QANTAS takes A380s out of circulation [and reduces flights]

[snabbu]

The email I got was referenced to a flight in August. I have flights before that that are also impacted. But it may be because the flight referenced is in F.

Looking online I can see that they have changed my August 2 flight that was in F to J and changed the aircraft from an A380 to a 787. It's asking me to click on a link to confirm that I accept the change. Even if I did this I'll still need to contact Qantas to organise a points refund on the difference between F and J. I just tried to call Qantas and a greater than 2 hour wait time was indicated, so I will try again later.

I can also see that an F booking I have on QF8 for September 30 has not been changed from F to J. So no action required (at this time).

Other QF 7 and QF 8 flights for July that have been also impacted do not require any change from me. But the aircraft type has changed. I appear to remain in J for each of these.

In a similar boat here. My original QF8 booking in F has updated to a 789 in J but the QF7 return in F 10 days later hasn't yet changed. Have not accepted the new flight just yet, about to call them up and see what my options are... hoping to get an F seat on 12/11 but i don't like my chances.

 

[dacom]

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

QF93 MEL - LAX has been replaced this morning to the refurb A380 for the 15/5

 

[OATEK]

Another perspective .... cut and paste from FT

View attachment 209191

Seems to depend where you are calling from. I only had a 10min wait for BA this week, calling from Sydney and routed to India.

 

[Oscarq]

QF93 MEL - LAX has been replaced this morning to the refurb A380 for the 15/5

QF94 LAX/MEL refurb A380 02 May in lieu cancelled 787-9 ORD/BNE/MEL, avoided Qantas call thanks to our brilliant travel agent.

 

[renatts]

Found acceptable replacement flights with award availability in J this morning, but have been waiting almost 3 hours for a callback

hoping they don’t magically disappear before my call back

 

[Dr Ralph]

Found acceptable replacement flights with award availability in J this morning, but have been waiting almost 3 hours for a callback

hoping they don’t magically disappear before my call back

I didn't get through last night/this morning. Hung up after 3hrs 57mins on hold.

 

[Mr H]

Is there any point (prior to boarding a flight) at which we can be pretty certain it's not going to be changed? I have flights to/from Jakarta in April. These have already been changed twice - once when EK changed their flight timings by several hours meaning my connection was missed; and once when QF took F off their MEL-SIN flights. My outbound flight on QF just beats the 20 April changes and my return on EK is not yet affected. At what point can I stop worrying that this is all going to crumble?

 

[renatts]

I didn't get through last night/this morning. Hung up after 3hrs 57mins on hold.

I got a call back after 3 hours this morning. She couldn’t see the award availability that I could see.

she asked me to go through to the payment screen to see if it’s actually there.
It would let me pay to book them then and there, and she said she’s sorry she still can’t see them, and there’s nothing she could do.

she also told me that at the moment, all replacement flights and routing are subject to the same fare class availability. When I pointed out that I booked this trip 9+ months ago when there was plenty of availability, and it’s unreasonable to expect the same options now, she just said there’s nothing they can do, and I’d have to wait for award availability to show.

pretty poor that QF management haven’t just authorised them to put you on any replacement that suits in the same travel class. Paying for a few partner airlines business seats would still be cheaper than flying the a380 half empty.

 

[get me outta here]

The kindest answer to that is, who knows!

Is there any point (prior to boarding a flight) at which we can be pretty certain it's not going to be changed? I have flights to/from Jakarta in April. These have already been changed twice - once when EK changed their flight timings by several hours meaning my connection was missed; and once when QF took F off their MEL-SIN flights. My outbound flight on QF just beats the 20 April changes and my return on EK is not yet affected. At what point can I stop worrying that this is all going to crumble?

 

[Mr H]

The kindest answer to that is, who knows!

What I thought. I just wondered whether there was some regulatory thing that might have things locked in. Fingers crossed as we all sit and watch one another's plans crumble.

 

[get me outta here]

I'll be carefully noting my hotels cancellations requirements such as 3 days before arrival. Flight points redemptions, if not prior cancellations by the various airlines, can be up to the last minute, but with no hotels bkgs, I suppose 3 days. I've been reading that some hotels have been allowing people to just transfer their booking dates to a later time at the same price even for non refundable bkgs. As the US is nowhere near peak virus yet due to the intelligentsias in charge pretending it is not going to happen and not providing enough test kits, I anticipate bad news for trips.

What I thought. I just wondered whether there was some regulatory thing that might have things locked in. Fingers crossed as we all sit and watch one another's plans crumble.

 

[vmile]

QF94 LAX/MEL refurb A380 02 May in lieu cancelled 787-9 ORD/BNE/MEL, avoided Qantas call thanks to our brilliant travel agent.

This has appeared for us as well on our 'Manage Bookings' page, but no mention of what is proposed for the ORD-LAX sector. Did you get a solution from QF or are we supposed to pay for our own ticket for this 'solution'?

 

[jase05]

This has appeared for us as well on our 'Manage Bookings' page, but no mention of what is proposed for the ORD-LAX sector. Did you get a solution from QF or are we supposed to pay for our own ticket for this 'solution'?

AA in Y I’d suspect

 

[Aus ATC]

she also told me that at the moment, all replacement flights and routing are subject to the same fare class availability. When I pointed out that I booked this trip 9+ months ago when there was plenty of availability, and it’s unreasonable to expect the same options now, she just said there’s nothing they can do, and I’d have to wait for award availability to show.

So - if I inderstand this correctly - I have a J award BNE-SFO in August. BNE-SYD-SFO is showing no U availability for the same date. So when they get around to reviewing my flight, I wont be rebooked onto a flight that has no award availabiliity??

 

[renatts]

So - if I inderstand this correctly - I have a J award BNE-SFO in August. BNE-SYD-SFO is showing no U availability for the same date. So when they get around to reviewing my flight, I wont be rebooked onto a flight that has no award availabiliity??

Yeah, that’s what she told me. I don’t suspect that will actually be the case when it gets to my booking being changed (still shows QF1 sin to lhr) but at the moment they’re not authorised to do anything other than find other identical fare classes, except for on Qantas metal at managers discretion.

so in your case, still being a QF flight, you’ll probably have no issues with getting business seats opened up to you.

Mine will absolutely be with a partner airline, so it’s different.

replacement flights are still bookable on the Qantas website ... not sure why she couldn’t see them

 

[snabbu]

In a similar boat here. My original QF8 booking in F has updated to a 789 in J but the QF7 return in F 10 days later hasn't yet changed. Have not accepted the new flight just yet, about to call them up and see what my options are... hoping to get an F seat on 12/11 but i don't like my chances.

Spoke to QF and was unable find an F seat on QF12 +/- a few days from my original date (I'm somewhat flexible). Operator wasn't overly helpful so didn't try a WP request for F seat to be opened up, might try calling again tomorrow.

 

[Andy_M]

Trump just banned all flights to and from Europe USA for the next 30 days

 

[FlyboyAl]

Trump just banned all flights to and from Europe USA for the next 30 days

I thought it was only FROM europe - my bad.

 

[Vic]

Just got the email for A380 to 789 changes for Early August, QF7, QF94. Auto assigned to the second front row of economy from the mini cabin upstairs.
Somewhat disappointedly the seat selection for QF12 JFK to LAX dropped out completely, where I'd paid for exit row seats. Will have to email customer care for a refund, or something?
Have managed to assign row 40 and 41 which are equal seats I suspect. (hope)

 

[Andy_M]

I thought it was only FROM europe - my bad.

UK exempt Australia may follow suit