Qantas Launching MEL - HNL from May 2025

[Mattg]

The US mainland? I thought the config of the JQ 788s prevented them flying to the North American mainland with a reasonable load.

They are reconfiguring their 787s with more J seats and proper crew rests to allow for longer flights.

 

[Mischief1]

That’d be great. Would be handy for one way positioning flights for CR in/out of the USA. Will probably be a few people in Melbourne sad to lose that option.

Yes indeed! Discounted Jetstar Melb-Honolulu flights have represented great value. To go via Sydney means the domestic to international transfer which is annoying! A first world problem I know but surely they can improve it.

 

[AIRwin]

Jetstar has told travel agents that "The aircraft [taken off MEL-HNL] will be redeployed to another long-haul route which we are very much looking forward to announcing in the near future."

LAS? CPT? CTS?

 

[Saab34]

Vegas would be too far for the low cost model, yield is pretty low. I’m not sure if the numbers would stack up for a peak seasonal service, but the thought of spending 16 hours Westbound in a newly configured high density water thin pitch Jetstar 787, would only be for the brave.

The fleet is starting to become aged also, not as fuel efficient also.

 

[05flyer]

LAS? CPT? CTS?

Jetstar CEO suggests all three are on their radar in this article.
https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...s/news-story/df956dc10aa83725668f19302fd47b90

 

[Cloud9]

As more Aussies rely on cheap fares for travel during these tough economic times

Can't help but shake my head and roll my eyes that with that as a strapline for the article, Las Vegas of all places is high on the list of potential destinations.

 

[justinbrett]

Vegas is expensive. They’re about 15 years too late.

If you can afford Vegas you can afford a better airline.

 

[Saab34]

Vegas is expensive. They’re about 15 years too late.

If you can afford Vegas you can afford a better airline.

You’re not wrong. Just had a quick look, and it’s considerably more vs the 2010s. It was all $100-150 per night Aussie back early last decade, we went a few times and stayed at many of the high end resorts for $100 per night, car hire was dirt cheap, the whole experience was good value for money.

Even the Luxor want $300-400 per night. Crazy.

 

[Melburnian1]

For purely selfish reasons please let it be MEL-MNL

PR has a shortage of aircraft and has Wamos Air A332s wet leased (with three PR cabin crew members but the rest Spanish) for its daily MNL-SYD and 5x/week MNL-MEL, while 5J has thrice weekly flights to MEL.

The number of Filipinos in Australia has grown to slightly exceed the Vietnamese, as not much migration from the latter in recent years, so perhaps MEL-MNL might be viable. Despite the rise of AI, there's many Australian businesses with call centres in MNL so it's not all VFR and beach-bound leisure passengers on the MNL routes. QFi has only a daily frequency from SYD with its flights year round loading very well, even though Easter and Christmas are the seasonal peaks.

It surprised that QFi is launching BNE-MNL when PR already serves that route.

QFi (and JQi) continue to ignore MEL that has a much greater population even with Brisbane adding in Gold and Sunshine Coasts plus BrisVegas' northern NSW catchment of towns like Byron Bay, Murwillumbah and Lismore.

 

[Saab34]

Melbourne-Seoul sounds like a given. Asiana is only seasonal and that has just ceased. Would be one of the few routes JQ would hold a monopoly.

I’d say that is next to be announced.

 

[jrfsp]

You’re not wrong. Just had a quick look, and it’s considerably more vs the 2010s. It was all $100-150 per night Aussie back early last decade, we went a few times and stayed at many of the high end resorts for $100 per night, car hire was dirt cheap, the whole experience was good value for money.

Even the Luxor want $300-400 per night. Crazy.

Hotel prices across North America are ridiculous since Covid that’s before you add general prices for hospitality now

 

[Chalkie]

Hotel prices across North America are ridiculous since Covid that’s before you add general prices for hospitality now

I'm in Tennessee right now and can confirm that's the case even here!

 

[justinbrett]

You’re not wrong. Just had a quick look, and it’s considerably more vs the 2010s. It was all $100-150 per night Aussie back early last decade, we went a few times and stayed at many of the high end resorts for $100 per night, car hire was dirt cheap, the whole experience was good value for money.

Even the Luxor want $300-400 per night. Crazy.

You can get much cheaper than that, certainly on base rate. I’ve seen US$29. But then there’s a $30-50 resort fee and then tax. I’d say you’d be doing well to keep it under US$100 a night, which is A$150. But that’s the cheapest hotel for the cheapest night and probably with a players card membership (which is free and can be got online so you’re silly not to book with it).

But everything is expensive, not just hotels. You’re looking at US$15 for a simple drink. Free drinks while gambling helps but they come around a lot more slowly these days.

Of course once you go and gamble you will get comp offers for hotels, you still have to pay resort fees but often get F&B credits to a similar value.

I go 2-3 times a year and I can usually get comp rooms when I want unless it’s a premium casino on a busy night but I still get it fairly cheap. It’s one of the reasons I go back so often as I can pad out my US trip for a lower /night cost.

However for your average JQ pax they won’t have the casino status so they’ll be paying full price.

 

[serfty]

You can get much cheaper than that, certainly on base rate.

I paid 2 nights at USD19 per night at Vegas last year with the now defunct Hyatt/MGM tie up (resort fee waived).

 

[Saab34]

Thanks gents I better look into these memberships!

 

[justinbrett]

So basically QF and JQ are swapping SYD-ICN and MEL-HNL (although JQ will still fly SYD-HNL).

https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/asia/jetstar-increases-flights-to-seoul-after-axing-hawaii-route-as-south-korea-becomes-new-aussie-favourite/news-story/607937bdb4022d12784521c59a9976e3?amp

 

[elanshin]

So basically QF and JQ are swapping SYD-ICN and MEL-HNL (although JQ will still fly SYD-HNL).

https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/asia/jetstar-increases-flights-to-seoul-after-axing-hawaii-route-as-south-korea-becomes-new-aussie-favourite/news-story/607937bdb4022d12784521c59a9976e3?amp

Didn't JQ used to fly to ICN until QF took over? (Or was that BNE -ICN)

 

[justinbrett]

Didn't JQ used to fly to ICN until QF took over? (Or was that BNE -ICN)

They still do fly SYD-ICN but will be adding frequency after QF withdraws

 

[crh66]

They still do fly SYD-ICN but will be adding frequency after QF withdraws

Edit.. received the rebook - basically just a swap with JQ as noted above. Not looking forward to 10.5 uncomfortable hours...

----Hope so

In mid August 2025 we're (were) flying on a J reward MEL-SYD-ICN-HEL (QF, then AY from Seoul), and I just got an email as follows.. waiting now


"We are sorry to let you know that Qantas is ceasing its flights QF87 and QF88 between Sydney to Seoul (Incheon) and Seoul (Incheon) to Sydney from 17th June 2025.

There are no other Qantas direct services at this time, so our dedicated team is already working on rebooking you on the next best available flight, including any connecting flights within the same booking, to get you to your destination.

We will be in contact as soon as possible with further information about the options that are available to you, including a refund"

 

[BNEFlyer]

Didn't JQ used to fly to ICN until QF took over? (Or was that BNE -ICN)

JQ currently operate BNE-ICN 3x per week and SYD-ICN 4x per week, going to daily.