QFF to fly to Vancouver! Yay!

[bambbbam2]

From:
http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2005/nov05/Q3356

Qantas will begin operating seasonal services between Australia and Vancouver from 14 June to 13 August 2006.

Qantas will offer three services per-week between Sydney and Vancouver via San Francisco, operating three-class Boeing 747-400 aircraft fitted with Qantas' award-winning Skybed in Business Class.

The services will operate from Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1.55 pm and arrive in San Francisco at 10.15 am, then depart at 12.05 pm and arrive in Vancouver at 2.20 pm.

Same-day return services will depart Vancouver at 6.30 pm, arrive in San Francisco at 8.50 pm, and then depart at 10.40 pm to arrive in Sydney at 6.15 am two days later.
:shock:

 

[JohnK]

I guess you are happy about the flights to Vancouver

The services will operate from Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1.55 pm and arrive in San Francisco at 10.15 am, then depart at 12.05 pm and arrive in Vancouver at 2.20 pm.

Same-day return services will depart Vancouver at 6.30 pm, arrive in San Francisco at 8.50 pm, and then depart at 10.40 pm to arrive in Sydney at 6.15 am two days later.
:shock:

I keep wondering what happens to the lost day as well. :?

 

[NM]

I keep wondering what happens to the lost day as well. :?

Having crossed the international date line so many times, I now blame all those lost days on my premature aging.

Now I make sure my RTW trips are always eastbound. That way I don't lose the day each time and don't get old as quickly.

 

[Skyring]

Now I make sure my RTW trips are always eastbound. That way I don't lose the day each time and don't get old as quickly.

Tongue in cheek, I guess, but to my mind, westbound is the only way to go. That way the days are longer. I can get up, catch a flight at a decent hour, fly for several hours and arrive with enough time to go through immigration and get to my hotel in daylight. For instance, I left Gatwick at morning tea time, and arrived in Dallas/Fort Worth around afternoon tea after a long flight with a nap and a couple of movies.

Going eastbound, the only flights I could find for the same route were overnight trips, and you can say what you like about sleeping on planes, but it is never as restful as a proper flat bed in a dark quiet room.

Actually, I think the real news isn't that Qantas is flying to Vancouver, but that Qantas is flying to SFO.

 

[NM]

Tongue in cheek, I guess, but to my mind, westbound is the only way to go. That way the days are longer. I can get up, catch a flight at a decent hour, fly for several hours and arrive with enough time to go through immigration and get to my hotel in daylight. For instance, I left Gatwick at morning tea time, and arrived in Dallas/Fort Worth around afternoon tea after a long flight with a nap and a couple of movies.

Yes, the tongue was firmly implanted . And yes, westbound does permit many more options for daytime flights, which I agree makes for more comfortable flying. Unfortunately I mostly go the wrong way based on business needs, which is little disappointing.

 

[duffshot]

Does anyone know of any proposed canadian domestic codeshare to link up?

 

[aus_flyer]

Does anyone know of any proposed canadian domestic codeshare to link up?

I wouldn't hold your breath. But if Air Canada joined OW it would make travel between the US and Canada so much easier!
But I doubt they are going to budge from *A.

 

[NM]

Does anyone know of any proposed canadian domestic codeshare to link up?

I would net be expecting too many Canadian codeshares. Perhaps some with AS and of course some AA flights back to their hubs of DFW and ORD.

 

[Skyring]

But I doubt they are going to budge from *A.

You know, but as an old computer geek, I pronounce * as "splat", which makes *A a rather off-putting image in my mind.

 

[Warks]

Pity it wasn't YVR direct to avoid the US Immignazis.

 

[aus_flyer]

You know, but as an old computer geek, I pronounce * as "splat", which makes *A a rather off-putting image in my mind.

I didn't invent it! :?

Pity it wasn't YVR direct to avoid the US Immignazis.

Shouldn't be a problem - just transit in SFO - no immigration

 

[Skyring]

How does that work? Everyone arriving in the USA goes through immigration, even if they are immediately flying to another country. SFO should be the same as LAX in that respect.

 

[bigjobs]

odoherty Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warks wrote:
Pity it wasn't YVR direct to avoid the US Immignazis.

Shouldn't be a problem - just transit in SFO - no immigration

No way mate ... you land in the LOTFAP you go through immigration. happens to everyone.

try taking the Air Canada service from Sydney to YVR. you land in Honolulu at about 1am, wake up, get off, go through immigration, walk out and reboard the plane immediately.

no such thing as transit lounges in the good ol USA

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Pity it wasn't YVR direct to avoid the US Immignazis.

Shouldn't be a problem - just transit in SFO - no immigration

We wish. Doesnt work that way. Been on NZ1/2 AKL-LHR with transit stop in LAX many times. Its a real pain - although transit in SFO should be better.

The set up for NZ1/2 is ghastly. Everyone gets off the a/c, marshalled into a secure holding pen airside. Have to do immigration - if visa waiver then finger printed and eye scan, if non waiver then need a visa even though stay airside the whole 2 hours on US "soil"! Holding pen is small and gungy. Not allowed to go anywhere - no chance to stretch legs etc. 2 hours later everyone marches back onto a/c.

For those in business class (only) there is the option of visiting the NZ lounge. Sounds great but there's a catch. Have to clear regular immigration - which often takes 60-90 minutes, pass through customs, go outside, up stairs then back through security (another 30-60 minutes and the joys of removing shoes, belt etc) before getting to the lounge. Spot the flaw? Yup it can easily take longer than the length of the transit stop. Other times it is "shorter" at less than 2 hours, but then get 5 minutes in the lounge if lucky. Certainly not enough time for a shower.

Apologies for the rant. Its gotten bad enough I try to go to europe via asia, and my next round the world (where north america is practically unavoidable) I am going via asia and canada!

 

[thadocta]

Ah, the LOTFAP, and they wonder why people avoid going there unless they absolutely, positively HAVE to go there. I won't if I can avoid it.

Dave