Qantas Frequent Flyer - Weird routings, $68 for MEL-BNE-SYD

Just looking at WebJet and when I look at availability/pricing for SYD-MEL on the 30/3/06 returning on the 2/4/06 I see a $68 fare on the MEL-SYD leg, albeit with a 4 hour flying time. Upon closer inspection, turns out the flight goes via BNE, not a bad fare for that price - even if the damn fuel surcharge is more than the flight cost!!
I'm thinking this is due to the Commonwealth games on at that time, anyone else already noticed this ?
I booked the flight via brisbane at a higher rate of $107 after checking expertflyer and seeing which MEL-BNE flights had U class availability, so ended up getting business class for $107+taxes :D

Can't replicate that here...

Damn, and 25 SC for ~$130 was looking very appealing!

Care to PM me the flight details? :)

The fares for some reason aren't available directly through qantas but are definately still available at http://www.webjet.com.au, even some routing through ADL and CBR as per the below, which I just did to ensure they are still showing:

Sun 02 Apr 2006
Qantas Airways
Economy Class Flight QF814 Depart Melbourne Sun 02 Apr 2006 At 8:25 AM
Arrive Canberra Sun 02 Apr 2006 At 9:25 AM

Qantas Airways
Economy Class Flight QF1414 Depart Canberra Sun 02 Apr 2006 At 10:30 AM
Arrive Sydney Sun 02 Apr 2006 At 11:20 AM

Cost $68+taxes etc

If you check availability for the 2 April, MEL-SYD you will see the 6:05, 7:05, 7:10, 8:05 and more have a flight time of around 4hours, selecting these flights gives you the routing via CBR, ADL or BNE.

Now if only I could have found a routing via PER for that price!! :p

Nope, can't see them!

Maybe you'll have to do a status run for the rest of us :p

Nope, can't see them!

Maybe you'll have to do a status run for the rest of us :p

How strange! Unfortunately my wife is travelling with me otherwise I would be doing a couple of MEL-BNE-SYD-MEL loops.

Nope, can't see them!


OK figured it out so others can enjoy. Seems to only work though if your originating from a city outside of Melbourne (as you need to type in MEL instead of selecting Melbourne from the list).

On the main screen, use the following:
Type: Return
From: Choose City Sydney

To: Type MEL

Class Economy

STEP 2
Find the Cheapest Flights for a Date
Depart 30 Mar 2006
Return 2 Apr 2006

Airline Preference (International Only)
Webjet Best Deals

Enjoy. If you still have troubles and want to get in on it, PM me and I'll walk you through it.

Then allows you to see as follows:

Returning Flight Sun 02 Apr 2006 $68.00
Flight Number Flight Sector Dates Time Duration Aircraft Stops
QF610 From: Melbourne
To: Brisbane Sun 02 Apr 2006
Sun 02 Apr 2006 09:05am
11:10am Boeing 737-800 (winglets) 0
QF525 From: Brisbane
To: Sydney Sun 02 Apr 2006
Sun 02 Apr 2006 12:10pm
01:40pm
4 hrs 35 min Boeing 767-300 0

Then allows you to see as follows:
...
QF610 From: Melbourne
To: Brisbane Sun 02 Apr 2006
...
QF525 From: Brisbane
...etc

I got it to offer CBR instead of BNE, if time is a factor. Would only get 20SCs though :td:

Makes sense now!

Was trying to search from Melbourne rather than to Melbourne...

Oh well. Have looked and nothing makes good SC sense to me. Next time!

(But thanks for the tipoff. Could be very handy for certain people!)

(But thanks for the tipoff. Could be very handy for certain people!)

I thought it was quite amusing this showed up on the night I was thinking to myself, how come none of the $0 fares or like mistakes ever seem to originate from Aust. so was glad to be able to finally add something worthwhile (ok semi-worthwhile) to FT.

Worthwhile - and your U class seats find especially!