1/2 price fares Syd-LHR all year on Qantas

[varyingtravel]

A number of years ago I used one of these fares on a SYD-LHR return trip. Jupiter Air is a courier company which requires documents to be hand delivered.
You call up Jupiter Air about 2 months before the day you want to travel and see if they need a courier. I called them a few months before I wanted to travel to see when I should call them and how the process worked. I travelled in peak season and think I paid about $1400 for economy.
On the day of travel I went to the international airport and they have a counter near the Qantas counter. I was given the document pack and instructions. The flight I did was via Bangkok. When I arrived I stuck a Jupiter Air sticker on my shirt and I was met by their rep. I handed over my documents and was checked through immigration for a one night stopover. The next day I had nothing to carry on to LHR. I also had nothing carry on the way back to SYD.
I haven't done a flight since using this method but at the time it was great value for little to do... Just another option.. I'm not even sure if they still do it but thought I would put it up here anyhow.. I have seen their office just near the Qantas buildings at Syd so I assume they still do this type of stuff.

 

[bambbbam2]

Yes they also used to offer cheap fares (about A$200 iirc) to Auckland. Had a friend do one a few years ago. I think they only need someone once a week, they don't seem to advertise anymore, probably get enough business by word-of-mouth.

 

[Mal]

Still seems to operate. Instructions here:

http://www.jupiterair.com.au/obc.htm

 

[JohnK]

This sounded very good until I went to the link Mal provided.

We do not accept frequent flyer member numbers and mileage points are not counted

 

[infoworks]

My memory is that there was a lot of fuss about these opportunities at one stage, but I suspect there is not the need anymore (wonder if anyone had to carry a boogie board). Fed Ex and other courier airlines sometimes have passenger space available too, althoght I think it's mostly limited to employees since 9/11.

It reminds me of the mytery flights the domestic airlines did. Book for a date in advance, show up at the airport at 7am and you could go anywhere in Oz and back in a day. The hype was Perth, the reality was sually Brisbane or melbourne with a 2-3 hour transit at the airport. It was a good holiday flying day adventure with kids.

I also used it a lot for Venturer Scout journeys and sometimes the airlines were happy to make it one-way (so they flew somewhere (like Albury or Wagga - they would work out the destinantion with me in advance so I had some idea in what part of the country they were roaming) and had to get their own way back over a long weekend.

 

[JohnK]

(wonder if anyone had to carry a boogie board)

There is someone rotting in an Indonesian jail that carried a boogie board. :cry: Sorry that is quite a serious matter.

It reminds me of the mytery flights the domestic airlines did. Book for a date in advance, show up at the airport at 7am and you could go anywhere in Oz and back in a day. The hype was Perth, the reality was sually Brisbane or melbourne with a 2-3 hour transit at the airport. It was a good holiday flying day adventure with kids..

I know someone that did quite a few of these (and I am sure that I would do some if they were still available) and ended going to Perth, Alice Springs, Adelaide and Hobart. Maybe lucky but I think quite good.

 

[AlwaysUpThere]

The luckiest couriers have got to be the Diplomatic Courier team at DFAT! They travel in FIRST CLASS and simply deliver documents to consular officials. And, they get to have a day off every three while they're away - in a 5* hotel.

 

[oz_mark]

It reminds me of the mytery flights the domestic airlines did. Book for a date in advance, show up at the airport at 7am and you could go anywhere in Oz and back in a day. The hype was Perth, the reality was sually Brisbane or melbourne with a 2-3 hour transit at the airport. It was a good holiday flying day adventure with kids.

I did this from Perth once (was actually a Fly Buys award mystery flight) and got a full day in Sydney. Got the red eye out of Perth and the last flight of the day back from Syd-Perth.

Shame they don't do them anymore.

 

[serfty]

Mystery Flights

I have flown many of these; trick with QF was that you would ring up after Midday the day abefore nd find your destination/flights; unless it was Sydney a hire car was a good idea. Not only that, if it was a good long journey you had a very good chance of using one of your 'Gift' upgrade certificates (preceded UC's) for the return journey. (Due to the normally light loads of flights with Mystery Pax). (Never upgrades on the way out )

Early days did QF400/QF475 several times; back then it was MEL-SYD-OOL and back OOL-SYD-MEL first and last flights in/out of MEL.

About four times in a row got MEL-BNE-CNS and return same way (2½ hours in Cairns). Onece went MEL to Port Douglas for lunch, then home!

HBA a few times; one quiet evening I was about to board to take last flight back to MEL when QF agent approached and swapped my Y BP for 1F in J (733). I was only PAX in J.. about 20 more in entire cabin.

I did PER as well; guy I used to do this with would use his OG* status to get an earlier flight home until one day they refused. So he booked himself a full Y one way return, then promptly upgraded to J. Cost him $715 and a gift certificate. I waited the extra 5 hours and went back as the second part of my $119 fare. Needless to say, that was the last MF that guy took.

 

[JohnK]

Shame they don't do them anymore.

I would love to do some of these.

The uncertainty of not knowing where you will end up is exciting.

Oh well!!!!

 

[PaulZ]

The luckiest couriers have got to be the Diplomatic Courier team at DFAT! They travel in FIRST CLASS and simply deliver documents to consular officials. And, they get to have a day off every three while they're away - in a 5* hotel.

My Dream Job!

Where do i Apply?

Seriously!