Qantas Frequent Flyer - Likelihood of First Class Being on QF29/30 and QF1/2 March 2012

We had to cancel our planned Australia vacation for this year due to competiting economic priorities (new house), but have a trip planned for next March, using QF 30 between HKG and MEL and QF 1 between SYD and LHR (via BKK, obviously).

Recognizing that QF has not announced plans to upgrade either flight to 4-class A380s and the announced plans to drop First Class from the 744s, what do you think are the odds of them retaining First Class next March. QF is selling First Class on both flights, but 11 months is a long time. While I would certainly love for these flights to switch to A380s between now and next March, I am perfectly happy with them being 744s, so long as First Class is retained.

Thanks!

Not high. I thought at the time of annoucement regarding the aircraft reconfigurations that First Class sales would have stopped at the end of this year. Of course this was at the height of th GFC so may change.

My opinion is that it is almost a sure thing that F will still be operating March 2012 on both of those routes; the aircraft refit schedule has clearly slipped, and QF generally stops selling F for a planned route downgrade ... also likes to do it on quarter boundaries. My guess is that April 2012 may see it disappear from BKK but that HKG will get A380 service in 2013 and will keep F until then (better than 50% chance). Certainly a better chance of this F coming through than getting F awards on any other flights on those routes.

I saw an article that delayed refit of 744's will begin in Dec 2011.

I think they are having trouble putting enough Skybed Mk II's at 80" pitch into Zone A.

(The existing F Seats have 80")

I'm thinking 14 at most; they probably hoped for 18.

I saw an article that delayed refit of 744's will begin in Dec 2011.

Last I heard, re-fit was still on-track to commence next month. Which article did you hear that from?

I'd put my money on 'no' myself. I'm going to start transiting via SIN if I want my redemption F seats (Which is a shame, as I love HKG the city).

Last I heard, re-fit was still on-track to commence next month. Which article did you hear that from?...Maybe you should tell QF management that they got the schedule wrong ...

Original QF press release in Feb 2010 was quite clear about the schedule, stating that the refit commences end of 2011 and complete end of 2013. I suppose it was a bit confusing for an early 2010 announcement, and many misread the schedule to be for end of 2010 not 2011 as announced. Can't fault QF for giving lots of warning, and in this context it is unlikely that more than 1 744 will have been refit into 3 class config (as they have 9 to do in 24 month elapsed time). I'd bet HKG will be 4-class operated through all of 2012.


http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20100218/pdf/31nrmxw49wbjtm.pdf

Thanks all. Turns out that, today, a seat opened up on QF11, so I was able to change to that.

Interestingly, QF F availability between LHR and SYD/MEL has not been too tight. Seats are readily available most days of the week on QF1/2 and QF 29/30. QF9/10 is also available most days. QF 31/32 seems the most restrictive, but not as tight as QF 11/12 and QF 93/94.

Thanks all. Turns out that, today, a seat opened up on QF11, so I was able to change to that. ...Do you mean QF10 (LHR-SIN-MEL) as QF11 is to LAX, over the wrong ocean (unless you really are going the long way around, though actually I've done LHR-YVR-HKG-SYD a few times and it is not a bad way to go).

Do you mean QF10 (LHR-SIN-MEL) as QF11 is to LAX, over the wrong ocean (unless you really are going the long way around, though actually I've done LHR-YVR-HKG-SYD a few times and it is not a bad way to go).

QF11. I was routing through London because that's where the availability was. Going through LAX is a lot fewer miles.

Having done LAX-LHR-HKG-SYD in F in the past -- with no stopovers -- I can safely state that it is no fun, even with flat beds and F lounges. Simply too much vibration on a plane. LAX-SYD is 1/3 the elapsed time, so you were crazy to consider F the long way around to be a pleasurable alternative with cost as the only down side. Somewhere at the 24 hour mark travel stops being fun. I did it as a MR but would never do it as an award redemption.

Having done LAX-LHR-HKG-SYD in F in the past -- with no stopovers -- I can safely state that it is no fun, even with flat beds and F lounges. Simply too much vibration on a plane. LAX-SYD is 1/3 the elapsed time, so you were crazy to consider F the long way around to be a pleasurable alternative with cost as the only down side. Somewhere at the 24 hour mark travel stops being fun. I did it as a MR but would never do it as an award redemption.

It's all about availability. The alternative to routing MEL-SIN-LHR-JFK (I had previously found an F seat on QF 9) was MEL-SIN-HKG-JFK, so it would have been a long trip either way (but that route would have involved an overnight layover in SIN). SYD-LAX-JFK is far preferable and it has worked out.

With someone mentioning a possibility of MEL-HKG flight being operated on A388 (or 4 class aircraft), I would be 'dreaming' to even have a slightest hope that by mid-October QF will switch their MEL-HKG flight to A388 instead of the usual 744? :D

I am just glad to be flying in F on 744... but to have A388 switch, now that would be a dream come true! :)

With someone mentioning a possibility of MEL-HKG flight being operated on A388 (or 4 class aircraft)...Come back in 2014, but it would be 3 (J/W/Y) Class with Skybed MkII ...

Have a confirmed award ticket in F. Route is QF2 LHR-BKK-SYD in a 744, and back on QF 29 MEL-HKG-LHR all in March 2012.
What are the chances of FIRST still being offered or a change to the A380 plane?

Have a confirmed award ticket in F. Route is QF2 LHR-BKK-SYD in a 744, and back on QF 29 MEL-HKG-LHR all in March 2012.
What are the chances of FIRST still being offered or a change to the A380 plane?
For both not much chance of a change to A380 by that time.
Also you may see First discontinued but Zone A seats sold as Business. Who knows if bookings look good QF may maintain First on the 747 for a little longer as they retire the 747 fleet.

The 744 J refit is running at least 6 months behind the oringinally announced schedule, and any strike action in 2011 will delay things further. Most likely all current F routes will continue to have F until 2013 provided that the F revenue is there. But QF has dropped F routes on as little as 1 week notice in the past (as have most of the major airlines, F is becoming a rare commodity).

I have award tickets booked March 2012 in First class on QF. How likely will F still be available on these routes through SYD-BKK to LHR and on MEL-HKG to LHR?
Any thoughts? Or will I be downgraded to Business?:)

The 744 J refit is running at least 6 months behind the oringinally announced schedule, and any strike action in 2011 will delay things further.

I don't know where you got that information, but that is incorrect.

It was scheduled to start in late 2011 and still is with the first refit to commence in September.

Even this article dated Feb 2010 says late 2011
http://australianaviation.com.au/2010/02/qantas-reconfigures-a380s-744s/

I have F award seats booked on QF 11/12 in May next year too. I'm hoping that they would reacommodate me on a service with F rather than downgrading me if F is no longer available on this service.

I have F award seats booked on QF 11/12 in May next year too. I'm hoping that they would reacommodate me on a service with F rather than downgrading me if F is no longer available on this service.

QF11/12 is operated by an A380 - no need to worry about F going on that flight

QF11/12 is operated by an A380 - no need to worry about F going on that flight

Sorry I meant 29/30 ! Too many award flights at the moment :D

QF11/12 is operated by an A380 - no need to worry about F going on that flight

Hi Eoinnz - Do you know if QF still plan to deliver their remaining A380s with no First Class?

If they do, I cant see how they will have enough capacity to service HKG & BKK with F class A380s.

Aircraft number 13 onwards won't have F

We are up to aircraft 10 (including poor Nancy in Singapore) at the moment with another two due this year (slightly delayed but still by end of the year). This allows everything to be daily MEL or SYD to LAX or SIN

So there will be some routes that loose First, but a bit hard to guess at this stage which ones. MY educated guess says that BKK will loose it before HKG.

talking about QF29/30 HKG-LHR-HKG, i've seen it disappearing from the schedule in Northern Summer 2012. no more LHR thru HKG?!
that would suck....

QF29/QF30 HKG/LHR will soon enough bite the dust ...

QF29/QF30 HKG/LHR will soon enough bite the dust ...

boooo......:td::td::td: i will miss the flight...
tbh it was one of my better HKG-LHR(LON) or vv flights among all the 5 airline ventured it

End of March 2012 is a very interesting time for QF29 / MEL - HKG

It's moving to an afternoon departure time (14:15)

But what about the rumours of it losing Y+ as a result of changing to an A340 (or 330 maybe)

Surely not...

I did some searching, but I can't find anything on this topic.

Any ideas?

EF is showing a A330-300 with J and Y through April 2012.
So looks like losing Y+

QF doesn't have A340s

EF is showing a A330-300 with J and Y through April 2012.
So looks like losing Y+

QF doesn't have A340s

Yes - Y+ in an A330-300 is not going to fit - J is already cramped enough

I must say, though, I'm astounded... and I say that as a MEL-based WP ((and former CX DM (who are introducing Y+ - albeit initially only out of SYD))

VH-OEG is the first 747 with the reconfigured 3-class cabin due to enter service next week.

talking about QF29/30 HKG-LHR-HKG, i've seen it disappearing from the schedule in Northern Summer 2012. no more LHR thru HKG?!
that would suck....

That's right - QF29/30 will operate as an A333 and terminate in HKG, with the HKG-LHR service being replaced by a BA codeshare. Interestingly, BA will operate an additional 3x weekly on the route demonstrating that there is some demand.

I think that the HKG-LHR route had a lot of potential. Many people on here have commented on how the connections at HKG were poorly timed in the Australia-bound direction for PER and BNE pax; this starved the LHR-HKG leg of many potential passengers. I actually wrote a blog post on the topic here which may interest some people: http://davidkeating.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/qf29-hong-kong-to-london-how-qantas-trashed-their-own-route/

By the way, first time poster but longtime lurker here. Decided to take the plunge mainly to share info on airfares I stumble across.

Welcome to ft! By the way, first time poster but longtime lurker here. Decided to take the plunge mainly to share info on airfares I stumble across.

Noted in another thread that QF29/QF30 HKG/LHR ceases from March 25, 2012.

Sorry for the bump but I can't find any reports on QF30 since the flight timing switched to an overnight flight. I am flying in F on QF30 next month and was looking for some recent experience. Are the meals dinner and breakfast? Can I check in at the Central station and wander around HKG in the afternoon before my flight? I have flown QF in F before on the 747 so am familiar with the hard product.

Separately I am leaving on QF93 and wondering if they still offer the tasting menu. I had it a couple of years ago and thought it was wonderful.

Many thanks in advance.

Sorry for the bump but I can't find any reports on QF30 since the flight timing switched to an overnight flight. I am flying in F on QF30 next month and was looking for some recent experience. Are the meals dinner and breakfast? Can I check in at the Central station and wander around HKG in the afternoon before my flight? I have flown QF in F before on the 747 so am familiar with the hard product.

Separately I am leaving on QF93 and wondering if they still offer the tasting menu. I had it a couple of years ago and thought it was wonderful.

Many thanks in advance.

I did this a few weeks ago. you are served a main meal after takeoff, and IIRC the choice of a continental breakfast before landing (from what I can remember no one was particularly hungry)

yes you cn check in at central.

I did this a few weeks ago. you are served a main meal after takeoff, and IIRC the choice of a continental breakfast before landing (from what I can remember no one was particularly hungry)

yes you cn check in at central.

Exactly the info I needed, thanks. I was planning on meeting friends for breakfast when I get in so with a full meal on departure I will probably skip breakfast. I would not expect to want two big meals on a 9 hour flight.