Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth)-Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soar

[ermen]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

Funny thing is VA's terminal is just beside the international terminal (a bit like MEL!). If that belonged to QF, would make things so much easier...

I can see why a J flyer would prefer PER - LHR direct. Would be a good product and would afford themselves more flexibility (ie choosing when to sleep / work without having to worry about deplaning or getting sleep interrupted).
For Y, suspect the novelty factor would wear out after a while.

Still, I think QF can make this work if they get enough $$$ from the J and PE cabins...

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

As long as Wa Govt doesn't have to put any money into turning this Domestic/international terminal into reality as Qantas is meant to move over to the international terminal precinct...

If they want to throw away money they can spend their own doing up infrastructure with a limited life span...

Pay for the extra requirements for having two lots of immigration/border control as well...

i see no reason to pander to them...

 

[travelislife]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

As there is not going to be an F cabin on the B787, I suspect it may be like the new QF lounge in SIN and BKK. And so would not be surprised it will just be one combined lounge

No QF lounge in BKK.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

I've called it before, however to reiterate, PER-LHR will never happen due to commercial reasons IMHO.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

I agree. If QF open a half decent lounge in PER I think it would be a very attractive option to LHR, especially in J.

Well if they're talking about using the QF domestic precinct then it'll be the new J lounge and QF club I guess - could do worse...

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

I've called it before, however to reiterate, PER-LHR will never happen due to commercial reasons IMHO.

I'm suspect about it too. If it does happen though I really want QF to introduce dine on demand in J. I've moved over to the QF coded EK metal for my last few Europe flights, travelling in F. Eat when you want, shower when you want. You need that flexibility on 24-hour travelling or on ultra long haul sectors. I can't see myself ever purposely flying to PER to pick up a PERLHR flight, unless the price was outrageously good.

 

[Infrequent]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

Back in the 90s, when I was a bit younger, I used to think a direct PER-LHR flight would be a dream come true.

These days ... maybe not as much so.

Its even worse for some of my older fellow travellers - over 10 hours can get problematic ; 15 would be hell ; 18 ... "tell him he's dreaming!"

And I don't like sleeping (or more accurately, trying to sleep) on the aircraft ... and I don't fly in F!

I can, however, see both sides of the equation.

In some ways, the "good old days" of multi-hops had it advantages... back when Qantas had a full network, and offered multiple O/S connections from PER. (Even in the 1980s, if my memory serves me, when the 707s gave way to 747s there were multiple direct destinations, with further hops to LHR, etc), and the longhaul trip I've booked for next year will split the journey at DXB this time - overnight stay - rather than simply a few hours in the lounge in transit.

However, getting the trip knocked off in one go, if the departure time is sensible, could be popular.

What doesn't seem to have been mentioned so far is what seems to me to be the main reason why the route is on the cards at all ... the CAT III upgrade at Perth. Without it, I doubt there would have been a chance, with the 787 or any other aircraft.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

No QF lounge in BKK.

Thanks for picking up another of my typos

= BNE new INT lounge

 

[Assassin]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

I guess the benefits of a PER-LHR flight would be:

1. Direct connection for PER based travellers (and Britishers wanting to travel to PER)
2. Better connection for those originating or ending in ADL rather than two-stopping via MEL or SYD
3. QF can use a PER based pilots and crew to service the route and don't need to have people staying in a stop-over city (eg DXB) - presumably some cost savings from this?

The offering is much less compelling for East Coase based pax or those travelling somewhere in Europe other than London.

I would have thought the first use of the 787s would be to replace the A380s on the SYD-DFW route - that would have to increase the profitability of the route substantially. Then surely a MEL based route will be needed?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

(Even in the 1980s, if my memory serves me, when the 707s gave way to 747s there were multiple direct destinations, with further hops to LHR, etc),

Your memory is correct - in 1984 it was a 747 4x a week PER-SIN-BAH-LHR.

There were several variations on that theme... some flights originating in ADL or TSV (via DRW). The other daily 747 had the same route but would originate in MEL or SYD.

Another 747 flew the MEL/SYD-BKK-ATH-AMS-MAN route a couple days a week.

 

[Infrequent]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

Your memory is correct - in 1984 it was a 747 4x a week PER-SIN-BAH-LHR.

There were several variations on that theme... some flights originating in ADL or TSV (via DRW). The other daily 747 had the same route but would originate in MEL or SYD.

Another 747 flew the MEL/SYD-BKK-ATH-AMS-MAN route a couple days a week.

I flew the PER-SIN-BAH-LHR in 1982 (I think it was a few weeks after the BA City of Edinburgh volcanic ash incident).
India was also a direct route (Bombay) back then.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

So the middle east is an old acquaintance to the airline

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

If it does happen though I really want QF to introduce dine on demand in J.

According to this they already have.

International Inflight Dining | Qantas

Dine when it suits you
We have redesigned our international Business menus to offer a contemporary selection of Rockpool inspired small and main plates on all international flights (excluding Noumea flights).
Our International Business menus are all about choice. The enhanced menus give you the option to eat something light or a three course meal. You can also choose when you eat, so you can maximise your sleep on board.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

According to this they already have.

Expectation vs reality?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

You can also choose when you eat, so you can maximise your sleep on board.

Translation: you can choose to eat in the lounge rather than on the plane

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

Expectation vs reality?

Translation: you can choose to eat in the lounge rather than on the plane

Just posted the link.
Didn't say I believed it.

 

[levelnine]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

QF corporate came in today about other matters, floated the Perth/London route idea, with a one terminal transfer in the QF precinct at PER. As we all fly business class, they got a lot of positive feedback - our CEO especially said he'd rather transfer in PER and get the long flight over and done with in one go. Suspect the 'enjoyment of the Dubai lounges' as celebrated by the avid AFF's on here, would be pretty low on most companies radars when it comes to choosing flights in the 'real' world.

The crucial dimension of your comment is that 'we all fly business class'. PER-LHR makes a lot of sense for J travelers. It makes markedly less sense for Y travelers (ie the vast majority of the flying public). The value proposition is even worse for Y travelers who have lounge access in Dubai.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

The other route that would suit the B787 instead of these exotics would be the LAX-JFK-LAX tag flights.

Perhaps replacing the QF15 747? for a BNE-LAX-JFK return?

Or an additional B787 reviving the old QF107/108 flight number via SYD-LAX-JFK return

All speculation.

 

[Rigs]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

The crucial dimension of your comment is that 'we all fly business class'. PER-LHR makes a lot of sense for J travelers. It makes markedly less sense for Y travelers (ie the vast majority of the flying public). The value proposition is even worse for Y travelers who have lounge access in Dubai.

I think Australians must be the only people who defend stopovers (not necessarily a bad thing). I personally could go either way. The longer trips are good inasmuch as they challenge the hub system of Qantas' rivals. FWIW I think flights over 15 hours require a bit of a rethink in plane design anyways. Passengers need a bit of space to stretch and walk.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Qantas: non-stop Australia (Perth) -Europe (London) Boeing 787 flights set to soa

I think Australians must be the only people who defend stopovers (not necessarily a bad thing). I personally could go either way. The longer trips are good inasmuch as they challenge the hub system of Qantas' rivals. FWIW I think flights over 15 hours require a bit of a rethink in plane design anyways. Passengers need a bit of space to stretch and walk.

Stopovers are often a manifestation of passing through a hub. The LCC point to point model demonstrate the attractiveness of such networking in OZ and elsewhere. CX's hub in hKG is under pressure from PtoP routes bypassing it. Something that well suits the B787A330 but not the A380.

Passengers need a bit of space to stretch and walk. Sure but QF in my opinion (having not sat in the new Y seat) choose to ignore that passengers need a bit of space to sit first.
o