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

[cbourl]

From purely a personal point of view I will be sad to say goodbye to AKL F.

1. It is *almost* always quieter than next door and, in these days of 'quiet haven' marketing blurb (I'm looking at you BA), is in fact a relaxing space to spend your time.
2. Its decor is that of the early to mid-90s so I have a tinge of nostalgia as it reminds me of the previous QF LHR T3 lounge of that era: the first QF lounge I visited.
3. The frosted door!

Not one of the combined International Business lounges has done anything for me: crowded and noisy. I considered HKG the worst offender until I frequented LHR.

HOWEVER, and it is a big however, I will suck this up because ADL is FINALLY getting a J lounge. As I start and end every QF journey there I will take an improved lounge in my home port against one I only visit six to eight times annually.

We USED to have a quuite good J/C Lounge aka Singapore Air Lounge at ADL
Oh well now at leats we have more and more Amex and Priority Pass choices even INTERNATIONAL at little ol' Adelayed

 

[arrow]

To be fair, we went from no- Qantas lounges in LHR, to a combined F+J lounge in LHR. That's a great improvement: more people heading there, so quieter time in the Cathay F lounge. Considering how slow their table service is (at least for me), that's a clear win.

Agree it was better than no QF lounge, however the reason they needed the lounge is they killed the JSA with BA resulting in BA practically deserting T3 so they needed a lounge as the EK lounge didn’t have a capacity.

It’s a pity there isn’t a QF F lounge in LHR as it’s a premium part of their network

 

[jrfsp]

'I want to cry': Dozens of travellers get rude surprise after arriving in NZ on non-stop 17-hour flight

"We have nothing to wear, nobody is helping us, [we are] just doing administration on documents and we are a bit lost."

www.newshub.co.nz

Doesnt bode well

 

[jpp42]

Doesnt bode well

For those not wanting to wait through the dozens of ads on that site, the summary is that NZ1, JFK-AKL nonstop, left behind 40-50 bags due to weight limitations (extra fuel loaded due to predicted adverse weather en-route). It also seems like AirNZ isn't communicating super well on when the bags will arrive, which I suppose could be that similar conditions might persist on subsequent days?

It looks like this service is operated by a 787-9, which I presume is what Qantas would use as well, are there any major differences here? Is either airline carrying extra paid cargo in addition to passengers & bags on this route? Which do they prioritise in this situation? You'd think they would bump the bags as a last choice, but it wouldn't put it past me for Qantas to decide that cargo pays more.

 

[Daver6]

For those not wanting to wait through the dozens of ads on that site, the summary is that NZ1, JFK-AKL nonstop, left behind 40-50 bags due to weight limitations (extra fuel loaded due to predicted adverse weather en-route). It also seems like AirNZ isn't communicating super well on when the bags will arrive, which I suppose could be that similar conditions might persist on subsequent days?

It looks like this service is operated by a 787-9, which I presume is what Qantas would use as well, are there any major differences here? Is either airline carrying extra paid cargo in addition to passengers & bags on this route? Which do they prioritise in this situation? You'd think they would bump the bags as a last choice, but it wouldn't put it past me for Qantas to decide that cargo pays more.

The QF 789 max pax capacity is 236. Air NZs is either 275 or 302 depending on config. That would make a big difference.

 

[SYD]

The QF 789 max pax capacity is 236. Air NZs is either 275 or 302 depending on config. That would make a big difference.

Particularly if they’re American PAX…

 

[Fergo747]

For those not wanting to wait through the dozens of ads on that site, the summary is that NZ1, JFK-AKL nonstop, left behind 40-50 bags due to weight limitations (extra fuel loaded due to predicted adverse weather en-route). It also seems like AirNZ isn't communicating super well on when the bags will arrive, which I suppose could be that similar conditions might persist on subsequent days?

It looks like this service is operated by a 787-9, which I presume is what Qantas would use as well, are there any major differences here? Is either airline carrying extra paid cargo in addition to passengers & bags on this route? Which do they prioritise in this situation? You'd think they would bump the bags as a last choice, but it wouldn't put it past me for Qantas to decide that cargo pays more.

It's also shorter than QF's current PER-LHR flights, although I do note that I haven't factored in the element of the wind here.

AirNZ could send the bags via one of their many other US destinations if bag offloading becomes a regular occurrence.

 

[kookaburra75]

MrsK and I have booked on QF3/4 to get from SYD-AKL and back at the end of July/start of Aug next year. It's showing up as a 787-9, we've selected our seats in J ok. Now to wait and see what happens.

 

[Saab34]

I doubt this is a "one off". Wind and Weather just don't suddenly go away over night.

Sending bags via other US ports sounds very complex. Need to find the freight space at short notice, get it to the ANZ connecting port, then hope the flight can actually take it on which like everything else is already full anyway. If that goes to plan its still going to be a few days. Unacceptable on a regular basis, once a year no dramas.

Perhaps they need to forward plan taking less passengers on a perm basis.

 

[DC3]

Unacceptable on a regular basis, once a year no dramas.

Yes, once a year so far.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

So how does this flight work? You board a QF international flight from SYD to AKL, then switch planes for NZ to JFK? Will be interesting to see which party points the finger at whom when bags are lost or connecting flights get delayed!

-RooFlyer88

 

[encryptededdy]

So how does this flight work? You board a QF international flight from SYD to AKL, then switch planes for NZ to JFK? Will be interesting to see which party points the finger at whom when bags are lost or connecting flights get delayed!

-RooFlyer88

It's QF both sectors. NZ is discussed here since they're running same route same plane and are running into load issues on the way back.

 

[DC3]

So how does this flight work? You board a QF international flight from SYD to AKL, then switch planes for NZ to JFK? Will be interesting to see which party points the finger at whom when bags are lost or connecting flights get delayed!

Would probably be better for a seperate thread about the Air New Zilland stuff (JFK route) even though comparisons will be made with QF.

Edit: I just noticed that there is a thread about NZ flying to JFK. I have just realised that there’s been double-posting

 

[jrfsp]

The QF 789 max pax capacity is 236. Air NZs is either 275 or 302 depending on config. That would make a big difference.

NZ are blocking seats so not sure how much difference it will make - likely will be dependent on weather on the day

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Reportedly only about 220 pax.

 

[Virgin Bart]

So it turns out that ever since I booked in August I thought I was on the inaugural flight. But I'm not! I'm on 16/6, inaugural is 14/6. Bit of a shame

 

[jrfsp]

Rumors are that the 3 new 787s meant to arrive in June have been delayed again, not sure what impact that would have on the new routes.

 

[Mattg]

Rumors are that the 3 new 787s meant to arrive in June have been delayed again, not sure what impact that would have on the new routes.

Perhaps they'll swap the aircraft for a 737-800? (Joking!)

Has anyone spotted any Classic Flight Reward seats on AKL-JFK recently? I can't find anything, even in Y.

 

[CMA222]

Rumors are that the 3 new 787s meant to arrive in June have been delayed again, not sure what impact that would have on the new routes.

So QF will regard them as running on time ?

 

[aus_flyer]

Has anyone spotted any Classic Flight Reward seats on AKL-JFK recently? I can't find anything, even in Y.

Zero in any class