Qantas Expands International Network - Commences Flights To Seoul & Bengaluru

[Daver6]

the SYD>ADL>DEL service ended on 26th March, I don't recall seeing any notice about this, but the QF website now describes it :

Asia

Sydney (via Adelaide) <> Delhi Delhi <> Sydney (non-stop)

Seasonal service until 26 March 2022

Which is now replaced with:

Asia

Melbourne (via Adelaide) <> Delhi Delhi <> Melbourne (non-stop)

Now flying

So the ADL>DEL>PNQ option is viable, BUT

Even the Indigo website timetable looks all screwed up. Perhaps they're respectively updating things? lets call it a conjunction of Indian IT technology and Qantas' airline strategy on display.

I believe it's operating MEL-ADL-DEL. If I search ADL to PNQ this comes up. The two questions I have is why is the QF engine so broken I can't start in PER and secondly, they've set the expectation that I can fly Indigo on a QF flight number yet that isn't showing.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I believe it's operating MEL-ADL-DEL. If I search ADL to PNQ this comes up. The two questions I have is why is the QF engine so broken I can't start in PER and secondly, they've set the expectation that I can fly Indigo on a QF flight number yet that isn't showing.

View attachment 274658

QF probably haven't loaded the flights into the booking system yet. Or their IT is stuffed up - probably why they're going direct to BLR now - to exchange USB thumb drives or something.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Why not just use a (decent) travel agent if you so desire to give Qantas money...?

 

[AFF Editor]

@jakeseven7 Not sure if the original article here: New Qantas Routes from Sydney to Seoul & Bengaluru was written by you? But it says Vistara as the Codeshare partner in one paragraph.

I picked up on that too.
Matt Graham @support - maybe look into this?

Apologies, this was obviously an error! I have now fixed the mistake in the article - the codeshare partner is definitely IndiGo, not Vistara.

If you see any mistakes like this in future, feel free to tag @AFF Editor or @Mattg. Support is done by somebody else.

 

[jakeseven7]

@jakeseven7 Not sure if the original article here: New Qantas Routes from Sydney to Seoul & Bengaluru was written by you? But it says Vistara as the Codeshare partner in one paragraph.

I got promoted to an AFF reporter? Thank you I see Admin has answered you though.

 

[AFF Editor]

I got promoted to an AFF reporter? Thank you I see Admin has answered you though.

Well, actually @Admin is a different person entirely.

I know what you mean, though.

 

[Melburnian1]

Whatever options, I will avoid AI like the plague...and I still prefer train travel where possible in India, well, if I have the time capacity.

I found Indian train travel in a recent year eminently satisfactory.

Great 'travelling ticket attendants' on board who always ensured I had a lower sleeping berth if travelling long distance, other passengers friendly and clearly all middle or upper class judging by their general demeanour and clothing, and mostly, trains that ran on time. Each carriage had one Western toilet: invariably smelly, but otherwise clean. Plenty of opportunities at railway station platform kiosks or from unofficial vendors on board to purchase food, plus a 'pantry car' with service to one's sleeping berth on long distance trains. I never used that service.

Not a single worry re theft or being hassled. It was not what media sometimes portrays. Perhaps women on their own may have a different experience.

The one day train I travelled on, aimed at the business market to New Delhi, ran 15 minutes late. You have to be careful as large cities may have two or more major railway stations (Delhi has four).

Overall, more enjoyable than battling through security and crowds at airports and then having to get to/from CBDs, but I was a leisure traveller, not there on business.

 

[dairyfloss]

Indigo does sound a bit like Scoot. Base fare, but also have packages Seat+Bag, Seat+Bag+Meal, etc.

I'm guessing Priority Boarding, Streaming IFE (BYOD), etc are add-ons to the base or packaged fare?

Yes - much like what I've heard from with Scoot, but I don't have 1st hand experience there. You can select the IndiGo Flexi Plus fare to get most of the options, but then there is further add-ons to improve these again. I chose all of them Noting as well that I'm not aware of there being any IFE options on board IndiGo (unless you count the magazine) - it's BYO everything.

Here's what Flexi Plus gets you, vs the Saver fare. :


And then these are the further flight related 'add-ons' that one might chose to apply - there's also insurance type ones, too. Each of these is is about A$5-$10:



You can also pay additional for premium seat selection, just like QF charges for most pax - note: 500 Rs = A$9:


I expect that Qantas will be offering the equivalent of the Flexi Plus fare inclusions (with a top-up to accommodate the QF luggage allowance/s), and perhaps you will have the ability to add certain other extras directly with 6E (IndiGo).

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[support]

Well, actually @Admin is a different person entirely.

And for the complete run down, Meet the Australian Frequent Flyer Team!

 

[AIRwin]

Speaking of IndiGo, it has a virtual interline partnership with JQ:

https://newsroom.jetstar.com/jetstar-and-indigo-announce-virtual-interline-partnership/

 

[Mattg]

Looks like Qatar Airways is also codesharing with IndiGo.

IndiGo, Qatar Airways To Resume Codesharing | Aviation Week Network

The carriers will also expand on their pre-pandemic codeshare partnership.

www.routesonline.com

 

[jakeseven7]

Qantas has been approved for the Seoul flights by the relevant authorities - another new route a step closer....

 

[AIRwin]

QF website has been updated with the lounge info for BLR in advance of the inaugural flight tomorrow:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-lounges/all-qantas-airport-lounges/airport-lounge-locations.html/blr/080-international-lounge.html?int_cam=au%3Aall-qantas-airport-lounges%3Aheading-and-links%3Aasia-airport-lounges%3Aen%3Ann

 

[Daver6]

This is also the Priority Pass lounge. From 080 International Lounge BLR Airport Lounges International Terminal Bangalore Kempegowda International

Additional Information​

Snacks and À la carte menu are subject to payment. Complimentary shoe shine available inside the lounge.

Does not sound overly promising. At least your shoes will be shiny though.

 

[AIRwin]

Inaugural flight QF67 is now on the way from SYD to BLR being operated by A332 VH-EBP

 

[AIRwin]

Paging @Ade:
To celebrate the route, Qantas has added Indian inspired menu items to its inflight menu on the new Bengaluru services, such as lamb chettinad in Business and paneer makhani, coughin seed pilaf, green peas and beans masala in Economy.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/new-sydney-to-bengaluru-flights-take-off/

 

[Daver6]

Paging @Ade:
To celebrate the route, Qantas has added Indian inspired menu items to its inflight menu on the new Bengaluru services, such as lamb chettinad in Business and paneer makhani, coughin seed pilaf, green peas and beans masala in Economy.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/new-sydney-to-bengaluru-flights-take-off/

Geez. J is well behind Y then. ADL-DEL this year all options in both meals were Indian food. Lunch you had the choice of meat or vege curry. Dinner you had a choice if meat or vege curry. If a curry wasn't your thing bad luck.

 

[Ade]

Paging @Ade:
To celebrate the route, Qantas has added Indian inspired menu items to its inflight menu on the new Bengaluru services, such as lamb chettinad in Business and paneer makhani, coughin seed pilaf, green peas and beans masala in Economy.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/new-sydney-to-bengaluru-flights-take-off/

Really excited to try the BLR-SYD later this week. Too bad, it's not the inaugural flight. Timings didn't work. Nonetheless, will report on the experience.

The only thing pending is the upgrade request Y to J to be successful .... fingers crossed

 

[clifford]

Really excited to try the BLR-SYD later this week. Too bad, it's not the inaugural flight. Timings didn't work. Nonetheless, will report on the experience.

The only thing pending is the upgrade request Y to J to be successful .... fingers crossed

I won't be rushing back to BLR any time soon.

I found the officials and staff there to be the rudest of anywhere I've been in India.

And I've also been to DEL, BOM, MAA and SXR several times.

 

[Ade]

officials and staff there to be the rudest of anywhere I've been in India.

That has been my experience as well. I have flew in and out of BLR a few times for international and many times for domestic and I find that the attitude of the staff, officials have been less than friendly and warm … they seem to have this feeling of being above all else, which oftentimes doesn’t bode well with pax.

There was this one time, I got off the CX HKG-BLR was literally the only person waiting in the OCI line to be processed and the official took over 10 mins to call me forward. Simply because he was having his tea and chatting with his mates. No other lines were opened for PIO/OCI. The queues that were open were only for Indian nationals and it was bustling with activity … I simply waited until called and then he had some weird questions re my line of work (which is IT), my ethnicity and why I chose to fly into BLR instead of MAA ?

Even in domestic, the security at the airport seem to be very “not-so-friendly” or approachable… oftentimes I have faced issues getting any assistance…

It’s been a few years since I flew in/out of BLR. If this flight works well, timing wise, I might consider this as my route as I have got family in BLR and might visit them now and then …