Qantas and Emirates aim to extend their alliance across the Tasman in the coming months as the airlines launch shared routes and take on the incumbent Virgin Australia / Air New Zealand partnership.
Headlining the Qantas/Emirates push will be Emirates' A380 superjumbos, which currently fly from Sydney and Melbourne to Auckland – with Brisbane to follow from October 2 – offering true international-grade business class for trips over the pond.
(At a little over three hours, this is also one of the world's shortest Airbus A380 flights.)
Travellers will be able to book Emirates' trans-Tasman flights as codeshare services under Qantas flight numbers, resulting in a larger haul of frequent flyer points and status credits.
"As we’ve done in other markets, we’re in discussion with Emirates around aligning fares on trans-Tasman routes at the same time as setting up codeshare arrangements" a Qantas spokesman told Australian Business Traveller.
"We hope this will be completed in about a month or so."
Qantas is also expected to change its timetable for AU-NZ flights to avoid Qantas and Emirates flights operating around the same time, resulting in a wider spread of services throughout the day.
The move could also see new flights into other New Zealand destinations rather than overload cities like Auckland with too much capacity.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
Only time will tell if QANTAS will actually aline their pricing with Emirates. Emirates seem to have competitive pricing especially when flying out of Auckland. Ive been able to get plenty of flights AKL - SYD, at a moments notice with Emirates for around $180AUD one-way, economy, QANTAS not suprisingly is usually 50% more for a comprable time.
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
not on short noticebookings, ie next day
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
I was in NZ two weeks ago. Booked a flight with Emirates on the Wednesday, left Auckland on the Thursday only paid $188AUD while QANTAS were charging $330. Im not saying this happens all the time and yes there are variables but Ive never seen QANTAS be as competitive trans-tasman even when booking in advance. If the codeshare happens to lower flights from QANTAS's end, I'd be suprised.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
24 Jun 2013
Total posts 5
I hope QF starts flying BNE-WLG again ..
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 40
Looking forward to flying FASAs on EK A380s as a good trip to enjoy First on the EK A380 as well as the First Lounge and the relevant Points/SCs.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 352
So if QF says it hopes the QF-EK trans-Tasman "alignment" will be "completed in about a month or so", that means codeshares will finally up for booking from early August?
24 Jun 2013
Total posts 1
So if you want to fly Brisbane to Auckland on Qantas or Emirates at Xmas time, should you book now, or wait for the A380 flights starting October to be available to book and/or Qantas timetable change?
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 352
If you don't mind earning fewer QFF points and no status credits I'd book Brisbane-Auckland now with Emirates. If you want to earn the full bottle of Qantas points and status credits you'll have to wait until QF starts the codeshare on this route for the EK A380. Not sure how the BNE-AKL schedules line up right now for QF and EK so don't know how much QF might be likely to change theirs. Don't expect EK to shift their times as they are pretty locked into their A380 arriving at a set time from Dubai, then getting it to Auckland and back in time to fly back up to Dubai. I think any changes will all be to the Qantas timetable.
QantasFF Platinum
16 Feb 2012
Total posts 152
AWESOME News! Good fares is one thing, and schedule should also be interesting. EK has a great product and earning QFF points in codeshare arrangement is definately attractive.
I hope EK can rejig their timetable as well ....... at the moment, it is impossible to get early-morning connecting flight from ADL-SYD-AKL (or ADL-MEL-AKL) with EK on the second sector as the first ADL flight gets in without enough transfer time.
Same goes from on way back ........ EK flights departing AKL seem to be evening departures so limits domestic QF connections. Lets hope :)
17 May 2012
Total posts 80
SYD-AKL_SYD Business class on EK has been approx AU$1,400 for as long as I can remember. QF approx $2,000. Lets see what sort of alighnment takes place. I know what I'm backing and it's QF spoiling the party
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
QF would love to spoil this party willvill but I can't see it happening. EK have priced this route ultra-competitively since Day 1, and having close to doubled their available Business seats over the last 2 years, they're not going to increase their price by much, if at all, or they'll have a lot more empty seats. I fly the MEL-AKL-MEL route every few weeks and not once has Business been full since the A380 came into service.
Skywards Gold
21 Apr 2011
Total posts 53
Any word on if there is a plan to implement code share on QF operated services between AUS & USA? After the partnership, for those travelling to USA often there is little incentive to retain EK metain rather than switching over to QF.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jun 2013
Total posts 3
I wonder if they will keep both the lounges in Auckland?? Emirates is amazing compared to Qantas.
QantasFF Platinum
16 Feb 2012
Total posts 152
Donald - are you comparing with the normal Qantas lounge? Qantas also has First Lounge (to the left of the front desk) which is dated, but very well serviced.
I havent been to the EK lounge in AKL and would be glad to hear of others experiences between the two.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
They're not going to ditch the EK lounge in AKL. It's only about 2 years old and is the best one at that airport IMHO.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas, Emirates gear up for trans-Tasman flights