Bye Bye to First SYD-HKG
 

QANTAS Ends Year-Round A380 Hong Kong Service from late-Sep 2014
by JL
Update at 0730GMT 22MAY14

QANTAS starting 29SEP14 is changing operations to its Sydney – Hong Kong service, as the airline ends Airbus A380 operation to Hong Kong on year-round basis. The airline will operate 3-class Boeing 747-400 aircraft on daily basis from this date, replacing 5 weekly A380 and 2 weekly 4-class 747-400.

However, based on latest adjustment as of 22MAY14, QANTAS appears to continue 5 weekly A380 service from 11DEC14 to 26JAN15, however First Class service is not offered.

QF127 SYD1125 – 1745HKG 744 D
QF128 HKG1945 – 0810+1SYD 744 D

Between 11DEC14 and 26JAN15, A380 operates Day x23

Any mention of where the A380's will be used instead?

There was a DFW rumor...

My $ would be on the DFW-SYD route replacing the 747-400 that did DFW-BRISBANE-SYD and SYD-DFW.

This has all been reported in the Guess who is bringing an A380 to DFW thread.
QF has confirmed to be the first A380 operator to DFW.
The A380 will be withdrawn from HKG only appearing for seasonal peak.
747 replacement will be the refitted version with A380 seating but no First Class.

Love to see the QF A380 come to DFW.

DFW, starting late Sept.

The day the A380 returns from HKG - the next day is the first SYD-DFW A380 flight.

So I am booked HKG to SYDNEY in First on Jan 19th. My seat assignment still shows 2A. But the flight has been zeroed out in all F fare classes. Any thoughts? Am I going to be moved to J? Strange that my reservation hasn't been touched if they're no longer selling F on that flight.

Yes you will be moved to J.

If your ticket is transferable between airlines you may wish to consider CX J on this route.

Thanks for the reply. I used AAdvantage miles so I can move airlines for a fee - but b/c of the change, likely would waive the fee. I'm routed DPS - HKG (on CX) and then on QF to SYD connecting to BNE. Unfortunately there is no availability non-stop HKG - BNE on either CX or QF. CX has J availability on Jan 20 on the daytime flight to MEL.

Is there a refund of points from the F award to the J award? Perhaps it might be worth calling and being a bit proactive about it.

The aircraft is scheduled to be A380 still, however, as it is in the busy Australian summer holiday season and the A380 comes back for that season (or at least that is the way it appears).

Yes. There would be a refund of miles. However if I call now it will definitely downgrade me. I can't imagine they will block the F cabin. I could see QF treating F like J - with elite members getting the F seats but with J service. In that case I am fine paying the extra miles (it's not that many extra) as I booked the F award for the seat, not so much for the food service.

While your point re the F cabin being used for top tier pax travelling in J maybe correct, QF is not like some airlines which will automatically fill up the F cabin with upgrade pax or top tier pax if there is empty space in J.

QF hasn't said anything re other OW high status pax, i.e. there's no list of priority or whether in fact any other OW high status pax will even be allowed there.

I guess your strategy is fair enough but don't be surprised or disappointed if you get bumped. OTOH, you may get pushed to the back of J. It's a risk you're taking as well.

QF's systems have pretty much the following seating zones:

Platinum One
Platinum/Emerald
Gold/Sapphire
Silver/Ruby

If platinums will be able to select the F seats, then I would expect emeralds to also be able to select them, given past history.