QANTAS takes A380s out of circulation [and reduces flights]

[TheInsider]

Really? I won't be going via Perth now, that is adding another stop and a lot more flying time. London flight times are long enough. I'll take any airline that is the most direct route.

Now to get a refund on my flight with Qantas and rebook elsewhere.

How is it adding another stop? What was your original routing?

 

[DC3]

... The original routing would net more SC’s than a new routing through DXB. If I’m routed through PER I think it’s the same. So if I end up on EK then it appears I’d apply for the ORC and also the DSC that applied to the original routing. Does that make sense?

Makes good sense.

 

[AndyC1970]

I'm booked J class mid June on the Mel-SIN-LHR QF 35 /1 and corresponding return in late July. I am interested to know if Qantas will be offering refunds without any fees. Does this depend on if they consider it an event within their control? I certainly hope they are not trying to say that it was not within their control. I might flip a table if that is the case. A business decision like this is most certainly within their control. I didn't book QF 9 as the thought of such a long flight fills me with dread. Probably as much dread as BA J class seats! I am in 2 minds about ringing up, being respectful of their request for people to wait and also being mindful that all the good options might be taken up by the time the dice are rolled with system initiated flight changes. And who says the struggles of first world elites aren't real????????

 

[RichardMEL]

EK's trans tasman tags were mostly aircraft utilisation (and because parking an A380 in say SYD for ~12 hours was costing more than flying them).

They made some money selling deep discount Y fares (often Y would be overflowing with cheapies) but J and F had litle paid demand (I have been on numbers of those tags with single digit pax in J and only one or two in F (usually me and a friend on DSC run or people on points)..

This worked for a time, but obviously in the face of more NZ widebodies (and higher frequencies with 321neos across the dutch) plus QF capacity meant it just wouldn't work. Downguaging other flights to 77W and schedule changes meant the need was less too, and now EK park an A380 a t MEL - it obviously costs them less.

In the boom times hubbing at DXB made some sense for huge 380 operations - even more so when oil is cheaper (and the whole oil issue with ME3 is another issue totally)

but lower demand, higher competition from others (eg QR) and even hub busting aircraft like the A350/787/77X means more pax don't need to connect in places like DXB.

EK probably way overordered on the 380 with the hubris of the ME3 and boom times... in recent years of course they've focused far more on 77W and of course converting some late 380 orders to 350 is a smart move... even if they may never see those. Time will tell.

 

[get me outta here]

No eticket as yet. MMB shows my new route, but when I email my itinerary, it sends the old route. Is that normal?

 

[astrosly]

No eticket as yet. MMB shows my new route, but when I email my itinerary, it sends the old route. Is that normal?

That is normal where a change has been made to the booking but the new ticket has not been issued.

 

[AIRwin]

Downguaging other flights to 77W and schedule changes meant the need was less too, and now EK park an A380 a t MEL - it obviously costs them less.

And another A380 parked at BNE...

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Before we go too far off topic discussing EK's fleet utilisation, a reminder that this thread is about QF's schedule changes.
[/mod hat]

 

[LHT]

Is this an error?

MEL-SIN: B787 replaced by larger A330 on 7 return flights per week (QF 35/36) - 4 May

Currently QF35/36 is an A380.

Looked at some random dates in May and it's a B787, then goes back to an A380 for June/July and after.
So the switch is only for the 787 operated dates?
Looks like the other A380 services besides QF11/12 are QF35/36, if they are grounding 8 of 12 A380s.

I wonder if the refurbished A380's are the ones they will keep flying?

 

[Rob E]

Yes, but it’s called Original Routing Credit for a reason.

You can get the SCs (including the DSCs) and points that apply to your original booking. You made bookings to benefit from the DSC offer. Have I missed something in your posts?

Not sure, I'm saying that I plan on applying for ORC. My original booking was on QF1 (so want the SCs from that flight so I can avail of the DSC offer) but with the change via Perth I'm going to request to transfer to a QF codeshare on EK, which wouldn't give me the DSCs unless I get ORC.

 

[Uncle BJ]

Yes. When this happened to me a few weeks ago when the Melbourne flights downsized, I got an e-mail telling me my flight had changed and here's the new itinerary. They said to call if it didn't suit - so I called and got re-routed. Let's see whether this route sticks...

My advice would be to get pro-active. The few good accommodations will go to the first pax who ask. Phone up, be prepared to hang on for hours and deal with a real person.

Oh - and the changes seem to show up first on Check My Trip before you get any contact from QF.

I agree with this advice to get proactive and ask for the replacement fights that suit you ASAP. I called QF this morning and spoke to a lovely lady (apologising for ignoring Qantas' 'don't call us, we'll call you' directive). She was half an hour into her first shift since the changes and I had to explain that some of the flights I was booked on in late April to LHR (QF35/QF1 and return) would no longer exist at those dates. I told her my preferred flights via Perth and I'm now all booked on QF9 and QF10. She confirmed that I would get my original DSCs but, more importantly for this forum, said that there were very few (J) seats left on the flights I wanted so I was sensible to call when I did. She spoke to her supervisor who confirmed that the new QF1/2 flights had not yet been 'loaded' onto their system yet but that I could call back and book onto those when they became available if I wanted.

 

[cjd600]

My late AUG QF12 LAX-SYD has changed to new config seatmap

 

[woodborer]

Not sure, I'm saying that I plan on applying for ORC. My original booking was on QF1 (so want the SCs from that flight so I can avail of the DSC offer) but with the change via Perth I'm going to request to transfer to a QF codeshare on EK, which wouldn't give me the DSCs unless I get ORC.

ORCs also generally only apply to involuntary changes. If you start making requests to change flights, it may make your request for ORC more difficult.

 

[Rob E]

ORCs also generally only apply to involuntary changes. If you start making requests to change flights, it may make your request for ORC more difficult.

I'm aware of that but I'm hoping that because they've changed both the route and aircraft that they'll be a bit more open to it as a gesture of goodwill. That said it is Qantas so I won't count my chickens just yet.

 

[Dr Ralph]

This announcement will impact me.

I am booked in F on QF 8.

This was the A380 now changed to the B787. As I understand it the B787 has no F, only J.

A few questions if anyone can assist:

1) I assume that I will just be reallocated from my booked F seat to a J seat on the same flight?

2) As this was an award booking will they automatically refund the points difference between F and J?

3) Any chance that I could get bumped from the flight all together?

4) Would I still get access to the F lounge in Sydney?

I've just had an email from Qantas telling me that I need to call them to discuss the changes needed.

Great way to waste my time!

 

[get me outta here]

Especially if you are on hold for an hour with no call back offer.

I've just had an email from Qantas telling me that I need to call them to discuss the changes needed.

Great way to waste my time!

 

[cjd600]

I've just had an email from Qantas telling me that I need to call them to discuss the changes needed.

Great way to waste my time!

See if they can get you to LAX, and on to F on QF12 LAX-SYD

 

[justinbrett]

No, I’m in J. 5 J is my favourite seat.

I find the 787 seat far superior, especially as a solo traveller. I'm not sure what the negatives are for flying J on a 787 vs 747? Definitely an argument for Y/Y+, but I wouldn't have thought there was even a case for J. Only two solo seats on the 747. Each to their own (I've had my last flight on a QF 747 about 3 times now and I hope there's not a fourth! I love the 747 but it's time to let go of the past....)

The other thing to consider on SYD-SCL is as long as it's a 747 it won't be a daily service - so if they further delay 787 on the route, they might not fly it on the day I am due to depart and I could get switched to LATAM. Really don't want that (did that last year - it was OK but would prefer Qantas metal).

 

[lynnk]

Especially if you are on hold for an hour with no call back offer.

I was only on hold yesterday for about 5 minutes, if that. Luckily.

 

[jakeseven7]

I was only on hold yesterday for about 5 minutes, if that. Luckily.

I got through in 2 minutes (to QF Premium) I almost dropped phone in surprise after hearing all the wait times on here. Bronze and Silver must get punted to the very end.