QF074 - SFO - SYD change to A380 ?

[macka42]

Hi everyone.

As you can tell I am not much of a poster, but I have a puzzler (to me anyway) for you.

My wife and I booked some time ago business class on points (I won't even try the acronyms and codes you guys use) to New York on 24/12 returning also in business on 14/1 from San Francisco.

Logging in yesterday I noted a change notice from Qantas that I thought was a simple leave at the same time but arrive 5 min later. No biggie, click confirm.

Then I noticed that the flight is shown as the Airbus 380-800.

A search on the Qantas timetable seems to show, in Jan09 anyway, that QF74 is all 747's except this one 14/1/09.

I'm happly puzzled if it's true, but why would there be a seemingly random one-off A380 flight, has anyone heard anything?

I have googled hard last night but the only mentions re SFO-SYD, Qantas and the A380 I could find were threats relating to moving from LAX.

Is this an accidental change that will revert back to the 747 when someone realises & if so will we get our nice exit row upstairs seats back?

Thanks for any info

Macka

 

[serfty]

Hi macka42, welcome to AFF.

QF73 that day (jan 14) is also scheduled to be an A388.

I'm guessing that it may be travelling to/from SFO for promotional reasons.

Plug you booking reference into http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/www.checkmytrip.com and check your seating.

 

[simongr]

Maybe the new CEO is planning a family holiday to SFO

 

[NM]

Sounds like its most likely a once-off promotional visit. A good win for you.

Oh, and welcome to AFF .

 

[macka42]

We have ended up Upper deck front row (11J&K). Good for a quick exit, but I wonder about the new "Lounge" directly in front of us. I did read that the numbers in there may be limited by crew, but if it's a promo flight?

We'll see I suppose. Cheers

 

[serfty]

Should be fun; you can take turns being "door coughes ..."

 

[AviationNZ]

Yes, you guys are right, it is for promotional purposes. The G'Day USA campaign Tourism Australia runs every year is going to do something up in SFO with QF and the new A380.

 

[macka42]

Thanks for the heads up, it helped me focus the search.

It sounds, ummmmm, interesting but I'm happy to get an unexpected run on the A380

I wonder if being immersed in Australian Culture means being sprayed with VB and Bundy?

From the G'Day USA 2009 website -
Wednesday, 14th January 2009
6:30pm
San Francisco International Airport

Tourism Australia will conduct a PR opportunity with a real Qantas A380 Aircraft, with actual customers departing San Francisco to Sydney on this Qantas special flight.
The media event prior to the flight will showcase flying to Australia with Qantas, while being transformed by vacation experiences.
Passengers will be immersed in the Australian culture as a preview to their vacation, with the Qantas Choir, Aussie animals, fashion, and other surprise elements.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

From the G'Day USA 2009 website -
Wednesday, 14th January 2009
6:30pm
San Francisco International Airport

Typical! They do a tour of the A380 while I'm back in Oz. Ah well, maybe the year after.

mt