QantasLink Dash 8 Guide

[Beano]

Dash-8s are not my preferred choice but "needs-must", mostly with no other option, so I have to make the best of it.

 

[Chicken]

Interesting - I loathe Dash 8 and try to avoid at all opportunity.

Actually, I did have this conversation in the office, and I think I'm the only person who likes them.

The most common reason cited for not liking dash 8s is not feeling safe. A friend also said that they are more bouncy when there is turbulence.

 

[NSun]

Dash-8s are not my preferred choice but "needs-must", mostly with no other option, so I have to make the best of it.

I feel the same way about the 737s (or at least the non-BSI ones), to the point where I'll sometimes go SYD-BNE via PQQ on Dash 8s just for something different. That said I do understand how some who fly on Dash 8s as often as I fly 737s would feel the same way and the one time I felt refreshed to be on a 737 was when it was my third flight in a day and the previous 2 were Dash 8s.

Actually, I did have this conversation in the office, and I think I'm the only person who likes them.

The most common reason cited for not liking dash 8s is not feeling safe. A friend also said that they are more bouncy when there is turbulence.

They are louder and rougher, plus the catering is only a 'snack' even at mealtimes. But this is true of all turboprop aircraft (i.e. ATRs and Saabs too), not specifically Dash 8s.

 

[kgreenuq]

Back in the day, EXST were great on QLink flights, but it has been many years since I last booked one.

What does EXST stand for?

 

[eminere]

What does EXST stand for?

Extra Seat for Personal Comfort.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I made WP three years in a row flying DASH 8s almost exclusively; in fact, I'm now LTG and I would guess that well over 80% of my flying has been on the DASH. Most flights have been CFS-SYD-CFS but I've also done POM-CNS, SYD-LDH-SYD, BNE-LRE, and many others. I am very happy to fly them.

Like others have said, the service on QL is far better than QF; especially on the 200 series where the cabin crew have noone else to talk to other than the pax!

I'm interested to know where they are getting the extra 14 planes from as my understanding is that Bombardier stopped making them a few years ago?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'm interested to know where they are getting the extra 14 planes from as my understanding is that Bombardier stopped making them a few years ago?

Rumour is that at least some of the new birds are ex flybe.

Interesting that they are sqeezing another 4 seats into the new aircraft. Will also be interesting to see what happens to LDH.

 

[Scooty]

Had an interesting trip on a Dash 8 on this weeks regional tour. Left SYD at 8:40 headed for ARM - got there in good time and then noticed we got put in a holding pattern... after about 30 mins of holding we were advised of low cloud and we'd continue to hold and potentially try a landing. Another 30-45mins passed, we made the descent and knew straight away we wouldn't be making the ground. Ok, I thought - land in TMW and get a bus or call someone to pick me up. No, we headed back to SYD!
Landed in SYD - started to line up at QantasLink to see what was happening and noticed I was allocated on a SYD-TMW flight in 2 hours.... was next in line so got to the counter grabbed my $30 voucher for flight delay, went to Red Rooster grabbed some chook and chips and took it up to the Qantas club to feast and do some work while waiting.
Anyway, got on the next flight and made Tamworth late in the afternoon - finally got to Armidale at 6:30pm, only 8.5 hours after we were meant too!
At least with the low flying Dash again I was able to send some emails and message folks who I was meant to be meeting. Cabin crew were lovely, had a seat beside me and we got drinks/snacks on the way out and in. Needless to say, ARM airport didn't open on that day

 

[gaz0303]

I’ve just looked at my myflightradar data. I’ve done 130k km in a Dash-8 of some variety (17% of my distance), more than my distance on a B737, A330 or A380

And netted in excess of 260k qff points from them.

 

[p--and--t]

I don't mind the Dash-8 at all (except for the noise). For 190cm person the SAABs are a bit closed in for me.

My partner however who has only ever flown on Jets, is terrified of "the spinning thingies that could come off and cut the plane in half" and refuses to fly them.

 

[muppet]

I don't mind the Dash-8 at all (except for the noise). For 190cm person the SAABs are a bit closed in for me.

My partner however who has only ever flown on Jets, is terrified of "the spinning thingies that could come off and cut the plane in half" and refuses to fly them.

Don’t explain how a jet works then or you’ll never be able to fly anywhere

 

[AVV]

I don't mind the Dash-8 at all (except for the noise). For 190cm person the SAABs are a bit closed in for me.

My partner however who has only ever flown on Jets, is terrified of "the spinning thingies that could come off and cut the plane in half" and refuses to fly them.

What do you expect from a prop plane me

 

[Himeno]

I don't mind the Dash-8 at all (except for the noise). For 190cm person the SAABs are a bit closed in for me.

My partner however who has only ever flown on Jets, is terrified of "the spinning thingies that could come off and cut the plane in half" and refuses to fly them.

Don't let them see the next gen engines like the CFM RISE.