QF B747s operating for JQ SYD-HNL

[Mattg]

Daughter & SIL booked on JQ for 16 May, would be nice if this was still in service.

I'd say it's 50/50. Jetstar themselves were not sure how long this will last when I asked them.

I imagine the current situation will be in place at least until the end of the school holidays, or possibly even until VH-VKJ is back in service.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'd say it's 50/50. Jetstar themselves were not sure how long this will last when I asked them.

I imagine the current situation will be in place at least until the end of the school holidays, or possibly even until VH-VKJ is back in service.

The last one - VH-VKJ - must be the key.

Mattg, is it possible for you to somehow ask the ATSB a similar question? It may have some idea.

 

[Mattg]

The last one - VH-VKJ - must be the key.

Mattg, is it possible for you to somehow ask the ATSB a similar question? It may have some idea.

No. The ATSB is under no obligation to provide such information about an airline's commercial operations to the public. In any case, they would not know what Jetstar plans to do internally.

 

[Melburnian1]

No. The ATSB is under no obligation to provide such information about an airline's commercial operations to the public. In any case, they would not know what Jetstar plans to do internally.

I didn't explain it well. I should have asked it in the sense of 'when does the ATSB expect investigations to be at a stage where the aircraft can be released back to JQ?' (This may not however tell us when it will be back carrying passengers if repairs are required).

 

[Pushka]

Son and partner are flying back on JQ next Friday week. Thoughts? Guesses?

 

[Mattg]

Son and partner are flying back on JQ next Friday week. Thoughts? Guesses?

Your guess is as good as mine!

My money's on them flying on a QF aircraft...

 

[Pushka]

Your guess is as good as mine!

My money's on them flying on a QF aircraft...

I think your guess is worth much more than mine

 

[FTS]

There is no F on OEB. Have pics to prove it.

 

[Brettmcg]

There's a lack of information at this stage. All we can say is that the JQ aircraft B788 VH-VKJ has been inoperable for an extraordinary amount of time with little publicity other than that generated on 29 March.

In typical style, the Japanese must be thoroughly investigating every nook and cranny in a way only they can. No half measures.

I got the inside word on this from a mate I know at JQ over the weekend.

Apparently the bird in question suffered a fuel contamination.

The QF charter is costing JQ $550k per return service.

 

[mannej]

There is no F on OEB. Have pics to prove it.

The QF seat map indicates that OEB still has the old F product in the nose, however it isn’t selling as F.

 

[Ewing]

The QF seat map indicates that OEB still has the old F product in the nose, however it isn’t selling as F.

Correct.

As for the JQ charter, it looks like:
- Old F and J cabins: Business
- PE and Y cabins: Economy

Here was Tuesday's flight as an example:

 

[Quickstatus]

The QF seat map indicates that OEB still has the old F product in the nose, however it isn’t selling as F.

That is correct, while the F product has had a makeover-lite, QF has not sold the F cabin as F fare since QF refurbished all the other 747 with Skybed Mark II.

There are/were 2 ugly duckling 747 in the QF fleet who kept the old F cabin . OEB and OJM. OEB came into the family from Asiana airlines and OJM is retired/scrapped.

 

[moa999]

And OEB is scheduled to retire on 30 April from some posts on airliners.

Fuel contamination interesting. Wonder why the problem didn't show itself until near the end of the flight.
And why it's still grounded. Surely can't be that big of a job to drain the tanks, clean then refill

 

[FTS]

The QF seat map indicates that OEB still has the old F product in the nose, however it isn’t selling as F.

Ah right.

 

[jfl]

i was on QF6404 economy on 14/04. a very welcome upgrade from JQ... especially since we bagged return flights for $310 each!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i was on QF6404 economy on 14/04. a very welcome upgrade from JQ... especially since we bagged return flights for $310 each!

thanks for the report! Any details you observed about other economy passengers seated in business seats? or premium economy seats?

 

[Quickstatus]

Ah right.

The original colour scheme was brown but the recent makeover-lite changed the colour to black. This aircraft is often used for Captains Choice Charters

 

[Quickstatus]

And OEB is scheduled to retire on 30 April from some posts on airliners.

Fuel contamination interesting. Wonder why the problem didn't show itself until near the end of the flight.
And why it's still grounded. Surely can't be that big of a job to drain the tanks, clean then refill

(At least) commercial aircraft have fuel filters which can effectively filter out solid contaminants before the fuel enters to combustors. Contaminated fuel may not be evident until the fuel filter gets progressively clogged and the fuel filter is bypassed (Fuel filter bypass is a required design feature in modern aircraft). So it is possible for a flight to continue without an indication of a fuel quality problem. An indication of impending fuel filter bypass may also occur at high fuel flow rates- eg during a takeoff roll.

In jet engines, solids are the main contaminants which pose filter problems. I think water is also a problem because ice can form which acts as a solid.
The BA B777 ice crystals clogged the fuel filter just prior to landing, but dissapeared due to the warming of the fuel at ground level.

The problem with fuel contamination is that it is not necessarily evident what the source is. Was it uplifted at the refuelling point?. Was it a contaminant from the aircraft itself? Did other aircraft get the same fuel?

 

[Saab34]

787 back on the run tonight it seems.

 

[Longwayround]

thanks for the report! Any details you observed about other economy passengers seated in business seats? or premium economy seats?

Was also on the flight on 14/04 (OEG as well which was a welcome change!) - seemed to be a few spare seats in the business cabin (but couldn’t bag an upgrade from the lounge on the way out as I was only in economy!) Premium Economy was just the seats with Economy service, completely unsure how they allocated it (kind of interesting because I had paid for up the front seats with JQ).

As has been mentioned was full QF service with baggage included, and I was in 43C, being the first row of economy and was a very welcome change compared to JQ.