There’s been union disputes for a while at Qantas, but the move to ground the international and domestic mainline fleet a day after the Qantas AGM is a surprise.

Latest Qantas updates at this link.

Affected flights (at time of writing)

Qantas operated international (and other airline codeshares on those flights)

Qantas mainline domestic

Unaffected flights (at time of writing)

Jetstar

Jetconnect (trans-Tasman flights except for A330 service between Auckland and Sydney)

Qantaslink domestic flights (numbered 1400 to 2699)

Qantas codeshare flights on other airlines

Qantas has revealed to the world at large the previously hidden top frequent flyer tier (no, not Chairman’s Lounge which is given to politicians and senior businesspeople), and at the same time renamed it to Platinum One.  Platinum One requires 3600 status credits in a year, equivalent to 5 return trips between Sydney and London in first class (or 30 round trips on most economy class fares).

Platinum One status gets special assistance, which I’ve found useful a few times.  Australian Business Traveller has some benefit suggestions for Qantas.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has compassionate fares to those needing to travel to Christchurch, oneway for $50 domestic (on standby basis until 31 March 2011) and other confirmable fares for those travelling to funeral or memorial services.  They are available by calling Air NZ.  In addition those with existing bookings to Christchurch for travel until 31 March 2011 have change fees waived – tickets can be rebooked to later date (fare difference may apply), an earlier date or another destination (fare difference will apply).

For more information please refer to Air NZ Christchurch update page.

Emirates

Emirates Christchurch disruption notice

Passengers flying to Christchurch are asked to provide proof of living in Christchurch or onward travel arrangements.  Failure to do so will result in denied boarding.

Fees are waived for cancellation or changes of travel booked to Christchurch up to 10 March 2011.  Change of dates is limited to 7 days.

Singapore Airlines

Period for rebooking waivers has passed. Normal terms & conditions apply.

Qantas

Qantas Christchurch disruption notice.

Travel between 1 March and 25 March 2011 can be rebooked to a later date, rerouted or held as a credit withouth change fees – no refunds.

Jetstar

There has been some media criticism of Jetstar’s handling of customers seeking rebooking.

Jetstar Christchurch disruption notice. 

Travel between 3 March and 25 March 2011 can be rebooked to a later date, rerouted or held as a credit withouth change fees – no refunds.  All changes must be made within 14 days.

Pacific Blue

Pacific Blue Christchurch disruption notice.

Travel until 25 March 2011 can be rebooked to any date up to 30 June 2011, or cancelled (for a credit not a refund) without fee.

Air Asia X

First flight to Christchurch is still due 1 April 2011.  I’ll update if this changes.

A short note on accommodation

Most inner city hotels are within the cordon and are closed until further notice, and some have suffered major damage.  There is a significant accommodation shortfall due to emergency personnel and displaced residents.  For travel to Christchurch in the next month or so, please check if your accommodation is available and strongly suggest to stay outside the city.

Latest information on flights to Christchurch by airlines other than Air NZ.  For Air NZ Christchurch information please see the separate post.

Emirates

Emirates Christchurch disruption notice

Passengers flying to Christchurch are asked to provide proof of living in Christchurch or onward travel arrangements.  Failure to do so will result in denied boarding.

Fees are waived for cancellation or changes of travel booked to Christchurch up to 10 March 2011.  Change of dates is limited to 7 days.

Singapore Airlines

SQ Christchurch disruption notice

Until 3 March 2011 (ex-Singapore and 4 March ex-Christchurch), flights are operating via Auckland and a new schedule applies.

Fees to change dates or destination (to Auckland), or for cancellation are waived until 6 March 2011.  Singapore’s Christchurch ticket office is located in the CBD and is closed until further notice.

Qantas

Qantas Christchurch disruption notice.

Travel until 28 February 2011 can be rebooked, rerouted or cancelled without change/cancellation fees subject to conditions.  Travel between 1 March and 25 March 2011 can be rebooked to a later date, rerouted or held as a credit withouth change fees – no refunds.

Jetstar

Jetstar Christchurch disruption notice. 

Travel until 28 February 2011 can be rebooked, rerouted or cancelled without change/cancellation fees subject to conditions.

Travel between 1 March and 25 March 2011 can be rebooked to a later date, rerouted or held as a credit withouth change fees – no refunds.  All changes must be made within 14 days.

Most flights to & from Christchurch on the afternoon of 22 February 2011 and on 23 February 2011 were cancelled.

Pacific Blue

Pacific Blue Christchurch disruption notice.

Travel until 15 March 2011 can be rebooked or cancelled (for a credit not a refund) without fee.

Air Asia X

First flight to Christchurch is still due 1 April 2011.  I’ll update if this changes.

I’ve visited hundreds of airline lounges around the world, and the standard of cleanliness varies considerably.  Nonetheless, for most you’d expect a reasonably clean lounge.  Today, thanks to lack of award availability I had an 8 hour transit in Sydney, and so I spent several hours in the very nice Qantas first class lounge.  Remarkably, some dirty dishes that were around when I arrived were still not cleaned away several hours later when it was time for me to leave, despite requesting staff clean up.  Even worse, a toilet I’d noticed was blocked when I arrived was still blocked when I went to use it before leaving to board my flight.

This lounge is large and has about a dozen staff.  What have the ones responsible for cleaning been doing all day?

There are some airlines serving NZ for the first time in 2011, ahead of the rugby world cup (and also some airlines returning after years of absence).  Announcements to date include:

• China Airlines – from Taipei to Auckland via Brisbane starting January
• Low cost airline Jetstar Asia – from Singapore to Auckland starting March
• Skyteam member China Southern Airlines – from Guangzhou to Auckland via Melbourne starting March
• Low cost airline Air Asia X – from Kuala Lumpur to Christchurch starting April
• Star Alliance member United Airlines (Continental) – from Houston to Auckland starting November (maybe)

The trans-Tasman flights will, as usual, have 5th freedom rights meaning they can be bought standalone.  Typically there is good award availability on these “tag” flights, and fares in premium cabins are low as the airlines try to win customers off more well-known competition (Air New Zealand, Qantas/Jetstar, Emirates and Pacific Blue).

Qantas has announced a raft of changes to their frequent flyer program which will become effective over a period of several months.

From 1 October 2010:

• GAIN Silver status requires 300 status credits to earn and 250 to requalify (down from 350 and 300 respectively).
• GAIN (temporary) Partner Gold status can be applied to anyone on reaching 2100 status credits (currently limited to partner residing at the same address).  Offer valid only until 3 May 2011 and cannot be combined with Platinum+ benefit (see next bullet point).
• GAIN (net) new Platinum+ benefit at 2400 status credits – a choice of Complimentary Gold (replaces current Partner Gold benefit), 3 complimentary Qantas valet parking or chaffeured transport invitations, or 50,000 bonus points.

From 1 December 2010:

• LOSS increase in award assistance and change fees (eg from 2500 to 3500 points)
• LOSS increase in points transfer fee
• LOSS removal of option to pay lost ticket replacement fee in points (cash fee is unchanged)
• GAIN reduction in replacement card fee (from A$25/2500 points to A$10/1000 points)

From 1 February 2011:

• LOSS Qantas Club members and Silver lose priority check in on domestic flights (benefit is retained for international).
• LOSS Platinum loses anytime lounge access, but can use lounges on arrival provided flying on Qantas, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia or Oneworld.

From 4 May 2011:

• GAIN Silver gets increased award availability for classic awards flying Qantas (an existing benefit for Gold and Platinum).
• LOSS 2nd increase in award assistance fee for international tickets (to 6000 points, currently 2500)
• LOSS increase in service fee, and these are added to any other applicable fees

From 1 June 2011 (travel date for tickets purchased on or after 1 December 2010):

• LOSS change in checked baggage allowance for domestic economy class from weight concept to piece concept (1 piece with maximum weight less than old limit).
• GAIN change in checked baggage allowance for domestic business class from weight concept to piece concept (2 pieces with maximum weight per piece).
• GAIN Qantas Club members, Silver, Gold, increase in checked baggage allowance for international business and first class (excluding travel via Americas)
• GAIN Platinum increase in checked baggage allowance for international all classes (excluding travel via Americas)

Overall changes are:

• negative for Bronze (no status)
• negative for Qantas Club
• mixed for Silver – lose some benefits and gain others
• negative for Gold (due to the higher fees)
• mixed for Platinum – lose some benefits and gain others
• small positive for Platinum+ even though the threshold is higher there are more options which helps those for whom the current Partner Gold benefit is worthless

A little over a year since Qantas withdrew from the New Zealand domestic market in favour of their low cost subsidiary Jetstar, comes news that Pacific Blue is also pulling out (source NZ Herald).  The last flights are on October 17, less than 3 years after they commenced domestic flights in NZ.  It isn’t an unexpected moved as Pacific Blue has been in a difficult market position – worse frequencies and fewer routes than Air New Zealand thus difficult to win over business travellers, and more expensive than Jetstar for the most price sensitive flyers.

Passengers with bookings are being rebooked on Air New Zealand.  Pacific Blue’s flights between Australia and New Zealand will have a modest increase in frequency.

I flew on the very first Pacific Blue domestic flight in New Zealand, and the last Qantas flight. I’m tempted to fly the last flight too – the reduction in competition cannot be good for travellers.

Emirates have a sale today through Thursday 22 July in economy and business class for New Zealand to Australia (ie Auckland to Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne and Christchurch to Sydney). Economy class travel dates for next several months excluding school holidays, business class travel dates now until mid December.

As usual Air NZ and Qantas have matched, kind of. Air NZ business class fares are slightly higher than Emirates, with Qantas higher again (and blackouts on certain flights).

I’ve written about A380 a few times (A380 tag link), and there seems to be a lot of interest in how to fly A380 cheaply, especially in first and business class.  This post summarises all the currently operating regularly scheduled A380 services, which I’ll update from time to time [last updated 12 December 2011].

There are currently 7 airlines flying A380:

• Singapore Airlines
• Emirates
• Qantas
• Air France
• Lufthansa
• Korean
• China Southern

The next airline to operate A380 is Malaysia Airlines which is scheduled to commence July 2012, initially on Kuala Lumpur to London Heathrow route.

Singapore Airlines A380 routes

• Frankfurt to New York JFK (from January 2012)
• Singapore to Frankfurt to New York JFK (from January 2012)
• Singapore to Hong Kong
• Singapore to London Heathrow
• Singapore to Melbourne (until January 2012)
• Singapore to Paris
• Singapore to Sydney
• Singapore to Tokyo Narita to Los Angeles
• Singapore to Zurich
• Tokyo Narita to Los Angeles

Emirates A380 routes

• Bangkok to Hong Kong
• Dubai to Auckland via Sydney
• Dubai to Bangkok
• Dubai to Beijing
• Dubai to Hong Kong via Bangkok and also nonstop
• Dubai to Jeddah
• Dubai to Johannesburg
• Dubai to Kuala Lumpur (from January 2012)
• Dubai to London Heathrow
• Dubai to Manchester
• Dubai to Munich
• Dubai to New York JFK
• Dubai to Paris
• Dubai to Rome
• Dubai to Seoul
• Dubai to Shanghai
• Dubai to Sydney
• Dubai to Toronto
• Sydney to Auckland

Qantas A380 routes

• Melbourne to London via Singapore
• Melbourne to Los Angeles
• Melbourne to Singapore
• Sydney to Hong Kong (from January 2012)
• Sydney to London via Singapore
• Sydney to Los Angeles
• Sydney to Singapore
• Singapore to London Heathrow

Air France A380 routes

• Paris to Dubai (until March 2012)
• Paris to Johannesburg
• Paris to London Heathrow (ceased)
• Paris to Los Angeles (from May 2012)
• Paris to Montreal
• Paris to New York JFK
• Paris to San Francisco (until ???? 2012)
• Paris to Tokyo Narita (suspended until March 2012)
• Paris to Washington Dulles

Lufthansa A380 routes

• Frankfurt to Beijing
• Frankfurt to Houston (from August 2012)
• Frankfurt to Johannesburg
• Frankfurt to Miami
• Frankfurt to New York JFK (resumes May 2012)
• Frankfurt to San Francisco (resumes March 2012)
• Frankfurt to Singapore
• Frankfurt to Tokyo Narita
• Munich to New York JFK (ceased)

Korean A380 routes

• Seoul to Hong Kong
• Seoul to Los Angeles
• Seoul to New York JFK
• Seoul to Paris CDG
• Seoul to Tokyo NRT

China Southern A380 routes

• Beijing to Guangzhou
• Beijing to Shanghai PVG

A380 destinations in the Americas

• Houston – Lufthansa (from Frankfurt) from August 2012
• Los Angeles – Air France from May 2012, Korean, Qantas (from Melbourne & Sydney), Singapore Airlines (from Singapore via Tokyo Narita)
• Miami – Lufthansa (from Frankfurt)
• Montreal – Air France
• New York JFK – Air France, Emirates, Korean, Lufthansa (from Frankfurt) resumes May 2012, Singapore Airlines (from Singapore via Frankfurt) from January 2012
• San Francisco – Air France until ???? 2012, Lufthansa (from Frankfurt) resumes March 2012
• Toronto – Emirates
• Washington Dulles – Air France

A380 destinations in Europe

• Frankfurt – Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines (from Singapore to New York JFK via Frankfurt) from January 2012
• London Heathrow – Emirates, Malaysia Airlines from July 2012, Qantas (from Melbourne and Sydney both via Singapore), Singapore Airlines
• Manchester – Emirates
• Munich – Emirates
• Paris – Air France, Emirates, Korean, Singapore Airlines
• Rome – Emirates
• Zurich – Singapore Airlines

A380 destinations in Middle East and Africa

• Dubai – Air France until March 2012, Emirates
• Jeddah – Emirates
• Johannesburg – Air France, Emirates, Lufthansa

A380 destinations in Asia

• Bangkok – Emirates
• Beijing – China Southern, Emirates, Lufthansa
• Guangzhou – China Southern
• Hong Kong – Emirates (from Dubai via Bangkok and nonstop), Korean, Qantas (from Sydney) from January 2012, Singapore Airlines
• Kuala Lumpur – Emirates from January 2012, Malaysia Airlines from July 2012
• Seoul – Emirates, Korean
• Shanghai PVG – China Southern, Emirates
• Singapore – Lufthansa (from Frankfurt), Qantas (from Melbourne and Sydney to London), Singapore Airlines
• Tokyo Narita – Air France suspended until March 2012, Korean, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines (from Singapore and to Los Angeles)

A380 destinations in the Pacific

• Auckland – Emirates (from Dubai via Sydney)
• Melbourne – Qantas, Singapore Airlines
• Sydney – Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines

Maps from gcmap.