Antarctica Flights using Qantas Points/Chimu Adventures

[SOPOOR]

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.

I got mine within minutes of hanging up after getting put throguh to Qantas to finalise the points

 

[Matt_01]

Looking at the points required are these in line with what is normally required for a 14 hour flight on QF if using points as cash. I tend to use points for classic rewards so that is why the number required seem high.

 

[SOPOOR]

Looking at the points required are these in line with what is normally required for a 14 hour flight on QF if using points as cash. I tend to use points for classic rewards so that is why the number required seem high.

200k points for 14 hr trip in economy is overpriced in my books but since it's Antarctica and NYE, YOLO came to mind.
I'm now half worried that I've overhyped it in my mind.

 

[Matt_01]

200k points for 14 hr trip in economy is overpriced in my books but since it's Antarctica and NYE, YOLO came to mind.
I'm now half worried that I've overhyped it in my mind.

I wouldn't be bothered about overhyping in your your mind, I was just curious as I was looking at the flight as well. It does not seem that overpriced as if I compare to SYD-DXB in Y that would be 182K (saver) 275K (flex) and you are on a charter and will most likely get some extra goodies thrown in. Enjoy the trip.

 

[JohnM]

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

Better still: do both.

Pushing uphill in Patagonia and chilling in Antarctica

I have finally gotten around to doing a TR of a Patagonia and Antarctica travel combination that I did in November-December 2013 that may be of interest to some folks. The plan: PER-xSYD-SCL for nearly two weeks in Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), followed by a 10-night cruise from Ushuaia to...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

PER-Antarctica-PER: over the ice in Ice.

Tomorrow it's up at sparrow's and out to PER to board QF2906 for a day trip to Antarctica. Scheduled departure is 0800 and return 2030. That should fill in the day quite nicely - especially as I decided to go the fabled Ice Class (B747 front cabin, window seat pairs) :cool::shock:. I am...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

PS. The B747 was a better bird to do these sorts of flights in than a Nightmareliner (in J, at least), especially if travelling solo:

A PERfect ride to the Southern Lights

Well, tonight it's off from PER on an 11 hour ride in a QF B787 for a bit of Aurora Australis rubbernecking. Here's the likely path for the ride. ETD is 2000h; ETA 0705h Sunday. Here's the seat plan. There is no pre-allocation of seats. 1A is set aside for some interloper who is going to...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The 'suites' space is much more difficult to share simultaneously than a skybed space.

 

[SOPOOR]

just saw a pop up ad

Ocean Endeavour | Antarctica Cruises & Tours

The Ocean Endeavour is one of the greatest vessel to navigate to the Antarctic peninsula.

www.chimuadventures.com

Looks like they have dropped the price down from $2000ish to $1195

very tempted to cancel my booking with points and paying cash for them

 

[henrus]

With QF proposing a very high aircraft utilisation come December, I wonder where these flights fit into the equation?

 

[henrus]

very tempted to cancel my booking with points and paying cash for them

You mentioned in your initial post you booked window without wing. I think the price of that is still $2876 whereas the $1195 is the price for the Economy limited view.

 

[SOPOOR]

You mentioned in your initial post you booked window without wing. I think the price of that is still $2876 whereas the $1195 is the price for the Economy limited view.

you are absolutely right!, I thought the ad said it was for "no wing" seat which is what I had,
found the Expand button

looks like theyve added a economy limited view

Economy (No Wing)	Book and save up to 10%	AUD 2,876
Economy (Wing)	Book and save up to 10%. LIMITED AVAILABILITY	AUD 1,976
Economy Limited View		AUD 1,195

 

[henrus]

looks like theyve added a economy limited view

The Economy "limited view" seats are 44ABC HJK and 57ABC DF HJK

Looking at the Qantas seat map I'd say row 44 is more like no view.


57 is basically the same, it's slightly closer to a window but still you won't get an amazing view.

 

[SOPOOR]

Just got my final confirmation email
Was reading it and it says we get lounge access.

Sweet!

 

[SOPOOR]

For those of you that are interested in antarcitica, I got this email from luxury escapes (departing sydney)

Antarctica Last Chance: Exclusive Qantas Charter Flight from Sydney with Onboard Drinks & Dining, Harbour Cruise & Hyatt Stay, Tours by Luxury Escapes – Antarctica

Today's Luxury Escapes Travel Deal: Antarctica Last Chance: Exclusive Qantas Charter Flight from Sydney with Onboard Drinks & Dining, Harbour Cruise & Hyatt Stay. Buy Now & Save -179800% on Luxury Escapes Travel Deals.

luxuryescapes.com

cant tell the difference between the $1799 one vs $2799 one but you get 2 nights accomodation and a drinks harbour cruise,
this seems 10x more value than the Chimu ones, except its not on NYE

 

[astrosly]

For those of you that are interested in antarcitica, I got this email from luxury escapes (departing sydney)

Antarctica Last Chance: Exclusive Qantas Charter Flight from Sydney with Onboard Drinks & Dining, Harbour Cruise & Hyatt Stay, Tours by Luxury Escapes – Antarctica

Today's Luxury Escapes Travel Deal: Antarctica Last Chance: Exclusive Qantas Charter Flight from Sydney with Onboard Drinks & Dining, Harbour Cruise & Hyatt Stay. Buy Now & Save -179800% on Luxury Escapes Travel Deals.

luxuryescapes.com

cant tell the difference between the $1799 one vs $2799 one but you get 2 nights accomodation and a drinks harbour cruise,
this seems 10x more value than the Chimu ones, except its not on NYE

The difference between Explorer Economy ($1799 twin share) and Standard Economy ($2799 twin share) is the Explorer seats are those rows that don't have a window so there is no view and no swapping, but you are allowed to stand in the common areas and view from those places. The light blue seats:

 

[SOPOOR]

The difference between Explorer Economy ($1799 twin share) and Standard Economy ($2799 twin share) is the Explorer seats are those rows that don't have a window so there is no view and no swapping, but you are allowed to stand in the common areas and view from those places. The light blue seats:

View attachment 269434

oh very good, that makes sense, at $2799 (im assuming has a window) still seems much better value given the chimu was $3075 without 2 nights hotel and crusie

 

[astrosly]

oh very good, that makes sense, at $2799 (im assuming has a window) still seems much better value given the chimu was $3075 without 2 nights hotel and crusie

And the stay is at the Hyatt Regency. But that $3075 p.p. was for the no wing economy seats? The equivalent package with LE is $3799 twin share.

 

[SOPOOR]

And the stay is at the Hyatt Regency. But that $3075 p.p. was for the no wing economy seats? The equivalent package with LE is $3799 twin share.

thanks for the comparison, seems you are familiar with the comparsions, and yes it was no wing economy!!

 

[Atleastonce]

Just got my final confirmation email
Was reading it and it says we get lounge access.

Sweet!

We are on Sundays flight from BNE. Our docs say lounge access too. Did you get into the lounge for your flight?

 

[JohnM]

We are on Sundays flight from BNE. Our docs say lounge access too. Did you get into the lounge for your flight?

Always lounge access for J pax.

 

[Atleastonce]

Always lounge access for J pax.

We are in economy window view seat and got the lounge access information. Neither of us are Qantas club members.

 

[SOPOOR]

We are on Sundays flight from BNE. Our docs say lounge access too. Did you get into the lounge for your flight?

Yes we got in without a problem. The counter staff had no idea about whether it was included they said no initially, we showed them the letter or the pdf that had lounge access inclusion comment , they apologies and waved us through