Qantas to start Sydney Beijing service

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess the obvious question is that if Beijing is so big to sustain the service in its own right... why was dropped from the schedule several years ago?

 

[FL360]

I guess the obvious question is that if Beijing is so big to sustain the service in its own right... why was dropped from the schedule several years ago?

in my recent overseas trips (past 2-3 mths) the Chinese tourists queues outside LV, Gucci, Hermes has disappeared, this makes me wonder if Qantas started this route probably too late.....

 

[downloadingdata]

5K in J hahahaha I can fly CX for 2K less with same QF SC earn and a far superior product.

 

[pauly7]

5K in J hahahaha I can fly CX for 2K less with same QF SC earn and a far superior product.

Same SC earn...?

 

[downloadingdata]

Same SC earn...?

SYD - PEK w/ QF = 120SC
SYD - HKG - PEK w/ CX = 60 + 60 SC

 

[texter]

in my recent overseas trips (past 2-3 mths) the Chinese tourists queues outside LV, Gucci, Hermes has disappeared, this makes me wonder if Qantas started this route probably too late.....

I thought QF would be targeting Aussies visiting PEK rather than attracting the Chinese tourist market?

 

[Melburnian1]

If the unrefurbished two A332s have one (or in a worst case both) unavailable due to failures or scheduled maintenance, or late running, what aircraft would be first off the rank for QF to substitute?

Would the substitutes be suitable?

I'm talking pre the arrival of the B787s.

 

[moa999]

Not much.
333 doesn't have the range.
Other 332s don't have the right crew rests.

I'd assume they might have to stop somewhere to switch in crew, probably HKG, maybe MNL/TPE

Can't see them allocating a 380/747

 

[Melburnian1]

Not much.
333 doesn't have the range.
Other 332s don't have the right crew rests.

I'd assume they might have to stop somewhere to switch in crew, probably HKG, maybe MNL/TPE

Can't see them allocating a 380/747

Thanks moa999.

Most prospective passengers will not know of such potential problems but a few who do their research may.

There are often no spare QF A388s or B747s between Thursday and Monday inclusive, so even if it could be justified, substituting one would be difficult.

QF is far from the only airline with such 'equipment' problems on some routes - look at BI's MEL - BWN where its four B788s are fully committed to either the MEL or DXB-LHR routes, meaning one of the flights gets cancelled if repairs or maintenance are required - but at least on the surface, passengers would regard QF as a medium sized international airline that will get them promptly to the desired destination. With PEK, at times that may be a tall ask.

 

[yohy?!]

Not much.
333 doesn't have the range.
Other 332s don't have the right crew rests.

I'd assume they might have to stop somewhere to switch in crew, probably HKG, maybe MNL/TPE

Can't see them allocating a 380/747

Or just shift pax on QF fights to other Asian ports then put them on MU into PEK

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not much.
333 doesn't have the range.
Other 332s don't have the right crew rests.

I'd assume they might have to stop somewhere to switch in crew, probably HKG, maybe MNL/TPE

Can't see them allocating a 380/747

QF used to fly the A333 weight restricted to PVG, that's a distance of 4870 miles. If they had to sub a plane to PEK the A333 could fly via CNS. CNS-PEK is 4345 miles. A domestic crew to fly SYD-CNS would probably be easier than having to source a spare crew in Asia.

 

[toasty]

Rather amusing QF chose to recycle QF107/108 and use those flight numbers on this route instead. The first QF108 that arrived today departed PEK and arrived SYD more than 3 hours late. QFlate(TM) anyone?

If today is anything to go by, QF5/6 might not be an unrefurb as often as QF intends it.

 

[FL360]

departed PEK and arrived SYD more than 3 hours late.

traffic in and out of China capital cities are always problematic, out of PVG delaying at least 1-2 hrs is not that uncommon.
I once flew CA PVG to Sydney, it took the unusual route of flying via South Korea !
I think the routes along the east coast if China is very congested. a lot of it is military activities, according to some sources.

 

[Mattg]

traffic in and out of China capital cities are always problematic, out of PVG delaying at least 1-2 hrs is not that uncommon.
I once flew CA PVG to Sydney, it took the unusual route of flying via South Korea !
I think the routes along the east coast if China is very congested. a lot of it is military activities, according to some sources.

Yesterday's QF108 took a similar route via South Korea/Japan:

 

[RickyT84]

Rather amusing QF chose to recycle QF107/108 and use those flight numbers on this route instead. The first QF108 that arrived today departed PEK and arrived SYD more than 3 hours late. QFlate(TM) anyone?

If today is anything to go by, QF5/6 might not be an unrefurb as often as QF intends it.

The timing of the flights still allows EBG or EBL to operate the QF5/6 rotation if needed as QF6 arrives into SYD at 10:50 and QF107 leaves at 13:50. Similarly QF108 arrives into SYD at 14:55 and QF5 departs at 17:15.

 

[toasty]

The timing of the flights still allows EBG or EBL to operate the QF5/6 rotation if needed as QF6 arrives into SYD at 10:50 and QF107 leaves at 13:50. Similarly QF108 arrives into SYD at 14:55 and QF5 departs at 17:15.

QF108 will occasionally depart PEK late and the delays can be in the order of a few hours like on the first day the route resumed, so the next QF5/6 rotation has to be run by a refurb. In the case of QF108 arriving into SYD on time like today they can use an unrefurb on QF5/6.

 

[Himeno]

Rather amusing QF chose to recycle QF107/108 and use those flight numbers on this route instead.

It's going to take a while for me to not automatically think New York when I see QF107/108.