Traveloguy

Actually it was a MEL-LAX-ORD service using the then brand new 747-400ERs.

number_6

Maybe QF had more than 1 routing, though I doubt it, but I had tickets purchased in F on ORD-LAX-SYD and I remember it was the same flight number all the way through (however this was maybe 2 years ago so I might not have the details right). In any case it never operated, and I found out by looking at the booking on the web site (no phone call from QF, but it was still a week from the travel date). In any case an interesting insight into the airline business, when QF decides it is more profitable to leave a plane sitting on the ground at LAX for 12 hours than it is to fly it LAx-ORD-LAX instead.

Traveloguy

Yeild management is however QFs strong suit and possibly the main reason it can run at a profit irrespective of the still restrictive unionised contracts in place.

The dissapearance of the almost started MEL-LAX-ORD service was sad. Could have been another way to get pax straight into a main AA hub.

Added info:

QF's mean rationale for using the 744ERs on the MEL route is that this is the first aircraft in its class that can do the MEL-LAX runs without weight restrictions (yes, I am aware the 772ER can do although QF needed a larger capacity aircraft).

I am hopefuly for a 748 option, but I guess QF will wait to see how thier now A380s perform before opting for yet another airfract type.

hobarthoney

I agree with the both of you, in that I do not think there will be a LHR-SYD in J config. However I know for fact that they are working on designs for a full J fit out so I am sure SYD-DFW is still in the pipe line.

NM

Are you implying that the Ft Worth Stockyards, Billy Bobs, and Coyboys night spot don't are not attractive to tourists .

There's a Six Flags near Arlington to compete with Disneyland .

GoldFlyer

You Tease, I'm sure we Ft'ers would love to know more.

bensyd

Is it not possible they could be thinking about other routes SYD-JFK non-stop. I just don't see there being that much traffic going into/out of DFW. And now that QF is flying to SFO which is an AA hub there is no real need for DFW.

hobarthoney

I must agree! Billy Bobs is the "Worlds biggest Honky Tonk" and is a must see Also a feed in a Tex Mex restaurant is so much better than those swanky restaurants in NY

NM

They may be investigating designs, but I will be surprised to see it happen, especially on the 747 fleet. A daily operation would require at least 3 aircraft to be dedicated to the configuration, and less than daily means the aircraft would need to operate other routes on the off-days to keep them utilised. An all-J 747 is a huge investment and very large number of seats. So the only way they could consider this option with their current fleet plans is with the 787 and that is still a few years away from the QF mainline fleet.

Lets look at some basic numbers. QF currently operates a maximum of 6 x 744 aircraft trans-Pacific on any particular day (QF11, 25, 93, 107, 149, 175) as a combination of 3-class and 2-class configs. That includes 56 F seats and 368 J seats on any given day. Its probably fair to remove the QF25 from this calculation as anyone really chasing a non-stop to DFW is not going to taking an AKL routing now, leaving us with 318 viable J seats in the picture.

An all-J 747-400 would include around 156 Skybeds assuming the same density as J on the current 744 aircraft (ie 18 in Zone A and 14 skybeds replace 50Y seats).

So they would need to know that around 50% of all J passengers are wanting to go non-stop to DFW - either terminating there or continuing on to other AA destinations better served from DFW than LAX. If the non-stop departed in SYD, some of those QF passengers are starting in BNE or MEL and then have a choice to connect in SYD (meaning an earlier departure from their origin) or in LAX (meaning a later arrival into DFW).

Knowing that the current arrival time of those 6 QF trans-Pacific flights into LAX is between 6:05am and 9:45am, these make connections with AA flights to DFW in the 8am to 12:00noon timeframe. In that timeframe, AA operate 5 LAX-DFW flights, being 2 x MD80, 2 x 757 and 1 x 738 aircraft types, carrying a total of 92 First Class seats.

So assuming some of the QF 56 F seats continue to DFW on AA flights in F (lets assume 15 of these passengers do on any random day), this leaves 77 AA F seats available for other connecting QF J passengers plus any sold to AA customers or connecting CX passengers etc.

So QF's share of those 77 seats is likely to be less than 50. So I can't see how QF would justify flying a full-J config 747 with 156 seats non-stop SYD-DFW (or MEL-DFW). The current feed of business class passengers LAX-DFW just does not add up by my calculations.

It may be viable with a 787 in all-J config, but not for a 747. The demand is not there currently.

NM

An essential visit to Joe T Garcias Tex Mex, followed a visit to the Stockyards and finishing off a Billy Bobs is a good night out . H3 and Cattlemans are good a Texas steak dinner at the Stockyards area too. Must wash it all down with a Shiner Bock or three.

hobarthoney

FT is all about the slow leek of information and the tease

My source would not tell me much at this stage and its all in the very early stages and even if the designs are finalised that does not mean they will be implemented. I will leek more as it is passed on to me

FWAAA

I think you will be sorely disappointed with the AA SFO operations. A few daily flights to LAX, JFK, MIA, ORD, STL, SNA, a couple to BOS, one to HNL and very few other places. Total of about 37 mainline flights and a handful of tiny Eagle RJs. Big city? Certainly. AA hub? Sadly, no.

sxc

I think the whole point of the increase in the range of the 747-8 is that the range is at a "normal" configuration ie 3-class. I think that means that should QF decide to do so, they can fly non-stop to DFW or JFK with this 747 in their normal 3-class config.

hobarthoney

I have enjoyed the delights of Joe T Garcias plus and ice cold Shiner Bock in Fort Worth. I think people will be surprised jus how much Fort Worth has to offer the tourist traveler plus I recommend being in Fort Worth for the UT V OU game!

Maybe DFW will be the perfect US hub for JQ

bensyd

My mistake, but in all fairness, I am sure that 90%+ would going onto LAX/JFK/MIA/MCO/ORD. DFW would certainly be a nice place to end up, for one thing I find the TSA guys there are alot politer than elsewhere in the states, but I think DFW is also a great destination as has been discussed on this thread people are very friendly some great restaurants and nightlife, oh and if your in Fort-Worth I suggest Justin's for a great price on Texan boots