Red Roo - No more F to HKG = No more A380/Skybed Mark 1?

[Platinum A332]

This was my exact thoughts last night when I stumbled across the lack of First Class availability.

Really hoping they switch to the 747ER with the updated Skybed II considering it is coming off the SYD-DFW route and that SYD-HKG is being consolidated (to what extent still unknown) on it's A380 services to accommodate the change.

The problem is that even if HKG gets a refurbished 747, it means that LAX, JNB or NRT will still get droopy seats on some flights (with a risk of substitution to HKG).

The new A380 schedule has 5 aircraft dedicated to LHR, 2 to DFW and 4 to LAX. This does leave one spare, however the A380 flying MEL-LAX needs some slack in the schedule in order to meet the JFK connection both ways (an A380 cannot turn around in MEL in 50 minutes). Given this I think the A380 will fly a pattern of QF9-->QF10-->QF93-->QF94, but this necessitates longer layovers in MEL for the 388 fleet.

If only QF did get those extra 2 A380s.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a trip booked in F in February 2015 for my birthday. When the announcement about the DFW and LHR services came out I started steeling myself for a follow-up announcement about HKG.

If I get downgraded to J at least I'll have a stay at the Peninsula to console myself. Will be initially incredibly p**sed though.

or transfer to SQ F

 

[Flying mermaid]

You fly paid F?

yes we do - we are leisure flyers and have always paid for all our own flights. Have had my own business for nearly 30 years but unfortunately it never required overseas travel.....I use sales obviously, but have never booked an award flight (or masa) internationally for MR FM and I. I did book some J classic awards to South Africa for the ankle biters and was quite impressed at the value,. When our budget doesn't allow it we will fly J but I like F.....

 

[Kangol]

Has QF released an official date of when they are reducing HKG A380 services on QF 127/128?
I am taking Mum to HKG in F in late September for her 60th birthday.. she has never flown F and understandably is pretty excited. My heart would sink if we don't get to fly on the A380.

We are flying a few days before 29th Sep so maybe we are lucky?

The first A380 flight on the QF7/8 Sydney-Dallas route will operate on 29 September 2014. This will be the first time Qantas has offered First Class on this route.

Qantas customers to experience world-class A380 services to Dallas/Fort Worth

But then again the QF9 service is being retimed as of 20 July - what happens to the "spare" A380 then?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has QF released an official date of when they are reducing HKG A380 services on QF 127/128?
I am taking Mum to HKG in F in late September for her 60th birthday.. she has never flown F and understandably is pretty excited. My heart would sink if we don't get to fly on the A380.

We are flying a few days before 29th Sep so maybe we are lucky?


Qantas customers to experience world-class A380 services to Dallas/Fort Worth

But then again the QF9 service is being retimed as of 20 July - what happens to the "spare" A380 then?

even if QF sends you in First on a 747 I wouldn't worry too much. I prefer the 747 F and if you can get 1AK seats it will be a better experience IMO than the a380.

 

[yohy?!]

If F goes maybe rerouting via SIN on BA F then CX F is an option..will be the only redemption option left anyway..the time will be rough probably though

 

[Isochronous]

If F goes maybe rerouting via SIN on BA F then CX F is an option..will be the only redemption option left anyway..the time will be rough probably though

Except the presence of F on CX SIN-HKG is schizophrenic at best.

 

[madrooster]

Given this I think the A380 will fly a pattern of QF9-->QF10-->QF93-->QF94, but this necessitates longer layovers in MEL for the 388 fleet.

If they did this, then it'd be no different to the current schedule and they would still need 6 A380s on the LHR runs.

Even if they positioned the A380 MEL-SYD late in the evening, they would be running tight to make it before SYD curfew.

 

[SeatBackForward]

That was the first thing I thought of when I heard Hong Kong was losing a number of A380s - will there continue to be F? Much as I love Qantas it is getting harder and harder to fly it.....

It almost seems to her by design, doesn't it?

 

[ReLoad]

I think for me it's more about now avoiding the 747s from next year on services to HKG given the new A330 J product. Whilst the loss of PE on the 330 seems to be a ludicrous decision, at least the SYD-HKG flights now won't be full of MEL pax who want a decent seat, they will get it themselves.

As to the OPs point, QF will lose its point of difference to HKG which was its one and only thing it was better than CX on.

 

[cmon0005]

As to the OPs point, QF will lose its point of difference to HKG which was its one and only thing it was better than CX on.

Agree here, I've always flown via syd from mel, for the A380 and PE.
If PE disappears from Syd-hkg I may be forced back to Cx for all hkg flights.

Here's hoping before the A330 refurbs start that they announce at the last minute 'we were wrong and we've altered the refurb design to include PE ' like they did with the work bench J on the A330-200 's a while ago.
We can only hope someone sees sense, even a small 14 seat PE cabin would be sufficient in 7 seats per row X 2 rows. xx-xx_-xx

 

[Deleted member 26544]

or transfer to SQ F

If only I could, it's an AA redemption so if I get downgraded I expect the mileage difference would be refunded.

Not wild about Skybed MkII though.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Agree here, I've always flown via syd from mel, for the A380 and PE.

I'm a bit nervous about this now, as I was planning on taking Mrs_O to HKG later in the year as she has never been and I travel there for work a fair bit and was going to fly via SYD for PE. I won't be booking now until i know what is going on and if there isn't PE available from Aus then I will just book CX.

We can only hope someone sees sense, even a small 14 seat PE cabin would be sufficient in 7 seats per row X 2 rows. xx-xx_-xx

Agreed. I think that 's all it would need. Then there would be a consistent Asian product from all ports (well BNE, SYD and MEL).

Also, I reckon they could probably sell PE on the trans-con routes when they are used on those routes, or otherwise make it into an SG/WP economy cabin .

 

[markis10]

I would not surprised if it ends up being a mix of A330s and 747s. QF have already shown they dont care about the competition in their handling of Singapore flights. The loss of F is to be expected, one of the 744s with F is being prepared for her last journey as we speak.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I would not surprised if it ends up being a mix of A330s and 747s. QF have already shown they dont care about the competition in their handling of Singapore flights. The loss of F is to be expected, on of the 744s with F is being prepared for her last journey as we speak.

Brilliant!! So some days there won't even be the same cabins available. At least with the mix of A380 and 4 class 747 you knew you could always get the cabin you wanted, but by mixing 747 and A330, PE will be hit and miss. Or maybe, they won't sell PE officially and high status pax will get PE seating when flying Y on 747 days.

I realise, markis10, that this is your speculation so am not shooting the messenger of an unsubstantiated rumour .

 

[amaroo]

yes we do - we are leisure flyers and have always paid for all our own flights. Have had my own business for nearly 30 years but unfortunately it never required overseas travel.....I use sales obviously, but have never booked an award flight (or masa) internationally for MR FM and I. I did book some J classic awards to South Africa for the ankle biters and was quite impressed at the value,. When our budget doesn't allow it we will fly J but I like F.....

OT.....budget safety net! Start buying AA miles (when the bonuses are on offer), return F SYD/MEL-LHR in F will set you back around US$4k......you can buy 80,000 per year. Every second year = a return flight

 

[Cynicor]

Hmm. I have no idea about QF HKG services being from Perth, but I thought I had an F HND-HKG-SYD award for next Jan on a 747.

Does this mean that I am unlikely to be flying in F, and what compensation/refund of points would there be, if any, on QF? (QF award)

 

[moa999]

I thought the space for the DFW flight was created by retiming the MEL-LHR flights giving a substantially less LHR layover.

 

[amaroo]

If F goes maybe rerouting via SIN on BA F then CX F is an option..will be the only redemption option left anyway..the time will be rough probably though

Except the presence of F on CX SIN-HKG is schizophrenic at best.

Indeed. Later this year we're doing BA F to SIN, then heading up to HKG with CX - no F available. No biggie as it's an A330 with the cirrus J seats.

 

[Flying mermaid]

OT.....budget safety net! Start buying AA miles (when the bonuses are on offer), return F SYD/MEL-LHR in F will set you back around US$4k......you can buy 80,000 per year. Every second year = a return flight

Aagh!! That would mean coming to grips with another program - only just feeling competent in this one