Antarctica Flights using Qantas Points/Chimu Adventures

[SOPOOR]

Anyone else get the email from qantas? or been on one

140,000 QFF points - window with wing
200,000 QFF points - window without wing
700,000 QFF points (if I heard correctly) - business class

im on hold to see if I can book the NYE one from Melbourne

their website doesn't seem to mention it

Antarctica Cruise 2025/26 | Small Ship Expedition Cruising

Antarctica cruises on sale for the 2025/26 season. An Antarctica cruise is the ultimate journey. Discover the wildlife-rich, icy world of Antarctica via a small ship cruise.

www.chimuadventures.com

edit: managed to get a seat!!! chose the window without wing, excited
couldn't justify a business class seat

 

[AH111]

Here's the link: Qantas Antarctica Flights | Chimu Adventures

Just booked 2 tickets on the south pole flight!!

Economy tickets are better value in my opinion. Other tickets are as follows:
Premium business class (not over the wing) for 1,130,000 per person
business class (over the wing) for 915,000 per person
Premium economy cabin is 460,000 per person

 

[Pushka]

Here's the link: Qantas Antarctica Flights | Chimu Adventures

Just booked 2 tickets on the south pole flight!!

Economy tickets are better value in my opinion. Other tickets are as follows:
Premium business class (not over the wing) for 1,130,000 per person
business class (over the wing) for 915,000 per person
Premium economy cabin is 460,000 per person

Dammit. Can't travel to any of these states from SA and have no idea what the future will hold.

 

[VPS]

Dammit. Can't travel to any of these states from SA and have no idea what the future will hold.

Save your points and use them to fly to South America and go on a cruise to Antarctica

 

[MEL_Traveller]

hmmm The Aussie government won't allow a 2-day domestic cruise on a massive ship with lots of outdoor space, but will allow a joy flight of 14 hours? With people maskless while eating for a good chunk of that 14 hours? (sorry to be negative, but it does grate)

 

[Pushka]

hmmm The Aussie government won't allow a 2-day domestic cruise on a massive ship with lots of outdoor space, but will allow a joy flight of 14 hours? With people maskless while eating for a good chunk of that 14 hours? (sorry to be negative, but it does grate)

Maybe they will mandate negative covid tests and vaccinations. We are talking November here.

 

[kpc]

Just asked +1...said she was only interested in going if she can put her foot onto the Antarctic ice and say hello to a penguin from a few feet away...she said waving from 20000 feet was not the same! I tend to agree...

 

[VPS]

I'd love to but it would have to be as a solo. No way would *he* deal with seasickness. Usually ok on the water but we have had a couple of umm, difficult times on a very rough ferry in the Thai islands (I was fine but everyone else was so green) and on a Pacific cruise yonks ago.

I went solo and had a ball

 

[SOPOOR]

Just asked +1...said she was only interested in going if she can put her foot onto the Antarctic ice and say hello to a penguin from a few feet away...she said waving from 20000 feet was not the same! I tend to agree...

agree, when I spoke to the travel agent, they said at that time of year its bright all year around and its a good experience, and because its NYE, its a much better atmosphere
better than the other option...………..but im sure sales people never lie!

 

[Pushka]

I went solo and had a ball

So the three of us, love_the_life, you and me would have a blast.

 

[Spongbob]

We did a few years ago, on the NYE flight from Sydney. A great experience and highly recommended in pre-COVID days.
Unless there is a must be vaccinated rule, I would not recommended it in 2021.

 

[Scr77]

Would this be the first season not using a 747?

 

[henrus]

Would this be the first season not using a 747?

No, flights earlier this year (previous season) operated using 787's.

Dennis from Bunnik Travels put together a good video of the flight.

 

[serfty]

Would this be the first season not using a 747?

No, 8pm New Years eve about a decade ago, Nancy Bird flew low over the Mornington Peninsula on its way South.

 

[Atleastonce]

Just booked our two seats ex BNE

 

[SOPOOR]

One of my friends asked me
"Why would Qantas use the travel agent as a middle man, when they can do it themselves, since the plane isn't landing anywhere?"

Why don't Qantas diy? They'd sell out pretty quickly anyway

 

[odysseus]

One of my friends asked me
"Why would Qantas use the travel agent as a middle man, when they can do it themselves, since the plane isn't landing anywhere?"

Why don't Qantas diy? They'd sell out pretty quickly anyway

Same reason travel operators use travel agents, and offer other charter arrangements. It lets those TAs do what they're good at - marketing to niches; have their own loyal customer groups. And QF aren't competing against them which just annoys them (so they then want to switch to another airline) and QF aren't needing to create tailored marketing, or get specialists and spend time on these customised experiences themselves. i.e. if Qantas did it for just one tour, then they both tick off the agent who has been operating it, and don't really achieve any significant long-term benefits from it, just the cost of turning that business from the TA away. And if they make it a sustainable business that has significance it's going to cost them more to get the specialists and in marketing management, but isn't worth the loss of revenue from these TAs that they've driven away or lost their business.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think that's on the money. This or other TAs like it have been organising Antarctica flights for years... for QF to suddenly pull the rug from under them and say 'oh, it's a pandemic and we have time to do it ourselves' would be bad for business.

 

[SOPOOR]

Same reason travel operators use travel agents, and offer other charter arrangements. It lets those TAs do what they're good at - marketing to niches; have their own loyal customer groups. And QF aren't competing against them which just annoys them (so they then want to switch to another airline) and QF aren't needing to create tailored marketing, or get specialists and spend time on these customised experiences themselves. i.e. if Qantas did it for just one tour, then they both tick off the agent who has been operating it, and don't really achieve any significant long-term benefits from it, just the cost of turning that business from the TA away. And if they make it a sustainable business that has significance it's going to cost them more to get the specialists and in marketing management, but isn't worth the loss of revenue from these TAs that they've driven away or lost their business.

Excellent explanation thank you

 

[Atleastonce]

Here's the link: Qantas Antarctica Flights | Chimu Adventures

Just booked 2 tickets on the south pole flight!!

Economy tickets are better value in my opinion. Other tickets are as follows:
Premium business class (not over the wing) for 1,130,000 per person
business class (over the wing) for 915,000 per person
Premium economy cabin is 460,000 per person

Have you received any confirmation email yet. I booked on Tuesday and nothing yet. Have followed up. with an email to find out what is happening. Will phone later today if nothing. Points have been deducted.