What is the best option to get from MEL to MNL?

[Mrmaxwell]

QF currently have 10 A330-300s flying 10 routes (2 of which are not daily - MNL is 4x weekly and CGK is 3x weekly, so this in effect is the equivalent of one route), though this will increase to 11 routes once they start flying BNE-NRT - meaning full aircraft utilisation. So yes, there is indeed a lack of "spare" aircraft at the moment, though QF do also have a number of A330-200s at their disposal.

I'd be interested in the load stats for the 2 x daily SYD-SIN services. The few times I have taken that route recently the plane has been half empty. Move one of those routes to MNL and let both MNL and CGK have daily flights.

 

[Mattg]

I'd be interested in the load stats for the 2 x daily SYD-SIN services. The few times I have taken that route recently the plane has been half empty. Move one of those routes to MNL and let both MNL and CGK have daily flights.

Unfortunately it is not possible for the public to view the load factors on individual flights, only the average load factors on all flights between Australia and individual countries by airline. So, I can certainly get stats on QF41/42 (as it's the only QF flight to Indonesia) but the statistics to Singapore will be combined between all the SYD/BNE/MEL flights.

With that little disclaimer out of the way, here are the stats for the last 3 months of published statistics:

QF41/42 Sydney-Jakarta

December 2014: 89.0% (inbound), 97.7% (outbound)
January 2015: 97.1% (inbound), 76.8% (outbound)
February 2015: 94.1% (inbound), 65.3% (outbound)

All QF flights between Australia and Singapore:

December 2014: 80.5% (inbound), 91.6% (outbound)
January 2015: 95.3% (inbound), 79.2% (outbound)
February 2015: 96.0% (inbound), 77.1% (outbound)

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Unfortunately it is not possible for the public to view the load factors on individual flights, only the average load factors on all flights between Australia and individual countries by airline. So, I can certainly get stats on QF41/42 (as it's the only QF flight to Indonesia) but the statistics to Singapore will be combined between all the SYD/BNE/MEL flights.

With that little disclaimer out of the way, here are the stats for the last 3 months of published statistics:

QF41/42 Sydney-Jakarta

December 2014: 89.0% (inbound), 97.7% (outbound)
January 2015: 97.1% (inbound), 76.8% (outbound)
February 2015: 94.1% (inbound), 65.3% (outbound)

All QF flights between Australia and Singapore:

December 2014: 80.5% (inbound), 91.6% (outbound)
January 2015: 95.3% (inbound), 79.2% (outbound)
February 2015: 96.0% (inbound), 77.1% (outbound)

Certainly the QF inbound figures are better across the board for Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore - why is that?

I guess QFi are doing well from Asia at least and really they just need more planes (787?)

 

[Mattg]

Certainly the QF inbound figures are better across the board for Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore - why is that?

I guess QFi are doing well from Asia at least and really they just need more planes (787?)

I suspect it varies depending on the time of year. Note that the outbound figures are better for December. That would say to me that more Australians flew QF overseas for Christmas than people from Asia flying to Australia.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

As usual QF20 last Monday was full (both Y and J);



Renovations are still on going at terminal 1 in MNL hence the 'lounge' is currently being shared by no less than 10 airlines:




Add to this paying PAX can also access the room it was chockers (no air conditioning added to the charm!);




It really is a miserable trip - the traffic to the terminal, the lack of comfort waiting for the flight and the actual flight itself. My legroom was cut in half due to the entertainment box under the seat in front of me being at my feet blowing out hot air, with one also under my own seat also blowing out hot air. The remote control in the armrest means the call bell goes off every ten minutes as someone leans on it in their sleep. The CSM did introduce himself and thank me for flying - asked if I would like a glass of champagne which I gladly accepted but never saw him return. Oh well.

 

[dajop]

I suspect it varies depending on the time of year. Note that the outbound figures are better for December. That would say to me that more Australians flew QF overseas for Christmas than people from Asia flying to Australia.

Foreign students also tend to influence traffic flows at that time of year (heading back home after academic year, returning for next one), not just Australians travelling OS for holidays.

 

[Ric]

Basically most Filipinos will rush back to Philippines for Christmas. It's like a pilgrimage for them. MNL terminals will be totally congested as are the roads and shopping malls.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Basically most Filipinos will rush back to Philippines for Christmas. It's like a pilgrimage for them. MNL terminals will be totally congested as are the roads and shopping malls.

This is the same for most asian countries (Indonesia, HK, China, Malaysia) however doesn't explain full loads over Feb, Mar, April, May....

Moving to a daily MNL service certainly looks warranted.

 

[whughes3]

This is the same for most asian countries (Indonesia, HK, China, Malaysia) however doesn't explain full loads over Feb, Mar, April, May....

Moving to a daily MNL service certainly looks warranted.

The only time QF have ever flown daily to MNL was for a brief period in 1998 (IIRC?) when PR were in financial strife and stopped flying to Australia for some time. The service was flown by 747SP's, so capacity was about 2100/week. Even then I recall that the daily flights were reduced to 6/week quite quickly and remained at that level for the remainder of the time until PR resumed services.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

The only time QF have ever flown daily to MNL was for a brief period in 1998 (IIRC?) when PR were in financial strife and stopped flying to Australia for some time.

Given the current boom in services in Manila and the country as a whole, as well as numerous BPO and contact centre outposts for Australian companies, and lucky last growing tourism times have certainly changed. If 5J can add 5 flights per week QF can surely add 3!

 

[dajop]

Given the current boom in services in Manila and the country as a whole, as well as numerous BPO and contact centre outposts for Australian companies, and lucky last growing tourism times have certainly changed. If 5J can add 5 flights per week QF can surely add 3!

QF following the U.S. model of capacity discipline? Fill the planes with higher yields. Unlike HKG or SIN they don't have a perceived high quality competitor nonstop to MNL.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

QF following the U.S. model of capacity discipline? Fill the planes with higher yields. Unlike HKG or SIN they don't have a perceived high quality competitor nonstop to MNL.

Yes I would agree.

Can someone advise how I check the upcoming allocated planes for my flights?

Looks like my next QF19 flight this Monday is a refurb A330 - my first!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Today's QF19 is a refurbed A330 woohoo!

 

[whughes3]

Today's QF19 is a refurbed A330 woohoo!

There have been quite a few of these in the last few weeks; including the one (27/5) which I was supposed to be on but missed due to a horribly late connecting flight!

 

[Mattg]

Stats for March are in. There were some stellar loadings on QF19/20 once again - QF19 average load factor was 93.8% and QF20 was 95.3%. This was the best overall result for any Qantas destination. Only QF21 to Tokyo and certain Trans-Tasman routes had higher load factors, but the return QF22 was down a bit.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Stats for March are in. There were some stellar loadings on QF19/20 once again - QF19 average load factor was 93.8% and QF20 was 95.3%. This was the best overall result for any Qantas destination. Only QF21 to Tokyo and certain Trans-Tasman routes had higher load factors, but the return QF22 was down a bit.

Glad to know I was not imagining seemingly full flights each time I travelled on QF19/QF20 in March.

The refurbishment of the A330 birds is very good. I was worried when QF announced the refurb as I was thinking about the 767 refurb which was pretty bad IMO.

The new J and Y cabins look great and more importantly both seat types and IFE are big upgrades from what was previously installed. As I flew in whY I can only comment on how comfortable the seats were - more so than the A380. The IFE is great and very easy to use with an efficient touch/swipe interface (no more coughpy remote in the armrest!) however I could not get the USB port to charge my iPhone 5S (faulty port?).

I also checked out the J cabin and like it. The window seats seem to have more room than the middle two seats as the middle share the same armrest table whereas the window seats each get a same size table to themselves. Also the bulkhead seats seem a little claustrophobic as the PAX is closer to the wall-mounted screen and legs slide under the bulkhead using that space. The CSM mentioned that QF will be alternating the new planes on the MNL route and that QF have bought forward the switchover as MNL was supposed to be last on the list!

Some quick phone pics;