AA won’t like QF codeshares with Alaska from Seattle to the US but it will work perfectly with Alaska codeshares to Canada. I wonder if the joint venture will consider codeshares from Honolulu to US East Coast to provide even length sectors for those who like a mid way ‘leg stretch’. The connections would have to work though.
The original JV proposal was rejected by DOT (US Dept Of Transport) on the basis of an exclusivity codeshare clause agreement between QF / AA. Both carriers chose to then withdraw the application. The resubmitted JV which has been formally approved had this clause removed to pass muster - so while AA / QF might not care for it, that's the core reason for approval.
The approved JV specifically excludes Hawaii international services ie: Australia to/from Hawaii as well as South Pacific islands.
Not so sure about domestic Hawaii<->Mainland USA services which would be regarded as domestic AA.
Good question and some interesting answers but am a little stunned by the fact that no one else mentioned what I am about to state.
The U.S has non-sterile international terminals. Which is unconventional in the modern world and loathed by passengers. In my opinion this is reason enough to NOT do such tag flights especially over such short domestic distances to say LAX to SEA or whatever.
Yes I get QF does SYD to LAX and onwards to JFK. Without crunching numbers, statistics and finances I would say this route is fairly well upheld with prestige having some sort of weight in this occasion and being perhaps somewhat an exception. Passengers don't sit on the tarmac or simply get off to stretch their legs, the experience isn't pleasurable by any means, You still have to disembark, clear security, immigration, re-embark and then and go on your way.
5th freedom or "tag" fights can be a great idea for some airlines and destinations but the U.S is the one place that definately isn't good for this. For an example, passengers travelling say to Tahiti from France (Either Air France Or Air Tahiti I can't remember) unfortunately have a stop in LAX (refuel) plus its a big market just being LAX but for those who just want to get to Tahiti have a woeful stop as those who wish to do the flight need U.S visas and do all the security/immigration process just to make a connection. Same with a Air China flight that stops in Houston or somewhere and goes onwards to Panama, That is simply terrible aswell as Chinese passengers would need U.S visas even though they are in theory only on their way to Panama. Yes those two examples are 5th freedoms, not tags. But you get what I mean.
Solutions to this is some airlines like the French ones I mentioned are considering stopping in Canada, perhaps Vancouver, versus stopping in the U.S, possibly due to the non-sterlile and FAA/homeland/Bilateral or government red tape and whatever other reasons.
Seattle alone, to me is worthy to deserve a direct service to/from Australia and predict it will happen in the future.
Say if I was based in Sydney and wanted to go to Seattle, but only Brisbane offered direct flights from Aus, I would much rather change terminals and city stops In Brisbane (Aus for that matter) even with seperate domestic/international terminals rather than flying from Sydney to LAX or SFO and then making my way to Seattle from those two destinations.
To be honest I dislike U.S airports in any matter, unless your a dual U.S citizen for Aussies the process is still unlikable.
AA won’t like QF codeshares with Alaska from Seattle to the US but it will work perfectly with Alaska codeshares to Canada. I wonder if the joint venture will consider codeshares from Honolulu to US East Coast to provide even length sectors for those who like a mid way ‘leg stretch’. The connections would have to work though.
The original JV proposal was rejected by DOT (US Dept Of Transport) on the basis of an exclusivity codeshare clause agreement between QF / AA. Both carriers chose to then withdraw the application. The resubmitted JV which has been formally approved had this clause removed to pass muster - so while AA / QF might not care for it, that's the core reason for approval.
The approved JV specifically excludes Hawaii international services ie: Australia to/from Hawaii as well as South Pacific islands.
Not so sure about domestic Hawaii<->Mainland USA services which would be regarded as domestic AA.
There are very few non-stop Hawaii to East Coast US and none with AA so my idea has an extra stop anyway, so they won't offer through tickets I expect, unless one asks.
Regarding the tag flight does any one know whether Chicago international immigration and customs is bearable or has some of the delays known at LAX? A tag flight would force immigration and customs in Seattle so a delay over a non stop flight to Chicago. Just wonder whether the convenience of a domestic arrival into Chicago makes up for some of it?
The treatment of IOC officials by ORD TSA and CBP during a visit is one of the reasons Chicago lost the 2016 olympic bid.
Seatac is one of those US airports which has international arrivals at a remote terminal. The current FIS is small and overcrowded and requires dropping bags, clearing TSA and transiting the airside of the main terminal then recollect bags in order to leave the airport. They are currently building a new FIS which will fix this problem, but that won't open until some time in 2021.
I'm wondering what terminal QF will depart from in ORD. All international arrivals go to T5, but international departures can be from anywhere. JL and CX depart from T3 and use the AA lounges there. BA departs from T5 and has their own (small) lounge which is only open for their own flights to LHR. The other oneworld members servicing ORD depart T5 and use the AF lounge.
It's expecting that AA will start an LAX-MEL flight, which will then allow the evening QF MEL-LAX flight to shift to SFO, brining MEL-SFO to 6 weekly.
kimshep
kimshep
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Oct 2014
Total posts 412
The original JV proposal was rejected by DOT (US Dept Of Transport) on the basis of an exclusivity codeshare clause agreement between QF / AA. Both carriers chose to then withdraw the application. The resubmitted JV which has been formally approved had this clause removed to pass muster - so while AA / QF might not care for it, that's the core reason for approval.
The approved JV specifically excludes Hawaii international services ie: Australia to/from Hawaii as well as South Pacific islands.
Not so sure about domestic Hawaii<->Mainland USA services which would be regarded as domestic AA.
Contract3
Contract3
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
Member since 21 Apr 2017
Total posts 7
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 737
The original JV proposal was rejected by DOT (US Dept Of Transport) on the basis of an exclusivity codeshare clause agreement between QF / AA. Both carriers chose to then withdraw the application. The resubmitted JV which has been formally approved had this clause removed to pass muster - so while AA / QF might not care for it, that's the core reason for approval.
The approved JV specifically excludes Hawaii international services ie: Australia to/from Hawaii as well as South Pacific islands.
Not so sure about domestic Hawaii<->Mainland USA services which would be regarded as domestic AA.
There are very few non-stop Hawaii to East Coast US and none with AA so my idea has an extra stop anyway, so they won't offer through tickets I expect, unless one asks.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295