What's the cheapest QF ticket?
Jan 27, 2002, 4:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Brisbane AU, Planet X
Programs: QC Life, QFF Gold, VA Gold, HH nothing,IHG Gold
Posts: 1,605
So you are looking to do circuits to get your 1000 points per flight to get to attain silver or gold.
Cheapest is,
Canberra to Melbourne, $66.00 16-Jan; 27-Mar
or 1-May to 30 June.
------------------
Indecision is the key to flexibility
Cheapest is,
Canberra to Melbourne, $66.00 16-Jan; 27-Mar
or 1-May to 30 June.
------------------
Indecision is the key to flexibility
Jan 27, 2002, 7:25 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bundy Bear:
So you are looking to do circuits to get your 1000 points per flight to get to attain silver or gold. </font>
So you are looking to do circuits to get your 1000 points per flight to get to attain silver or gold. </font>
: Smart thinking! 
Jan 28, 2002, 9:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 135
Don't forget my bus ride!
I suppose it would be even more rewarding now under the new rules.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/000085.html
I suppose it would be even more rewarding now under the new rules.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/000085.html
Jan 28, 2002, 10:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
Now looking at this logically (which is new for me, I know), we can look at it two ways, depending on whether you are after tier credits or FF points.
Either way, we need to put the A$66 fare into perspective by adding the A$10 Ansett levie and any other taxes. So lets say we end up paying about A$80 each sector, or A$160 return.
Tier Credits:
10 tier credits per sector = A$8/tier credit
Points:
1000 points per sector = A$0.08/point
Now, lets compare to a RTW in D class, where you can go 34,000 miles in comfort and actually see something interesting at the many destinations. Cost is A$8399 plus taxes (no GST on international travel, my last one had A$157 in taxes) making it arround A$8600.
Lets see how it compares:
Tier Credits:
Should be able to easily get 1000 tier credits, if not more = A$8.60/tier credit. Slightly more expensive, but gets you well into Gold status plus 4 upgrade credits and much more comfortable.
Points:
Depends on the status you start out at and the mix of carriers (QF and AA give status bonus). Should be able to pick up 50000+ points, more if you start out at Gold or Plat status. So lets use 50K giving A$0.17/point.
So my conclusion is that if you are after points, then go for lots of short very cheap flights (if you can get them at the times you are available) or bus trips. If you are after status, then a RTW Global Explorer or One World Explorer Business class is the way to go.
Of course, if youlive in Canberra and have family/friends/lover in Sydney and desire to travel that route regularly, then you may have a valid reason to frequent the Dash-8's.
Either way, we need to put the A$66 fare into perspective by adding the A$10 Ansett levie and any other taxes. So lets say we end up paying about A$80 each sector, or A$160 return.
Tier Credits:
10 tier credits per sector = A$8/tier credit
Points:
1000 points per sector = A$0.08/point
Now, lets compare to a RTW in D class, where you can go 34,000 miles in comfort and actually see something interesting at the many destinations. Cost is A$8399 plus taxes (no GST on international travel, my last one had A$157 in taxes) making it arround A$8600.
Lets see how it compares:
Tier Credits:
Should be able to easily get 1000 tier credits, if not more = A$8.60/tier credit. Slightly more expensive, but gets you well into Gold status plus 4 upgrade credits and much more comfortable.
Points:
Depends on the status you start out at and the mix of carriers (QF and AA give status bonus). Should be able to pick up 50000+ points, more if you start out at Gold or Plat status. So lets use 50K giving A$0.17/point.
So my conclusion is that if you are after points, then go for lots of short very cheap flights (if you can get them at the times you are available) or bus trips. If you are after status, then a RTW Global Explorer or One World Explorer Business class is the way to go.
Of course, if youlive in Canberra and have family/friends/lover in Sydney and desire to travel that route regularly, then you may have a valid reason to frequent the Dash-8's.
Jan 30, 2002, 7:31 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,424
Anyone dare to book the following??? Only $25 with tax... Would you get the 1000 bonus points for booking online, as well as the 1000 point minimum???
QF 1950 E
Paraburdoo (PBO), Paraburdoo, WA
Tom Price (TPR), Tom Price, WA
Non-stop BUS 0h50min Economy
Fare Tax Australian Dollars
17.00 + 8.85 x 1 Adult = 25.85
So $25 for 2000 points? Not bad at all.
QF 1950 E
Paraburdoo (PBO), Paraburdoo, WA
Tom Price (TPR), Tom Price, WA
Non-stop BUS 0h50min Economy
Fare Tax Australian Dollars
17.00 + 8.85 x 1 Adult = 25.85
So $25 for 2000 points? Not bad at all.
Jan 30, 2002, 8:39 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by futaris:
QF 1950 E
Paraburdoo (PBO), Paraburdoo, WA
Tom Price (TPR), Tom Price, WA
Non-stop BUS 0h50min Economy
Fare Tax Australian Dollars
17.00 + 8.85 x 1 Adult = 25.85
So $25 for 2000 points? Not bad at all.
</font>
QF 1950 E
Paraburdoo (PBO), Paraburdoo, WA
Tom Price (TPR), Tom Price, WA
Non-stop BUS 0h50min Economy
Fare Tax Australian Dollars
17.00 + 8.85 x 1 Adult = 25.85
So $25 for 2000 points? Not bad at all.
</font>
What on Earth made you look for a flight in these places?
Jan 30, 2002, 9:28 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Sydney, Aus
Programs: QF WP, Starwood Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club, Amex Platinum
Posts: 2,880
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spider:
Great stuff! What on Earth made you look for a flight in these places?</font>
Great stuff!
What on Earth made you look for a flight in these places?</font>
Jan 30, 2002, 4:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 135
As I reported on my trip last year (see above link), its actually cheaper to book Tom Price to Parabadoo over the phone than over the internet - it's $18 compared to $26, but no online bonus.
I can confirm that you definitely receive points and status credits.
Its a nice bus ride but it leaves early in the morning (TP to Para) and the windows fog up for some reason. As for the flight, I had the best breakfast I've ever had in business class.
Tom Price is definitely worth a visit, there are fabulous gorges about 50 km out of town.
There is no Qantas club at Paraburdoo. At TP, the bus just drops you out the front of the travel agent shop.
I can confirm that you definitely receive points and status credits.
Its a nice bus ride but it leaves early in the morning (TP to Para) and the windows fog up for some reason. As for the flight, I had the best breakfast I've ever had in business class.
Tom Price is definitely worth a visit, there are fabulous gorges about 50 km out of town.
There is no Qantas club at Paraburdoo. At TP, the bus just drops you out the front of the travel agent shop.
Jan 30, 2002, 4:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
But do they offer Business Class on the bus? Is there a meal/bar service?
Getting there in the first place is the problem. Maybe you could find a mine worker who travels the route regularly and offer to pay their fare for them ... only kidding, that would be a naughty thing to do, now wouldn't it.
Now, $26 for 2000 points (assuming on-line booking bonus) is better than $18 for 1000 points.
Pitty QF don't offer a bus service from Brisbane to the Gold Coast or Caloundra
Getting there in the first place is the problem. Maybe you could find a mine worker who travels the route regularly and offer to pay their fare for them
... only kidding, that would be a naughty thing to do, now wouldn't it.Now, $26 for 2000 points (assuming on-line booking bonus) is better than $18 for 1000 points.
Pitty QF don't offer a bus service from Brisbane to the Gold Coast or Caloundra
Jan 30, 2002, 6:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,072
There is another QF bus service from Kempsey to Port Macquarrie I think.. a slightly more salubrious area than Paraburdoo! Also, there are a lot of launch services around the Whitsundays which have QF 'flight' numbers..even better!
[This message has been edited by whughes3 (edited 01-30-2002).]
[This message has been edited by whughes3 (edited 01-30-2002).]
Jan 30, 2002, 11:10 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by whughes3:
There is another QF bus service from Kempsey to Port Macquarrie I think.. a slightly more salubrious area than Paraburdoo! Also, there are a lot of launch services around the Whitsundays which have QF 'flight' numbers..even better!
</font>
There is another QF bus service from Kempsey to Port Macquarrie I think.. a slightly more salubrious area than Paraburdoo! Also, there are a lot of launch services around the Whitsundays which have QF 'flight' numbers..even better!
</font>
. But they moved to Perth, so that probably now makes them closer to Parabadoo?Might have to look into the Whitsunday launches. I suppose from Hamilton to Hayman Islands? Planning a trip up that way in winter (yeah, I know ... Brisbane really does have a winter - we just hope it falls on a weekend so we can toast marshmallows).