Qantas Frequent Flyer - Sri Lankan Airlines join oneworld

Interestingly, no press release from Qantas, but I digress.

http://www.oneworld.com/news-information/oneworldnews/details/?objectID=29625

Some interesting fifth freedom routes available, such as BKK-PEK/PVG/CAN/HKG, so could have some benefits for QFF in the region. UL did fly to SYD and MEL at one stage.

As an aside, does anyone know what the UL schedules were for SYD and MEL?

Does EK still have a management/shareholding deal with UL or did this expire a number of years ago?
Anyway is this a big gain for oneworld or is it just making up numbers in the alliance game?

I suspect many in QF HO are trying to figure out where CMB is and then whether they should operate a flight there (no not JetStar).

I suspect many in QF HO are trying to figure out where CMB is and then whether they should operate a flight there (no not JetStar).

A PER-CMB flight would be nice (don't care if it's QF or UL):D

I suspect many in QF HO are trying to figure out where CMB is and then whether they should operate a flight there (no not JetStar).

I agree with your sentiment on many trying to figure out where CMB is. I disagree with your ludicrous idea that QF is considering flying anywhere new overseas!

Does EK still have a management/shareholding deal with UL or did this expire a number of years ago?
From the post 3 in the OW thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/1355326-sri-lankan-join-oneworld.html

8 Jul 2010 http://www.srilankanewstoday.com/news.php?newsid=1737
The Government has become the sole owner of SriLankan Airlines as it has purchased all shares of the Emirates recently.

The Government has purchased 43 percent of shares from Emirates and its share ownership has increased to 94.6 percent. The balance 5.4 percent shares belong to the SriLankan Airlines employees.
< snip>

I agree with your sentiment on many trying to figure out where CMB is. I disagree with your ludicrous idea that QF is considering flying anywhere new overseas!

With QF moving from EZE to SCL, it demonstrates the benefit of supporting OW hubs. I suspect that keeps the South American route viable.

A future move in supporting CMB may build business for the Indian sub continent. QF seem to have abandoned China (possisbly because no one in QF HO knows anything about China), so perhaps its time to focus on India. Working with UL is probably the only way to do this since the BOM flight was given to JetStar.

Fantastic news. Together with MH, this provides great coverage for Oneworld across South-east Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Looking forward to some status runs on MH and UL :D

It might make starting a xONE3 out of CMB more viable. The last time I looked at it, the cost and scheduling to get to/from CMB wasn't worth it.

It might make starting a xONE3 out of CMB more viable. The last time I looked at it, the cost and scheduling to get to/from CMB wasn't worth it.

Or they'd just increase the ex-CMB cost, now that it's a OW hub and thus easy to get to?

Or they'd just increase the ex-CMB cost, now that it's a OW hub and thus easy to get to?NRT is a oneworld hub and is one of the cheapest places in Asia to start a DONE3.

Interestingly, no press release from Qantas, but I digress.

http://www.oneworld.com/news-information/oneworldnews/details/?objectID=29625

Some interesting fifth freedom routes available, such as BKK-PEK/PVG/CAN/HKG, so could have some benefits for QFF in the region. UL did fly to SYD and MEL at one stage.

As an aside, does anyone know what the UL schedules were for SYD and MEL?

Those 5th freedom flights are excellent! They mostly leave BKK at reasonable times (except for the flight to PVG which is at 7am or something). I have flown both to CAN and HKG with them (in biz) and they were excellent - tasty food, comfortable seats and fantastic service!

Lounge facilities at HKG are miserable (the CAAC lounge) but in BKK they use the Air France Le Salon (actually pretty miserable as well, but it's very quiet). Guess that will change now with Oneworld though.

The best part are the fares! Very cheap (few hundred dollars one way in biz).

I agree with your sentiment on many trying to figure out where CMB is. I disagree with your ludicrous idea that QF is considering flying anywhere new overseas!

It wouldn't be a "new" route, it would simply be a reinstatement of a previously operated route http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Double_Sunrise

I suspect many in QF HO are trying to figure out where CMB is and then whether they should operate a flight there (no not JetStar).

No. They are trying to work out of they fly there, and to ensure they cut the flight as soon as possible.

QF is about to become a domestic only carrier.

QF is about to become a domestic only carrier.

A380s on transcon flights! Yippee

QF is about to become a domestic only carrier.

A380s on transcon flights! Yippee

You won't say that when they are reconfigured to domestic Jetstar....

A PER-CMB flight would be nice (don't care if it's QF or UL):D

+1 even with a PER-MEL tag

Regarding a later post with respect to A380 in domestic service...
Where would they put an A380 in PER? Can you estimate the turnaround time on an A380 SYD-MEL flight?

Happy wandering

Fred

Can't see QF starting new international routes. And CX already operates SIN-CMB. If anything, I think the most likely scenario would be SIN-CMB operated by 3K.

No. They are trying to work out of they fly there, and to ensure they cut the flight as soon as possible.

QF is about to become a domestic only carrier.

Is that before or after Hell freezes over?

It wouldn't be a "new" route, it would simply be a reinstatement of a previously operated route http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Double_Sunrise

That is very interesting, did not know about this, thanks for the link!

As an aside, does anyone know what the UL schedules were for SYD and MEL?

Judging from this
http://www.airsrilanka.org/cmb.flights.arr.oct00-mar01.pdf
I'd say a late afternoon departure from SYD (UL679). More interesting is the AOM flight (NOU-SYD-CMB) they had.

I recall late 2000 wanting to take UL to BEY, their J fares was cheap (about 2600 if I recall correctly) but it involved a day's layover in CMB and a stopover in KWI which defeated the purpose of wanting to avoid GF and EK's stopovers in SIN.

The UL flights were twice a week, Wed and Sat nights departure from SYD was around 2130 - 2200.

UL are planning MEL-CMB flights for a early-mid 2013 start, using A340 equipment. Considering MEL is home to the largest Sri Lankan community outside of Sri Lanka, it has the numbers to back it up as well as the extra feed QF will give it once it joins oneworld, plus bonus additional Indian connections, 3-5 weekly should be enough. :)

For the time being UL code-shares on selected MH MEL-KUL services

...Considering MEL is home to the largest Sri Lankan community outside of Sri Lanka...

Arghh!! That probably explains why Karina Carvalho moved there. She'll never come back to Perth:(

its 2013 already. Anyone have any idea when they will be in OW officially?

its 2013 already. Anyone have any idea when they will be in OW officially?

June to October. Anytime in between.

Given the scale of UL. Possible somewhere close to mid July till early August.

Just wait patiently for the official announcement. No need to panic yet.

Update:

Any news on when Srilankan Airlines will officially join OW?

Update:

Any news on when Srilankan Airlines will officially join OW?No news yet, but we typically only get about 6 weeks notice before a new member joins.

Those 5th freedom flights are excellent! They mostly leave BKK at reasonable times (except for the flight to PVG which is at 7am or something). I have flown both to CAN and HKG with them (in biz) and they were excellent - tasty food, comfortable seats and fantastic service!

Lounge facilities at HKG are miserable (the CAAC lounge) but in BKK they use the Air France Le Salon (actually pretty miserable as well, but it's very quiet). Guess that will change now with Oneworld though.

The best part are the fares! Very cheap (few hundred dollars one way in biz).

Once UL enter oneworld I'll be using my WP card to lounge in the Wing!

Once UL enter oneworld I'll be using my WP card to lounge in the Wing!

can already with the Royal Jordanian flight (for a well priced business class). The UL flight has a better timing though.

Once UL enter oneworld I'll be using my WP card to lounge in the Wing!

The Wing (IMHO) has gone through renovation. It has become dark, unfriendly and unwelcoming. Staff have become less attentive. Its not the place it used to be.

its 2013 already. Anyone have any idea when they will be in OW officially?

"Early next year" according to ATW Website (http://atwonline.com/finance-amp-data/srilankan-airlines-prepares-oneworld-eyes-new-fleet).


"Before the end of the year", according to this earlier statement (http://www.ft.lk/2013/02/01/srilankan-airlines-progressing-well-to-fly-with-oneworld-by-year-end-chairman/) by the UL Chairman.

I know which my money is on ....

Regards,

BD

The Wing (IMHO) has gone through renovation. It has become dark, unfriendly and unwelcoming. Staff have become less attentive. Its not the place it used to be.

Not sure I'd go that far but it's fair to say the staff seem quite disinterested.

The Wing (IMHO) has gone through renovation. It has become dark, unfriendly and unwelcoming. Staff have become less attentive. Its not the place it used to be.

Been to the Wing lounge last week for the first time. Probably it's like this with anything if you don't know what it used to be like. I loved the shower/bath cabanas but I agree that the a la carte food was not very presentable and the waiters didn't seem to be very happy doing their job. To be honest the place was too full, so no wonder the service is "First class like".