Qantas to keep FRA till October 2013; BA Singapore codeshare to continue

[Aussie_flyer]

i guess they should start employing people from the forum here since they clearly don't have a clue how to run an airline

 

[moa999]

I thinks its very simple.
Having dropped the "interim authorisation" request to the ACCC
Qantas and Emirates withdraw application for interim authorisation
they needed to publish a forward schedule for bookings for the next 12 months that didn't involve EK.
Thus reroute main flights thru DXB and keep FRA for now.

If/once the EK deal is approved, seemingly expected around March 2013, I would fully expect FRA to be dropped fairly quickly and pax given reroute options via DXB.

 

[airbound]

Just looked at my options for NCL and get the following:

QF1 arrives at 0035
EK35 departs at 0720
EK36 arrives at 2359
QF2 departs at 0920

Not really enough time to get to/from a hotel so it looks like 7 and 9 hours in Dubai airport. If we commit to these I see a through trip to NCL with an extended lounge stay (sleeping on the 2nd part of the SYD-DXB leg and again on the DXB-NCL flight).

On the return I see a couple of day stay in DXB.

Still sounds a better option that transiting LHR to me.

Once everything gets up and running fully, however, QF1 and QF2 won't be the only options for flying between SYD and DXB (although they will be the only options on QF metal). The EK-operated QF flights may very well provide shorter connections to NCL and elsewhere.

 

[whatmeworry]

I still feel QF should keep FRA long term. I still think QF can make money on
SIN-FRA.

However I have seen TA's who offer MEL-xFRA-SPU for $1950 in Y.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Once everything gets up and running fully, however, QF1 and QF2 won't be the only options for flying between SYD and DXB (although they will be the only options on QF metal). The EK-operated QF flights may very well provide shorter connections to NCL and elsewhere.

Thanks airbound. I have previously mentioned elsewhere (not expecting you to remember or have read) that I would prefer to stick to QF1/2 between SYD-DXB but this could well change after our first DXB experience as a couple, who knows? My recollection of previous visits to DXB is the EK connections to the UK are generally less than 2 hours so not sure I would be too keen on that again as my taste has been refined by the QF experience since arriving in Australia.

 

[JohnK]

What am I missing?

The schedules into Asia look exactly the same except for 1 flight operating 4 times per week arriving at 4:00pm.

Didn't the recent announcement mention better schedules into Asia? More lies?

 

[markis10]

What am I missing?

The schedules into Asia look exactly the same except for 1 flight operating 4 times per week arriving at 4:00pm.

Didn't the recent announcement mention better schedules into Asia? More lies?

They are designed to connect with the RedQ flights which of course is Asia's new premium airline and the saviour of QFi, of wait, that was last years 4 pillar strategy, that has now had two pillars cancelled!

I agree with you JohnK, more lies and very little in it for the traveller frequent or not. QF cannot sustain the schedule published so its a smokescreen at best until the changes get approved, then the real changes will be revealed. QF cannot even get its fleet age right in its results announcements, do we really expect them to get other things correct, its all red herrings. From memory, herrings were the mainstay of the Irish fishing fleet until they were poorly managed and profits dried up .

 

[NM]

... its all red herrings. From memory, herrings were the mainstay of the Irish fishing fleet until they were poorly managed and profits dried up .

Or went up in smoke ... mmm ... smoked herring - time for breakfast.

 

[brad330]

What am I missing?

The schedules into Asia look exactly the same except for 1 flight operating 4 times per week arriving at 4:00pm.

Didn't the recent announcement mention better schedules into Asia? More lies?

The schedules into Asia are still under development and will be changed within the next month. Currently I the only changes that we can see are MEL-SIN and SYD-SIN

 

[dajop]

Didn't the recent announcement mention better schedules into Asia? More lies?

"Better schedules" was always PR spin (the new word for enhacement?) for we will leave Australia earlier because we now have to turn the planes around in Singapore and get them back to Australia overnight. It was never going to be other than that, although the 4 extra services to SIN at a different time arguably provide a better schedule (noting the loss of the daily QF1 service, meaning a net reduction of SYD-SIN non-stop services by 3 per week).

 

[ajw373]

I still feel QF should keep FRA long term. I still think QF can make money on
SIN-FRA.

However I have seen TA's who offer MEL-xFRA-SPU for $1950 in Y.

If anything they should be moving to Berlin to link with Air Berlin, or encourage Air Berlin to fly to Singapore and code share from there.

 

[ajw373]

"Better schedules" was always PR spin (the new word for enhacement?) for we will leave Australia earlier because we now have to turn the planes around in Singapore and get them back to Australia overnight. It was never going to be other than that, although the 4 extra services to SIN at a different time arguably provide a better schedule (noting the loss of the daily QF1 service, meaning a net reduction of SYD-SIN non-stop services by 3 per week).

True it is a net reduction, but of course that means more seats as there won't be people going through to London. I also reckon in time the SIN service will get earlier, I would imagine they would need to negotiate slots etc which will take time.

 

[ozmille]

just got told that i have to switch over to BA

Same here, I have an I class booking SYD-SIN-LHR on QF1 at the moment and they have changed that to QF5 to SIN and then connecting onto QF3345 which is BA12, asked to go via DXB but they say that I class is not available on any flight via DXB. So instead of A380 I am getting old QF747 and BA, not really the same travel experience I reckon.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Same here, I have an I class booking SYD-SIN-LHR on QF1 at the moment and they have changed that to QF5 to SIN and then connecting onto QF3345 which is BA12, asked to go via DXB but they say that I class is not available on any flight via DXB. So instead of A380 I am getting old QF747 and BA, not really the same travel experience I reckon.

That's a bit ordinary I think.
I can kind of understand QF not re-routing a FASA ex-SIN but I would expect a paid J fare SYD-LHR on the A380 to remain exactly that :evil:

 

[Dmac6345]

Hi all,

I have a booking from Mel to Singapore return , in June next year.
Just recieved an email with changed to my flight. basically the MEL - SIN is 2 hours earlier and SIN-MEl is about 1.5 hours later getting into Melbourne at 0720 instead of the normal 0545 am flight from London via Singapore. Equipment to be used as far as im aware is a refurb 747-400. Very interesting. Qantas have informed me that each day they are email people with previous bookings.

 

[JohnK]

"Better schedules" was always PR spin (the new word for enhacement?) for we will leave Australia earlier because we now have to turn the planes around in Singapore and get them back to Australia overnight. It was never going to be other than that, although the 4 extra services to SIN at a different time arguably provide a better schedule (noting the loss of the daily QF1 service, meaning a net reduction of SYD-SIN non-stop services by 3 per week).

I have not seen a single positive eventuate since the merger, oops, tie-up with Emirates was announced. And yes I do understand that the aircraft are going to be turned around similar to current QF23/QF24 SYD-BKK but why bother making an interim announcement if the schedules are due to be revised in a weeks time? It must be really difficult to run an airline.

Again let's wait and see but I for one am not holding my breath.

 

[oz_mark]

I have not seen a single positive eventuate since the merger, oops, tie-up with Emirates was announced. And yes I do understand that the aircraft are going to be turned around similar to current QF23/QF24 SYD-BKK but why bother making an interim announcement if the schedules are due to be revised in a weeks time? It must be really difficult to run an airline.

Changing departure and arrival times requires negotiations on slots. So the latest timetable probably reflects what they know they can deliver as they are based around their current slots.

 

[anat0l]

Changing departure and arrival times requires negotiations on slots. So the latest timetable probably reflects what they know they can deliver as they are based around their current slots.

Who needs to be negotiated with for slots? All the airports (including Singapore)?

It's not very promising with the current announcements. That all said, as I said above, most places can get a connection from the current schedule of flights from SIN. Shifting back the SIN-bound flights back an hour or two just makes that connection gap a bit more comfortable (particularly if you need to grab bags in SIN and re-check in). Having a day flight ex-SIN primarily benefits the SIN-only to Australia traffic; again, many of the connections to SIN time OK with the flights going to Australia.

Perhaps there needs to be extra services for connections between SIN and other destinations, or re-timing of such services, which when matched with a better Australia/Singapore timetable, allow more options. It doesn't really help that the majority of connecting services from SIN are on Jetstar / affiliates, and most of the flights (except to key centres with greater frequency) are scheduled to depart near the end of the day and arrive in the afternoon or so. This severely biases the timings of SIN flights from Australia.

Right now, I'd be happy if QF ran all A330 services (no B747s or A380s) to SIN but spread them out during the day - schedule over equipment. Hell, I'll even take a 767 to SIN as long as there's a better schedule throughout the day. Perhaps stagger the SIN services even amongst the different ports (except PER, which will need its own dedicated services throughout the day), e.g. have the BNE flight arrive at a different time (substantially different) to the SYD flight to the MEL flight etc., then give marketed passenger options to connect through different ports as required. Hey, there's an idea - run more QFi domestic/international services to SIN in order to have more schedule. This should help cover for times which 'seem unpopular' to fly by QF - surely even during those times, running a A330 say on SYD to BNE then onto SIN has got to be able to fill that aircraft.

I'm also surprised - like some others - that the possibility of MH codeshares hasn't been entertained (though QF would more likely just add codeshare numbers to both MH flights to/from Australia as well as feeder services from KUL).

 

[TonyHancock]

Same here, I have an I class booking SYD-SIN-LHR on QF1 at the moment and they have changed that to QF5 to SIN and then connecting onto QF3345 which is BA12, asked to go via DXB but they say that I class is not available on any flight via DXB. So instead of A380 I am getting old QF747 and BA, not really the same travel experience I reckon.

That is pretty poor. I'm waiting for my call, I have a FASA LHR-SIN-MEL QF2/QF10.

 

[markis10]

Same here, I have an I class booking SYD-SIN-LHR on QF1 at the moment and they have changed that to QF5 to SIN and then connecting onto QF3345 which is BA12, asked to go via DXB but they say that I class is not available on any flight via DXB. So instead of A380 I am getting old QF747 and BA, not really the same travel experience I reckon.

According to the policy published by QF, you dont (only classic awards have to be BA):

Passengers may, without fee:

• Re-route/Re-book travel

• For Australia – Singapore v.v. customers -
  • Re-route/Re-book travel between Australia and Singapore via an Australian Gateway (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide) on Qantas marketed Qantas operated services;
• For Australia – London v.v. customers -
  • Re-route/Re-book travel between Australia and London via an Australian Gateway (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide) on:
    • Qantas marketed and operated flights to/from London; or
    • Qantas marketed flights operated by British Airways via Singapore/Bangkok; or
    • Qantas marketed and operated flights to/from Frankfurt connecting to Qantas marketed flights operated by British Airways between Frankfurt and London; or
    • Qantas marketed and operated flights to/from Frankfurt connecting to British Airways marketed and operated services between Frankfurt and London
• For Singapore – London v.v. customers -
  • Re-route/Re-book travel between Singapore and London on:
    • Qantas marketed flights operated by British Airways between Singapore and London; or
    • Qantas marketed and operated flights to/from Frankfurt connecting to Qantas marketed flights operated by British Airways between Frankfurt and London; or
    • Qantas marketed and operated flights to/from Frankfurt connecting to British Airways marketed and operated flights between Frankfurt and London;
• Customers can also return to the origin port via the most direct routing using Qantas marketed and operated flights or Qantas marketed flights operated by British Airways.

• Change Destinations. The value of the existing ticket can be used towards the purchase of a new ticket. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable surcharges, fees and taxes may apply.

• Retain the value of the ticket in credit for future travel within 12 months from the original ticketed date of departure. If the new fare is more expensive than the existing ticketed fare, the fare difference is payable by the passenger. Applicable ticket surcharges, fees and taxes may apply.

• Refunds. For customers who have commenced their journey a refund of the affected sector(s) will be available. For customers who have not commenced their journey a full refund will be available.

Conditions

• All changes must be made prior to the original ticketed departure.
• New travel dates must be within ticket validity.
• Re-booking on Qantas (QF) and British Airways (BA) flights - If the same booking class is not available, the lowest booking class within the same cabin may be booked (e.g. within Business or Economy cabin). Exception: Classic Award customers must be booked in a redemption booking class on British Airways (BA) flights.
• Connecting flights to other destinations sold as a separate fare (end on end) issued on the same Qantas ticket will need to be booked as per the fare conditions of the separate fare.

• Qantas will not be responsible for paying any other costs or expenses such as hotel or other ground operator fees arising due to events beyond our control, unless required by applicable laws.
• Refunds requests must be submitted no later than 31 January 2013.

<>· All other rules and conditions of the ticket remain unchanged.