In mid-December we learned that Qantas would be adding flights between San Francisco and Melbourne as of late 2018. This flight complements their existing service between Sydney and San Francisco, though when we first learned about the route they didn't reveal many details in terms of how many frequencies to expect, and when exactly the…
Continue reading: Qantas’ New San Francisco To Melbourne Flight Is Bookable (And Has Award Space!)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Not a good schedule for MEL to SFO - get in late - only option for connection is a red-eye to East coast.
The main reason for the rather quick turnaround in SFO and therefore high aircraft utilisation is the fact that Qantas will only get eight 789s (so far), and besides this 6-weekly MEL-LAX/SFO combo they will also operate the daily MEL-PER-LHR and BNE-LAX-JFK routes, plus a still unannounced route from BNE to the US (probably not daily though). So the schedule will be tightly packed with little room for long layovers or irr ops.
I am looking forward to the new MEL-SFO flight, being based in MEL I'll definitely make use of it.
Just as a point of comparison Ben - Qantas charges 96,000 qantas points for a one way Business as well (which a lot of Australians would have an easier time accruing as well), despite it being the most expensive way.
That Alaska pricing is superb though.
@Sebastian : by this ("plus a still unannounced route from BNE to the US (probably not daily though)"), you're essentially saying 4x weekly BNE-DFW is a done deal, simply waiting for a Feb/March announcement for a end of Oct / early Nov launch ?
I think that's why Lucky made the point that this flight is largely targeting passengers who have SFO as their final destination. QF will continue to funnel passengers with connections to other US destinations through DFW/LAX.
Also, I imagine that the timing could potentially be attractive to business travelers wanting to connect on to NYC. Instead of leaving in the middle of the day, you can leave at night and get in on the morning of the next day. I have to imagine the red-eye issue is less problematic to those already screwed up time wise from a MEL-SFO flight.
@ henryLAX: I don't know anything more than what has been shared by Qantas publicly, sorry. At some point they announced (maybe not formally but in a speech or interview I believe) a new route from BNE to North America on the 789. Some people seem to get overly excited about ORD, but I believe DFW or SFO are much more likely given they are existing stations.
@ Max: +1! Lucky, please review QF J class, maybe the A380 one way and 789 the other, given the huge difference in hard product.
Checked the dates Lucky shows on EF, nothing available. Checked a few others too, found one coach seat available
I find this schedule makes a lot of sense, actually. SFO is not a Oneworld hub, and a 7pm arrival leaves just the right amount of time to catch any of the eastbound red eyes (JFK, MIA, ORD, DFW, CLT, PHL).
A lot less busier at customs and immigration at Sfo at that hour then earlier in the day, Plus you get a full day in Melbourne on the return flight.
That's nice timing for the flight from MEL for working in the bay. Work a full day, eat in the lounge, Straight to sleep on the plane, wake up for some lunch before arrival to the hotel and dinner.
I'm interested to know how they will cater that flight, I'd rather the second meal was larger and more lunch than breakfast. I'd be unlikely to eat until midway through the flight.
@ Ed - I recently flew the new LAX-MEL route, and while the food was great, Qantas seems to think that we all eat like dainty grandmas. I’m not a big person by any means, or have a bigger than usual appetite, but the entree was served on those tiny appetizer plates they use in the lounge. As for breakfast, if I hadn’t checked off two selections, I’d be starving until touchdown (Qantas’ idea of a portion of bacon is just a strip of bacon).
Lucky were you born in business class or have you ever flown economy class when you were a kid?
Will this be bookable through AS website when it's available? Or do you have to call in to book?
I see february/march 2500$ fare from jnb to gru in taag first class, what do you think about usa-brussels-kigali-jnb-luanda-gru-eze-jfk?
Was able to book to seats on AA.com. You just changed my direction from the West Coast to the Maldives. Thanks Lucky!!
The all day on the ground in LAX is caused by Sydney flights, where there is a landing ban from 2300-0600 because of the airport location. This will presumably be overcome when the new second airport gets to the stage that it can handle international flights, probably some years away.
I have an upcoming trip on QF from SYD-SFO-DCA (business reward). When booked, the flight departed at 3pm and arrived at 9:30am, allowing for connections to the east coast.
QF changed the schedule so the departure is now 6pm and arrives at 12:30pm, and there are now no AA routings to get to DCA that day. Have to do a long layer in SFO and take a red-eye flight home.
The seat map for all classes of service is very light for the flight which now leaves at 6pm. Most people who are traveling to SFO, non-stop with SFO as their destination are probably UA Elites and are flying the UA flight.
For the date I am traveling, the AA flight to LAX has been sold out in J for at least 4 months before departure. The UA flights to LAX and SFO are >80% full in the premium cabinet. But the QF flight to SFO is maybe 35% full.
I understand that QF is trying to have a short turnaround in SFO, so they can use the aircraft in Australia - rather than let it sit all day in the US, like the flights to LAX, but I think they are really limiting the market.
If you lived in the SFO area - you are likely flying UA most of the time. And if you travel to SYD on business you will likely fly UA (not QF). QF needs to feed connections in SFO.
Sadly, American could not see availability for November, that was visible on the Qantas site.
Just hung up with ExPlat desk and they don't see any award space at all. Nada.
Found some Y seats on AS but nothing in premium. Qantas has seats available in both premium economy and business but their rates are rather high.
AS only has access to mid Dec while Qantas has seats to mid January which means that most of the classic award space will be gone month in advance of AS. Just like the problem with CX F.
sigh