Qantas has pared back its flights between Australia and Hong Kong as part of a ‘realignment’ of its Asian timetable following the launch of the Qantas-Emirates alliance. Here’s how the new schedule sits.
Sydney-Hong Kong flights have been downgraded to a single daily service following the cancellation of the four times per week QF87/88 flight.
QF127/128 is now the sole Sydney-Hong Kong flight and has been retimed to leave Sydney slightly earlier, at 9.55am instead of 10.40am.
(As before, from Monday to Wednesday this flight uses a Boeing 747, while Thursday through to Sunday sees an Airbus A380.)
There’s a more substantial timeshift for the Melbourne-Hong Kong QF29 flight, which now leaves Melbourne at 9.35am – four hours earlier than under the previous timetable – to reach Hong Kong at 5.10pm.
Brisbane is in for a boost, with the Brisbane-Hong Kong service (QF97/98) going up from four flights per week to five beginning May 6, and then daily from June 24. The new schedule now sees QF97 leaving Brisbane at 10.20am for wheels-down into Hong Kong at 5.25pm.
WA comes out worst off, with Qantas axing the Perth-Hong Kong (QF67/68) service.
Your Hong Kong alternatives to Qantas
If the revamped Qantas schedule doesn’t appeal, your options are pretty cut-and-dried.
Virgin Atlantic runs a daily service departing Sydney at 2.25pm, which arrives into Hong Kong at 9.55pm.
This operates as a codeshare with Virgin Australia so you can rack up some Velocity frequent flyer points and status credits and also enjoy access to the Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse lounge in Hong Kong if you hold Velocity platinum status.
But for most travellers the better bet would have to be Cathay Pacific – especially as a Qantas alternative, because your Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold or Platinum card will provide entry into Cathay’s excellent business and first class lounges at Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific offers plenty of flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to Hong Kong, and they all sport the airline’s highly-regarded business class seats, along with new premium economy and revamped economy seats.
(Just be aware that, as noted in the comments field below, Cathay's daily BNE-HKG flight goes via Cairns three days each week. This adds several hours to the trip – if your schedule is sufficiently flexible, choose to fly on the days which offer a direct flight without the Cairns stopover.)
More AusBT news for HK-bound travellers
Frequent flyers get fast-lane access at Hong Kong airport: We list the frequent flyer cards that let you sidestep the queues at HKIA by zipping through the airport's Frequent Visitor e-Channel
Cathay Pacific’s Wing First Class lounge: Architectural firm Foster + Partners have created another world-class haven for Cathay Pacific’s premium travellers
Business traveller's guide to Hong Kong International Airport: What you need to know, how to get there, where the lounges are and what to do on a layover
Eight great Hong Kong restaurants for a business lunch: We check out some of the city's most popular restaurants as recommended by colleagues and contacts
A hidden Hong Kong gem for a great deal on glasses: Fancy picking up a pair of new glasses during your next trip to Hong Kong? Here's the best place in town for efficient, speedy yet affordable service!
For the latest news and updates, follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT.
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.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Jul 2012
Total posts 35
I was in the Wing Cathay Lounge at HKG on Monday night and it is in my opinion only comparable to a QF Domestic QC - rubbish for an international lounge. Lots of staff wandering around but not actually picking up dirty glasses and bowls. Food offering was poor individual pieces of cake wrapped in glad wrap, the noodles from the noodle bar seemed no different to instant noodles - just served in a bowl rather than a plastic pot. Toilets were dismal and needed a good clean. They go on about the carrera marble - wow - not.
That said the seat and service on board CX business was superb.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 130
RobL: Were you in the BC Section of the Wing Lounge or the FC section of it? The BC part of it seems like a zoo at peak hours as Cathay grants access to almost everyone including their Silver FF and with heaps of flights at peak period, I won't be surprised by your poor experience. I once had the experience when I decided to check out The Cabin, it was a nice lounge but was very full and I had to walk around the whole lounge just to find a seat.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Jul 2012
Total posts 35
I was in the BC section and it wasn't busy.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Wow, Hong Kong is really getting the short end of this deal. Qantas pretty much doing the bare minimum to keep existing travellers who are 'locked into' QF either because of 'prefrered airline' status on their corp account or simply people who only ever fly Qantas. The rest of the HK business they really seem happy with handing over to CX!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Jul 2012
Total posts 35
I think the revsised timings are a good thing for HK bound travellers. I went out on the QF29 last week departing at 1500 and due to weather in HK we landed at 2225. 1 hr 20 late, which made for a long day by the time got to the hotel.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Dec 2012
Total posts 66
David - you forgot to mention CX to BNE. This is a daily flight, though 3 days its Via CNS, whilst on the return leg its also via CNS...Not the most ideal (unless your lucky to have BNE-HKG vv on both legs. Rather than BNE-CNS-HKG vv (this adds a good 4-5 hours to the trip!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Dec 2012
Total posts 66
The CX Flight is a Daily Flight to both CNS & BNE, but on 3 days its HKG-BNE-CNS-HKG and on the other days is HKG-CNS-BNE-HKG. Just thought I'd clarify...
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Good point, let me add this in!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 41
I thought there were also 3x non stop BNE-HKG night departures operated by an A340-300?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Dec 2012
Total posts 66
Wezza - There is the 00.55 Departure (CX156) direct to HKG on Fri, Sun, Mon & Wed. All flights ex.BNE are A330-300's.
David (and other readers) just to clarify the CNS stop-over flights. If you flight in from HKG is HKG-BNE, then the flight out is BNE-CNS-HKG. Obviously this means HKG-CNS-BNE Flights are direct BNE-HKG on the return. Currently, CX has direct BNE-HKG on Sun, Tues & Thurs (whilst the return direct flights are Sun, Tues, Thurs & Fri) - confusing I know!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1378
David,
Any changes to the return....
Revised flight times are probably good for most - with midday departures you lose the morning anyway, and at least this way you can get into HK for a proper dinner.
As well as providing more connections into China.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Moa999, surely you can find that out for yourself at Qantas.com?
01 Feb 2012
Total posts 370
:( Now I have to wake up an hour earlier on Saturdays when I go on holidays to HK!
Really would prefer to just go with CX's later flights (on both legs) but for the points...
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
hhmmmm it's going to get a lot more crowded in the lounges....
16 Dec 2012
Total posts 3
I'm really disappointed by QF29 timing changes - no more chance to do something in the morning and fly to Hong Kong in the evening (also miss out on lunch in the F lounge!!).
The biggest disappointment is that the return Asia-Australian flights are overnight. I used to enjoy flight back in the day.
Oh well, my change to CX this year is confirmed.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Dom T, I'm also a fan of daytime flights back from Asia - have a final enjoyable evening in Hong Kong or SIngapore, a nice dinner & drinks and what-not, then head to the airport the next morning, breakfast in the lounge, then relax on the way home and plough through some work in flight, then by the time you get home you can enjoy a light dinner and hit the hay, to be ready back in gear the next morning.
I find that overnight flights from HK or SIngapore don't quite do it for me, as you can never sleep as soundly on a plane as in a proper bed, and you neer get enough sleep anyway unless you're sleeping as soon as the plane takes off until shortly before it lands.
But what with supper, lights and distractions from the cabin after take-off and again when they gear up for breakfast 90 minutes before landing, that turns an eight hour flight into maybe five hours of decent sleep.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Yes, I've always thought that QF should do at least a late night SYD-HKG departure which then allows for early morning connections for China and North Asia. This would then allow a daytime return flight.
I assume one issue preventing this is Sydney's curfew? I'd wouldn't want to be scheduling a flight to depart SYD much later than 9:30pm to allow a buffer before 11pm curfew and off my head this wouldn't land into HKG at a great hour.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Dec 2012
Total posts 66
A 930pm departure from SYD would mean an arrival of about 530am.. This is Ok and similar to EK's BNE 9pm departure, getting into DXB at 530am.
When TG dropped the BNE leg off its SYD-BNE-BKK Route, this mean a very unsociable arrival time of 330am into BKK... So 530am isnt that bad - when you consider 'air traffic at HKG at that time' and the business of the terminal - you're looking at 6.30-7am...when your out!
20 Jul 2011
Total posts 72
Haven't seen the new Wing first lounge in HK since the renovation, but The Pier is not that impressive. It's much smaller than the QF First lounge in Syd or Mel, not proper a la carte and always seems a bit pokier and more crowded.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Rufus: yes, The Pier is the 'oldest' of Cathay's HK lounges now and with original decor, showing its age and also the 'bunker' look isn't that appealing... and yes, it can get very crowded. A new Cabin-style lounge opening not too far away from The Pier later this year should help alleviate the crowing to some extent (see https://www.executivetraveller.com/cathay-pacific-to-open-new-the-bridge-lounge-at-hong-kong-airport).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 317
You also forget to mention that CX104 to HK from Adelaide is also routed via Melbourne, which adds an additional flying time to Melbourne and layover.
QF
19 Jun 2012
Total posts 17
Does anyone know if the B747s QF is flying to Hong Kong the refurbished variety?
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