Retimed Asian Flights - Good or Bad

[markis10]

Now that we have had the retimed flights with us for a little while, what are peoples thoughts, my only experience has been that is nice to be able to connect into other Asian cities without a stay in Singapore for instance, but the lounges dont seem to be coping with the BNE departure clashing with some significant other flights ex BNE. SIN lounge also felt very crowded, with the caveat that it was school holidays.

 

[docjames]

I'm not getting over QF29 being re-timed.

 

[cmon0005]

Hasn't really made a difference to me as the timings before were fine even now they're still fine, what still lacks (for the worse) is the cessation of my more frequently traveled route of SIN-BOM QF51/52 and in general the lack of proper onward flights that don't involve JQ/3K.etc. and lack of codeshares with other OW carriers in Asia beyond!

 

[RooFlyer]

Spoke with my TA today (high end-ish, lots of corporate clients) about this very thing. Reported that lots of his clients not happy, moving across to other airlines (mainly CX and SQ) for Asia, and not that thrilled with Dubai vs Singapore to London. Concluded that he would be surprised if QF was cash positive at end of this year on kangaroo route and Asian loadings, due to pax going elsewhere for Asia. Old QF aircraft on HKG and SIN routes a frequent point of complaint to the TA.

This really surprised me, but he was quite firm on the loss of Asian business for QF.

 

[docjames]

QF J on A330 vs CX J or SQ J.


Easy to know product wise what most would choose. Add better timings and frequency.


The A330s need a product upgrade ASAP - the timeline that has been previously mentioned doesn't really cut it.


Again an illustration of how QF are hurting from the 787 debacle.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I'm not getting over QF29 being re-timed.

I'm not liking the new schedule for QF29 at all. Connecting thru from a sociable morning flight from ADL afforded a pleasant lunch in the F lounge before 29 departed and Mrs 340 and myself had several of those last year. Now it's an unsociable wake up call at OMG o'clock in ADL for a bleary quick couple of eggs on toast in MEL. CX104 looking quite nice now. At least the NZ flights are still all good; thank goodness New Zealand isn't in Asia.

First World problems I know, but leisure travel should, in my mind, be leisurely and pleasant. Not everyone is hopping on a red tailed aircraft to Asia for business reasons.

 

[Nizar]

QF J on A330 vs CX J or SQ J.

Easy to know product wise what most would choose. Add better timings and frequency.

The A330s need a product upgrade ASAP.

+1million.

 

[docjames]

The advantage of the old QF29 timing also used to be you could leave Friday night and come back Monday for a long weekend. Now you lose Friday or Saturday.

Similarly, late departure for London was useful, meaning either late evening departure after full day, and early afternoon arrival into LHR. Now you lose a day (in the same way).

 

[love_the_life]

From a different perspective - not looking at the long haul issues but there used to be a daylight flight from SIN to SYD which we used to take as it was comfortable enough in Y and Y+. They are all overnights now by the look of it.

 

[markis10]

From a different perspective - not looking at the long haul issues but there used to be a daylight flight from SIN to SYD which we used to take as it was comfortable enough in Y and Y+. They are all overnights now by the look of it.

I don't think there has been a daylight option since 2006/7, which is a pity, in hindsight I should have taken the 3 PM EK flight to BNE, midnight arrival but a bed awaits!

 

[love_the_life]

I don't think there has been a daylight option since 2006/7, which is a pity, in hindsight I should have taken the 3 PM EK flight to BNE, midnight arrival but a bed awaits!

No - we had a flight leaving SIN at about 9.30am in February last year (2012). It arrived into SYD about 8.30pm which was too late for us to make a CBR connection so we stayed at an airport hotel and flew back the next day.

 

[Economy_Gold]

Spoke with my TA today (high end-ish, lots of corporate clients) about this very thing. Reported that lots of his clients not happy, moving across to other airlines (mainly CX and SQ) for Asia, and not that thrilled with Dubai vs Singapore to London. Concluded that he would be surprised if QF was cash positive at end of this year on kangaroo route and Asian loadings, due to pax going elsewhere for Asia. Old QF aircraft on HKG and SIN routes a frequent point of complaint to the TA.

This really surprised me, but he was quite firm on the loss of Asian business for QF.

I think your TA is right. I was flying last week SYD-SIN (in Y) and is was VERY empty (load around 40%). The FA mentioned that it is the same in J and has been for all her recent Asia flights.

 

[Princess Fiona]

No - we had a flight leaving SIN at about 9.30am in February last year (2012). It arrived into SYD about 8.30pm which was too late for us to make a CBR connection so we stayed at an airport hotel and flew back the next day.

Yes, I was on that flight in March 2012 from LHR-SIN-SYD ?? QF 2 I think and it landed in SYD in the evening.
Was fantastic, schedule changed shortly after

 

[serfty]

I don't think there has been a daylight option since 2006/7, which is a pity, in hindsight I should have taken the 3 PM EK flight to BNE, midnight arrival but a bed awaits!

Good 'ol QF32 ... 'twas chopped and changed but kept that am SIN departure to Oz.

 

[RickyT84]

I have travelled on the new retimed services yet but I have to say the SYD J Lounge does get pretty crowded in the morning (from around 8am to 10am) when most flights to Asia depart.

I don't think there has been a daylight option since 2006/7, which is a pity, in hindsight I should have taken the 3 PM EK flight to BNE, midnight arrival but a bed awaits!

IIRC, QF31/QF32 (with an morning departure ex-SIN) remained in the QF schedule until March 2012 before it was changed to the current QF1/2 schedule.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Yes, I was on that flight in March 2012 from LHR-SIN-SYD ?? QF 2 I think and it landed in SYD in the evening.
Was fantastic, schedule changed shortly after

Same as the old QF2 through BKK. Left LHR at a lovely time, lunch, sleep, survive the horror ofDon Mueang (yes, I'm going back a bit), sleep, wake up over Uluru for a spot of dinner and arrive into SYD in time for Masterchef. Ok, I made up the bit about surviving Don Mueang. Nobody really ever did that.

 

[timster]

Ok, I made up the bit about surviving Don Mueang. Nobody really ever did that.

Never thought I'd say this, but I think I actually prefer Don Muang in some ways to the horror that is Suvarnabhumi.

And QF 23 SYD-BKK now "enhanced" to depart at 9.40am ? How are pax from outside Sydney supposed to get on that and also get some sleep the night before ?

And a cynic might say this flight was actually retimed to balloon the layover to an uncomfortable 7 hours for anyone wanting to make the previously recommended and codeshared connection with BA10 to LHR.

QF24 BKK-SYD had lots of empty seats the other day. And that's after the deep Asian sale last month, which was then extended even further.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

And QF 23 SYD-BKK now "enhanced" to depart at 9.40am ? How are pax from outside Sydney supposed to get on that and also get some sleep the night before ?

Agree completely. Refer to my previous post about my, former, favourite flight of QF29.

And a cynic might say this flight was actually retimed to balloon the layover to an uncomfortable 7 hours for anyone wanting to make the previously recommended and codeshared connection with BA10 to LHR.

A cynic might also say that moving flights to mid morning departures is going to cut down on alcohol consumption in the lounges and on board. Instant cost saving with not a cent spent by QF. Mind you, when QFi is losing as much as it is then that's probably not a bad move. As long as QF29 goes back to a 14:00 departure when the red ink has stopped leaking

 

[Awesom Andy]

While I haven't been on the retimed services, SYD-SIN in Y ex-both ports are at the lowest price point in more than 4 years, and the specials are unrestricted - school holidays apply as well. And, for ex-SIN, Y, Y+, and J are all on sale ($527, $1450, and $2600 respectively, all-inclusive, AUD equivalent). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that nobody is flying on QF anymore.

 

[docjames]

As long as QF29 goes back to a 14:00 departure when the red ink has stopped leaking

It was a ~2200 departure....