iscover
COMMENT:
Perth-based Qantas Frequent Flyer member Chris Frame is delighted the Flying Kangaroo is restoring international service to Singapore from the West Australian capital.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Just a few weeks shy of a year ago I wrote this piece about Qantas’ decision to pull out of regular Perth international services. At the time many WA-based Qantas frequent flyers were reeling from the prospect of having much fewer options to fly with the national carrier; while passengers booked on Qantas’ full-service A330 flights were encouraged to re-book on Jetstar’s one-class, no-frills A320 services, or find alternative arrangements.
But with the announcement that Qantas will recommence Perth – Singapore flights five times a week using Boeing 737-800s, things are looking up for WA-based travellers. This is just the latest announcement in what has been a bumper year for Qantas; with a return to profitability, improved A330 seating and the opening of new and innovative routes just a few of the achievements.
So why are Perth flyers so happy at the Qantas news? Here are five reasons that Qantas’s decision to return to Perth is one to celebrate!
A shorter journey – Perth-based Qantas loyalists who continued to fly to Asia with the carrier faced a journey of up to 14 hours. These flyers endured services routed via Melbourne or Sydney, meaning many hours were wasted backtracking across the continent. With direct flights re-established, the journey has been reeled back to just over five hours, saving valuable time while travelling.
Upgrades are back on the agenda – Qantas frequent flyers wishing to treat themselves to a bit more space are once again able to use their Qantas frequent flyer points to upgrade; a popular benefit which was not available on Jetstar’s one-class services.
More legroom and more food – two inches might not sound like much, but Qantas’s 737s sport a 30-inch seat pitch in economy, which trumps Jetstar’s 28 inches; and over five hours it will definitely make a difference! And let’s not forget that meals (and checked baggage) are included on a Qantas ticket, making for a more comfortable experience all round.
Connections are easier – Qantas’s international fights are fully interlined with the airline’s extensive domestic network. This is particularly important for those passengers travelling through Perth from other towns and cities in WA. It saves valuable time, as there is no more waiting for baggage, or the need to checkin again at the international terminal.
Earning a full serve of points and status credits – with Qantas aircraft back in the air on Perth international flights passengers are rewarded with the full Qantas earn rate for frequent flyer points. And unlike travelling codeshare on Jetstar aircraft, Qantas international services will offer a full serving of status credits on all ticket types – essential for maintaining status benefits with the airline.
My story last year ended by saying, “The sooner that Qantas management reconnects with its Perth customers and realises that no level of marketing speak can convince us that a Jetstar aircraft is the same as a Qantas aircraft … the better. Only then can Qantas ever hope to return to Perth with enough customers willing to welcome it back”.
It appears that day has come! Here’s hoping there are many more QF flight numbers on the Perth International Airport’s arrivals board in the near future!
Chris Frame is a Perth-based maritime historian, travel writer, author and lecturer.
Stuart
says:As a perth based traveller – completely agree! Such wonderful news; 737 or not. I suspect the next will be QF to DPS to compete with VA. How far can a 737-800 go – is HKG out of reach?
Red Barron
says:I’m sure if the numbers are there to support it this will be back to A330 or B787 flights in the future. Using the 737 will be a good test to see the numbers.
Dave
says:Good article and I agree this is positive news. Hopefully its the start of a return, over time, to full international service to a variety of destinations.
I think Perth was a bit of a victim of Qantas trying to solve some of its issues. Changing the Euro operation through Dubai meant that QF could no longer fill planes and compete through Singapore from Perth. The PER-SIN service had a lot of euro-bound people on it I guess. Now that the overall strategy is helping turn things around, they are coming into a position where they can re-enter some markets and start building towards a competitive option. This is a good starting point for Perth services I believe, and success will hopefully breed more success.
Ella Delaney
says:I am thrilled. I couldn’t stand the JQ aircraft and wanted the flight points. Excellent news.
Mark, Perth
says:No cause for celebration if you’re over 6 foot and have to cram into a 737 for 5 hours. I’ll continue to give my business to Virgin and their strategic partners. Scraps are only for farmyard animals.
Ella Delaney
says:Just booked!
Peter
says:Mark – how many aircraft bigger than 737’s do VA fly from Perth to Asia??
Rodney Marinkovic
says:Good and deserve QANTAS service to Denpasar, for West Australians. B738 is economical, affordable aircraft.
Comfort is fair for flight up to 5 h. Obviously people say wot them like. I say in accordance to my 4500 hours flights as pasanger in last 45 years since my beginning. Well done QANTAS!.
Rodney, Home of QANTASVILLE I. Sydney