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

[eminere]

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.

Assuming you get one of the internationally configured A333s and not the ones with the regional J product, which are 2-2-2.

 

[amaroo]

Assuming you get one of the internationally configured A333s and not the ones with the regional J product, which are 2-2-2.

So far so good.

I know CX has a reputation for the HKG-SIN-HKG sector.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

this lack of availability on the HKG route happened last time QF was looking at their schedules... IIRC when they were looking to introduce an extra A380 service or something. Availability disappeared until the schedule was finalised, then it opened right back up. it took a few weeks (or longer) before it was all sorted.

 

[JohnPhelan]

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

Yes, but that only frees up one aircraft. QF needs two A380s to do the DFW run.

 

[Daver6]

I'm booked in J to Hong Kong in mid-Oct. Still showing as A380. Row 12 too! Will be rather annoyed if this doesn't stay as is.

What's most frustrating if once again, QF have been too quite with the bad news but happy to trumpet the good news.

 

[mannej]

I'm booked in J to Hong Kong in mid-Oct. Still showing as A380. Row 12 too! Will be rather annoyed if this doesn't stay as is.

What's most frustrating if once again, QF have been too quite with the bad news but happy to trumpet the good news.

If they swap the 380 for the 747ER on the HKG route, you will still end up on a MKII skybed.

 

[OATEK]

If they swap the 380 for the 747ER on the HKG route, you will still end up on a MKII skybed.

Ok if you can select a seat upstairs, but the three across in the middle downstairs is not a match with the A380.

 

[Daver6]

If they swap the 380 for the 747ER on the HKG route, you will still end up on a MKII skybed.

Agree...not a huge issue if that's the case. Its the complete lack of information coming from QF which is frustrating.

 

[mannej]

Ok if you can select a seat upstairs, but the three across in the middle downstairs is not a match with the A380.

There are pro's and con's to everything. Does the 380 have a similar seat to the 5B and 5J on the re-furbs?

 

[JohnPhelan]

There are pro's and con's to everything. Does the 380 have a similar seat to the 5B and 5J on the re-furbs?

Exactly. I've just booked a trip to LAX and chosen to go on the 744, rather than the A380, so I can get 5J. That seat leaves anything in A380 J for dead.

 

[markis10]

If they swap the 380 for the 747ER on the HKG route, you will still end up on a MKII skybed.

I think you will find it will go A330 and the ERs will be used for BNE-DFW early next year.

 

[Isochronous]

I think you will find it will go A330 and the ERs will be used for BNE-DFW early next year.

You think QF will have 2 separate DFW services?

 

[markis10]

You think QF will have 2 separate DFW services?

Yes, move traffic from LAX.

 

[sydstar]

The lack of F lounge at HKG may be an indication of QFs intention?

I actually think the 330 is a better sized aircraft for HKG and Asia overall (With the exception of NRT and maybe seasonal/summer BKK). A double daily refurb 330 from SYD (plus BNE/MEL) would do what CX can do - offer a consistent hard product.

I do agree that QF would be making a mistake without a small Y+ considering most (all?) of Asia-Aus flights are overnight

 

[Isochronous]

Yes, move traffic from LAX.

So you think BNE-LAX daily in addition to BNE-DFW what, 5x weekly? Daily?

 

[Isochronous]

The lack of F lounge at HKG may be an indication of QFs intention?

I actually think the 330 is a better sized aircraft for HKG and Asia overall (With the exception of NRT and maybe seasonal/summer BKK). A double daily refurb 330 from SYD (plus BNE/MEL) would do what CX can do - offer a consistent hard product.

I do agree that QF would be making a mistake without a small Y+ considering most (all?) of Asia-Aus flights are overnight

If they put PE in the new A330 config then I'll be perfectly happy - especially if they introduce an overnight HKG flight exAus - perhaps from MEL given the curfew issues at SYD. But I've done a lot of A380 flying on HKG-SYD and the loads are consistently high.

 

[sydstar]

But I've done a lot of A380 flying on HKG-SYD and the loads are consistently high.

I wonder how much of the J/Y+ Cabin is connecting from BNE/MEL for the superior hard product through? A double daily 330 from SYD would see a slight increase in Y seats (depending on Y+) and roughly the same number of J seats

As for BNE to US routes, surely BNE-LAX would be an ideal route for a 789 on launch (if they ever get them!) This could then perform the JFK tag as well.

 

[Isochronous]

I wonder how much of the J/Y+ Cabin is connecting from BNE/MEL for the superior hard product through? A double daily 330 from SYD would see a slight increase in Y seats (depending on Y+) and roughly the same number of J seats

As for BNE to US routes, surely BNE-LAX would be an ideal route for a 789 on launch (if they ever get them!) This could then perform the JFK tag as well.

I am a MEL connector because of PE. Of course if the A330s get PE then I will fly direct.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am a MEL connector because of PE. Of course if the A330s get PE then I will fly direct.

land here's the thing... prices ex mel/bne are generally the same as ex SYD, yet QF has to fly you to SYD 'for free'.

installing a couple of rows of PE ex MEL/BNE would seem a wise investment because they'll save money on flying people to SYD, baggage handling for the transfer, the transfer bus, staff at the domestic bag drop-off points, additional security.

I've forgotten the exact details, but won't QF have some spare domestic business class seats after the refurbishment of the a330s and the retirement of the 767s which they could use to create PE on all a330s?

 

[hutch]

.... 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.....

Pretty sure it is doing a QF1>QF10>QF9>QF2 pattern.