QF International via Darwin

[Mattg]

QF1 Switches to via SIN 27th March (although all fare buckets SYD-LHR are zero on the day)..

Qantas said in its media release this morning that all flights to London will continue routing via DRW until at least June. But they haven't updated their schedules yet accordingly.

 

[Stanley Lambchop]

It is daily from mid march.

QF1 Switches to via SIN 27th March (although all fare buckets SYD-LHR are zero on the day)..

The press release says:
"To streamline transit arrangements for passengers, Qantas will also continue to operate the Sydney to London flight via Darwin instead of through Singapore until June 2022"

 

[SJF211]

Isnt the E190 "base" basically resurrecting (at a cheaper cost) the old 717 base that was pulled a couple of years ago?

Pretty much. Was listening to the radio this morning and was surprised by just how many people rang up asking about that and made some very valid points such as the CBR- DRW and CNS-DRW route use to be run by QANTAS but they scrapped them and the Cobham or Network? Use to have their 717’s based here. I also recall F100’s.

 

[Franky]

Mr McGowan hasn't publicly changed his stance despite the only local newspaper 'The West' finally turning against him (took its time) and various highly respected businessmen such as Rob Scott declaring it's impossible to conduct national/international business from Perth and moving to 'the eastern states' (the latter a term of derision when used by WA politicians).

Whether there'll be *fewer seats on your travel date is impossible to predict but let's hope not for your sake.

Our much maligned Premier said on radio this morning, after another 62 new CV19 cases today, that he would 'probably' open the borders 'sometime' this month. Many will be waiting with bated breath...

 

[mviy]

Testing requirements for SIN transits is probably the reason that SYD flights are continuing to go via DRW. QF is probably hoping that by June when they hope to bring the A380 back there will be no pre-testing requirements for SIN transits in excess of any testing requirements by the UK or Australia.

 

[jrfsp]

Testing requirements for SIN transits is probably the reason that SYD flights are continuing to go via DRW. QF is probably hoping that by June when they hope to bring the A380 back there will be no pre-testing requirements for SIN transits in excess of any testing requirements by the UK or Australia.

Also with the QF2 arrivals being confined to a holding pen it isn't very appealing (wouldn't have lounge access). Until this changes i cant see them going back to SIN.

 

[Stanley Lambchop]

I’m on QF 1/2 at the end of April. Happy to go through Darwin to avoid SIN testing although I was hoping for the SIN F lounge to be open by then for my calamansi mojito!

 

[Economy_Gold]

Testing requirements for SIN transits is probably the reason that SYD flights are continuing to go via DRW. QF is probably hoping that by June when they hope to bring the A380 back there will be no pre-testing requirements for SIN transits in excess of any testing requirements by the UK or Australia.

I am thinking (without any inside knowledge) that Australia will likely follow the UK rather sooner than later in not requiring any arrival testing at all. By avoiding SIN QF could then avoid all the hassle of testing for its passengers between SYD/MEL-LHR. Therefore I do not think that QF will return the route via SIN as long as SIN is requiring pre-arrival or even transit testing as it is doing now.

 

[antycbr]

I am thinking (without any inside knowledge) that Australia will likely follow the UK rather sooner than later in not requiring any arrival testing at all. By avoiding SIN QF could then avoid all the hassle of testing for its passengers between SYD/MEL-LHR. Therefore I do not think that QF will return the route via SIN as long as SIN is requiring pre-arrival or even transit testing as it is doing now.

Surely at some point Singapore Inc will realise that they have lots of covid and aren’t achieving anything other than looking like a mini HKG with stupid rules.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Surely at some point Singapore Inc will realise that they have lots of covid and aren’t achieving anything other than looking like a mini HKG with stupid rules.

If that comes to pass it would be good for Singapore. They recently recontracted the F1 race, so I think they are becoming very aware of the opportunity that is being created by the own goals of Lam & the CCP

 

[flydoc]

Pretty much. Was listening to the radio this morning and was surprised by just how many people rang up asking about that and made some very valid points such as the CBR- DRW and CNS-DRW route use to be run by QANTAS but they scrapped them and the Cobham or Network? Use to have their 717’s based here. I also recall F100’s.

Everything old is new again...

 

[justinbrett]

I have just done QF9/QF2
It’s normal service with amenity kits and PJs on the long haul sectors in and out of DRW.

The only differences I noticed were meals are served on a tray and there was no offer to put the mattress on the seat. That was QF11 but I can’t imagine there is any difference.

 

[Blackadder]

Has anyone had recent experience with a domestic only leg on QF1/9, SYD or MEL to DRW?
If the old JQ35/36 is anything to go by, my guess is that your passport is required and the orange D sticker issued on the BP.
Not sure what getting out at DRW would entail, I suspect there would be no/little customs checks..

Seems to be a domestic DRW-SYD on QF 2 isn’t a option.
Had my QF 841 removed from the timetable, and no direct option
given as a replacement.

 

[mviy]

Seems to be a domestic DRW-SYD on QF 2 isn’t a option.
Had my QF 841 removed from the timetable, and no direct option
given as a replacement.

At least initially they didn’t want domestic travellers flying with those who had just come from overseas. I guess that may still be the case.

 

[Mattg]

At least initially they didn’t want domestic travellers flying with those who had just come from overseas. I guess that may still be the case.

You can book QF9/10 between DRW and MEL though.

 

[Lynda2475]

Seems to be a domestic DRW-SYD on QF 2 isn’t a option.

Probably because capacity is needed through to Sydney.

Q2 is usually an A380, the Dreamliner currently being used has fewer seats (especially premium) so probably reserving for genuine LHR-SYD as few likely to want to stop-over in DRW vs SIN. There are already multiple other domestic flights DRW to SYD for domestic traffic.

Whereas QF10 was always already operating using the smaller Dreamliner even when operating via Perth.

 

[Blackadder]

You can book QF9/10 between DRW and MEL though.

Interesting
Unless a high loading on QF 2 is a issue, seems strange they would all a domestic sector on one and not the other.
Maybe something reserved for higher status QFF members?

 

[mviy]

Whereas QF10 was always on the smaller Dreamliner even when operating via Perth.

That's only partially correct. I have flown QF9 and QF10 multiple times on the A380, the last of which was my last international trip before the pandemic with upgrades to first class both ways. QF9 and QF10 flew on the A380 via DXB in the final years it was using the A380. It did switch permanently to the Dreamliner when it switched to going via Perth, but it did use the A380 and the 747 before that.

Back when the A380 was used for QF9 and QF10 some SYD based fliers chose to fly on it because they preferred the timings, perceived a higher chance of an upgrade or to get additional SCs for a more indirect route.

Even when the PER flights started QF still flew a separate A380 to SIN from MEL (although there was a several hour gap after that before the onwards flight to LHR on QF2) as well as an A330 flight (that was timed better to link up with QF2), so there was still the opportunity to fly the A380 to LHR from MEL without going via SYD.

 

[Lynda2475]

o there was still the opportunity to fly the A380 to LHR from MEL without going via SYD.

On QF metal only by booking 2 separate flight numbers - the discussion was about QF2 vs QF10 both flights which have 2 legs on a single flight number on a single plane.

QF10 LHR to MEL via PER has been on a Dreamliner since 2018, the previous DXB routing is irrelevant as QF no longer fly to DXB and have not done for a few years. If you want to fly an A380 LHR to MEL via DXB you need to fly EK.

 

[jrfsp]

On QF metal only by booking 2 separate flight numbers - the discussion was about QF2 vs QF10 both flights which have 2 legs on a single flight number on a single plan.

QF10 LHR to MEL via PER has been on a Dreamliner since 2018, the previous DXB routing is irrelevant as QF no longer fly to DXB and have not done for a few years. If you want to fly an A380 LHR to MEL via DXB you need to fly EK.

Booking two flight numbers? I dont get the relevance of a single flight number, its a single click on the mouse regardless. Its not like the days when you left stuff on board the aircraft.....From MEL, the SIN option was usually cheaper than via PER so SIN routings were actually encouraged. Something like 60/70% of passengers on QF9/10 were PER passengers anyway.

People from all over AU wanting to fly QF to LHR will fly via SIN or PER, apart from AFFs, most people dont take much notice of routing or type.

QF has been downsizing on Europe & LHR for many years, loosing market share to the likes of EK/SQ etc etc.

They have deceived the best way to compete is to chase yield with smaller aircraft and direct flight options.