QF 9 (MEL - PER leg) November

[hb13]

Hi All,

I was booked to fly QF 9 from MEL all the way through to LHR in November. One of the key attractions was the ability to use the QF F Lounge in MEL (OW Emerald).

I have just received an email about a change to my MEL-PER leg, which is now QF 779 and then onto QF 9 from Perth. Also, QF 779 departs from T1 at MEL, meaning no Intl lounges and also being stuck going through immigration in Perth.


What can I do? I absolutely don't want to fly this new change and I want QF 9 all the way from MEL. Has this happened to anyone else? I know this is due to a reduction in frequency of QF9, and I'm willing to fly a day or even a few days later.

 

[jrfsp]

It might be that with the 787 being so stretched its more efficient to turn the aircraft around in PER, especially as most of the pax on QF9 to LHR originate in PER anyway.

The A330 has the same product basically for what is a 3 hour flight. The immigration in PER is probably easier than MEL and while no F lounge the new Intl lounge in PER is pretty good.

Only alternative is a very long transit in SIN or going via SYD

 

[henrus]

So it seems that in the month of November QF9 (just the MEL-PER leg) isn't operating on Tue, Wed or Thur (or 27 Nov). Are you flying on one of those days. I guess you could try calling and ask to move to a flight on a different day (Sun, Mon, Fri or Sat) subject to availability.

For those interested QF10 (just the PER-MEL leg) also won't operate Tue, Wed, Thur (or 27th) in November.

The A330 has the same product basically for what is a 3 hour flight.

Downside is domestic catering but upside is possible for wifi onboard.

 

[AIRwin]

The A330 has the same product basically for what is a 3 hour flight.

Risk of aircraft downgauge to B737?

 

[hb13]

I was flying on a Thursday, which is why the flight was changed. I'm planning on calling Qantas to see if I can change days because the worse service, lounge and also the risk of an aircraft change to a 737 is not something I'm keen on.

 

[Scr77]

If the domestic (non QF9) leg runs late, is there a greater risk of missing the international leg? Or does QF hold flights in these instances?

 

[JohnM]

I've struck this issue even pre-covid going the other way (ie. the 10 LHR-xPER-Mel). QF seems to mitigate overall delays by terminating QF10 in PER to catch up the cycle the next day.

Even though I live in PER, the second last sector of my DONE4 was LHR-MEL (the last being MEL-PER). I still insisted on doing it, albeit with two DOM sectors PER-MEL/MEL-PER...

Just for fun...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Few days back, on the PER - MEL run, I think it was 23 Sept, they subbed the 787 for the 330.
Still carried QF10 tag though.
Don't know if you can change the date to the day before, or 2 days before, to get up to LHR earlier.
If you ring up and they say they can't put you onto 2 days before/day before, see how they will/can put you onto (QF still) MEL - SIN - LHR.
If they say no, they can't do any of these, then maybe in future, go with SQ MEL - SIN - LHR, OffT-**(KF miles can now be transferred to VFF/you can put your VFF # onto the SQ booking)**.OnT.
If the QF phone agent can't do anything, QFd MEL airport staff should be able to issue you the BP all the way from MEL - PER - LHR, so you don't have to approach check in at PER T3, and yes, just pass immi and outgoing sec screening at PER.
QF779 today got into PER at 19.41 or so, QF9 dep today at 18.57 or so, so not sure how it will work for Nov this year!
Edit: is this a linked all the way PNR/trip?
Just checked flightaware, and QF779 always gets into PER at past 19.00 ie, 7pm, but by then the QF9 has already gone, unless they expect you to overnight in PER!

 

[henrus]

Few days back, on the PER - MEL run, I think it was 23 Sept, they subbed the 787 for the 330.
Still carried QF10 tag though.

This is not unusual, pre covid it happened quite a bit and there was even a few days where the domestic part of QF9/10 was swapped for a 737.

 

[hb13]

If the domestic (non QF9) leg runs late, is there a greater risk of missing the international leg? Or does QF hold flights in these instances?

That's a great question. It's all on the same PNR, so I assume QF would have to put me up in a hotel in Perth and I go the next day?

Post automatically merged: Sep 28, 2022

Few days back, on the PER - MEL run, I think it was 23 Sept, they subbed the 787 for the 330.
Still carried QF10 tag though.
Don't know if you can change the date to the day before, or 2 days before, to get up to LHR earlier.
If you ring up and they say they can't put you onto 2 days before/day before, see how they will/can put you onto (QF still) MEL - SIN - LHR.
If they say no, they can't do any of these, then maybe in future, go with SQ MEL - SIN - LHR, OffT-**(KF miles can now be transferred to VFF/you can put your VFF # onto the SQ booking)**.OnT.
If the QF phone agent can't do anything, QFd MEL airport staff should be able to issue you the BP all the way from MEL - PER - LHR, so you don't have to approach check in at PER T3, and yes, just pass immi and outgoing sec screening at PER.
QF779 today got into PER at 19.41 or so, QF9 dep today at 18.57 or so, so not sure how it will work for Nov this year!
Edit: is this a linked all the way PNR/trip?
Just checked flightaware, and QF779 always gets into PER at past 19.00 ie, 7pm, but by then the QF9 has already gone, unless they expect you to overnight in PER!

Yeh I'll be trying to get moved to a different day. Problem is dealing with QF agents these days is worse than visiting the dentist!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As an aside, OffT, when I go to the dentist, I have the drilling done without the numbing injection, esp when I have to have fillings done!OnT.
Yeah, I don't know what they would do, and that there are no hotels at PER airport either, so you would need to get either the train, or uber.
Its a pity AJ can't bring back the QFF/QF customer contact centre back to Aust, and get staff who can do something, or staff who can understand the problem when they put you into the position you are in, ie, QF779 is always into PER at past 19.00 most days.
Also, how long can they hold QF9 for pax coming in from QF779.
Not so bad if you could succeed in getting to dep MEL earlier in the day, first flight, if you have nothing to do during the day.
QF779 is a bad one, so to speak, to link onto QF9, to be honest.
For the past few days, that QF779 has been a 737.

 

[hb13]

As an aside, OffT, when I go to the dentist, I have the drilling done without the numbing injection, esp when I have to have fillings done!OnT.
Yeah, I don't know what they would do, and that there are no hotels at PER airport either, so you would need to get either the train, or uber.
Its a pity AJ can't bring back the QFF/QF customer contact centre back to Aust, and get staff who can do something, or staff who can understand the problem when they put you into the position you are in, ie, QF779 is always into PER at past 19.00 most days.
Also, how long can they hold QF9 for pax coming in from QF779.
Not so bad if you could succeed in getting to dep MEL earlier in the day, first flight, if you have nothing to do during the day.
QF779 is a bad one, so to speak, to link onto QF9, to be honest.
For the past few days, that QF779 has been a 737.

OffT - I get the numbing injection and request the laughing gas as well when I get my fillings done haha. OnT

Actually, I spoke to them today and they said they will change it, but I'm waiting for the new e-ticket to come through which is getting me really worried they stuffed something up.

I was speaking to the SA call centre, and she literally said to me she doesn't understand any of the issues I highlighted to her as she isn't located in Aus.

I've been a loyal QF flyer for years, but have become increasingly frustrated and at times furious with how bad things have got. What has kept me is the better lounges and the QR and EK partnerships - now we VA has a partnership with QR, EK awards now almost worthless due to the ridiculous taxes/fees/surcharges, and Qantas customer service now non-existent - I'm seriously reconsidering staying with QF.

If Qantas doesn't wake up now, and VA continues its aggressive push for QF flyers and new partners/initiatives, I can see many of their customers leaving. This has now officially become a s***show.

 

[Franky]

OffT - I get the numbing injection and request the laughing gas as well when I get my fillings done haha. OnT

Actually, I spoke to them today and they said they will change it, but I'm waiting for the new e-ticket to come through which is getting me really worried they stuffed something up.

I was speaking to the SA call centre, and she literally said to me she doesn't understand any of the issues I highlighted to her as she isn't located in Aus.

I've been a loyal QF flyer for years, but have become increasingly frustrated and at times furious with how bad things have got. What has kept me is the better lounges and the QR and EK partnerships - now we VA has a partnership with QR, EK awards now almost worthless due to the ridiculous taxes/fees/surcharges, and Qantas customer service now non-existent - I'm seriously reconsidering staying with QF.

If Qantas doesn't wake up now, and VA continues its aggressive push for QF flyers and new partners/initiatives, I can see many of their customers leaving. This has now officially become a s***show.

Vote with your feet...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

AJ couldn't give a **ts r**zoo, really.
Otherwise he would have given those overseas call centre that QF has outsourced to a real telling off.
Who ever thought of linking QF779 to QF9, should get their bums kicked.
Logically, I would not have even written that code to join the two flights, if I worked for a QF or any airline, no matter what the cost savings.
Even if QF T3 & QF T4 at PER are just next door, and even if a linked PNR.
I saw his warble on 4 corners, and wow, it all sounded so "nice", with that Irish accent, but of course, not that it could help you hb13, maybe next time, go with SQ.
By changing, do they mean they will put you on an earlier flight MEL - PER, or are they going to reroute you via SIN?

 

[hb13]

AJ couldn't give a **ts r**zoo, really.
Otherwise he would have given those overseas call centre that QF has outsourced to a real telling off.
Who ever thought of linking QF779 to QF9, should get their bums kicked.
Logically, I would not have even written that code to join the two flights, if I worked for a QF or any airline, no matter what the cost savings.
Even if QF T3 & QF T4 at PER are just next door, and even if a linked PNR.
I saw his warble on 4 corners, and wow, it all sounded so "nice", with that Irish accent, but of course, not that it could help you hb13, maybe next time, go with SQ.
By changing, do they mean they will put you on an earlier flight MEL - PER, or are they going to reroute you via SIN?

I've changed to a Friday - where QF9 will be operating the MEL-PER leg (for now). But when I access my booking now, it shows both flights - the old flight and the new one - my biggest concern is that they haven't done this right.

I will call again to ensure that the ticket is issued asap because without the ticket, it means nothing to me as I've experienced in the past.

 

[jukebox333]

It might be that with the 787 being so stretched its more efficient to turn the aircraft around in PER, especially as most of the pax on QF9 to LHR originate in PER anyway.

The A330 has the same product basically for what is a 3 hour flight. The immigration in PER is probably easier than MEL and while no F lounge the new Intl lounge in PER is pretty good.

Only alternative is a very long transit in SIN or going via SYD

I think the thru service is seasonal, and maybe it ends in October?

I'm booked on it next week, and it's still showing B787/T2. As of today, anyway...

 

[hb13]

UPDATE
So an update for everyone - I managed to change this to flight to a Friday on QF9 and until today it was showing a B789 from MEL to LHR, however, I just logged on now and it is showing as QF9 all the way but the MEL-PER leg is now a A332!

What the hell is going on with QF? Has this happened to anyone else before on this exact route? Because it is still showing that we depart on QF9 from T2 in MEL...but now I'm not sure what will happen and if they decide to change things again.

I've called QF and got through to the S.Africa call centre and they have absolutely no clue. Until I showed them how to find it, they didn't even realise there is a stop in Perth.

I don't mind the A330/B789 mix as long as we are still departing from T2 in MEL. Anyway of speaking to someone who can actually tell me what is happening?

EDIT
Just to clarify, Expertflyer is showing that MEL-PER is an A332 and PER-LHR is a B789.

In manage my booking, my seat is shown as 11A (MEL-LHR), however, when I go into the seat map, it is showing the A332 seat map only and seat 4A is the only option being shown as available.

This is a right mess by QF.

 

[TheInsider]

I don't mind the A330/B789 mix as long as we are still departing from T2 in MEL. Anyway of speaking to someone who can actually tell me what is happening?

Still departs from T2, but it's an A330 MEL-PER. (QF has a broken B787 which has been out a little while and still waiting for delivery of a few more).
QF9 will always depart from international, it's an international flight number. If the flight number changes, then it will be a domestic flight first.

 

[Princess Fiona]

UPDATE
So an update for everyone - I managed to change this to flight to a Friday on QF9 and until today it was showing a B789 from MEL to LHR, however, I just logged on now and it is showing as QF9 all the way but the MEL-PER leg is now a A332!

What the hell is going on with QF? Has this happened to anyone else before on this exact route? Because it is still showing that we depart on QF9 from T2 in MEL...but now I'm not sure what will happen and if they decide to change things again.

I've called QF and got through to the S.Africa call centre and they have absolutely no clue. Until I showed them how to find it, they didn't even realise there is a stop in Perth.

I don't mind the A330/B789 mix as long as we are still departing from T2 in MEL. Anyway of speaking to someone who can actually tell me what is happening?

Expert Flyer shows the following

And as per @TheInsider the MEL departure is indeed T2, international.

 

[hb13]

Thanks @TheInsider and @Princess Fiona - I also added my conundrum with the seat selection. I'm supposed to be 11A on the B789 and the seat map on my booking now only shows the A332 map with 4A being the only option available.

I called QF and the agents I'm speaking to still think it is only 1 aircraft going all the way to London. They have no clue on what is going on. How do I ensure the correct seats on both flights?