Oz Fest 14 Newcastle, NSW, Australia. USA Memorial Day Weekend May 26 to May 28, 2017
Mar 6, 2017, 3:12 am
#106
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,082
Mar 6, 2017, 1:13 pm
#108
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
My +2 have bailed due to family obligations around OzFest weekend. I'm still trying to find flights that work. AA and Qantas business class awards are long gone.
Mar 7, 2017, 2:40 pm
#109
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Looks like UA has just started an Australia sale with fares from SFO-SYD ranging from $726-$751. As an Alaska top tier flyer those won't help me, but perhaps someone else can take advantage of them. Also see fares for a few dollars more from LAX. Have not looked at other U.S. airports.
Mar 7, 2017, 6:01 pm
#110
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Other carriers have started matching - Delta, Virgin Australia, Qantas. Haven't been able to get an open jaw SYD/MEL to work with Qantas, though round trips are available to both Sydney and Melbourne.
Mar 7, 2017, 6:31 pm
#111
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Got the open jaw itinerary to work on Qantas. I'll be flying into Melbourne and home from Sydney for $759.
Mar 7, 2017, 6:36 pm
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Mar 7, 2017, 7:08 pm
#113
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Crediting to Alaska. Suspect I'm going to have to pay for seats when I get to that. Just off the phone with Qantas adding passport info as the "manage my booking" section seems to be designed for Aussie travelers and not U.S. origin. I'm on the SFO service in both directions so no upper deck in play. Will probably be back in the mid-50s.
Last edited by tom911; Mar 7, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Mar 8, 2017, 12:38 am
#114
Oz Fest organizers
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 259
Mar 8, 2017, 1:00 am
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Posts: 21,995
Crediting to Alaska. Suspect I'm going to have to pay for seats when I get to that. Just off the phone with Qantas adding passport info as the "manage my booking" section seems to be designed for Aussie travelers and not U.S. origin. I'm on the SFO service in both directions so no upper deck in play. Will probably be back in the mid-50s.
Can you put your EXP number in, select seats and then swap to AS after check-in?
Mar 8, 2017, 1:10 am
#116
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I did something like that on an AA international itinerary, calling in to change it back to AA after arrival in Europe, and the flights didn't post properly. In that case I wanted the AA number in there because of weather issues coming back to the U.S. and better handling in irregular operations. Only one of three flights home was properly credited to AA. After that experience I don't want to change numbers around again and not risk having the flights properly post.
I did book an award ticket MEL-SYD to arrive on Thursday night ($13 in taxes), with train up to Newcastle on Friday around noon, and that might be my last Qantas lounge access as an AA EXP. Won't requalify for next year with the $12,000 spending minimum.
I did book an award ticket MEL-SYD to arrive on Thursday night ($13 in taxes), with train up to Newcastle on Friday around noon, and that might be my last Qantas lounge access as an AA EXP. Won't requalify for next year with the $12,000 spending minimum.
Mar 8, 2017, 4:27 am
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Posts: 21,995
You may be able to save some $$ for the train if you can get an Opel card. I'll check it out (as I have to do for myself anyway) over then next week or two.
Mar 9, 2017, 5:07 am
#119
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SXE
Programs: QF LTG, VA Gold, BA Gold, HH, SFSC
Posts: 502
I have had my QF flight SYD-MEL changed by 30 minutes. I should have booked NTL-MEL with either VA or JQ so hope to take advantage of the situation. Is 30 minutes enough of a change to ask for a fee free cancellation of the flight?
Mar 10, 2017, 7:08 pm
#120
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Reminder for anyone coming in from outside Australia that Accor currently has a sale underway where you stay 3 nights and pay for 2. Valid for stays through May 28. I just booked 3 nights in Melbourne that fall within the sale period prior to OzFest. Book until March 28.