SFO-SYD in the late 90s: who flew it?
Jun 10, 2011, 8:00 pm
#1
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SFO-SYD in the late 90s: who flew it?
So I'm looking through an old passport and noticed that I had done SFO-SYD in the late 90s. I recall doing it in business class, but can't remember on which carrier I did it. The only reason I know it's SFO-SYD is because of the immigration stamps 
Our family has a lot of AA miles and some UA miles, so I'm thinking whoever was in OW or *A at that time. I know it was definitely an award ticket.
I remember flying Ansett for SYD-BNE-CNE (or some combination thereof), but am not sure if it was part of the same award.
It appears that QF did not have an SFO-SYD route until 2005. Who could I have possibly flown in the late 90s for the long haul?
Our family has a lot of AA miles and some UA miles, so I'm thinking whoever was in OW or *A at that time. I know it was definitely an award ticket.I remember flying Ansett for SYD-BNE-CNE (or some combination thereof), but am not sure if it was part of the same award.
It appears that QF did not have an SFO-SYD route until 2005. Who could I have possibly flown in the late 90s for the long haul?
Jun 10, 2011, 8:01 pm
#2
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So I'm looking through an old passport and noticed that I had done SFO-SYD in the late 90s. I recall doing it in business class, but can't remember on which carrier I did it. The only reason I know it's SFO-SYD is because of the immigration stamps
It appears that QF did not have an SFO-SYD route until 2005. Who could I have possibly flown in the late 90s?
It appears that QF did not have an SFO-SYD route until 2005. Who could I have possibly flown in the late 90s?
Jun 10, 2011, 8:45 pm
#3
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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QF owned an office building on Union Square in SF, for decades (and still owns cargo hangars at SFO). QF first flew to SF in 1954 and even flew SF-NYC starting 1958 (in a world's first round-the-world service). Somehow QF doesn't get a lot of credit for this (most Americans think PanAm had the first RTW service -- not QF). QF continued the SF-JFK-LHR service until 1973.
Jun 10, 2011, 10:02 pm
#4
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I flew SFO-SYD on UA back in 1999. Only ~150K miles for one of their 2-person business class awards. (Those were the days!)
Jun 10, 2011, 11:10 pm
#5
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Ah ha, the two in C for 150k sounds familiar! I'm pretty sure it was UA now.
Anyone know what equipment they were flying at the time? This was 1998. Did the SFO-SYD flights still arrive early in the morning as they do now?
Anyone know what equipment they were flying at the time? This was 1998. Did the SFO-SYD flights still arrive early in the morning as they do now?
Jun 11, 2011, 4:37 am
#7
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Not sure the SP ever operated SYD-SFO, but it was used SYD-LAX. QF only had 2 SPs (out of 45 built), and was famously used for WLG (short runway with difficult approach). QF tried several times to sell their SPs after getting 744s (which had longer range than SPs as well as much better economics), but couldn't due to having RR engines. I think all the other SPs made were with P&W eingines. The SP is also famous for being the only airliner that survived a 5g maneouver (courtesy of China Air). Must have been quite a thrill for those pax.
Jun 13, 2011, 6:52 am
#10
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Jun 13, 2011, 2:10 pm
#11
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And I am sitting under a brace of framed vintage BOAC travel posters which proclaim, "First Around the World With Jets." So there are undoubtedly some Englishmen out there with a third view.
Jun 13, 2011, 3:40 pm
#12
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Jun 13, 2011, 4:19 pm
#13
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I flew Pan Am 747SP's between SYD-LAX in the early 80's. A great flight experience with wonderful American service onboard. Unlimited beer and an open snack bar for economy passengers. Cute slippers too!
Jun 14, 2011, 11:45 am
#14
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Jun 14, 2011, 3:13 pm
#15
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PanAm flew around the northern hemisphere but not around the world -- significantly shorter and easier. Same for BOAC (also I think BOAC was not a scheduled service, but a demonstration flight; there were plenty of those, including by non-airlines like the USAAF).
I think QF did not fly RTW pre-707, but not sure. I have read of a route via MEX and BDA which might have been using Constellations.
