Qantas will fly its Boeing 787 Hong Kong from December 2018, marking the Dreamliner’s first Asian destination – although it’s unlikely to be the last.
Travellers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will all have the choice of flying on the Boeing 787 – which boasts Qantas’ latest business class, premium economy and economy seats – as an alternative to the scheduled Airbus A380 and A330 services.
Melbourne-Hong Kong Boeing 787 flights will begin on 13 December 2018 as QF29/QF30 running five days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday for QF29; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday for QF30) with an Airbus A330 on the other two days.
From 28 January to 29 March 2019 the Dreamliner will be flying the Melbourne-Hong Kong route for six days each week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for QF29; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for QF30).
Brisbane-Hong Kong Boeing 787 flights will start from 19 December 2018 as QF97/QF98, initially at one day per week (Wednesday for QF97, Tuesday for QF98) and then increasing to two days per week from 30 January 2019 (Wednesday and Friday for QF97; Tuesday and Friday for QF98), with an Airbus A330 on all other days.
Sydney-Hong Kong Boeing 787 flights will commence on 30 March 2019 as QF117/QF118, with the Dreamliner rostered for six days per week (except for Tuesday on QF128 and Wednesday on QF127).
Australian Business Traveller reviews the Qantas Boeing 787 business class seat
Australian Business Traveller rates Qantas’ Boeing 787 business class seat as a five-star effort, although we’re less enamoured of premium economy: the thoughtful design is handicapped by having too little legroom, although this will be less of an issue on the daytime flights to Hong Kong than the overnight return legs.
However, on routes where the Boeing 787 replaces the Airbus A330, this will provide travellers with the option to book into the premium economy cabin compared to the two-class (business and economy) A330.
Australian Business Traveller reviews the Qantas Boeing 787 premium economy seat
Hong Kong is intended to be Qantas’ final Dreamliner destination for its initial eight-strong fleet, ahead of six more red-tailed Boeing 787s arriving from late 2019 to the end of 2020.
That second tranche of Dreamliners will let Qantas cherry-pick new and existing routes to Europe (where Paris and Frankfurt are tipped to join London as non-stop routes from Perth), the Americas (Qantas has name-checked Chicago and Seattle as possible Dreamliner destinations) and Asia.
Those jets will also see the retirement of Qantas’ ageing Boeing 747 fleet which currently flies to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Johannesburg and Santiago.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
28 Dec 2016
Total posts 71
Hmmm 4 classes selling on 3 different types...
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
QF can overbook Business on SYD-HKG but if travellers are willing to pay extra for F they can make more revenue by selling F seats.
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 134
I think we will see the dreamliner taking over Qf25/26 from late next year/early 2020, when the next 6 dreamliners begin to arrive
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
The QF Japan flights are often booked out with groups. Replacing the HND 747 with a 787 is a large reduction in seats.
If the HND route is the next to lose a 747, I'd expect to see the return of regular QF21/22 SYD-NRT flights to supplement the QF25/56 to HND.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 134
The 747 is retiring, so maybe instead it could be bumped to the A380.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
A380s at HND are problematic. Their use there is hightly restrcited.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
Himeno, is that because that airport is extremely busy and the A380 with its wake and separartion requirements means delays or loss of slots, or are many of the taxiways or hardstands/aerobridges unsuitable?
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
All of the above.
HND limits A380s in which runway/taxiways can be used and they can only be present at the airport during the night hours. While the slots QF has for HND are night slots, they keep the aircraft parked there all day. They wouldn't be able to park an A380 at HND during the day.
I don't think any of the HND gates have 3 airbridges, so A380 boarding would have to be via 2 (which would slow down boarding and increase turn around times).
As far as I know, only 2 A380s have been to HND. An Airbus test flight and when EK first started their DXB-HND flight.
HND was the busiest airport in Asia, even when it was just domestic/short haul international, before PEK over took it a few years ago.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
Himeno, I know someone who travels regularly to Japan and he says that school groups continue to be big business. He was referring to Japanese schoolkids but some Australian private and Catholic schools have exchange programs with Japanese schools I believe.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 204
As an economy flyer to Asia, I'd much rather A330s (or A380s)
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1209
For the J flyer, the 787 is pretty much a match for the A330 but an improvement over 747 or A380; for the W class, the 747 or A380 are probably still the better product even though it is nearly a decade older and for the Y flyer, the 787 is a step backwards from the A380, A330 and 747.
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 1
Despite the issues with the 787 W class seat, I think the overall seat is superior to the A380 or particularly the B747 in terms of the IFE Cabin Comfort and Pressurisation Altitude
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 262
Why is Economy seen as inferior on the 787 v the airbus options?
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 80
It depends how big you are. 17" seat width caters for about the median Aussie, no more. But if you fit, then the 32" pitch is nice.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 91
Adding to russh7's observation about seat width, the other disadvantage of the 787 versus A330 is the 3-3-3 economy seating layout versus 2-4-2 on A330. Less need to be stumbled over by, or have to stumble over, other passengers for aisle access on the A330.
20 May 2015
Total posts 581
So... in other words, there IS a market for Premium Economy flights to at least some cities in Asia.
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
I do think it's highly likely that whatever replaces the A330 for international routes will get PE.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1378
There has always been a market, it's just whether the aircraft is big enough to fit it all.
16 Feb 2016
Total posts 31
Well you could reconfigure a 333 with 30j/21w and 220ish y. However I suspect that they need more J to HKG, just not sure what the sweet spot would be. Ive often thought the next 6 789s might be configured less premium heavy to provide more Y capacity (30j/21w/220y) which might suit routes like syd-yvr,scl and jnb allowing extra frequencies and new routes like syd-cpt. Heck that config could be better suited to bnelaxjfk as well if it continues at 10pw. Keep the premium heavy, low J for ULH and newer routes like melsfo. Will be interesting to see how this develops
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
In practice, having different configurations creates difficulties when an aircraft fails, as the replacement may have fewer seats overall or fewer in a particular class. Result can be unhappy passengers off loaded at busier times.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 30
I have flown 5 flights MEL <> SIN since the A380 has taken over. All in PE and each time the PE Cabin has been full.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 30
Actually I've just realized that most of those could possibly be because of the LHR connection.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
Cyphar, one thing I don't like about PE (W class) on almost all airlines with it is the fixed armrests between each seat.
04 May 2016
Total posts 3
I’m surprised that QF haven’t, expanded PE into the 330 to asia earlier. CX have it across most of their 330s
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
They should have put PE on the A330s during the refurb. Just 2 rows, 12-14 seats, would have been enough.
They could have sold them with the extra leg room and/or blocked for status for domestic flights.
SQ
22 Feb 2016
Total posts 10
I take CX in PE between Australia and Asia roughly every 2-3 weeks. Loads are generally very strong. IMO if the product is good then it is worth paying for on a 7-9 hour sector..
28 Nov 2012
Total posts 93
Where do the a330 get deployed to?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 30
This is great. Now if we can just get rid of the 747's flying to NRT/HND, that would be superb.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2015
Total posts 38
Agreed. They are very old.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
How are they very old?
The 744ERs are younger then the 717s.
737s VH-VXA through VH-VXO are older then the 744ERs.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2015
Total posts 38
The 74's that QF put on QF25/26, as much as the Bride and I just adore them, they pale in comparison to a newer fleet... Just Saying...
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
One of the Boeing 744s, OJS, has its final flight in under two weeks and a further one is going to the scrapyard or similar on 4 April 2019.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Mar 2018
Total posts 4
Great opportunity to redeem points for newly released PE seats for those who have reward seat availability an issue over the busy mid-Dec/Jan period!
03 Aug 2015
Total posts 58
This is a result of the 737 crewing issues - they are freeing up the A330's to cover domestic flights
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1425
Interesting they do not seem to be confident of an AA tie up anytime soon so are committing the extra 787s to Asia and not Chicago. The six new ones will be certainly to Paris but more to the US beyond 747 replacements dependent on the approval of the AA tie up. The long term A330 replacement will be the 787-10 with 300+ seats and I am sure with PE.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Aug 2017
Total posts 25
JAL would benefit significantly if QF fly the 787s to HND or NRT. JAL 2-4-2 vs QF 3-3-3 in Y is a no brainer.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
Maybe. The competition on SYD-HND is ANA, which also has 3-3-3 787 on the route. The NH and QF HND flight times are similar while the JL flight from NRT only matches the QF/NH SYD times southbound.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Sep 2016
Total posts 3
787 to Asia. Bit late to the party.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
What 787 party is that?
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Sep 2016
Total posts 3
Scoot, Jetstar, JAL, Air India, Royal Bunei.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
My point exactly. What a party? SQ is at it too now.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 382
What happened to starting new destinations in America?
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
With BNE to Seattle, the market is so small - allegedly at present only 10 - 20 seats per typical day sold each way - that one suspects the airline's brains trust decided it ws uneconomic, even with the induced traffic that a nonstop would attract.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
Waiting for US DOT approval for a JV with AA.
No joint venutre approval, no new flights.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Apr 2016
Total posts 12
What happened to basing the next 4 787's in Brisbane?
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1425
Infrequently they can still be based in Brisbane it is just they may drop in elsewhere.
27 Aug 2017
Total posts 23
There is no better time than the current Cathay overnight schedule with a flat bed (ex MEL anyway). Given that you can involve a Cathay reservation person 7/24 at no Qantas type cost. They answer straight away vs. the typical Qantas 1 hour on hold. You can pay in any currency at the spot exchange rate. Great.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2017
Total posts 79
Was booked on the 787 in J class HKG MEL. They have changed it to a huff IOU’s outdated 747 for the next 10 days. This is why I find QF international so frustrating. I canceled and book one way with SQ. I would rather fly via SIN than travel on such an out dated product. Come on Qantas what are you doing!
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
Very true comment and my sympathy but other blogs suggest that Qantas has had a Boeing 787-900 out of service for quite a few days after a truck collided with it. Apparently it's complex to repair these new aircraft whereas older ones (like the B744!) were easier. Not sure why the new materials are harder to fix.
28 Mar 2018
Total posts 8
Looks like the MEL-HKG service has Ben reverted back to A330 from April 2019!
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