18wheeler_vanrekt

og

As you said, it's better for connections at both ends. IIRC QF used to have a westbound daylight flight but dropped it. Multiple flights westbound give plenty of opportunities for missed connections to be accommodated (eg if JFK-LAX is running late). QF also has a maintenance base in LAX and the 12 hours layover gives time for whatever they do. Also, VA, AC, UA and DL also seem to prefer the night time flights. Note that anything going to SYD is restricted by the 2300 - 0600 curfew - so nothing can leave the US west coast from about 1400 to 2200.

mikalee

There has been in the past a LAX-SYD that left mid morning and arrived in SYD early evening but iirc this was when QF was sending 3 or daily returns between these two cities.

I imagine it really comes down to connecting traffic at both LAX in the AM and SYD in the early evening but as you point out the Asian routes sustain it so it is likely to be the Australian end the problem exists.

If the route was profitable it would be a no-brainer given the tarmac time for the aircraft. That said it would be spending time on the ground in SYD when it arrives, probably overnight.

None of the US airlines do it either.

mikalee

Wow - we wrote all but the same thing at the same time OG.

Dave Noble

Unfortunately you need to make your way to Hawaii to get a civilised flight to Australia

og

Dave Noble

up to 60 mins in a lounge ( approx ) vs the 10 hours flight, the 10 hours flight is the main item to me. The lounge at HNL has been adequate when I have been there

og

Your HNL lounge experience was different to mine. Crowded so it was very difficult to move anywhere, seats were jammed in together so you had to be very friendly with whoever was next to you, the only way to eat was to take your plate outside and sit on the ground. Not pleasant at all. It was only a place to get food and drinks, use the toilets and go anywhere else in the terminal.

18wheeler_vanrekt

Didn't know Qantas has a maintenance base in LAX; that certainly makes a lot more sense for them to keep their planes there for a long time each day. I believe Virgin Australia does the same thing

mikalee

The maintenance base is there because the planes are scheduled to be there for about 16 hours. (oh and also the Australian media will tolerate offshore maintenance of QF aircraft by our English speaking 1st world allies). The schedule isn't that way because the base is there, the base is there because of the schedule.

number_6

I remember when QF spent $20m+ for these maintenance hangars and hired several hundred mechanics ... was big news at the time as all other US based airlines were eliminating mechanics jobs. Has worked very well for QF despite the high cost of land and labour at LAX.

As for the early flight, it left about noon and I flew it once (maybe 15 years ago?). Remember it well as the plane was half empty and I was the only pax in F for that flight. Even LAX-origin pax preferred the night departures, and few connecting pax made that flight. I think it was tried as part of growing the AA/Oneworld partnership (QF also scheduled ORD-LAX-SYD service which was cancelled the day before the first flight, after setting up QF signage and check-in counters at ORD). QF plans changed, but pax still don't pick these morning flights out of LAX to anywhere in Asia/Oceania.

keitherson

Morning LAX to evening Australian landing means no connections on both ends, relying solely on local traffic. An instant money loser.

Sonny84

Hi, what do you mean? What's the issue flying from US. to SYD is it something with the people or the crew of QF?

thaks

og

Dave Noble

daytime flights are civilised - plus HNL flights are several hours shorter than LAX flights