Qantas vs Qatar for Cape Town to Sydney
Oct 25, 2014, 12:16 pm
#17
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I've just returned from JNB and we had old 747s both ways so expect a Skybed Mk1. Apparently they get refurbished jumbos infrequently.
If you've got a few days, spend them in Cape Town. It's a pretty city while JNB, in contrast, is quite a dump (apologies to anyone who lives there). There's heaps of cheap flights between Cape Town and JNB too.
On the topic of views, here's a photo I took from QF63 whilst flying over Antarctica. You'll be on QF64 but you should get the same view.
If you've got a few days, spend them in Cape Town. It's a pretty city while JNB, in contrast, is quite a dump (apologies to anyone who lives there). There's heaps of cheap flights between Cape Town and JNB too.
On the topic of views, here's a photo I took from QF63 whilst flying over Antarctica. You'll be on QF64 but you should get the same view.
That pic has made my day. I've wanted to take a look at Antarctica for a long, long time. It never occurred to me the great circle route went there. That is 100% definite for the Qantas JNB-SYD flight then instead of going via Doha.
Mrs Puff has a friend in Cape Town so we will be there for 2 weeks. I think we won't be going to Joburg at all except the airport.
Oct 25, 2014, 12:19 pm
#18
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I'm jealous!!
I might be flying JNB-SYD myself in January, so I'd be very interested from anybody in the know whether the Eastbound flight ever goes that far South
IIRC when QF flew SYD-EZE, the flights quite often flew close enough to Antarctica for it to be visible.
I might be flying JNB-SYD myself in January, so I'd be very interested from anybody in the know whether the Eastbound flight ever goes that far South
IIRC when QF flew SYD-EZE, the flights quite often flew close enough to Antarctica for it to be visible.
Oct 25, 2014, 5:55 pm
#19
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The point is that the Great Circle Route JNB-SYD goes nowhere near Antarctica. So the likely cause of PaulST's routing was due to headwinds. IIRC someone on JNB-SYD once flew North of Perth! In fact, looking on flightaware right now - QF64 is well to the South of Perth but its flight path shows it went nowhere near far enough South to be able to see Antarctica.
If anything, I'll be reporting to you - if I start my DONE4 with JNB-SYD then that will be very early January, which IIRC is before you will be flying it.
But I might instead start a DONE5 with CPT-DOH, but that won't be until late January.
It all depends on the work situation, amongst other things...
But I might instead start a DONE5 with CPT-DOH, but that won't be until late January.
It all depends on the work situation, amongst other things...
Oct 26, 2014, 2:54 am
#20
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QF63 typically takes the southerly routing to avoid the very strong westerly jetstream, which is all headwind in that direction. However, most flights route to the north of the Kerguelen Islands, crossing into South Africa near Durban. It is quite rare that it tracks anywhere near Antarctica unfortunately - but it does occur very infrequently. The poster above was quite fortunate.
It is that very westerly jetstream however that is of great benefit heading back east on the QF64, allowing a mostly straight track from Maputo to the Victorian coast west of Melbourne and true airspeed in the 1100-1200km/hr range (some of the fastest commercial flight still around). I'd suggest it would be even less likely to see Antarctica in this direction.
It is that very westerly jetstream however that is of great benefit heading back east on the QF64, allowing a mostly straight track from Maputo to the Victorian coast west of Melbourne and true airspeed in the 1100-1200km/hr range (some of the fastest commercial flight still around). I'd suggest it would be even less likely to see Antarctica in this direction.
Oct 26, 2014, 3:31 am
#21
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It is that very westerly jetstream however that is of great benefit heading back east on the QF64, allowing a mostly straight track from Maputo to the Victorian coast west of Melbourne and true airspeed in the 1100-1200km/hr range (some of the fastest commercial flight still around). I'd suggest it would be even less likely to see Antarctica in this direction.
Just to confirm - is that airspeed or groundspeed?
(I know next to nothing about aviation, but I would think an aeroplane's airspeed would not be affected by the windspeed, whereas the ground speed would be the (vector) sum of the airspeed and windspeed)
Oct 26, 2014, 4:01 am
#22
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Very impressive speed
Just to confirm - is that airspeed or groundspeed?
(I know next to nothing about aviation, but I would think an aeroplane's airspeed would not be affected by the windspeed, whereas the ground speed would be the (vector) sum of the airspeed and windspeed)
Just to confirm - is that airspeed or groundspeed?
(I know next to nothing about aviation, but I would think an aeroplane's airspeed would not be affected by the windspeed, whereas the ground speed would be the (vector) sum of the airspeed and windspeed)
There are also two airspeeds:
IAS - indicated air speed. The airplane will respond to control inputs the same way at the same IAS.
TAS - true air speed. At altitude due to the lower air pressure, the pitot tubes which measure air pressure give a lower IAS than the true airspeed, TAS.
Oct 26, 2014, 2:39 pm
#23
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I've looked at the ExpertFlyer seat map for QF64 on my day of travel. A lot of top deck J seats are shown blocked out.
Is there a difference between a blocked out seat and an occupied seat?
Is there a difference between a blocked out seat and an occupied seat?
Oct 26, 2014, 4:59 pm
#24
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One World status affects what seats are available to select vs which ones will appear as unavailable
Oct 29, 2014, 4:06 pm
#25
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Well, my ticket has been issued and I will definitely be catching QF64 in Jan.
I've picked seats on the top deck already.
The Qantas seat selection website is showing a 3-class (J-PEY-Y) 747. ExpertFlyer is also showing a 3-class 747. Seat Guru when you plug in the date of my flight shows a 4-class (F-J-PEY-Y) 747. Any ideas? Is an aircraft of a particular level of interior refurb allocated this far ahead?
I've picked seats on the top deck already.
The Qantas seat selection website is showing a 3-class (J-PEY-Y) 747. ExpertFlyer is also showing a 3-class 747. Seat Guru when you plug in the date of my flight shows a 4-class (F-J-PEY-Y) 747. Any ideas? Is an aircraft of a particular level of interior refurb allocated this far ahead?
Oct 30, 2014, 4:07 am
#27
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Oct 30, 2014, 5:07 am
#28
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The you have Skybed Mark II which are 180° lay flat and parallel with the floor.
My favorite seat (if travelling solo) is 5J. (Then 5B, then 14A)
My favorite seat (if travelling solo) is 5J. (Then 5B, then 14A)
Oct 30, 2014, 5:24 am
#29
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Yes I researched 5J; I've actually got 3 x seats booked so thought about getting 5J and two others nearby, but the desire to go onto the top deck won out, so now I've got 3 x seats on the top deck.
Do you think it is likely to remain an aircraft with Skybed Mk II or they could have an equipment swap with another aircraft?
Oct 30, 2014, 2:58 pm
#30
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By the time the flights happen there are likely to be only the nine aircraft in 3 class MkII configurations and maybe a couple of four class.
I have a flight in May next year and have selected 3E as this seat translates well for both configurations.
*In any case, I will be watching closely.
[edit]
I have a flight in May next year and have selected 3E as this seat translates well for both configurations.
*In any case, I will be watching closely.
[edit]
Note that looking at http://www.theqantassource.com/boeing747-400.html indicates there are only two four class still operating. I guess that won't be for much longer.
Just watch out for the older 3 class 56J version (has row 4 seating 4a/b/e/f/j/k)
[/edit]
Just watch out for the older 3 class 56J version (has row 4 seating 4a/b/e/f/j/k)
Last edited by serfty; Oct 30, 2014 at 8:12 pm Reason: 4 class