Qantas to focus staff & operations in Sydney (details of NSW deal revealed)

[dajop]

If QF doesn’t operate MEL-LHR Sunrise flights they leave the door open for a different airline to get first mover advantage and do it before them. That would be a massive risk IMO. I would be very disappointed if MEL-LHR Sunrise flights are delayed five years. A stopover in Perth at an illogical time in the journey is still a stopover.

I’m still going for the concept of having some “cute” wording in the agreement that gives QF the ability to do what they want anyway. Like “enhancement”, “simpler and fairer”.

 

[justinbrett]

I predict it was Qantas that offered it up as it was their plan anyway

 

[Lynda2475]

I think they’d like more flights to DFW, their primary hub.

US based airlines love a hub, but Aussies not so much. Clearing immigration in DFW is much quicker than in LAX, helped by fact the SYD-DFW flight lands at a unique time, so its only people off that flight using the e-gates, and the dual luggage carousels split by class speeds things up too. But Id always be prepared to pay a reasonable premium to fly direct on QF, than have to switch to a AA domestic connection.

an absolutely certainty QF will launch AUS-SEA,

Not sure about the demand on this one, unless you are thinking people wanting to ski in BC would fly to SEA then bus/train/drive up to BC in snow season? I quire like Seattle, however its not somewhere i visit nearly as regularly as NYC, ORD or SFO. I'm interested if BNE-ORD will ever get to start.

Id be more like to fly SYD-BNE-ORD to avid AA metal, than SYD-DFW/LAX-ORD (on QF=AA).

 

[QF WP]

Interesting now AS are oneworld it’s an absolutely certainty QF will launch AUS-SEA

Not sure about the demand on this one, unless you are thinking people wanting to ski in BC would fly to SEA then bus/train/drive up to BC in snow season? I quire like Seattle, however its not somewhere i visit nearly as regularly as NYC, ORD or SFO. I'm interested if BNE-ORD will ever get to start.

Id be more like to fly SYD-BNE-ORD to avid AA metal, than SYD-DFW/LAX-ORD (on QF=AA).

I'd be very interested, with family in SEA, Spokane (GEG) and YVR. Similarly, taking the kids skiing in Canada - Big White (nearest airport Kelowna) is on the cards.

I'd rather fly ex-BNE but if we need to tag on a domestic leg to MEL (preferable) or SYD (what's second prize), I can handle that...

 

[justinbrett]

US based airlines love a hub, but Aussies not so much. Clearing immigration in DFW is much quicker than in LAX, helped by fact the SYD-DFW flight lands at a unique time, so its only people off that flight using the e-gates, and the dual luggage carousels split by class speeds things up too. But Id always be prepared to pay a reasonable premium to fly direct on QF, than have to switch to a AA domestic connection.


Not sure about the demand on this one, unless you are thinking people wanting to ski in BC would fly to SEA then bus/train/drive up to BC in snow season? I quire like Seattle, however its not somewhere i visit nearly as regularly as NYC, ORD or SFO. I'm interested if BNE-ORD will ever get to start.

Id be more like to fly SYD-BNE-ORD to avid AA metal, than SYD-DFW/LAX-ORD (on QF=AA).

I mean SEA to connect to the AS network - would be the gateway to Canada, Alaska and NW USA. AA is not great for this.

 

[Lynda2475]

When I've needed to take an AS flight previously, I've always flown QF SYD-SFO then picked up AS SFO -SEA. SFO a dream compared with LAX when it comes to connections.

Id think QF to YVR would have more demand thatnQF to SEA. But the more rout choice the better. Personally Id like SYD-ORD, covid meant BNE-ORD never happened (and cant imagine there is more business demand to ORD from BNE than SYD).

My biggest usage would be ULH SYD-JFK.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I predict it was Qantas that offered it up as it was their plan anyway

Yep, a quick extra $50 million for doing what they would have done anyway.

 

[justinbrett]

When I've needed to take an AS flight previously, I've always flown QF SYD-SFO then picked up AS SFO -SEA. SFO a dream compared with LAX when it comes to connections.

Id think QF to YVR would have more demand thatnQF to SEA. But the more rout choice the better. Personally Id like SYD-ORD, covid meant BNE-ORD never happened (and cant imagine there is more business demand to ORD from BNE than SYD).

My biggest usage would be ULH SYD-JFK.

Yep, but you're thinking direct flights. The vast majority of people travelling to/from North America are connecting. ULH are always going to be a minority of the market.

YVR is popular for a direct flight but not many connections (apart from Westjet who are not oneworld).

AS have far more flights out of SEA than they do SFO, especially more niche airports in Canada and Alaska.

I'd rather fly ex-BNE but if we need to tag on a domestic leg to MEL (preferable) or SYD (what's second prize), I can handle that...

Why is MEL preferred to SYD connecting from BNE? If you fly to the US from MEL you pretty much overfly SYD. Not to mention the better lounge situation.

 

[AIRwin]

Why is MEL preferred to SYD connecting from BNE?

More status credits?

 

[QF WP]

Why is MEL preferred to SYD connecting from BNE? If you fly to the US from MEL you pretty much overfly SYD. Not to mention the better lounge situation.

More status credits?

That's one . But the major reason is I hate the domestic to international connection in SYD - with all the additional time taken, it's the same as flying to MEL and the easy walk between adjacent terminals. I haven't flown via SYD in over 15 years and will maintain that for as long as possible.

 

[justinbrett]

That's one . But the major reason is I hate the domestic to international connection in SYD - with all the additional time taken, it's the same as flying to MEL and the easy walk between adjacent terminals. I haven't flown via SYD in over 15 years and will maintain that for as long as possible.

You've got to add the extra hour to the US flight as well..

When the airside bus is running SYD transfer is not so bad. Flounge makes it worth it anyway.

Also more rebooking options to the US if you miss your connection.

Disclaimer: I connected once through MEL back when I was only SG and I still have nightmares over the MEL INT J lounge.

 

[QF WP]

I don't mind the extra travel time and my wife agrees & kids understand and don't care - more time to watch programs on IFE.

I don't have access to the FLounges at present, so a moot point for me - you're Plat, so have access.

 

[justinbrett]

I don't mind the extra travel time and my wife agrees & kids understand and don't care - more time to watch programs on IFE.

I don't have access to the FLounges at present, so a moot point for me - you're Plat, so have access.

I've not been to the MEL Flounge but I dare say the difference between the Flounges is much less than the Jlounges. SYD isn't great but it's decent. I couldn't believe how bad the dungeon was in MEL.

 

[serfty]

Yep, a quick extra $50 million for doing what they would have done anyway.

Or, to put it another way, another $50M for not doing what they threatened to do ...

 

[PineappleSkip]

I therefore don't think it is that big a risk for QF to run SYD only

That's almost half the market gone if you leave out MEL with its equivalent population to SYD. MEL-PER-LHR no better than MEL-SIN-LHR. I suspect QF wouldn't agree to exclusively flying ULH from SYD for that reason.

More status credits?

A nice bonus but the transfer within the one terminal makes MEL my connection preference. 40 minutes extra flying time to MEL no big deal at all.

Cheers skip

 

[mviy]

The main reason I would consider SYD when travelling alone is being based in MEL flying via SYD would be indirect for me. Would prefer the SYD international terminal was walking distance from domestic instead of needing to catch a bus.

When travelling with others I’d like Sunrise flights from MEL

 

[samh004]

Run its new ultra long-haul flights (Sunrise) exclusively out of Sydney for five years.

My only issue with this point is that if a flight makes more sense to leave after curfew, or arrive before curfew ends, it seems incredibly short sighted to restrict these flights to an airport that has a curfew. OTOH if these flights received special dispensation if they were leaving/arriving in a curfew-time, then there's no problem.

 

[justinbrett]

My only issue with this point is that if a flight makes more sense to leave after curfew, or arrive before curfew ends, it seems incredibly short sighted to restrict these flights to an airport that has a curfew. OTOH if these flights received special dispensation if they were leaving/arriving in a curfew-time, then there's no problem.

I don’t think departing or arriving in the dead of night is consistent with their research into mitigating jet lag, so curfew won’t be an issue.

 

[samh004]

I don’t think departing or arriving in the dead of night is consistent with their research into mitigating jet lag, so curfew won’t be an issue.

I'm just saying... I don't know what their flight timings would actually be, what makes the most sense and all that, but if arriving early (ostensibly so you'd be refreshed for morning meetings – perhaps build an arrivals lounge for this purpose) or departing late because you then arrive at a more suitable time in the destination, then locking the airline to an airport that doesn't allow you to do either of those two things seems silly.

Especially silly when you consider alternative airports don't have curfews AFAIK.

But of course, doesn't mean anything if you don't plan to leave at 23:30 or arrive at 05:30 for a particular route.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm just saying... I don't know what their flight timings would actually be, what makes the most sense and all that, but if arriving early (ostensibly so you'd be refreshed for morning meetings – perhaps build an arrivals lounge for this purpose) or departing late because you then arrive at a more suitable time in the destination, then locking the airline to an airport that doesn't allow you to do either of those two things seems silly.

Especially silly when you consider alternative airports don't have curfews AFAIK.

But of course, doesn't mean anything if you don't plan to leave at 23:30 or arrive at 05:30 for a particular route.

No it won't be like that, they'll do the morning routine on the plane with the slow fade of the lights, serve breakfast etc and then you walk out of the airport into sunlight to keep you awake.

If you were to do all that and walk out into darkness it is going to confuse your body clock and you'll want to go back to sleep.

Not to mention they will still be connecting to/from domestic flights. It's far more profitable for airlines to have both ends of the flight during busier flying periods of mid morning to early evening.

I think you'll find SYD-JFK will be a midday departure, arriving in JFK mid afternoon, departing early evening and arriving in SYD in the morning.
SYD-LHR will be early afternoon departure, arriving LHR early evening, departing in the later evening and arriving in SYD in the morning.