Qantas to Launch SYD-AKL-JFK (June 2023)

[Warragul]

Not everyone has the route map memorised - but mostly (and if they do) they probably don’t know the route is resuming after almost 3.5 years.

I flew QF to LAX 18 months ago - after the borders reopened. It’s been that long, and yet no JFK all this time.

And even if they are aware, it’s just another TV spot to put QF on the brains of would be travellers. Everyone knows coke exists yet they spend how much on advertising?

Agree. Among my family and friends who have travelled a bit, there's two who would have a decent guess as to where QF fly - me and my son (both airline numpties really). Noone else cares.
Route maps showing code share ports make it seem airlines fly to many places they never do.

 

[Quickstatus]

Well QF hasn't been operating to JFK since pre-covid. This new service via Auckland is restarting it.

Correct, may Aussies have got themselves to JFK with QF/QF codeshares post covid.

 

[justinbrett]

Correct, may Aussies have got themselves to JFK with QF/QF codeshares post covid.

If you agree with @Lynda2475 then I'm not sure what you're not getting here.

It is a notable event that QF are resuming JFK, especially as it is different to the previous offering and eliminates the transfer in LAX. Whether you see the value in that is irrelevant. You obviously weren't the target market for this campaign.

 

[justinbrett]

And while new, its not as though this is an additional concurrent route. Will QF operate 2 concurrent routes to JFK?. Via LAX and AKL with 2 aircraft on the same day?

AJ is on record saying he wants to do both.

 

[Quickstatus]

then I'm not sure what you're not getting here

a difference between what she and you are saying.

 

[justinbrett]

a difference between what she and you are saying.

There is none (we said the same thing), but you actively marked agree on her post, so I went with that.

 

[RooFlyer]

My goodness, this thread did get busy.

There’s a few on Insta if you want to see more.
QF has a post and a story
View attachment 331824

Oh my, oh my. That's how to do marketing!!!

That colour looks good. Looks similar to FC ones that I got SYD-DFW a while back (my favourite ones)

Flight Centre do PJs?

Wasn't hard to find, and this does prove my point that if QF was the one with the marketing event yesterday, you'd be complaining - just like you are here about them marketing a new route with PJs.

Probably not complaining - more like ROFL - as here. But I'll grant you, the splash with PJs, and the catwalk display as shown by PF above, would blow any media competition out of the water. As much as I'd wish to, its hard not to un-see that. Give me a can of Fosters any day.

 

[justinbrett]

Probably not complaining - more like ROFL - as here. But I'll grant you, the splash with PJs, and the catwalk display as shown by PF above, would blow any media competition out of the water. As much as I'd wish to, its hard not to un-see that. Give me a can of Fosters any day.

Qantas does have Todd Sampson on the board (of Gruen fame) - who is a marketing genius. Even if you laugh at the PJs, they did the job.

 

[RooFlyer]

Todd Sampson on the board (of Gruen fame)

Sorry - honestly have never heard of him . So I googled. Yep, that must be him. Can't tell if he has a ponytail or not.



Maybe he needs to strut the catwalk in designer PJs, tucked half in at the waist with eyeshades over the forehead . Then we'll all know who he is.

 

[justinbrett]

Sorry - honestly have never heard of him . So I googled. Yep, that must be him. Can't tell if he has a ponytail or not.

View attachment 332230

Maybe he needs to strut the catwalk in designer PJs, tucked half in at the waist with eyeshades over the forehead . Then we'll all know who he is.

Gruen is a really good show, I recommend it.

I think you're in the minority of people who don't know him - he's on lots of different TV shows.

 

[AIRwin]

Can't tell if he has a ponytail or not.

No

 

[RooFlyer]

TV shows.

Ah.

No

And he's in marketing?

 

[kookaburra75]

Gruen is a really good show, I recommend it.

I think you're in the minority of people who don't know him - he's on lots of different TV shows.

Ah.
And he's in marketing?

Going slightly off topic, I agree Gruen is a great show - @RooFlyer do yourself a favour and take it for a spin, along with his other show

Todd Sampson's Body Hack - Network Ten

Todd Sampsons Body Hack on Channel Ten or catch-up on tenplay. Watch the TV show and learn about some of the most extraordinary human bodies in the world.

10play.com.au

 

[jpp42]

Was having a chat with a QF insider about the upcoming JFK route - apparently the dispatchers and related planners are scared coughless about how things are going to run if/when crew run out of hours. This might occur due to the length of QF4's JFK-AKL segment, in case of delays out of JFK and/or unforecast headwinds. East/northbound if QF3 departs AKL late, they can possibly divert to LAX or DFW, and spare B787 crews should be available there to continue to JFK (possibly at the expense of delaying another service), however this has a low chance of being needed due to winds aloft being favourable eastbound. But west/southbound on QF4 they are very worried - the diversion point is NAN but there is no B787 crew base there. In addition, the timing of QF4 (AKL arrival at 05:00) means that even though they would have considerable heads up that a replacement crew might be needed, there is no scheduled service on any carrier that could take the crew to NAN in time. For the launch, the plan is to have a chartered 737 on standby in SYD that can fly a spare crew to NAN overnight if needed, to avoid a PR disaster if the first flight(s) get stuck in NAN. At the moment it's unclear if they will need to continue this for the foreseeable future.

Note: I asked about DFW-MEL since it's actually longer than JFK-AKL, but my contact thinks this not a problem as the plan would be to divert to that flight to AKL, and with enough notice they can typically get a B787 crew from SYD to AKL in time, on the existing evening AKL service.

 

[jrfsp]

Was having a chat with a QF insider about the upcoming JFK route - apparently the dispatchers and related planners are scared coughless about how things are going to run if/when crew run out of hours. This might occur due to the length of QF4's JFK-AKL segment, in case of delays out of JFK and/or unforecast headwinds. East/northbound if QF3 departs AKL late, they can possibly divert to LAX or DFW, and spare B787 crews should be available there to continue to JFK (possibly at the expense of delaying another service), however this has a low chance of being needed due to winds aloft being favourable eastbound. But west/southbound on QF4 they are very worried - the diversion point is NAN but there is no B787 crew base there. In addition, the timing of QF4 (AKL arrival at 05:00) means that even though they would have considerable heads up that a replacement crew might be needed, there is no scheduled service on any carrier that could take the crew to NAN in time. For the launch, the plan is to have a chartered 737 on standby in SYD that can fly a spare crew to NAN overnight if needed, to avoid a PR disaster if the first flight(s) get stuck in NAN. At the moment it's unclear if they will need to continue this for the foreseeable future.

Note: I asked about DFW-MEL since it's actually longer than JFK-AKL, but my contact thinks this not a problem as the plan would be to divert to that flight to AKL, and with enough notice they can typically get a B787 crew from SYD to AKL in time, on the existing evening AKL service.

How many seats are they expecting to block westbound? Isnt NZ blocking close to 100 seats during the strongest winds

 

[jpp42]

How many seats are they expecting to block westbound? Isnt NZ blocking close to 100 seats during the strongest winds

I'll ask that next time I have a chat. He did mention that chances of luggage arriving with you would be low on strong wind days. I wonder if QF can forward luggage on other carriers in this case (ie JFK-LAX on AA to connect with QF12?)

 

[docjames]

Interesting - another cost of ULH. They may need to carry heavier crew numbers in LAX and probably SYD to deploy to NAN.

Agree if predictable will be a LAX diversion and crew change but will be interesting to see how it pans out longer term Until the A350s arrive.

 

[justinbrett]

How many seats are they expecting to block westbound? Isnt NZ blocking close to 100 seats during the strongest winds

NZ config has 66 more seats than QF

 

[RooFlyer]

He did mention that chances of luggage arriving with you would be low on strong wind days. I wonder if QF can forward luggage on other carriers in this case (ie JFK-LAX on AA to connect with QF12?)

Here's a loopy idea (but you heard it here first). Might it work to have a parallel freighter flight to the ULH, which would take checked bags (and other commercial freight, which would pay for the flight)?

More paying pax on the ULH flight, and/or weighs less, less fuel burn.

Some deft logistics required in loading/unloading, but for a limited number of flights - I wonder if it could be made to work.

And sure, if the freighter gets nixed, everyone's bags don't arrive, but in for a penny, in for a pound ...

 

[kangarooflyer88]

personally, I think an airline engaging and a very expensive designer to produce some limited-edition fancy printed, probably China made PJ’s is utterly utterly ridiculous.

I highly doubt Qantas would make pyjamas out of China. As someone who as a little kid was yelled at by my mom for dropping China on the floor (resulting in it shattering into a thousand pieces) I doubt Qantas would want to accept such liability.