Qantas in PTY
Jun 17, 2010, 1:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
Qantas in PTY
Curiousity got the best of me. I am looking at a Qantas plane with a top deck (747?) sitting just outside the Continental/Copa Presidents Lounge in Panama City. The plane is labeled Longreach and Phillip Island with the phrase Come Play! and a soccer ball.
I was amazed that Qantas flew to PTY, but checking their website, they do not. So, a chartered flight? A non-scheduled stop (seems out of the way of any route)?
What gives?
I was amazed that Qantas flew to PTY, but checking their website, they do not. So, a chartered flight? A non-scheduled stop (seems out of the way of any route)?
What gives?
Jun 17, 2010, 2:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BNE
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Its a yearly tour charter, they came in from Cuba and are off to Cuzco next:
http://www.captainschoice.com.au/cpa...=3&tour_id=209
The aircraft took the Australian Team to the World cup, hence the special paint job, prior to starting the charter
http://www.captainschoice.com.au/cpa...=3&tour_id=209
The aircraft took the Australian Team to the World cup, hence the special paint job, prior to starting the charter
Jun 17, 2010, 4:24 pm
#4
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Those type of chartered flights are not uncommon down here. QF will also often supply an A380 or 747 for Antarctica flights among other things. Or to look for young round the world sailors in the Indian Ocean.
Jun 17, 2010, 5:00 pm
#5
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For a while QF did day charters out of LAX (for the 10+ hours that their 744s are idle there) but these have mostly been abandoned as a poor use of the aircraft (instead QF does some maintenance on the ground there). The charters were mainly for cruise lines (e.g. LAX to SEA to start an Alaskan cruise).
Jun 17, 2010, 9:23 pm
#6
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Those type of chartered flights are not uncommon down here. QF will also often supply an A380 or 747 for Antarctica flights among other things.
Jun 17, 2010, 10:56 pm
#8
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Jun 18, 2010, 12:24 am
#9
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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And even if there were, it would be 0 since destination and origin are identical, typically (at least for the Antarctic flights). Nice that those have resumed after a long hiatus following the Air NZ crash on Mt. Erebus. A reminder that air travel is sometimes more of an adventure than people give it credit for.
Jun 18, 2010, 3:00 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sydney
Posts: 35
The aircraft on the Captain's Choice is VH-OEB sporting the 'Come Play' World Cup bid decals.
The Socceroos flew to Johannesburg on VH-OJS sporting the 'We're With You All The Way" scarf decal.
Cheers.
Jun 18, 2010, 9:34 am
#11
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Jun 18, 2010, 1:57 pm
#12
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Jun 18, 2010, 5:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Thanks for the correction, its the aircraft that has been done to support the bid for the 2022 cup!
Jun 20, 2010, 9:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Jun 20, 2010, 10:44 pm
#15
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Actually, if it were an eligible flight (which it is not), being zero miles from origin to destination would make it in Zone 1 for Status Credit earning as its in the 0-600 miles range. So would earn 10SC for discount economy, 20 for full economy etc.