Will you use the new ULH PER-LHR?

[mrdctau]

I also like the feeling of departing from a proper international terminal, it has got a real buzz to it, whereas an domestic terminal doesn't really excite me.
Anyway I'm willing to try this service at least once to make up my mind, however the main deal breaker is no F lounge and probably a crowded and underwhelming Dom J lounge when compared with a international J lounge .

At least Qantas has separate QP and J lounges in the domestic terminal at Perth. I've been in the Perth J lounge a few times this year and I'd say it's far superior to Melbourne's domestic and international J lounges. It's at least triple the size of Melbourne's domestic J lounge (which seems like a disappointing after-thought tucked away in the far corner of the QP) and has a much wider range of food options than Melbourne's international J lounge.

 

[JohnK]

No.

I have no desire to try and save 2-3 hours on that length of trip. I would much rather fly SYD-PER-SIN-DXB-LHR which is saying something about my preference for length of flights. SYD-BKK is too long as a direct flight.

 

[suze2000]

Either if its short haul or long haul, I'd take 17.2" width & 32" pitch over 17.5" width & 31" pitch any day.

But the thing is, an A380 seat is over 18". That's a massive difference if your butt/shoulders/or both are larger than slim.

If you are a small thing, yes, the legroom might be more valuable. But for those of us who weigh more than they really ought to - or who are just tall or of a large build anyway or have wide shoulders - seat width is a deal-breaker.

Also, narrow aisles, as someone else pointed out, is a problem as well. If you are large, you walk up and down the aisle crabwise, a sure way to do yourself an injury. OR you bump every hapless aisle passenger you go past. Usually I do a combination of the two, as I try to minimise my impact, but end up with a sore knee or hip or something, so switch halfway down to just swaying my hips in the hopes of keeping my cough out of faces. Narrow aisles is also a problem when trying to take that all-important DVT-preventing walkaround - for reasons above but also because it's hard to pass others who may be doing the same thing.

Honestly, I know AJ is a compact man, but I really think that they should actually think about what it's like for large numbers of above-average people to be seated in these things for ULH and then THINK AGAIN about the seating config.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Honestly, I know AJ is a compact man, but I really think that they should actually think about what it's like for large numbers of above-average people to be seated in these things for ULH and then THINK AGAIN about the seating config.

Unfortunately pax width was not in the QF (run by) accountants spreadsheet.

 

[suze2000]

And I suspect their balance sheet will suffer all the more for it.

 

[Buzzard]

Since I don't live in PER I simply don't see any benefit really.
May as well fly via HKG or SIN and enjoy a stopover.
If I lived in PER and was in a hurry then that is a different story.

 

[Daver6]

It's somewhat psychological having the comfort that I've cleared immigration and I'm free to leave the country; although I guess the feds could pull me off the plane anytime until takeoff. Proximity of the lounge to the international gates will come into play also. If I understand correctly, the new international section will be at the south of the T3/T4 complex whereas the two existing QF lounges are at the north.

Not quite correct. QP is roughly in the middle of T4 and J lounge is southern end of T4, boarding T3. I don't know if you've actually been to those terminals, but they are pretty small.

So perhaps 200 metres (if that) from the lounges to the gate. How do you survive places like Singapore, LHR or HKG where lounge to gate can be well over a km?

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Definitely. I avoid DXB, this is a great alternative.

 

[mrdctau]

Not quite correct. QP is roughly in the middle of T4 and J lounge is southern end of T4, boarding T3. I don't know if you've actually been to those terminals, but they are pretty small.

So perhaps 200 metres (if that) from the lounges to the gate. How do you survive places like Singapore, LHR or HKG where lounge to gate can be well over a km?

I'll be in Perth next week, so I'll double check that one myself. My recollection was that the J Lounge was on the same level as the departure gates and was basically right next to Gates 14 & 15 where the PER-MEL flights have generally been and the QP was up the escalators and a little bit further away from those gates.

In HKG, I either use the golf buggy service (which costs about $10 iirc) from the lounge to the gate or once I know which gate my flight is leaving from relocate to the nearest CX lounge to that gate. I usually do the latter.

 

[alieninperth]

I voted no, and the only way that I would ever use this service was if they literally paid me to use it. Even from Perth, I will have to 1 stop to my final destination and transiting LHR is my worst nightmare. I've done it a few times and each time it has been stressful, rushed, uncomfortable and generally but me in a foul mood for the rest of the day. I would much rather head from Perth to either the ME and then on, or even better, via SIN or HKG, and then into MAN or HEL and then DUB.

IMO immigration at MAN is considerably better than LHR. My last 3 trips to Europe saw me entering the UK at MAN (2 x from Hel and once from HKG). Apart from the incredibly surly and almost rude agents it was bliss, perhaps because it was early, perhaps because they were bored. There was no line and I was across the boarder within 10 minutes of getting off the plane.

 

[Infrequent]

Its the dawn of a new age of travel!

Oh, okay then...

Would you believe its a fantastic new option to get to the UK/Europe?

Alright ...

Would you believe its an alternative for business-class travelers to/from Perth to save a couple of hours and bypass a M/E or SE Asian hub?

 

[Quickstatus]

definitely NO, never, in Y
maybe in W
maybe in J

"maybe" due to lack of information about timetable and how it integrates with other services out of SYD.

 

[browski]

I am Melbourne-based. So it is obviously a "no" from me......although I do love my Dockers.

 

[Infrequent]

Some potential Pros and Cons for various options:


To/from Perth (not continuing to/from Eastern States)

Direct PER-LHR in F:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; comfortable.

Cons: Does not exist.


Direct PER-LHR in J:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; not too uncomfortable.

Cons: Some increased DVT potential; Painful if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in PE:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; not as uncomfortable as some prison cells.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Somewhat agonising if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in Y:

Pros: Saves time; avoids relief of transit; not as uncomfortable as some forms of torture.

Cons: Free in-seat DVT; Hell if seated near a turkey; Pure hell if seated between Sumo turkeys.


To/from Eastern States:

Direct PER-LHR in F:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; parts of flight may be comfortable.

Cons: Does not exist.


Direct PER-LHR in J:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as some wierd routings/airlines.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Painful if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in PE:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as the worst prison cells.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Agonising if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in Y:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as the worst forms of torture.

Cons: Free in-seat DVT; Pure hell if seated near a turkey; Worse than hell if seated between Sumo turkeys.

 

[suze2000]

My dislike of DXB is not due to my racism, and it is naive of you to think that. It's the airport I hate, the bus transfers, and the way I was treated on Emirates.

 

[Infrequent]

My dislike of DXB is not due to my racism, and it is naive of you to think that. It's the airport I hate, the bus transfers, and the way I was treated on Emirates.

I'm not sure to whom/what you are referring here? A post from another thread?

(Interesting wording, though!)

 

[Daver6]

Some potential Pros and Cons for various options:


To/from Perth (not continuing to/from Eastern States)

Direct PER-LHR in F:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; comfortable.

Cons: Does not exist.


Direct PER-LHR in J:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; not too uncomfortable.

Cons: Some increased DVT potential; Painful if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in PE:

Pros: Saves time; avoids hassle of transit; not as uncomfortable as some prison cells.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Somewhat agonising if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in Y:

Pros: Saves time; avoids relief of transit; not as uncomfortable as some forms of torture.

Cons: Free in-seat DVT; Hell if seated near a turkey; Pure hell if seated between Sumo turkeys.


To/from Eastern States:

Direct PER-LHR in F:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; parts of flight may be comfortable.

Cons: Does not exist.


Direct PER-LHR in J:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as some wierd routings/airlines.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Painful if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in PE:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as the worst prison cells.

Cons: Increased DVT potential; Agonising if seated near a turkey.


Direct PER-LHR in Y:

Pros: Avoids transit in M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions; not as uncomfortable as the worst forms of torture.

Cons: Free in-seat DVT; Pure hell if seated near a turkey; Worse than hell if seated between Sumo turkeys.

DVT gets quite a mention. Now, I'm not doubting there is an increases risk, but I am questioning how significant that increased risk actually is? My gut tells me its likely to be statistically insignificant, but I'm always ready to be proven wrong (I usually am)

 

[Infrequent]

DVT gets quite a mention. Now, I'm not doubting there is an increases risk, but I am questioning how significant that increased risk actually is? My gut tells me its likely to be statistically insignificant, but I'm always ready to be proven wrong (I usually am)

Well, increased compared to the A380 which could technically fly the route, but despite the amazing and unbelievably popular nature of the all-new direct route, AJ wants the lower fuel consumption of the B787 for some reason!

 

[suze2000]

I'm not sure to whom/what you are referring here? A post from another thread?

(Interesting wording, though!)

The post above mine "avoids M/E if you are of certain cultural or mental persuasions" implies some sort of mental deficiency on the part of people who won't fly there.

And yeah, not my best choice of words, naive especially...

 

[Ralphie]

Not for me. As I'm in Adelaide, I'd rather have the stop closer to the middle of the journey.