I've started planning a potential family trip to Europe in the first half of next year. Am looking at options with both QF (oneworld) and VA, With QF BNE - LHR flights, on their metal I get two options, via SIN or via PER. But the option to fly economy on QF9 and 10 is around $200pp vs flying via SIN.
Now I thought this flight was meant to attract a 'premium'.... so why is it going cheaper? Is it a load/yield issue or is it a tax issue? Or perhaps it's just a good deal for the moment?
Just trying to fill the aircraft i guess. I'm off to LHR at the weekend. Usually on QF1 but the QF9 option was cheaper so thought might as well try it. First time on the 789 so looking forward to it.
BNE-SIN direct non-stop has a lot less capacity than SYD-SIN or MEL-SIN on QF metal. QF has both A380 and A330 flights from MEL and SYD to SIN.
Could well be load on BNE-SIN or SIN-LHR for the days you want to travel vs loads on BNE-PER and PER-LHR.
Whether a premium is charged would depend on a range of factors e.g. where you are starting from. If just flying PER-LHR there's no direct non-stop competition. Whereas flying indirect from the East Coast there are many other places you could go one-stop via to LHR.
Having looked at the pricing on the route to LHR a number of times, its almost always consistent with alternative routing. That includes starting in PER or the East Coast.
Recall A Joyce saying something about the route attracting a premium, but I would seriously doubt that will eventuate in Economy or PE. Once the novelty wears off, not sure economy passengers will care enough about the few hours saved to pay the extra $.
Prior to the J class refurb of the A380 I can see a case for an upcharge in J on the 787 for the newer seat etc, but it has not happened yet.
Anecdotally, I am aware of a number of people being rebooked onto QF9 as the first option. Not sure if that speaks to poor yield, or if its simply easier to administer given it needs only a domestic connecting flight.
Get your downvotes ready, but I actually don't think the QF9/10 economy experience is anything to write home about. It's a long flight in very narrow seats.
It would seem I'm not alone in this opinion - one of the last letters to Traveller was complaining about the same thing. Qantas's choice to pursue a 3-3-3 configuration rather than a 2-4-2 configuration has sacrificed passenger comfort for profitability.
(And I have flown QF9 - albeit just to Perth not London)
Last editedby markathome at Jun 18, 2018, 06:37 PM.
You couldn't pay me to travel 9 abreast economy from BNE-PER-LHR, let alone with a small discount vs via Asia. Even flying business I'd likely not do it. Much prefer going via Singapore/HK or even Dubai with a break in between.
its no secret QF are struggling to fill the QF9 and 10 flights, even in J - plenty of availability, given its the euro summer, etc would think it would be full - but you look at the QF1 and 2 via Sing, and you cant get a seat - its not the cost or the plane, its people just don't want to be in a plane for 17 hours, irrespective of the class.....
It depends on a number of things even the day of the week. I have flown the other 17 hour flight, to DFW quite a bit and on a Wednesday the plane is half full but last Friday the premium seats were all full but I had a three seat economy bed upstairs just behind them (go figure). The filling up of the premium end depends on the day of the week literally. I will be trying Mel-Perth-London on Monday so I hope the premium end is not so full and an upgrade is there for the taking. I also note Sale fares are more common on QF1/2 than 9/10 but again this is seasonal, and who they are offered to. Perth folk may get offered the sale fares.
Not sure were all you guys are getting your info from but a friend of mine who works for QF says the 9 and 10 are full in J and W on every flight per/lhr/per. Non revs and upgrades hardly ever clear.
Not sure were all you guys are getting your info from but a friend of mine who works for QF says the 9 and 10 are full in J and W on every flight per/lhr/per. Non revs and upgrades hardly ever clear.
Full every single flight? I call bs on that. As someone said above. They flew LHR to PER and W was half empty.
It was always going to happen now the hype is all over. Can understand economy not filling. But J I would expect full. I'd rather fly with new J class.
It was always going to happen now the hype is all over. Can understand economy not filling. But J I would expect full. I'd rather fly with new J class.
Agree, the idea of 17 hours in economy, especially nine abreast sounds like torture. If I was in business I'd do it though. But I still think it only really makes sense for PER origin/destination. For everyone else it's still a one stop proposition.
Jazzop
Jazzop
Member since 02 Dec 2016
Total posts 114
I've started planning a potential family trip to Europe in the first half of next year. Am looking at options with both QF (oneworld) and VA, With QF BNE - LHR flights, on their metal I get two options, via SIN or via PER. But the option to fly economy on QF9 and 10 is around $200pp vs flying via SIN.
Now I thought this flight was meant to attract a 'premium'.... so why is it going cheaper? Is it a load/yield issue or is it a tax issue? Or perhaps it's just a good deal for the moment?
Nick Sydney 2
Nick Sydney 2
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Jul 2015
Total posts 83
Just trying to fill the aircraft i guess. I'm off to LHR at the weekend. Usually on QF1 but the QF9 option was cheaper so thought might as well try it. First time on the 789 so looking forward to it.
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
BNE-SIN direct non-stop has a lot less capacity than SYD-SIN or MEL-SIN on QF metal. QF has both A380 and A330 flights from MEL and SYD to SIN.
Could well be load on BNE-SIN or SIN-LHR for the days you want to travel vs loads on BNE-PER and PER-LHR.
Whether a premium is charged would depend on a range of factors e.g. where you are starting from. If just flying PER-LHR there's no direct non-stop competition. Whereas flying indirect from the East Coast there are many other places you could go one-stop via to LHR.
MattJelonek
MattJelonek
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
Member since 08 Jun 2014
Total posts 90
LHR to PER a few weeks ago, in PE was half empty...
mcglynp
mcglynp
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 20 Jan 2016
Total posts 48
markathome
markathome
Member since 05 Jul 2017
Total posts 11
Get your downvotes ready, but I actually don't think the QF9/10 economy experience is anything to write home about. It's a long flight in very narrow seats.
It would seem I'm not alone in this opinion - one of the last letters to Traveller was complaining about the same thing. Qantas's choice to pursue a 3-3-3 configuration rather than a 2-4-2 configuration has sacrificed passenger comfort for profitability.
(And I have flown QF9 - albeit just to Perth not London)
Traveller14
Traveller14
Member since 17 Sep 2015
Total posts 73
Preferences vary, but mine is to travel via Asia on an Asian airline - numerous choices - and avoid both Qantas and QF9/QF10.
Greg84
Greg84
Member since 03 Nov 2014
Total posts 130
You couldn't pay me to travel 9 abreast economy from BNE-PER-LHR, let alone with a small discount vs via Asia. Even flying business I'd likely not do it. Much prefer going via Singapore/HK or even Dubai with a break in between.
Geoffair
Geoffair
Member since 04 May 2018
Total posts 42
Was to try QF10/9 economy en route BNE 'though the thought of the onward B737 for hours at 30"pitch was frightening.
B787 has 32" so thats ok, however CX via Hkg 32" is that pitch all the way BNE so much more comfortable.
daniesut
daniesut
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Sep 2016
Total posts 43
its no secret QF are struggling to fill the QF9 and 10 flights, even in J - plenty of availability, given its the euro summer, etc would think it would be full - but you look at the QF1 and 2 via Sing, and you cant get a seat - its not the cost or the plane, its people just don't want to be in a plane for 17 hours, irrespective of the class.....
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
It depends on a number of things even the day of the week. I have flown the other 17 hour flight, to DFW quite a bit and on a Wednesday the plane is half full but last Friday the premium seats were all full but I had a three seat economy bed upstairs just behind them (go figure). The filling up of the premium end depends on the day of the week literally. I will be trying Mel-Perth-London on Monday so I hope the premium end is not so full and an upgrade is there for the taking. I also note Sale fares are more common on QF1/2 than 9/10 but again this is seasonal, and who they are offered to. Perth folk may get offered the sale fares.
Austline
Austline
Member since 23 Aug 2011
Total posts 43
Grannular
Grannular
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 272
Full every single flight? I call bs on that. As someone said above. They flew LHR to PER and W was half empty.
Luke49
Luke49
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 17 Aug 2017
Total posts 28
It was always going to happen now the hype is all over. Can understand economy not filling. But J I would expect full. I'd rather fly with new J class.
Jazzop
Jazzop
Member since 02 Dec 2016
Total posts 114
Agree, the idea of 17 hours in economy, especially nine abreast sounds like torture. If I was in business I'd do it though. But I still think it only really makes sense for PER origin/destination. For everyone else it's still a one stop proposition.