QF A380 to DFW; QF9/10 retiming

[JohnK]

You will just be moved on to a domestic connection, which would happen anyway if the incoming QF8 was late. The downside being you have to deal with the awful terminal transfer at Sydney!

And what is so awful about the terminal transfer at Sydney?

I have done the transfer about 3 times now and find it extremely easy. Very little walking. On par with BNE. Much better than PER. OK, so MEL has somehow fluked it and managed to have the INTL terminal next to domestic but that is rare.

If I listened to advice given on AFF I would avoid most airports around the world yet my experiences are totally different. All airports have some quirk when it comes to terminal transfers.

Everyone thinks SIN is easy but go from the furthest gate in concource C at SIN to the furthest gate at concourse E which I have done with QF-MH connection. Not so easy.

 

[Mr_Orange]

And what is so awful about the terminal transfer at Sydney?

Leaving the country is not so bad as bags are through checked. The return is always much more painful, but this cannot be avoided.

Being able to check in and clear customs at BNE Int and then just head straight to the lounge at SYD Int is a much more pleasant experience than doing the whole terminal transfer thing!

 

[BD1959]

And what is so awful about the terminal transfer at Sydney?

I have done the transfer about 3 times now and find it extremely easy. Very little walking.

Ease of use is not the issue. Waited 40mins evening of the 26 APR: entered lounge just as bus was leaving, didn't get on the next one. Got on the next, but others didn't.

Even then some behind were panicking because they weren't called forward for the PER which was boarding. They had to make a stand to get on the bus, when QF had been proactive getting them from the Inbound fare to the transfer lounge.

In comparison, the automated transfer trains at KUL are a breeze.

Regards

BD

 

[Mr_Orange]

Ease of use is not the issue. Waited 40mins evening of the 26 APR: entered lounge just as bus was leaving, didn't get on the next one. Got on the next, but others didn't.

Even then some behind were panicking because they weren't called forward for the PER which was boarding. They had to make a stand to get on the bus, when QF had been proactive getting them from the Inbound fare to the transfer lounge.

In comparison, the automated transfer trains at KUL are a breeze.

Regards

BD

Yes, I've seen that sort of situation. Little monorail at HKG is also brilliant by comparison which brings one in from the more remote gates (I think).

 

[defurax]

Yes, I've seen that sort of situation. Little monorail at HKG is also brilliant by comparison which brings one in from the more remote gates (I think).

This is getting way OT...but the train i.e "Automated People Mover" only works in one direction for departing PAX, from the low numbered to high numbered gates.

 

[Mr_Orange]

This is getting way OT...but the train i.e "Automated People Mover" only works in one direction for departing PAX, from the low numbered to high numbered gates.

So what was I on when I arrived at HKG early morning with CX from BNE?

 

[defurax]

So what was I on when I arrived at HKG early morning with CX from BNE?

I was simply referring to the fact that the train can only be used in one direction when airside and one direction when "in transit"/landside. So if a connecting passenger goes through security at a screening point near gate 70 it is not possible to use the train to board a flight near gate 20.

 

[serfty]

....OK, so MEL has somehow fluked it and managed to have the INTL terminal next to domestic but that is rare....

No fluke at all - Tullamarine Airport was purpose built ... of course that was back in the day when Bolte said - "this will happen" - and it did!

Anyhoo, back on topic ...

 

[Melburnian1]

With this significant QF9 and 10 timetable change does prior experience with similar altered schedules suggest that there will be a few passengers every day who turn up at the previous time for the flights and hence miss the retimed flights, because they have changed their email address and then failed to consult www.qantas.com.au to check the times?

Or do such a large number of passengers successfully receive automatic notification from QF (or in a few cases a phone call) that no one ever makes this sort of mistake?

What does an airline do in such circumstances - say 'Sir, you failed to keep yourself up to date with the timetable - you need to rebook at a cost of $3000 return to LHR in Y for tomorrow's flight' or the alternative and kinder 'Sir, we recognise that a few people unfortunately missed the flight. Come back tomorrow and we'll pop you on the next QF9 without any fare penalty.'

 

[smit0847]

With this significant QF9 and 10 timetable change does prior experience with similar altered schedules suggest that there will be a few passengers every day who turn up at the previous time for the flights and hence miss the retimed flights, because they have changed their email address and then failed to consult www.qantas.com.au to check the times?

Or do such a large number of passengers successfully receive automatic notification from QF (or in a few cases a phone call) that no one ever makes this sort of mistake?

What does an airline do in such circumstances - say 'Sir, you failed to keep yourself up to date with the timetable - you need to rebook at a cost of $3000 return to LHR in Y for tomorrow's flight' or the alternative and kinder 'Sir, we recognise that a few people unfortunately missed the flight. Come back tomorrow and we'll pop you on the next QF9 without any fare penalty.'

For QF9 passengers would arrive a good 8 hours early so wouldn't miss it. While they would no doubt be annoyed they were so early I'm sure they would prefer it to being late and missing the flight (I sure would).

 

[Melburnian1]

smit0847 thank you, but what about in the other direction where the flight departs earlier than is presently the case?

 

[parsonstrish]

Red Roo, I am on award u fare syd-Dfw 28/10 & return u fare Dfw-Bne 25/11. I've not been notified. I have a separt AA booking Dfw-Lhr 30/11.

as award tickets r like hens teeth, I am freaking out. Help please as I'd like to stick to original route. Thanks

 

[serfty]

Red Roo, I am on award u fare syd-Dfw 28/10 & return u fare Dfw-Bne 25/11. I've not been notified. I have a separt AA booking Dfw-Lhr 30/11.

as award tickets r like hens teeth, I am freaking out. Help please as I'd like to stick to original route. Thanks

OMG - a double whammy!

Both Tuesdays -for which operations will cease.

If they are ANY SEAT awards you will be fine, but I can understand your nervousness if they are classic awards given the commercial policy in relation to classic awards affected by QF9/QF10.

I have not found a specific policy for those affected by the withdrawal of the Tuesday DFW Services, but given the lack of options it would be pretty crook for Qantas to use the same type of policy.

I am pretty sure you would be protected through LAX in Business with an AA connection - one would hope the latter in the front cabin.

 

[Mattg]

I have a similar issue re. the cancellation of the Tuesday QF8 service. I'm booked on it next February on a Tuesday as part of a oneworld award. When I booked there was no award availability on the Monday flight and the Wednesday flight is too late for me. And if they route me via LAX that will take me past the allowed 35,000 miles on the oneworld award. Hopefully Qantas will look after me!

 

[parsonstrish]

Thanks Serfty, yes it is omg......jasa flt. booked tsv-syd on 27/10, haven't booked Sydney hotel yet, thank goodness. The jasa flt. was booked long before the change.
classic award qf 28/10 syd-dfw and 25/11 dfw=bne in U.
DFW hotel paid advance purchase 28-30/10.
AA flt. booked and paid dfw-lhr 30/10. All England trip booked and paid.
Return flt. lhr-dfw is 18/11, everything booked & this will be all fine, as return was to be 25/11 from dfw.
Hotel paid advance purchase Bne 27-29/11.
Flt. tsv-bne-syd-bne-tsv paid on the jasa booking as above.

Red Roo I would really appreciate your help. I really want to fly the direct dfw flt.both ways. I phoned platinum line today, they weren't aware of change and asked me to phone back tomorrow, as they weren't sure there isn't a direct flt. to dfw on a Tuesday, although I told them there isn't according to media release. I understand they have to check.

Thank goodness for AFF or I wouldn't have been aware of this change.

I've got one zinger of a headache, don't know if to go for panadol or wine. I simply do not have money to replace any flts, hotel bookings, etc.

 

[Melburnian1]

parsonstrish, the hotel bookings may not be much of a worry because most would be refundable at this stage - six months out.

It's the flights about which I would be concerned. serfty is a goldmine sometimes isn't he?

 

[Quickstatus]

Hi parsontrish,

You have award seats (whether classic or ASA) as follows:

TSV-SYD 27/10

SYD-DFW 28/10

DFW-LHR 30/10

LHR-DFW 18/11

DFW-BNE 25/11



Hotels booked surrounding these flights


You will be A OK!!

Qantas will honour all seats already booked whether revenue or ASA or classic


Why am i confident in saying that?

Well:

I booked 4 classic award seats on a SYD-AKL-LAX // LAX-AKL-SYD in a DEcember-january period some years back which is a very busy period of the year for transpacific flights. (when QF still had the AKL-LAX flights)
After I booked, Qantas cancelled the AKL-LAX flights.

Not long after that I checked my booking - it had an alert for me to contact them.

They gave me 4 seats for the same dates as the original itinerary but on the direct SYD-LAX QF 107 and LAX-SYD QF 108 flights. ( When i originally booked the award seats the direct flights did not have award availability). My booking was Still classified as classic award. And even though I was non status at the time I got really good seats right up front rows 1 and 2.

Qantas will do the same for you, and they will replace the SYD-DFW on Tuesday with a SYD--LAX-DFW. And the DFW-BNE with a DFW-LAX-BNE as your flights were originally on a tuesday

AA does not have business class on the LAX-DFW-LAX so you should push for a first class.

Point is this: whether you are a classic award , ASA or revenue passenger, from Qantas viewpoint, for this matter, they consider you has having a booking and they WILL reaccomodate you properly.

Going forward:

Ring the platinum line weekly and check whats happening to your booking...... But relax you will be OK. I was..

 

[markis10]

parsonstrish, the hotel bookings may not be much of a worry because most would be refundable at this stage - six months out.

Not if they are advance purchase, once booked no refunds regardless of how far out you book.

 

[JohnK]

This thread is about the 388 to DFW and 9/10 re timings, not SIN/BKK/etc etc via 330's, which we are all quite aware of.

Yes I know. Cut me some slack.

DFW has gone from 747 to A380 while SIN and BKK are going back to A330. Not long before A380 and then 747 is removed form HKG services as well.

So while everyone in this thread are high-fiving one another this is another nail in the coffin for Asia and Qantas well and truly on the way of providing services to LHR, LAX and DFW only. That is a sad day indeed.

Oh, and most AFF threads go off-topic anyway.

 

[michaele]

Looks like I've been moved from qf10 to qf2 for a JASA in August. I'm guessing this is because I'm connecting through to bne.

By chance, you weren't booked on QF10 August 19? I think i just snagged your J seat - if so, thanks!