Qantas to start flights from Darwin to Singapore

[exLXCXFF]

One small advantage QF has over SQ on the route are the lounges - I consider the DRW Qantas Club one of the best in the network as it's quiet, spacious and has better food offering than most Qantas Clubs (given it basically doubles as an International Business Lounge).

By contrast SQ don't offer lounge access in DRW.

Ex-SIN you can get access to the excellent QF F lounge (if OWE) and QR lounge (if flying J).

But then, there is the actual flight and flight product...

 

[anat0l]

By contrast SQ don't offer lounge access in DRW.

Is there another lounge in DRW besides Qantas? VA used to have one, and the Catalina Lounge is apparently closed now.

I guess SQ can't or won't spearhead exclusively to reopen the Catalina, and maybe they don't want to cut a deal with Qantas. I suppose there could be some sort of exclusive ground experience they could do that's not in a lounge, e.g. involving a roped off area, or give vouchers to use in the airport, even if it is just for J and PPS pax (no Star Alliance, KrisFlyer Gold or VA elites).

 

[jrfsp]

But then, there is the actual flight and flight product...

Especially when its lie flat seats in J, book the cook etc, chalk and cheese really.

 

[SJF211]

give vouchers to use in the airport, even if it is just for J and PPS pax (no Star Alliance, KrisFlyer Gold or VA elites).

If I remember correctly SQ J does get a $20-25 voucher at DRW.

 

[anat0l]

I guess in the end, any competition is good competition, or so people believe. Even if the pugilists are not evenly matched at all.

Everyone will be curious to see how long QF last on the route.

 

[Chrizztofa]

But then, there is the actual flight and flight product...

True. Definitely no comparison in J, but flying Y with OWE/OWS/Qantas Club it could be useful.

Is there another lounge in DRW besides Qantas? VA used to have one, and the Catalina Lounge is apparently closed now.

The VA lounge closed around 2020 when VA went into administration. VA barely fly to DRW anymore (daily flights from MEL and BNE and 5x weekly from PER only). The space is currently vacant so a third party provider could potentially set up shop there. But SQ is the only other full service carrier so they'd need to pick up some walk-ins (including possibly JQ when the Qantas Club isn't open) to make it viable.

If I recall correctly, the Catalina lounge closed around the same time. QF used the space for a pop-up lounge when the LHR services temporarily re-routed through DRW. Nowadays I think a cafe has opened up in the space (it's the only food option post-International security).

 

[nancypants]

How long is the subsidy in place would probably determine this routes fate.

I don’t know that it’s ever been confirmed it’s subsidised

 

[nancypants]

QF848 from PER (1350 - not sure if this meets minimum connection time)

D-I MCT is reportedly 40 minutes at DRW

 

[malwcal]

It might be that the JQ/3K services DRW-SIN route might have been OK to marginal but maybe the move of terminals in SIN pushed it over the edge? Also Covid.
...

Just a quick and not super scientific look on the days where SQ and QF are having head to head direct flights in competition I have just had a quick look at Y fares and J fares and it seems that QF undercuts SQ on prices ex-AUS but in the reverse direction it seems that SQ is cheaper if prices are ex-SIN, so each carrier seems to have a "home ground advantage" if you like in obtaining yield in its own home market. Although the flight times are different, it still seems weird and counter-intuitive to have QF and SQ flying on the same days, with other days having neither a QF nor a SQ service at all.

JQ/3K was previously competing against SQ on this route. SQ prices were not much more than JQ, so the choice was obvious, particularly if you were flying on from SIN to Europe.

 

[BrianQQ]

Just me or would I rather prefer the A220 when does fly in October over what SQ is offering, especially on a short flight as DRW-SIN.

Am I crazy?

 

[AIRwin]

A220 when does fly in October

B737 will continue to operate past October

 

[jase05]

Just me or would I rather prefer the A220 when does fly in October over what SQ is offering, especially on a short flight as DRW-SIN.

Am I crazy?

In Y or J?
In J it’s not even a contest

 

[BrianQQ]

In Y or J?
In J it’s not even a contest

In Y. Not really a J flyer here.

 

[jrfsp]

In Y. Not really a J flyer here.

The SQ Y product is better than QFs (737 or A220), brand new aircraft, world class IFE, WIFI, good catering, drinks, service, although the Y seats are a bit hard.

 

[markis10]

Especially when its lie flat seats in J, book the cook etc, chalk and cheese really.

No book the cook ex Darwin

 

[jrfsp]

No book the cook ex Darwin

True although certainly applies inbound from SIN

 

[justinbrett]

The SQ Y product is better than QFs (737 or A220), brand new aircraft, world class IFE, WIFI, good catering, drinks, service, although the Y seats are a bit hard.

I thought their A350 Y seat was absolute rubbish.

QF's (also brand new) A220 has the same pitch as SQs, but slightly wider (18" vs 17.7"), and more importantly the left half of the cabin has no middle seat.

I don't get the SQ hype - not for Y anyway. In fact I think we made a whole thread about that were many people held that view.

 

[jase05]

I thought their A350 Y seat was absolute rubbish.

SQ fly the MAX to DRW but yes in Y there wouldn’t be a lot of differences between the product both airlines offer.
At J is where the difference is chalk and cheese

 

[XWu]

Is there another lounge in DRW besides Qantas? VA used to have one, and the Catalina Lounge is apparently closed now.

I guess SQ can't or won't spearhead exclusively to reopen the Catalina, and maybe they don't want to cut a deal with Qantas. I suppose there could be some sort of exclusive ground experience they could do that's not in a lounge, e.g. involving a roped off area, or give vouchers to use in the airport, even if it is just for J and PPS pax (no Star Alliance, KrisFlyer Gold or VA elites).

Also would like to point out QF lounge in DRW is after general screen before international security screening, so the idea of getting up to walk to the gate at boarding announcement for DRW-SIN flights need to consider extra time of going through security screening some extra 30-45mins

 

[justinbrett]

SQ fly the MAX to DRW but yes in Y there wouldn’t be a lot of differences between the product both airlines offer.
At J is where the difference is chalk and cheese

I'm aware of that but I don't think it's a bold assumption that their 737 seat isn't any better than their A350 seat.

For J don't think it's all that important for a 4 hour flight (same as SYD-DRW), more important factors like time of day, connections, lounges etc. For some that will be SQ but for many I suspect oneworld options will be better for them.