QF A388's out of action - who is inconvenienced? [Merged Thread]

[Harriet Vane]

It seems like they're updating the timetable a week at a time at this stage for about the next fortnight out.

 

[oz_mark]

Really, I don't think anyone knows - and whatever they do needs to get regulator sign off as well. A post by jb747 suggests they want sooner rather than later (at least they are keeping pilots on standby) but who knows. In the meantime, I guess the timetable will remain fluid.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Really, I don't think anyone knows - and whatever they do needs to get regulator sign off as well. A post by jb747 suggests they want sooner rather than later (at least they are keeping pilots on standby) but who knows. In the meantime, I guess the timetable will remain fluid.

Would it be more than one regulator?

The grounded A380 would need SIN approval in order to take off?

 

[dfcatch]

Well, scheduled on QF11 tomorrow (23rd), was A380, subbed to 2-class 744, had 26C selected and watching EF for the last week was showing J9 Y9 all zeros otherwise.

Suddenly this morning it's all zeroed out, it's a 3-class 744 according to EF, and MMB won't let me select a seat.........

Fingers crossed for an op-up


Or at least not stuck down the back of whY somewhere in a middle seat between the Sumo Wrestling delegation (like I was many years ago on my first ever trans-pacific flight NRT-SFO).

 

[ab156]

Well, scheduled on QF11 tomorrow (23rd), was A380, subbed to 2-class 744, had 26C selected and watching EF for the last week was showing J9 Y9 all zeros otherwise.

Suddenly this morning it's all zeroed out, it's a 3-class 744 according to EF, and MMB won't let me select a seat.........

Fingers crossed for an op-up

Will be VERY interested to hear your experience, pls report back.

Enjoy the flight!

 

[equus]

I think I’d rather keep the original routing SC’s, than get the points back, but YMMV.

Unless it happens to have been an ASA, there are no SCs. The reference to points difference implies Classic Award.

 

[JohnK]

Still following this thread with interest. So I guess for now the substitutions have been scheduled up to the 1st week of December 2010.

Any idea when the A380's will be back in action? QF website does not offer a whole lot of useful information...

 

[markis10]

Still following this thread with interest. So I guess for now the substitutions have been scheduled up to the 1st week of December 2010.

Any idea when the A380's will be back in action? QF website does not offer a whole lot of useful information...

I dont think anybody has an idea yet, I doubt it will be before Xmas and a lot longer for the one in SIN.

 

[dfcatch]

According to the lovely lady on the Premium desk today......they've been told along the lines of... 380's subbed for 744s through 3rd Dec. If no further progress at the end of the week, they will make a decision then as to the following 2 weeks' schedule....

AKA, exactly what Markis said

 

[JohnK]

I dont think anybody has an idea yet, I doubt it will be before Xmas and a lot longer for the one in SIN.

No problem. This was never going to be an easy solution as some people originally thought/hoped.

I have some concerns as I have a flight on Boxing Day on an A380 and things are still up in the air. I don't mind if I do not fly on an A380, just yet, but would be nice to firm up plans so that my trip is not ruined at the last minute by schedule changes and delays.

 

[adrian]

Help with unfamiliar seating map

QF12 on 2/12 LAX-SYD has been subbed from a A380 to a 747, but I don't recognise the seating map with anything on seatguru.

Maybe it is a newly configured plane?

It seems to be a 3 class, as follows:
J from 1-4 , 11-18 (upstairs), 23-24
Y+ from 29-36
Y from 38-75

I have grabbed 38A, hoping that it is like 40A on 747-438 4 class Version 1 on seatguru, ie 1st row of economy bulkhead, non-bassinet. Am hoping that it isn't like 52A on seatguru's Version 2, which is a bassinet seat with less legroom. I am AA EXP (booked on the AA codeshare), and I think that this seat is blocked for non status passengers (according to EF), so am hoping it is a good seat.

Does anybody recognise this configuration, and know if this is a decent seat?

 

[markis10]

Re: Help with unfamiliar seating map

QF12 on 2/12 LAX-SYD has been subbed from a A380 to a 747, but I don't recognise the seating map with anything on seatguru.

Maybe it is a newly configured plane?

It seems to be a 3 class, as follows:
J from 1-4 , 11-18 (upstairs), 23-24
Y+ from 29-36
Y from 38-75

Newly converted three class:

The QANTAS Source - 3 Class Boeing 747-400 Seat Map.

 

[adrian]

Re: Help with unfamiliar seating map

Newly converted three class:

The QANTAS Source - 3 Class Boeing 747-400 Seat Map.

Thanks. It looks like a good seat. Much better than the one I had on the A380, waaaay down the back. So, in my case, I am hoping the A380 doesn't come back on before then...

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks. It looks like a good seat. Much better than the one I had on the A380, waaaay down the back. So, in my case, I am hoping the A380 doesn't come back on before then...

I'm on this plane tomorrow as QF 11. Just got subbed in today.

I'll let you know what it looks like.
Unless of course I'm lucky enough to end up in the pointy end.....fingers crossed.

My seat allocation of 26C disappeared when they subbed this plane in. Can't access online seat selection, and can't perform OLCI, so it's either really good news, or really really bad.....

 

[dfcatch]

I'm on this plane tomorrow as QF 11. Just got subbed in today.

I'll let you know what it looks like.
Unless of course I'm lucky enough to end up in the pointy end.....fingers crossed.

My seat allocation of 26C disappeared when they subbed this plane in. Can't access online seat selection, and can't perform OLCI, so it's either really good news, or really really bad.....

Update: VH-OJB just got brought in as I can out the F lounge window.

On board update: So in 38C, completely full flight, no OpUp, although several pax in premium economy had no idea that they had been upgraded or why... They only realized it when champagne was served(didn't look at BP's apparently)...

38C is fine, mini cabin, front of whY, nice cutout in bulkhead, but DEFG have the bassinet so two infants nearby....

For 744 whY, it's fine

(ask me again in 14 hours)

 

[flychrisfly]

Looks like SYD-LHR-SYD is back in business on the A380 but not SYD to LAX or MEL to anywhere.

Qantas A380 superjumbos to resume service | QF32 engine failure

Looks like my flight from SYD to LHR on 23 Dec is safe as well as the return flight on the 30th

 

[adrian]

Update: VH-OJB just got brought in as I can out the F lounge window.

On board update: So in 38C, completely full flight, no OpUp, although several pax in premium economy had no idea that they had been upgraded or why... They only realized it when champagne was served(didn't look at BP's apparently)...

38C is fine, mini cabin, front of whY, nice cutout in bulkhead, but DEFG have the bassinet so two infants nearby....

For 744 whY, it's fine

(ask me again in 14 hours)

Thanks for updating. 38C would be my preference, but 38A is a good 2nd choice for me.

 

[JohnK]

Looks like my flight from SYD to LHR on 23 Dec is safe as well as the return flight on the 30th

Don't count your chickens just yet.

I am still not convinced until the schedule has stabilised again. I have a MEL-SIN on 26 December and hoping that I do not get inconvenienced.

 

[NM]

Note that the QF reports indicate they are starting out by returning two A380s to service (the two that were parked at LAX). Then before the end of the year they will take delivery of two new A380 aircraft so will have four A380s in service.

There is no mention yet of the return to service of the ones stranded at LHR or SYD or the one undergoing maintenance (C-Check?) at FRA.

It is assumed (and I think reported by QF) that the two new A380s being delivered before the end of the year have new RR engines that include the fix to prevent the uncontained experienced near SIN. So I can only assume the two aircraft that were grounded at LAX have either had new engines fitted or have been confirmed to have already been fitted with engines containing the fix, or Qantas is able to consolidate enough known upgraded engines into one place to fit to two aircraft and those two aircraft have been chosen as the transplant recipients.

What are the regos of the two from LAX? Are they the most recently delivered? What about the ones stuck in LHR and SYD? Are they the oldest after Nancy Bird?

Engines do get moved around and do not always remain with the aircraft on which they were delivered. But the maintenance records always stick with the engine no matter which aircraft its bolted to.

It will be interesting to see how long it is before the LHR and SYD aircraft are back operating. I assume this is dependent on how long it takes RR to provide sufficient engines for them.

 

[oz_mark]

What are the regos of the two from LAX? Are they the most recently delivered? What about the ones stuck in LHR and SYD? Are they the oldest after Nancy Bird?

OQC is the A380 that was in the SYD hangar for the 90th birthday

OQF has just flown back from LAX, and I believe OQD and OQE are still there.

OQA is in SIN, and OQB is in FRA.

Was one in LHR?