QantasLink Dash 8 Guide

[AFF Editor]

We've put together a guide to flying on the QantasLink Dash 8:

Your Guide to Flying the QantasLink Dash 8

When you fly on a QantasLink De Havilland Dash 8, your experience will be a bit different to flying on a larger jet aircraft.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Do you like flying on the Dash 8? Any tips on how to enjoy a better experience? Share your thoughts here!

 

[samh004]

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

 

[bussyboy]

I honestly don't see how either extra legroom or sitting towards the front is the only criteria used the "best seats" (not just here, though a clear example).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Did ADL - MEL with one, was surprised it could fly that long, and non stop.
Did CBR - SYD on one, flew very low over the water, great experience.
Havent flow with it to MGB/PLO.

 

[Scooty]

I think out of the 70 flights I’ve had this calendar year, at least a third of them have been on Dash 8’s. They’re noisy, fly low, don’t get any good snacks on them - but I don’t actually mind them.
I don’t like the front exit seat (2C/D), the wall directly in front is a bit of a pain, but pretty much nothing wrong with other seats.
You also get the joy of “Premium Hand Luggage”…. Nothing like picking those up off the tarmac In the rain

 

[Beano]

Dash 8, otherwise De Havilland, a well know WW1 aircraft company at the beginning of flying. Developed in Canada, then Boeing, then Bombardier. Have flow may times including 2 hour flights with no entertainment and perhaps a packet of pretzels. The illustrated service is luxurious.

It surprised me that Qantas fly Dash 8s between CBR and SYD when others use a 737. Same at other destinations. I'm well prepared for the premium luggage routine, just hoping it isn't raining at the destination. Not so far.

 

[Kalliste]

Dash 8, otherwise De Havilland, a well know WW1 aircraft company at the beginning of flying. Developed in Canada, then Boeing, then Bombardier. Have flow may times including 2 hour flights with no entertainment and perhaps a packet of pretzels. The illustrated service is luxurious.

It surprised me that Qantas fly Dash 8s between CBR and SYD when others use a 737. Same at other destinations. I'm well prepared for the premium luggage routine, just hoping it isn't raining at the destination. Not so far.

Virgin use Link Airways for Canberra to Sydney on Saab 340s. Even worse than a Dash 8.

 

[Beano]

Virgin use Link Airways for Canberra to Sydney on Saab 340s. Even worse than a Dash 8.

Flown Saab 340 from AMS to SXB. It was a while ago and didn't seem that bad.

SYD to Wagga is a Dash 8 on Qantas but I think Rex (or Virgin) do a 737.

 

[themaiz]

We are currently commuting weekly between Toowoomba Wellcamp (WTB) and SYD, and all the flights are on Q400. Generally I get 3A or thereabouts (status helps) and a shadow. What's REALLY good about the Dash 8 is that the seats don't recline, and the pitch seems slightly better than 737. Outcome is that even without exit rows, there's room to use a laptop comfortably, and plenty of space under the seat in front.

Also: the premium hand-luggage thing is very efficient and can actually work for you - if hand luggage isn't weighed at SYD, then you can effectively get an additional small bag. Which brings me to the real challenge.

The QF website states that Dash-8 services are limited to a single check bag at 23kg, which is quite a restriction compared to the SG/WP expectation. I discovered that after four years of routinely checking two bags up to the 32kg limit. It's never been questioned, but there it is on the website. I **think** the Dash-8 restriction might be more in respect of -200 or -300 planes, but I can't find anyone to ask (and I don't actually want to ask because I might not like the answer!). Getting any contact with Qantaslink or Sunstate is going to be beyond mere travelling mortals.

Anyway, my vote is positive for the Dash-8 experience. Just don't sit anywhere within a few rows of the prop - noisy and not fun. At the front or at the back is fine.

Matt, thanks for the useful rundown.

 

[Chicken]

Dash 8 is where I have been burning my QF points in the last few years (because I have been using SQ miles for international). I have used my QF points for Dash 8 to Ballina, Broken Hill, and Port Lincoln. All these routes are expensive, but cost next to nothing on points.

I feel the seats on Dash 8 more comfortable than seats on passenger jets. Not sure if it is because of the pitch + angle?

What's more, is dash 8 take you to strange and wonderful places, to small towns and more remote places to see the Australia most people don't see.

 

[servicerequired]

We are currently commuting weekly between Toowoomba Wellcamp (WTB) and SYD, and all the flights are on Q400. Generally I get 3A or thereabouts (status helps) and a shadow. What's REALLY good about the Dash 8 is that the seats don't recline, and the pitch seems slightly better than 737. Outcome is that even without exit rows, there's room to use a laptop comfortably, and plenty of space under the seat in front.

Also: the premium hand-luggage thing is very efficient and can actually work for you - if hand luggage isn't weighed at SYD, then you can effectively get an additional small bag. Which brings me to the real challenge.

The QF website states that Dash-8 services are limited to a single check bag at 23kg, which is quite a restriction compared to the SG/WP expectation. I discovered that after four years of routinely checking two bags up to the 32kg limit. It's never been questioned, but there it is on the website. I **think** the Dash-8 restriction might be more in respect of -200 or -300 planes, but I can't find anyone to ask (and I don't actually want to ask because I might not like the answer!). Getting any contact with Qantaslink or Sunstate is going to be beyond mere travelling mortals.

Anyway, my vote is positive for the Dash-8 experience. Just don't sit anywhere within a few rows of the prop - noisy and not fun. At the front or at the back is fine.

Matt, thanks for the useful rundown.

The Dash 8 is an excellent plane - all varieties of it!

Yes, the front rows with the tray tables in the armrest are pretty narrow, but the rest are great - and as has been mentioned above - if you have status, you'll likely receive a shadow

 

[TomYagher]

Maintained platinum one year almost exclusively on dash 8 flights, and mostly the 200 or 300's. Never had a problem checking in multiple heavy bags. Almost always had a spare seat beside me. I find the service is better seeing as there are less people. Not sure if the seats are bigger but no middle seats is a huge bonus.

However the biggest perk of the dash 8 has to be boarding and disemarbarking times(especially at the regional ends of flights), and the fact that overhead locker space anxiety is not a thing when travelling HLO thanks to premium hand luguage, especially with an infant travel pram these days. Unless I was in business, I can't see any benefits to being in a 737 domestically (except of course when range is a factor). Noisy, but nothing airpods wont take care of. It's nice to disconnect with no wifi, although too many people work out they fly low enough to get a signal at times. And a great excuse to use one of those bundles of paper with black and white letters all over them as entertainment for a while.

 

[Chicken]

and the fact that overhead locker space anxiety is not a thing when travelling HLO thanks to premium hand luguage,

Because you have to load and unload your own luggage onto the luggage transporting trailer, so it's free for all . This is Broken Hill.

 

[Beano]

Another benefit is that there is no seat leg between the seats so you have unobstructed space for feet, bags etc in front of you.

 

[themaiz]

I did several QF Dash 8 Sydney to Wagga trips. One May morning (not even winter) there was extreme fog at WGA. According to the GPS tracker log, the plane did 13 orbits over Wantabadgery before we were able to land at WGA. That's possibly the downside of smaller and less advanced planes - ability to handle really bad conditions. Maybe someone here can tell me whether that's a fair impression?

 

[Beano]

I'm anticipating a trip to WGA later this year. Looking forward to the 2 1/2 to 3 hours in Wagga.

 

[dylarr]

Did ADL - MEL with one, was surprised it could fly that long, and non stop.

ADL - MEL is only 643km which the Dash could easily do twice that distance non stop.

Routes like SYD - BHQ at 932km one way. Or SYD - LDH which is 787km but as mentioned in the other Dash 8 thread they need to carry return fuel to get back to the mainland just incase they can't land on the island which is 1573km.

Max ranges with full payload as published by QF

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/onboard/seat-maps/dash-8.html

Q200 - 1557km
Q300 - 1520km
Q400 - 1668km

When you look at those figures, it goes to show why they manage weight so tightly on the LDH flights especially when there are more than 27 pax onboard.

 

[themaiz]

At the bottom of the page, PHPBB politely referenced this "similar thread" from 2015 where the 23kg bag limit was queried. So I'm none the wiser on what the policy means, but I do at least know it's old policy, and is apparently routinely ignored. I'm going to stop worrying about heavy bags until they actually ping me at check-in. It will probably be the only occasion on which I'd be willing to play the DYKWIA? card.

 

[gaz0303]

Maintained platinum one year almost exclusively on dash 8 flights, and mostly the 200 or 300's.

10sc at a time is a tough way to get to WP!

I’ve do about 40-50 dash8 flights a year.
Another positive are the crews - generally exceptional and it’s nice when you get a genuine ‘welcome back’ before they have seen the colour of your boarding pass.

I like the lower altitude flights and views that come with it. Only down side is the Sydney bus service. So inefficient compared to how Rex run their buses.

 

[jase05]

SYD to Wagga is a Dash 8 on Qantas but I think Rex (or Virgin) do a 737.

Have flown to WGA many times over the years as its the closest port to my parents house. Virgin dont fly there and Rex only flys Saabs there. Qantas uses the Dash 8’s and even the 2hr flight to BNE is on a Dash 8.
Because of no J I stopped flying to WGA and fly into CBR, rent a car and drive 2hrs down to my folks even though WGA is only 45 minutes away