Sydney to Hobart service

[Lynda2475]

QF995 SYD-HBA scheduled 1:20pm (departed 15 min late). Interestingly, mainline Qantas, not QantasLink

That is normal from SYD, Qantaslink for the LST service but Qantas proper for SYD-HBA on 737

 

[RooFlyer]

That is normal from SYD, Qantaslink for the LST service but Qantas proper for SYD-HBA on 737

Hmmm ... take your word for it, but I hardly ever see mainline QF at HBA and the FA did say it was unusual.

 

[Lynda2475]

Have flown both SYD-HBA and HBA-SYD twice in the last 12 months and there are usually 2 * 737 flights each day (QF995/QF994 and QF997/QF996). The qantas link fights have 4 digit numbers (QF1537) and are not daily. If its a 3 digit flight number will be Qantas proper.

If you search any day you will find a 737 flight on SYD-HBA.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you search any day you will find a 737 flight on SYD-HBA.

Although I don't fly QF much these days, I will be doing Sydney every week or two for the next few months, so this was worth looking into. I prefer 737 to 717.

There are 19 direct SYD-HBA services per week in the next few months (3 daily except for Saturday when there is only 1, but additional JetStar)

26 June-2 July: 12 x QLink B717, 7 x QF B737
23 July-29 July: 18 x QLink B717, 1 x QF B737
13 August - 19 August: 100% QLink B717.

I think you may have been 'lucky', or its seasonal; most days B717 only in the next few months.

 

[kermatu]

A number of my recent flights from/to HBA have been on a 737 with obviously mainline QF service rather than QF Link. At first I thought it was pandemic or event-specific reasons but they seem to be baked into the schedule now (albeit still the minority). Pros and cons to the alternatives (including the catering, to keep this on topic) but I've been choosing the 737s when I can - suits me fine.

 

[Lynda2475]

26 June-2 July: 12 x QLink B717, 7 x QF B737

I'm not sure which website you are checking but think you will find you have it around the wrong way according to qantas.com

• Monday to Friday 26th -30th June - there are 2 * 737 (arvo, evening) and 1 *717 (morning)
• Sat 1st July only 1 * 717
• Sun 2nd there are 3 *737 and no 717.

By my count that is 13 * 737 and only 6 *717

13-14 Aug there is QF993 (so 2 * 737 that week), agree for remainder of that week only Qantas link. 20 Aug and 27 Aug there is 737. Im going to guess QF will be flying world cup players between cities in AU and NZ and likely diverted the 737s in August for that.

Also probably a seasonal thing given Tassie wouldn't be particularly popular place in Winter for tourists but the June schedule of 2 * 737s a day was what I was seeing in early December and in March when I flew. Looks like the twice daily 737s resume in October. So it appears Aug & Sept are the exceptions.

 

[RooFlyer]

Bringing over a discussion from the Qantas meals thread, which had gone off topic.

 

[RooFlyer]

Equipment used on Sydney to Hobart route started here when I found my self on a B737 from Sydney and expressed surprise.

Through

If you search any day you will find a 737 flight on SYD-HBA.

And ended up:

I'm not sure which website you are checking but think you will find you have it around the wrong way according to qantas.com

• Monday to Friday 26th -30th June - there are 2 * 737 (arvo, evening) and 1 *717 (morning)
• Sat 1st July only 1 * 717
• Sun 2nd there are 3 *737 and no 717.

By my count that is 13 * 737 and only 6 *717

13-14 Aug there is QF993 (so 2 * 737 that week), agree for remainder of that week only Qantas link. 20 Aug and 27 Aug there is 737. Im going to guess QF will be flying world cup players between cities in AU and NZ and likely diverted the 737s in August for that.

Also probably a seasonal thing given Tassie wouldn't be particularly popular place in Winter for tourists but the June schedule of 2 * 737s a day was what I was seeing in early December and in March when I flew. Looks like the twice daily 737s resume in October. So it appears Aug & Sept are the exceptions.

... so we agree that there are many days that there are no B737 services, in fact the majority in the periods I originally canvassed, July to August. Locals tend to have a feel for these sort of things, and even though I don't fly Qantas much these days - you still see what's out on the apron.

Oh, and Hobart is a very popular place in the middle of winter, around the 3 weeks (including travel shoulders) of Dark mof_, which ends this week# and I dare say may account for the bigger jets on the route at the moment and also in December-March, summer tourist season. Rest of the year, regrettably, mostly B717s.

# with The ever-popular, sold-out nude solstice swim in the Derwent .

 

[jpp42]

Oh, and Hobart is a very popular place in the middle of winter, around the 3 weeks (including travel shoulders) of Dark mof_, which ends this week# and I dare say may account for the bigger jets on the route at the moment

Yep, was about to chime in with this also, I like Hobart quite a lot and have been there a dozen or so times, but primarily during summer and in June for Dark mof_.

 

[Lynda2475]

Rest of the year, regrettably, mostly B717s.

Incorrect. For 9 months of the year October to June there are more SYD-HBA services on a 737 (13) per week than on a 717 (only 6).

For less than 3 months from Jul to Sept there are mostly only 717s but still some days with at least one 737 (i.e. Mondays and Tuesdays in first half of July).

Of course you see plenty of 717s on the runway because that what flies from MEL and once a day (except Sundays Oct-Jun) from SYD and who knows where else.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure were you get the info from, but I'm sure you are right. Just happened to be completely the other way round during the several months I checked, day-by-day on three weeks on qantas.com

 

[Harrison_133]

The 737s have been used quite heavily on SYD-HBA in the last year or two, but I’d add a couple of things.

The 717 retirement is obviously looming. As more leave the fleet, the network will be gradually drawn down. In Brisbane, the 717 flying has easily been picked up by the E190s, but Alliance doesn’t have a base in Sydney, so the 737s will have to do in the interim.

The A220 is the other piece of the puzzle. Although they’re supposed to fulfil the role of the 717, only 6 or 7 will be with the airline by the time the entire 717 fleet is retired. So in places where Alliance E190s can’t pick up the slack (like Sydney), expect more 737s. Reading elsewhere, it’s rumoured the A220 will initially be Melbourne based, so I won’t be surprised to see 737s remaining on SYD-HBA for a while to come.

It’s also worth noting that from April 2024, the 717s are being removed completely from the Sydney base and are only scheduled to operate sectors to/from Melbourne.

 

[Lynda2475]

he 737s have been used quite heavily on SYD-HBA in the last year or two

Thank you for confirming my experience and what qantas.com shows for most of the year

 

[RooFlyer]

Thank you for confirming my experience and what qantas.com shows for most of the year

No-one was questioning your experience in two visits over the past year, or the calendar for the year going forward - just your contention that "If you search any day you will find a 737 flight on SYD-HBA", which I knew not to be true and I demonstrated that by searching 3 separate full weeks over the next few months which are of interest to me.

Now, re-checking some of those weeks, even over a couple of days, the mix has changed a bit from what I tabulated before, so its obviously still being balanced wrt load factors but still a majority of days B717 only for those periods. Really, this should not be surprising to anyone who knows the route; three direct QF/QLink flights a day, 6 days out of 7 HBA-SYD-HBA is a bit of a luxury.

Needing to go up to Sydney and back same day about 6 times in the next two month, I'll see what eventuates, although I'll have the VA option of course, if the timing is better.

 

[jpp42]

I'll have the VA option of course, if the timing is better.

But then you'll miss out on the luxuries of the QF Hobart lounge! I don't know how that could even be a consideration...;-)

 

[kangarooflyer88]

For those who have had the pleasure of flying both QF mainline and QantasLink from HBA, is there a difference in the lounge set up at HBA between these flights? For instance, does QF roll out the top tier champagne and liquor for mainline travellers, then bring back the usual juiceboxes for QantasLink customers?

 

[kookaburra75]

For those who have had the pleasure of flying both QF mainline and QantasLink from HBA, is there a difference in the lounge set up at HBA between these flights? For instance, does QF roll out the top tier champagne and liquor for mainline travellers, then bring back the usual juiceboxes for QantasLink customers?

No, it is a very egalitarian arrangement. I'll let you guess which end of the spectrum it is.

 

[kermatu]

They only bring out the champagne and caviar for the Air NZ flights.

Not looked at schedules but have also had 737s on flights to/from MEL this year.

 

[mviy]

For those who have had the pleasure of flying both QF mainline and QantasLink from HBA, is there a difference in the lounge set up at HBA between these flights? For instance, does QF roll out the top tier champagne and liquor for mainline travellers, then bring back the usual juiceboxes for QantasLink customers?

Top tier champagne? Are you thinking of the Chairman’s Lounge in SYD or the F cabin on QF1?

 

[jpp42]

Are you thinking of the Chairman’s Lounge in SYD

KF88 was referring the the secret *Hobart* Chairman's Lounge, of course.