Qantas has locked in the delivery date for its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: it'll arrive into Sydney on the morning of Friday 20 October, after leaving Seattle on Tuesday 18 October and doing a day+night stopover in Hawaii. Expect a major 'hanger event' at the Qantas Sydney Jetbase on Friday morning!
Should be an amazing sight as it rolls past the Qantas domestic lounges at T3, I was in the Qantas business lounge when the RetroRo Boeing 737 arrived for a similar hangar ceremony and it was very memorable, everybody was going up to the windows and taking photos. Wonder how QF will handle this flight arriving from overseas but then offloading in a domestic zone?
I know AirNZ like to do Live Streams of such arrivals, I was lucky enough to be present for their Black, first of their new run of A320s, and I watched the live streams of the 773 arrival and the 789. Good times.
Wonder if Qantas will take the chance to do that...
I can now confirm that Australian Business Traveller will be on the delivery flight for Qantas' first Boeing 787-9, and DeepAvThroat's posted timeline seems spot on at the moment (although we don't have a full itinerary as yet).
PaulST: you should have plenty of chances to get onto the Dreamliner between its delivery and the start of Merlbourne-Los Angeles services – we're hearing the Dreamliner will be doing extensive domestic runs throughout November and early December.
Time to book a short weekend somewhere! (PS any idea David on the routes likely to be used?). Hoping SYD-PER is on the cards so at least will get to put the J class product to a good use.
PaulST: you should have plenty of chances to get onto the Dreamliner between its delivery and the start of Merlbourne-Los Angeles services – we're hearing the Dreamliner will be doing extensive domestic runs throughout November and early December.
Time to book a short weekend somewhere! (PS any idea David on the routes likely to be used?). Hoping SYD-PER is on the cards so at least will get to put the J class product to a good use.
I doubt you'll be able to book them far in advance. My plan is to speak with a friend at QF who'll find out what actual flight it's on, but I'll probably only have 24hrs notice (so it won't be cheap).
Time to book a short weekend somewhere! (PS any idea David on the routes likely to be used?). Hoping SYD-PER is on the cards so at least will get to put the J class product to a good use.
We're hearing the 787 will be all across the network, and Qantas will be eager to showcase it to likely travellers on PER-LHR, so expect quite a few flights from the east coast and even Adelaide to Perth in that mix. However, I'd not expect too much forward-notice on those flights, they're more likely to be operated in place of current flights and there'll always be the chance of a swapped A330-to-Boeing 787 (for example) reverting back to an A330. You may need to simply be ready to fly on any given Saturday (for instance) and then check the schedules to see which flight (if any) will feature the Dreamliner.
Time to book a short weekend somewhere! (PS any idea David on the routes likely to be used?). Hoping SYD-PER is on the cards so at least will get to put the J class product to a good use.
We're hearing the 787 will be all across the network, and Qantas will be eager to showcase it to likely travellers on PER-LHR, so expect quite a few flights from the east coast and even Adelaide to Perth in that mix. However, I'd not expect too much forward-notice on those flights, they're more likely to be operated in place of current flights and there'll always be the chance of a swapped A330-to-Boeing 787 (for example) reverting back to an A330. You may need to simply be ready to fly on any given Saturday (for instance) and then check the schedules to see which flight (if any) will feature the Dreamliner.
In that case, being based in Perth for the moment, I can look forward to some weekend mystery flights if I chase last minute 787 flights :)
DeepAvThroat
DeepAvThroat
Member since 21 Mar 2017
Total posts 22
Qantas has locked in the delivery date for its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: it'll arrive into Sydney on the morning of Friday 20 October, after leaving Seattle on Tuesday 18 October and doing a day+night stopover in Hawaii. Expect a major 'hanger event' at the Qantas Sydney Jetbase on Friday morning!
PaulST
PaulST
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2014
Total posts 16
Great news! I can't wait to see it and hope to try and chase it down on a domestic crew familiarisation flight!
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 49
Should be an amazing sight as it rolls past the Qantas domestic lounges at T3, I was in the Qantas business lounge when the RetroRo Boeing 737 arrived for a similar hangar ceremony and it was very memorable, everybody was going up to the windows and taking photos. Wonder how QF will handle this flight arriving from overseas but then offloading in a domestic zone?
MRYJDrake
MRYJDrake
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
Member since 31 Oct 2016
Total posts 206
I know AirNZ like to do Live Streams of such arrivals, I was lucky enough to be present for their Black, first of their new run of A320s, and I watched the live streams of the 773 arrival and the 789. Good times.
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
Wonder if shep's mound will be ready for the event! I think they're fast tracking it to be ready on time, fingers crossed.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
VH-ZNA is due to be ready for hand over at Boeing Field on Oct 12.
ZNB Dec 1
ZNC Dec 31
ZND Feb 22 2018
ZNE Jul 6 2018
ZNF Aug 22 2018
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
I can now confirm that Australian Business Traveller will be on the delivery flight for Qantas' first Boeing 787-9, and DeepAvThroat's posted timeline seems spot on at the moment (although we don't have a full itinerary as yet).
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
PaulST: you should have plenty of chances to get onto the Dreamliner between its delivery and the start of Merlbourne-Los Angeles services – we're hearing the Dreamliner will be doing extensive domestic runs throughout November and early December.
PaulST
PaulST
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 May 2014
Total posts 16
PaulST: you should have plenty of chances to get onto the Dreamliner between its delivery and the start of Merlbourne-Los Angeles services – we're hearing the Dreamliner will be doing extensive domestic runs throughout November and early December.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
With the KIX announcement, it seems that they'll be using 787s on domestic routes between MEL-LAX flights to free up an A330 to go to Osaka.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
brinkers
brinkers
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Jun 2011
Total posts 233
In that case, being based in Perth for the moment, I can look forward to some weekend mystery flights if I chase last minute 787 flights :)
Chris2304
Chris2304
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 Apr 2013
Total posts 167
New 787 delivery dates for number 7 and 8
7.ZD-ZNG
Line Number:774
Variable Number:ZB275
Assembled:Everett
Delivery:9th November 2018
8.ZD-ZNH
Line Number:778
Variable Number:ZB277
Assembled:Everett
Delivery:20th November 2018