Domestic QF tips
Aug 20, 2023, 8:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,316
Domestic QF tips
Hi all!
I’ll be spending a few weeks travelling around Australia. Have a few QF questions!
(1) QF seems pricier than the competition - especially in business, but I’m aiming to fly economy. Do I get anything in exchange for paying more - eg less risk of cancellation, better on time performance, staff turning a blind eye to too big cabin bags, free beer?
(2) For eg SYD-MEL, of course it’s a short flight, but is there anything more interesting than a 737-800 to fly on?!
(3) It seems QF’s cheapest fares are not as flexible as their counterparts in the UK (or especially the US) and I must expect to fly on my booked service? Ie do not expect flexibility on the day. Is this the way it works on QF (please no ‘book flex ticket if you want flexibility’ discussion, I just want to know how it works)?
Thanks!
I’ll be spending a few weeks travelling around Australia. Have a few QF questions!
(1) QF seems pricier than the competition - especially in business, but I’m aiming to fly economy. Do I get anything in exchange for paying more - eg less risk of cancellation, better on time performance, staff turning a blind eye to too big cabin bags, free beer?
(2) For eg SYD-MEL, of course it’s a short flight, but is there anything more interesting than a 737-800 to fly on?!
(3) It seems QF’s cheapest fares are not as flexible as their counterparts in the UK (or especially the US) and I must expect to fly on my booked service? Ie do not expect flexibility on the day. Is this the way it works on QF (please no ‘book flex ticket if you want flexibility’ discussion, I just want to know how it works)?
Thanks!
Aug 20, 2023, 5:21 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,182
I’ll be spending a few weeks travelling around Australia. Have a few QF questions!
(1) QF seems pricier than the competition - especially in business, but I’m aiming to fly economy. Do I get anything in exchange for paying more - eg less risk of cancellation, better on time performance, staff turning a blind eye to too big cabin bags, free beer?
(2) For eg SYD-MEL, of course it’s a short flight, but is there anything more interesting than a 737-800 to fly on?!
(3) It seems QF’s cheapest fares are not as flexible as their counterparts in the UK (or especially the US) and I must expect to fly on my booked service? Ie do not expect flexibility on the day. Is this the way it works on QF (please no ‘book flex ticket if you want flexibility’ discussion, I just want to know how it works)?
(1) QF seems pricier than the competition - especially in business, but I’m aiming to fly economy. Do I get anything in exchange for paying more - eg less risk of cancellation, better on time performance, staff turning a blind eye to too big cabin bags, free beer?
(2) For eg SYD-MEL, of course it’s a short flight, but is there anything more interesting than a 737-800 to fly on?!
(3) It seems QF’s cheapest fares are not as flexible as their counterparts in the UK (or especially the US) and I must expect to fly on my booked service? Ie do not expect flexibility on the day. Is this the way it works on QF (please no ‘book flex ticket if you want flexibility’ discussion, I just want to know how it works)?
Yes. QF tends to be more expensive. .
JQ has the worst on time performance
QF booze link---> Domestic and regional dining
<snip>
Our meal boxes and snacks deliver comforting and fresh options tailored to the time of travel.
Wine and beer are offered free of charge on select domestic and regional services:
Our meal boxes and snacks deliver comforting and fresh options tailored to the time of travel.
Wine and beer are offered free of charge on select domestic and regional services:
- on flights departing from 4pm everyday, and
- on flights departing from 9am that are more than two and a half hours in duration.
QF link---> https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-...n-baggage.html
Base fare of VA is seat only.
Airlines that fly in Australia domestically. Excludes some small operators
- Airnorth TL Regional airline in northern-central Australia and to Dili, East Timor
- Alliance Airlines QQ Regional airline. Most for the resource industry. Operates some VA & QF regional flights.
- Jetstar JQ (a low cost carrier owned by QF)
- Link Airways FC Regional passenger services in Queensland, ACT, New South Wales and Victoria. VA ffp partner
- Pelican Airlines FP Newcastle, NSW based regional airline
- Regional Express Airways (REX) ZL Regional airline using Saab’s and BNE SYD MEL triangle with ex VA B737’s
- Qantas QF [OneWorld Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (UA, QR & AC* partner *some routes)
SYD-MEL wheels up/wheels down is 60~70 minutes depending on wind and runways in use
Some QF SYD MEL flights used to have a A330. But in a quick look for next week only B737 showing.
Could go SYD-CBR-MEL on smaller (more interesting?) aircraft.
QF fly B787’s SYD-PER-FCO and MEL-PER-LHR. So can get a domestic flight to/from PER on a wide body long haul aircraft. Depart/arrives from the international terminals.
Q3
Just expect what the ticket t&c’s allow. Nothing more.
If you have Oneworld emerald or sapphire status will be better seat options. At T-80 more seat options can open up. Row 4 on the QF B737 has far more leg room.
Oneworld emerald or sapphire status will also give QF domestic departure lounge access.
Aug 20, 2023, 5:55 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SYD, GOT
Programs: BA GGL; SK EBG; QF LTG; Hilton Diamond, A-Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,786
If you have UA status then VA may be interesting for you.
I think QF and perhaps VA it is something like this. They have more flights so greater rick of cancellation (they will cancel planes that are not filling up, even at T-24 as I experienced on Saturday), but because they have more flights they are easier to accommodate you closer to your original flight time when they do cancel. JQ is owned by QF but not part of OW and has at times shocking customer service (from an EU/US perspective). No benefits to OW just like say flying Vueling.
The above comprehensive list missed bonza (https://www.flybonza.com/)
Unless you needed to get somewhere interesting, or have an aim to fly lots of airlines, for most purposes you can focus just on QF and VA - VA are buy on board and free water/tea/coffee. JQ is an option if you have no bags, otherwise the price creeps up.
And yes most of the time the planes are 737s and 320s. The wide bodies are sometimes on the MEL/SYD run but mostly later flights as they are getting the international plane back. The service, seats etc in Y are the same. In J the same service, different seats, but do you really need a lie down bed for 60 mins?
KF
I think QF and perhaps VA it is something like this. They have more flights so greater rick of cancellation (they will cancel planes that are not filling up, even at T-24 as I experienced on Saturday), but because they have more flights they are easier to accommodate you closer to your original flight time when they do cancel. JQ is owned by QF but not part of OW and has at times shocking customer service (from an EU/US perspective). No benefits to OW just like say flying Vueling.
The above comprehensive list missed bonza (https://www.flybonza.com/)
Unless you needed to get somewhere interesting, or have an aim to fly lots of airlines, for most purposes you can focus just on QF and VA - VA are buy on board and free water/tea/coffee. JQ is an option if you have no bags, otherwise the price creeps up.
And yes most of the time the planes are 737s and 320s. The wide bodies are sometimes on the MEL/SYD run but mostly later flights as they are getting the international plane back. The service, seats etc in Y are the same. In J the same service, different seats, but do you really need a lie down bed for 60 mins?
KF