Here it is - ~48 hours to get to all capital airports in AUS flying VA

[MartinMemo]

Sat down with a FF mate of mine (via facebook chat) over 3-5 coffees this morning and we have managed to work this out. March 2014;

Thursday;
MEL-CBR (anytime)
CBR-ADL Depart 6.50pm
Arrive ADL 8.05pm
Layover in ADL
Friday;
ADL-PER Depart 6.35am
PER-DRW Depart 8.15am
Arrive Darwin 1.25pm
DRW-SYD Depart 1.55pm (this bit is scary, 30mins from land to depart)
SYD-BNE depart 7.40pm
Layover in BNE
Saturday;
BNE-HBA Depart 9.10am
HBA-LST (drive)
LST-MEL Depart 5.10pm
Home - 6.10pm

Think it can be done? It is my intention to video blog the entire thing and share with you all! All i need now is to talk to VA Marketing & Customer Care to see if I can film etc. and to see if i can get it all under the same booking number at a decent saver sale price!

 

[erkpod]

If you are HLO, the connection in DRW should be ok, especially if you get your BP in PER. Just stay airside in DRW. One thing to consider though for DRW - BNE flight though, have you given yourself enough time to board?

If you miss that one, you've got a while in DRW either to BNE via SYD/MEL or the red eye direct to BNE.

 

[MartinMemo]

If you are HLO, the connection in DRW should be ok, especially if you get your BP in PER. Just stay airside in DRW. One thing to consider though for DRW - BNE flight though, have you given yourself enough time to board?

I have no idea. I need to talk to VA about all of this and get their opinion on it all.

 

[MartinMemo]

Looks like it'll be me SG and my mate WP - hoping VA will come to the party with some assistance (ie row 3 A&C no B) and lots of coffee.

 

[erkpod]

I have no idea. I need to talk to VA about all of this and get their opinion on it all.

When I did my SYD - MEL - ADL - MEL - SYD status run in 1 day in May, I was given all 4 BP in Syd via the kiosk. The only time in MEL I went landside was to use the Vlounge.

Just looking at my BP for the DRW - MEL trip I did recently, boarding was 30 minutes before departure time. So while you'd be checked in already in theory from PER, computer might say no & not even allow you to book that on the same PNR.

To me, 30 minutes in DRW is risky at best, especially in what could be the end of the wet season.

 

[MartinMemo]

Yeah, but doesnt that make it more fun? haha. Considering its all within 48 hours, Id say we could get all 12 BPs from MEL lounge before we set off on thurs.

 

[samh004]

MEL-CBR-oADL-PER-DRW-oBNE-HBA//LST-MEL

Maybe I'm missing something, but where's SYD?

I'm probably not awake yet.

 

[MartinMemo]

Maybe I'm missing something, but where's SYD?

I'm probably not awake yet.

Sorry! Forgot to add it! its in there now. DRW-SYD-BNE

 

[MartinMemo]

Step 2 - If it doesn't kill us, do the same with QF & compare.
Isn't really a status run option - i figure you could get the same SCs for less $ MEL-BNE J in 5 hours.

 

[Shelf]

How long have you factored for the driving component?

 

[MartinMemo]

How long have you factored for the driving component?

3 hours - though might ditch this part entirely * just fly BNE-HBR-MEL. It would be nice though to mix it up and get LST in there, despite their lack of lounge.

 

[erkpod]

LST isn't a capital. LOL.

 

[MartinMemo]

LST isn't a capital. LOL.

Yeah I know, but I've always wanted to do the drive, and what better opportunity?

 

[erkpod]

Yeah I know, but I've always wanted to do the drive, and what better opportunity?

It's not a bad drive. But if it was me, I'd spend a week down there & drive around on a road trip. The west coast is especially pretty.

 

[MartinMemo]

I have contacted VA & QF and expect a reply in the coming week. Will keep AFF posted and see if I can get this "off the ground".

 

[JessicaTam]

I might be interested in the QF run.

 

[MartinMemo]

I might be interested in the QF run.

I'll keep the thread up to date. I think it would be an interesting experiment to do both and compare in an unbiased (as possible) way. Everything from price, experiance, comfort, time etc.

 

[erkpod]

I'll keep the thread up to date. I think it would be an interesting experiment to do both and compare in an unbiased (as possible) way. Everything from price, experiance, comfort, time etc.

Like some people try to catch a train to every suburban train station in a day, I have wondered if something like this would be possible in aviation.

 

[MartinMemo]

Like some people try to catch a train to every suburban train station in a day, I have wondered if something like this would be possible in aviation.

The first thing I'm going to say to virgin and Qantas is that the AFF community are very interested and link this thread, so all comments will help the cause. Who know? The Qantas one could even turn out to be quite a lot of us all travelling together and video blogging. A Current Affair has already emailed me asking to keep them updated (lol).

 

[Phillippe M]

Normally the VA crew that do the PER-DRW, normally are the same ones that do DRW-SYD. I have had to wait around a couple of times now when the Perth flight has been delayed arriving into Darwin.