I'll admit that I am a big Qantas fanatic but I have to admit that I think this is quite disappointing.
When VH-OQB was announced as the first A380 to come home I was surprised as it was not one of the refurbished A380s.
I thought that maybe they had quietly refurbished it when it went for its D Check and would operate with the new cabins.
But when looking on ExpertFlyer for QF11 on January 11, you can clearly see it is still operating with the old MKII sky beds in a 2-2-2 configuration.
This is a large downgrade for all the people originally booked on 787s and I can't fathom why Qantas didn't send one of the refurbished planes back first.
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
David why not make it clear in the article that this is the old A380 operating? I can see several pictures of the new A380 but zero pictures of the old product. This is deceptive marketing by Qantas.
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
Hi David, I agree with what you are saying. With border closures and ever-changing quarantine requirements for crew, it would have been difficult to plan ahead. But lets face it QF should be experienced enough to ensure they don't get themselves in this situation!
Once they got themselves into this position, they need to be upfront on what the product offering will be. Stop posting pictures of the new product, when that is not what the customer is going to experience on their flight. In other circles this may be considered as misleading.
Queensland was only closed for about a week between Jan 11 and when it reopened. There is no longer any quarantine requirement. So why is Qantas still operating this old product with no entertainment?
Queensland was only closed for about a week between Jan 11 and when it reopened. There is no longer any quarantine requirement. So why is Qantas still operating this old product with no entertainment?
Something is not adding up.
Last edited by KW72 at Jan 23, 01.12 PM.
Last editedby KW72 at Jan 23, 2022, 01:13 PM.
Agreed, they can't play that card any longer and passengers are still getting gypped.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Non-Refurbished A380s operating QF11
vhojm
vhojm
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 Oct 2019
Total posts 72
I'll admit that I am a big Qantas fanatic but I have to admit that I think this is quite disappointing.
When VH-OQB was announced as the first A380 to come home I was surprised as it was not one of the refurbished A380s.
I thought that maybe they had quietly refurbished it when it went for its D Check and would operate with the new cabins.
But when looking on ExpertFlyer for QF11 on January 11, you can clearly see it is still operating with the old MKII sky beds in a 2-2-2 configuration.
This is a large downgrade for all the people originally booked on 787s and I can't fathom why Qantas didn't send one of the refurbished planes back first.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,016
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
hakkinen5
hakkinen5
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Aug 2014
Total posts 195
If only the QLD government would get with the program....
Joe
Joe
Member since 03 May 2013
Total posts 182
"but shes keeping us safe......"
nige00160
nige00160
Member since 07 Jan 2016
Total posts 64
Only 8 covid fatalities in QLD during the whole pandemic, Joe.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 282
Qantas needs to be upfront about which a380 is operating which service.
KW72 Banned
KW72 Banned
Member since 17 Jun 2020
Total posts 66
Originally Posted by David
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
It seems perfectly sensible to bring the A380 from Dresden following a D check for a month or so as needed and then send it back for refurbishment.
C44
C44
Member since 15 Sep 2021
Total posts 3
Originally Posted by David
Hi VHOJM – our understanding is that this first A380 was primarily intended for crew training ahead of the return of the refurbished A380s for the restart of A380 flights in Q2, and as this one was already in Dresden for a major maintenance check, it was quicker and easier to bring that A380 back to Sydney rather than go through the process of 'unhibernating' (readying for return to service) one of the A380s which was put into 'deep storage'.
However, due to the impact of 14-day quarantine on Qantas' 70-odd Brisbane-based Boeing 787 pilots, this necessitated a significant reshuffling of the schedule across January owing to reduced Boeing 787 availability, and this in turn led to a bit of 'creative thinking' such as putting that unrefurbished A380 back into service to help address the 787 shortfall.
Once they got themselves into this position, they need to be upfront on what the product offering will be. Stop posting pictures of the new product, when that is not what the customer is going to experience on their flight. In other circles this may be considered as misleading.
KW72 Banned
KW72 Banned
Member since 17 Jun 2020
Total posts 66
Queensland was only closed for about a week between Jan 11 and when it reopened. There is no longer any quarantine requirement. So why is Qantas still operating this old product with no entertainment?
Something is not adding up.
Hirsty
Hirsty
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Oct 2014
Total posts 12
Originally Posted by KW72
Queensland was only closed for about a week between Jan 11 and when it reopened. There is no longer any quarantine requirement. So why is Qantas still operating this old product with no entertainment?
Something is not adding up.
Agreed, they can't play that card any longer and passengers are still getting gypped.