Qantas boosts SYD & MEL flight to Tas, also ADL-CBR

[Boris spatsky]

CBR-ADL on Q400. Not my idea of fun.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

CBR-ADL on Q400. Not my idea of fun.

Goodness it's not THAT bad , compared to the coughpy old 737-400 it is only 15 minutes longer. And saves well over an hour on connecting in MEL

 

[Boris spatsky]

I actually enjoy the -400 over the 737-800. Better pitch.

Dash 8 just doesn't float my boat - although it is far better than the DJ ATR.

 

[medhead]

CBR-ADL on Q400. Not my idea of fun.

Not direct, via MEL?

 

[RickyT84]

Not direct, via MEL?

Nope. Direct between CBR-ADL (QF2091/2092).

 

[Kangol]

Just looked at the updated timetable, for MEL-HBA they now have QF1015 on a 73H departing at 1455 and the QantasLink QF2155 departing at 1810!
This is going to suck. Won't be able to have Island dining in the J Lounge any more. Not to mention having to get to the airport earlier. (FWP)

No more QF1013 departing at 1900 (which used to be 1955 up until a month or so ago).

I've never been on any QFLink plane before, how much different to the 738/Hs are they?
Looking at the seat map shows only one toilet at the front with the galley at the rear.. that means if there is somewhat of a line, those in emerald city will have people hovering around :shock:
What is the seat selection prior to T-80 on one of these planes for WP/SG/PS/NB anyway?

 

[RickyT84]

I've never been on any QFLink plane before, how much different to the 738/Hs are they?
Looking at the seat map shows only one toilet at the front with the galley at the rear.. that means if there is somewhat of a line, those in emerald city will have people hovering around :shock:
What is the seat selection prior to T-80 on one of these planes for WP/SG/PS/NB anyway?

The major difference is the lack of IFE on the Q400s (which is not a huge concern for short flights anyway). Also, the seats are covered in leather rather than cloth. In terms of service, the crew at QantasLink is a bit friendlier than their mainline counterparts in my experience.

Having one bathroom up at the front should not be a bug issue for an hour flight but the bathroom itself is pretty compact.

The best seats are 1A/1B and 2C/2D as these are the exit row seats (there is no 1C/1D). Otherwise, all other seats are pretty much the same.

 

[Boris spatsky]

There is no Emerald city on the Q400 really. No IFE, even radio. The aircraft is slower than 737, louder and has noticeable vibration, especially aft of row 5. It cruises lower so cannot out climb the weather, like jets can. Overall is more cramped too. Less bin space.

I have done over 150 sectors in them on QF. They are far better than the older Dash8s, but i still prefer a jet anyday!

 

[Simo]

QF starting to do more travelling to routes to Tas.

I thought it was being more Jetstaration.

 

[pauly7]

QF starting to do more travelling to routes to Tas.

I thought it was being more Jetstaration.

QF has always had a decent base in Tassie they just struggled with mainline in LST at such low frequencies...

QFlink has been a huge success there with the business / people wanting to connect on the mainland and has also benefitted competively twofold over time - one from DJ downgrading a chunk of their 737 flights to jungle jets and two by Tiger falling apart. QF then threw more Jetstar and QFLink flights on and are now motoring along quite nicely.

QFlink also has capacity to significantly increase flights on special occasions, last year they operated up to 7 flights a day around peak holiday arrivals and departures. Jetstar dont seem to be able to do that as much. Quite a buzz for little old Lonny all that aircraft movement

The LST lounge is my fave little regional longe hahah

 

[SteveJohnson]

Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

This will be of interest to AFF members who fly Melbourne-Hobart.

AusBT writes that Qantas has this week added a third daily return service between Melbourne and Hobart but changed some times of existing services, changed some flight numbers and "downgraded the morning Hobart-Melbourne and evening Melbourne-Hobart flights from the big, quiet and comfy Boeing 737-800 jet with business class, to a smaller noisier Q400 turboprop full of economy seats."

http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-boosts-melbourne-tasmania-flights-but-there-s-a-catch

 

[markis10]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

This will be of interest to AFF members who fly Melbourne-Hobart.

AusBT writes that Qantas has this week added a third daily return service between Melbourne and Hobart but changed some times of existing services, changed some flight numbers and "downgraded the morning Hobart-Melbourne and evening Melbourne-Hobart flights from the big, quiet and comfy Boeing 737-800 jet with business class, to a smaller noisier Q400 turboprop full of economy seats."

Qantas boosts Melbourne-Tasmania flights, but there's a catch... - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

You mean regurgitating the same news from July again????


http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/qantas-boosts-syd-mel-flight-41355.html

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

Markis10, once again we have a difference of opinion over what constitutes 'news' and perhaps over what by all evidence is your continued kneejerk and IMHO tiresome sledging of anything to do with AusBT

Is this the same story at its core? Yes, I don't disagree with you there.

But considering that that article was from five months ago and these flights start today and that Qantas sent out a press release today which has been running on other news websites, but that only AusBT has a very useful breakdown of what flights have changed and which ones have been downgraded to from a 737 to a Q400, something that was not in the Qantas press release (see http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/media-releases/oct-2012/5464/global/en), then yes, I think this story still counts as 'news' and I think most Qantas travellers between Melbourne & Hobart would welcome it and find it useful.

Maybe you think that no newspaper or website should ever revisit a story and add more useful detail to it and help bring those issues to the attention of people?

 

[markis10]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

Maybe you think that no newspaper or website should ever revisit a story and add more useful detail to it and help bring those issues to the attention of people?

I note you did not mention it was an update in your post, and saw fit to not append it to the original thread , as if it was something new.

What newspapers or websites (or in this case "blogs" ) do is there own business, I was merely pointing out that there was nothing in the update that had not already been covered by the thread ad verbatim, so therefore unlikely to be of interest to the average AFF reader is tends to be more informed on such matters (often more so than outlets who base news on Press Releases ).

Perhaps Qantas decided to not mention the Q400 because they would be repeating the news that Mr Strambi mentioned at the time: "Alongside the twice daily Boeing 737 services operating between Melbourne and Hobart, we are looking forward to increasing frequency on the route with the introduction of our Q400 aircraft," said Mr Strambi."

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

I note you did not mention it was an update in your post, and saw fit to not append it to the original thread , as if it was something new.

I didn't realise there had been an earlier article on this on AusBT, clearly I don't read the site as often as you do.

What newspapers or websites (or in this case "blogs" ) do is there own business

There you go again, taking another needlessly cheap shot at AusBT, why single it out as a "blog" instead of a website? It doesn't seem like a "blog" to me. Markis10, I really think you have some grudge against AusBT, some "axe to grind" which infects your objectivity here.

I was merely pointing out that there was nothing in the update that had not already been covered by the thread ad verbatim, so therefore unlikely to be of interest to the average AFF reader

Point taken, although maybe its too much to assume that the average AFF reader has time to studiously track and reach every thread and every post?

(often more so than outlets who base news on Press Releases ).

Or websites which get plenty of exclusive news through interviews, trips, delivery flights and inaugurals and deliver facts instead of gossip and speculation

Perhaps Qantas decided to not mention the Q400 because they would be repeating the news that Mr Strambi mentioned at the time: "Alongside the twice daily Boeing 737 services operating between Melbourne and Hobart, we are looking forward to increasing frequency on the route with the introduction of our Q400 aircraft," said Mr Strambi."

If you read the Qantas press release you will see that Qantas mentioned the same Q400 line this time but did not call out which flights it was running on or that two flights would see the 737-800 swapped out for the Q400. I think that is the type of "value add" which readers appreciate no matter where it is, on AFF or AusBT or PlaneTalking or anywhere else, so why get narky and shoot it down?

 

[markis10]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

I didn't realise there had been an earlier article on this on AusBT, clearly I don't read the site as often as you do.

Considering you linked to it as the OP back in July for the now merged thread, thats a worry, I find your excuse that you did not realise there was an earlier story laughable! Let me refresh that memory:

Qantas is adding more flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Tasmania as of 29 October: Qantas boosts flights to Hobart, Launceston and Devonport - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

I always like to see new content, hopefully soon!

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

Considering you linked to it as the OP back in July for the now merged thread, thats a worry, I find your excuse that you did not realise there was an earlier story laughable!

Well it was an honest 'mistake', maybe you can remember every single post you make on AFF but I lack that super-power.

 

[SteveJohnson]

Re: Qantas adds Melbourne-Hobart flights but downgrades two 737-800 services to Q800s

I always like to see new content, but when its rehashed old stuff that you seem link to on a frequent basis, then you claim you did not know there was an original story despite having having put a link to that very story in the first post, I have to consider your motivation and credibility when it comes to such posts, from where I stand promotion seems to be the aim, not information??

Sorry Markis10 but I am all about the information, if you don't like the source I get it from that is not my problem, and if you don't like my links which is how I tend to contribute to AFF then maybe I should go elsewhere?

* Apologies if this thread seems to be getting off track, I don't mean for it to be waylaid or hijacked! Happy for it to get back onto changes to these Qantas services and how AFF readers feel about them! *

 

[Kangol]

I have an upcoming flight on a "De Havilland DHC-8 400 Series" and can't select the seat nor see the seatmap. It only gives me the option to go aisle or window.
Being my first ever QFLink flight, am I able to preselect seats at all or do I have to wait until OLCI? Will ring the Plat desk tomorrow..

 

[markis10]

I have an upcoming flight on a "De Havilland DHC-8 400 Series" and can't select the seat nor see the seatmap. It only gives me the option to go aisle or window.
Being my first ever QFLink flight, am I able to preselect seats at all or do I have to wait until OLCI? Will ring the Plat desk tomorrow..

You have to wait to OLCI, advance seat selection is not a QF link option