Qantas special coronavirus charter

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Feb 2, 2020, 10:02 pm

#31

pbl22

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: SYD

Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD

Posts: 1,421

Quote:

Originally Posted by jridge

So far they've stuck to this route very closely. Who votes they will "divert" to DRW?

When viewing the flight path on FR24, it really appears it's heading to DRW.

Feb 2, 2020, 10:14 pm

#32

jridge

Join Date: May 2003

Programs: OW Emerald

Posts: 1,452

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbl22

When viewing the flight path on FR24, it really appears it's heading to DRW.

The WUH-DRW routing from the "old" flight plan they filed last night looks like this plotted on a map:

... but now they start to turn. Anyway, good for keeping people guessing!

Last edited by jridge; Feb 2, 2020 at 10:28 pm

Feb 2, 2020, 10:41 pm

#33

Dave Noble

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Jan 2002

Posts: 44,552

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mwenenzi

But as its a charter pax get no QF ff points

It is also not costing anything , it seems , so another reason for no points earning

Feb 2, 2020, 11:54 pm

#34

henrus

Join Date: May 2014

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 908

Regarding who got upgraded... I'd say no one. Expert flyer shows a full seat map in economy but empty business and premium economy.

I also think the aircraft may not make it back to Sydney by curfew. It's scheduled departure time of 2pm had it arriving into Sydney at 9pm but it's now around 2 hours late which would cut it close.

Feb 3, 2020, 12:01 am

#35

Dave Noble

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Join Date: Jan 2002

Posts: 44,552

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrus

I also think the aircraft may not make it back to Sydney by curfew. It's scheduled departure time of 2pm had it arriving into Sydney at 9pm but it's now around 2 hours late which would cut it close.

Given the nature of the flight, I would be a bit surprised if a dispensation to land after 23:00 was not granted

Quote:

Originally Posted by og

They also did it with a 747 in 1974 when Cyclone Tracy destroyed the city. They managed to fit 4 people in most 3 seat clusters just to get people out ASAP.

Still a long way to go to beat El Al getting over 1000 passengers into a Boeing 747 on an evacuation flight in 1991

MSPeconomist and ps107 like this.

Last edited by Dave Noble; Feb 3, 2020 at 12:09 am

Feb 3, 2020, 12:17 am

#36

jridge

Join Date: May 2003

Programs: OW Emerald

Posts: 1,452

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noble

Given the nature of the flight, I would be a bit surprised if a dispensation to land after 23:00 was not granted

Yes, expected arrival is 02:00

Feb 3, 2020, 12:39 am

#37

gravii

Join Date: Nov 2009

Programs: QF WP, WoH Glob, Accor Plat, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 291

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrus

Regarding who got upgraded... I'd say no one. Expert flyer shows a full seat map in economy but empty business and premium economy.

But given all crew are isolated and on the upper deck, it would be relatively easy to 'self upgrade'.

Feb 3, 2020, 3:52 pm

#38

ButFli

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Canberra

Programs: Qantas, Virgin

Posts: 176

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButFli

Skytraders is contracted by the government to operate flights to Christmas Island. I'd suggest they would operate the DRW-XCH flight with one of their A319s.

VH-VHP is enroute to DRW now.

As it turns out, Skytraders A319 VH-VJC has done few round trips between LEA and XCH.

Feb 5, 2020, 3:07 pm

#39

mikalee

Join Date: May 2003

Programs: QF WP; VA Gold

Posts: 1,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbl22

When viewing the flight path on FR24, it really appears it's heading to DRW.

According to reports today the flight path was chosen to stay in international airspace and reduce the need & time to get overfly permits. Once in Australian airspace turned straight the Learmouth.

Note it is the Daily Mail though.

Secret-reason-Qantas-took-route-Wuhan-Australia-coronavirus-rescue-mission

Feb 5, 2020, 4:52 pm

#40

pbl22

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: SYD

Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD

Posts: 1,421

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikalee

Thanks for the link. I had suspected as much while observing the flight path in real time.

Feb 6, 2020, 6:33 am

#41

davidj1

Join Date: Feb 2017

Programs: MM, Krisflyer, QFF, VFF

Posts: 441

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancypants

presumably they leave a couple of bottles of water and a sandwich at each seat or something? And a trash bag??

New QFA 'enhancement'

Feb 6, 2020, 11:49 am

#42

nancypants

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: NT Australia

Programs: QF WP

Posts: 4,159

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidj1

New QFA 'enhancement'

“after extensive trials and customer feedback we are delighted to offer...”

Feb 6, 2020, 12:41 pm

#43

thereallz

Original Poster

Join Date: May 2019

Posts: 58

Well, THIS is interesting!

For some reason, instead of flying to LEA or DRW, it had to LOOP all the way to AKL! Then the passengers had to hop onto a RAAF A319-100 to XCH!

Feb 6, 2020, 12:49 pm

#44

Mwenenzi

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: MEL CHC

Posts: 20,993

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucas.zhu

Well, THIS is interesting!

For some reason, instead of flying to LEA or DRW, it had to LOOP all the way to AKL! Then the passengers had to hop onto a RAAF A319-100 to XCH!

You are getting confused. Again. You need to do better research.
Air NZ had a Wuhan flight to AKL, that had some Australian passengers
The RAAF does not have any A319 aircraft

LTN Phobia, jrfsp320 and nancypants like this.