.

I realise this isn't the full story - and that the early arrival of QF1 into LHR and the late departure of QF12 fro m LAX allows connections, but this whole move just piqued my sense of irony ... but that's probably just me!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 from SYD to LAX, which at present only operates five times a week, has a different schedule on Tuesdays. It departs at 1200 'high noon'.

Is this to give the B789 more maintenance time in LAX?

 

[Mattg]

QF11 from SYD to LAX, which at present only operates five times a week, has a different schedule on Tuesdays. It departs at 1200 'high noon'.

Is this to give the B789 more maintenance time in LAX?

I thought QF only had A380 maintenance facilities in LAX.

 

[LA10]

Please remind me. If you're going MEL-SYD-LAX, how early do you need to be at the airport? I note the MEL-SYD flight is likely to be around 7am to connect with the revised QF11 time now. Thanks.

 

[RichardMEL]

Please remind me. If you're going MEL-SYD-LAX, how early do you need to be at the airport? I note the MEL-SYD flight is likely to be around 7am to connect with the revised QF11 time now. Thanks.

It's more or less a domestic flight BUT since you check your bags in (assuming you have such) at the domestic counters for international flight connections this will require a couple more minutes for document check etc.

But you don't need to arrive stupidly early for the connection. I would plan to arrive 0600ish for such a flight. That is a fairly lengthly connection in SYD if connectring to the 1200 QF11 since you'd land in SYD between 0830 and 0900 or so, so more than enough time to transfer over, go through international departures and then lounge, shop etc.

Back to MEL check in, I've never seen huge queues taking a lot of time, but to be extra safe you'd probably want to allow for 20-30min "just in case" - it may only take 5min, but having that buffer can be everything and if you have that extra 20minutes, time for a coffee before boarding.

I will relate one experience, and do NOT try this at home (well, at the airport ) kids but it this one time, due to transport snafus and the like I arrived at MEL I think 25 or so minutes prior to departure of my flight to SYD to connect to an international. LUCKILY I had HLO and the agent did barely allow me. I think only my status saved me, to be honest as they were half way to closing the check in for it. Rushed through security and ran to the gate and was probably puffing through taxi that was a VERY close call that I do not recommend (and for the record, there was not much buffer to just get the next SYD flight as it would have been too tight going through departures there!).. not a situation I would ever want to repeat though.

So anyway to be safe, if it was me, I would aim for an hour prior. a bit more is always good. better to be bored with a coffee than to miss out (though if you miss a 7am flight connection there would be plenty to get to SYD in time anyway, but you still don't want to play that game).

 

[LA10]

It's more or less a domestic flight BUT since you check your bags in (assuming you have such) at the domestic counters for international flight connections this will require a couple more minutes for document check etc.

But you don't need to arrive stupidly early for the connection. I would plan to arrive 0600ish for such a flight. That is a fairly lengthly connection in SYD if connectring to the 1200 QF11 since you'd land in SYD between 0830 and 0900 or so, so more than enough time to transfer over, go through international departures and then lounge, shop etc.

Back to MEL check in, I've never seen huge queues taking a lot of time, but to be extra safe you'd probably want to allow for 20-30min "just in case" - it may only take 5min, but having that buffer can be everything and if you have that extra 20minutes, time for a coffee before boarding.

I will relate one experience, and do NOT try this at home (well, at the airport ) kids but it this one time, due to transport snafus and the like I arrived at MEL I think 25 or so minutes prior to departure of my flight to SYD to connect to an international. LUCKILY I had HLO and the agent did barely allow me. I think only my status saved me, to be honest as they were half way to closing the check in for it. Rushed through security and ran to the gate and was probably puffing through taxi that was a VERY close call that I do not recommend (and for the record, there was not much buffer to just get the next SYD flight as it would have been too tight going through departures there!).. not a situation I would ever want to repeat though.

So anyway to be safe, if it was me, I would aim for an hour prior. a bit more is always good. better to be bored with a coffee than to miss out (though if you miss a 7am flight connection there would be plenty to get to SYD in time anyway, but you still don't want to play that game).

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. 2 years of not flying and I can't remember the domestic to international connection timing! Much appreciated.

 

[BD1959]

It's more or less a domestic flight BUT since you check your bags in (assuming you have such) at the domestic counters for international flight connections this will require a couple more minutes for document check etc.

<snip>

Back to MEL check in, I've never seen huge queues taking a lot of time, but to be extra safe you'd probably want to allow for 20-30min "just in case" - it may only take 5min, but having that buffer can be everything and if you have that extra 20minutes, time for a coffee before boarding.

Surely in these times it depends on where the additional paperwork is being scrutinised? Does anyone know whether the review of the International Vaccination Certificate and PCR Test results is being done at MEL or SYD in this instance? (Interested party here as I'll be going QF416/QF81/AY132 next year !!). If these are being checked at MEL (and I'd surprised if they're not) then it wouldn't take too many people requiring these checks, plus visas etc to put quite a delay on check-in - and remembering there isn't (from memory) priority counters at the MEL International Transfer desks.

Regards,

BD

 

[TheInsider]

Surely in these times it depends on where the additional paperwork is being scrutinised? Does anyone know whether the review of the International Vaccination Certificate and PCR Test results is being done at MEL or SYD in this instance? (Interested party here as I'll be going QF416/QF81/AY132 next year !!). If these are being checked at MEL (and I'd surprised if they're not) then it wouldn't take too many people requiring these checks, plus visas etc to put quite a delay on check-in - and remembering there isn't (from memory) priority counters at the MEL International Transfer desks.

Regards,

BD

All accepting carriers for outbound flights check the documents. So if out of MEL, they will check the requirements there.

 

[RichardMEL]

oh BD - great points!!

honestly I was thinking in pre-Covid terms and that was bad call on my part. I had ignored the whole testing and checking of the appropriate certificates, border passes and all the rest as mentioned.

I'm not sure I would be waiting till day of travel to od the pre-departure tests and all that, but the testing part aside, definitely will probably take longer just to ensure requirements for travel and entry to destination country are met.

great pick up BD. thanks!

 

[LA10]

Thank you both. Makes sense and I have taken the safer option of flying to Sydney the night before.

 

[justinbrett]

I thought QF only had A380 maintenance facilities in LAX.

Qantas claimed it would support B787 as well. A hangar is a hangar.

Question is whether they had the qualified personnel. I'd say it's more a question what level of servicing they can do rather than just a binary yes/no. I'm sure they had plans for a 787 breaking on arrival in LAX that didn't involve sending a rescue crew from Australia.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'd say the maintenance staff would be outsourced to local providers. LAX is hardly short of 787 movements. They'd be able to source crews to do the regular outstation maintenance checks of this nature I am certain.

 

[justinbrett]

I'd say the maintenance staff would be outsourced to local providers. LAX is hardly short of 787 movements. They'd be able to source crews to do the regular outstation maintenance checks of this nature I am certain.

There's a whole web of airworthiness regulations that make it more complex - but in any case it sounds like the reverse, that Qantas was doing work for other airlines. Makes sense if they were supporting A380 / B747 that they would transition to supporting A380 / B787. Whether they are at FOC for maintaining B787 in LAX yet I'm not sure, but I'd guarantee that is the plan.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-unveils-new-aircraft-maintenance-facility-at-lax/