MarkD wrote
referring to A343 perhaps? Does VS use that equipment on UK-Aus?
Virgin Atlantic (VS) does not fly from UK to Australia yet, and will not do so before October this year. There are, I believe, no other routes in common between VS and QF. The A340-300 does not fly lower than other airliners; in fact, it is usually a little higher - at least in the early part of a longhaul route. At M0.82, it flies a little slower than the B747 (M0.855), thanks to the less swept wing. The A340-600 shares most of the wing with the -300, but cruises a little faster (M0.83) - and will get to cruise altitude faster than either the A343 or the B744 at typical commercial weights. Neither A340 can cruise at the Boeings FL450 maximum, but their cruise maximum of FL410 is sufficient for most radiation-aware pilots.