Government to halve flight prices in $1.2bn tourism plan

[dajop]

Unless things have changed recently I think you will find the Yalara resort owns both hotels, the caravan park and the camping area - a true monopoly. So to camp outside of the resort means camping a significant drive away form the national park.

And they operate the airport as well.

 

[Tiki]

Unless things have changed recently I think you will find the Yalara resort owns both hotels, the caravan park and the camping area - a true monopoly. So to camp outside of the resort means camping a significant drive away form the national park.

Oh I know. Normally we would stay at Outback Pioneer which has cheaper rooms and even a backpackers lodge. But if that isn't an option, camping is the only cheap option. I don't really like tent camping so would keep it to a minimum. But by the time we will have saved enough for a 1-2 year old SUV, everyone should be vaccinated and back to normal. But it's not an option in the context of these govt fare specials.

 

[jakeseven7]

Anyone staying up until midnight on Wednesday?!

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone staying up until midnight on Wednesday?!

Yes, it just so happens I'm staying up for a webinar at the same time...

 

[Scarlett]

Anyone staying up until midnight on Wednesday?!

Has anything actually been confirmed about this great scam to give taxpayers money to QF... sorry, I mean tourism support package? Specifics such as sale start time, or how we'll be able to confirm subsidised flights (will there be something to indicate which flights are applicable on websites)?

 

[AdMEL]

Does anyone know what’s going with Virgin fares? Have they loaded cheap fares early? I have been looking at MEL-CNS-MEL and today they have fares for $199 each way - yesterday they were $299/$265 and a few weeks ago they were $499 one way! Same flights. Should I buy today or wait Until tomorrow?

 

[kpc]

Useless.promo with state borders closed or about to be closed! The threat of 14 days retrospective hotel quarantine at your expense doesn't help either!

 

[AIRwin]

Should I buy today or wait Until tomorrow?

Buy now and you can always cancel for a credit?

 

[blackcat20]

Anyone staying up until midnight on Wednesday?!

With a new baby I’m likely to be up anyway.

 

[glasszon]

Buy now and you can always cancel for a credit?

Good idea, the only question is whether you can use airline credits to book the govt sponsored discounted flights, I won't be surprised if they change the fare class so you have to pay with actual cash in order to book the discounted flights.

 

[AdMEL]

Useless.promo with state borders closed or about to be closed! The threat of 14 days retrospective hotel quarantine at your expense doesn't help either!

Hopefully not a significant issue in my case - looking at staying for 3 months over winter.

 

[AdMEL]

Buy now and you can always cancel for a credit?

Good idea, the only question is whether you can use airline credits to book the govt sponsored discounted flights, I won't be surprised if they change the fare class so you have to pay with actual cash in order to book the discounted flights.

Yes, good idea, though not sure it will work for me, as I will be using either Amex Plat Edge credit, or Virgin Future Flight Credit.

 

[AIRwin]

Has anything actually been confirmed about this great scam to give taxpayers money to QF... sorry, I mean tourism support package? Specifics such as sale start time, or how we'll be able to confirm subsidised flights (will there be something to indicate which flights are applicable on websites)?

Here is QF media release:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/half-price-flights-take-off-as-qantas-and-jetstar-launch-network-wide-sale/

 

[dajop]

Here is QF media release:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/half-price-flights-take-off-as-qantas-and-jetstar-launch-network-wide-sale/

So it seems from the QF press release MEL-ADL has been added to the half price routes:

Qantas sale fares include:

Adelaide-Melbourne

from $88* (Half Off Flights sale)

Why does the government need to pay QF $88 a person to stimulate demand on a route where VA and ZL are now already offering fares for $55 on that route?? Why does the route need stimulating when the airfares offered already are $33 lower than what QF will be offering after the support from the government.? QF have done really well by it's shareholders with this deal with the government.

 

[AIRwin]

Why does the government need to pay QF $88 a person to stimulate demand on a route where VA and ZL are now already offering fares for $55 on that route?? Why does the route need stimulating when the airfares offered already are $33 lower than what QF will be offering after the support from the government.?

Great scam to give taxpayers money to QF to quote @Scarlett?

 

[AIRwin]

VA already has a placeholder alert on their website:

Travel alerts | Virgin Australia

Border restrictions are changing and we are receiving higher than normal call volumes. We also advise guests check the latest Government advice prior to travel.

www.virginaustralia.com

Government subsidised half-price airfares will be available to book from 1 April 2021 on virginaustralia.com. More information available soon.

Here is VA media release:

Virgin Australia reignites domestic travel push with 260,000 half-priced fares

Federal Government stimulus to deliver 260,000 half-priced airfares for consumers from midnight tonight

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[RooFlyer]

So it seems from the QF press release MEL-ADL has been added to the half price routes:



Why does the government need to pay QF $88 a person to stimulate demand on a route where VA and ZL are now already offering fares for $55 on that route?? Why does the route need stimulating when the airfares offered already are $33 lower than what QF will be offering after the support from the government.? QF have done really well by it's shareholders with this deal with the government.

Fair points, but the airline industry has been identified as a 'special case' when job-keeper wage subsidy finished. This was the way the government chose to target the industry for extended assistance - hence the timing.

Here's the QF web page for the sale (preview):

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/promotions/flights/rediscover-the-qantas-difference-for-less.html?adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D1FB11F2148199167-74E4B7A50A9241F6%7CMCORGID%3D11B20CF953F3626B0A490D44%40AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1617170977&alt_cam=au%3Aff%3A%3Aedm%3Aff%3Asale-everything%3Acta%3An%3An%3An

And here is the QF map ... I'm pretty sure they have left off Burnie, in northern Tas? Oh, I guess QF don't fly there.



Eeek ... according to this, there are no cheap fares FROM Tasmania! I didn't realise this. Wah! Discrimination!! God knows what they'll be charging for the flights out, to get the cheap flights back!

 

[dajop]

Eeek ... according to this, there are no cheap fares FROM Tasmania! I didn't realise this. Wah! Discrimination!! God knows what they'll be charging for the flights out, to get the cheap flights back!

Maybe we need to see what happens tonight at midnight to see what half price fares really means. edit: Virgin clarifies this in that they are using lead-in fares from February, i.e. pre-Rex competition. So Rex received a $55m subsidy to keep regional flights going (mind you QF did receive significant sum to), whilst now the government are it seems underwriting the price wars on some routes, seems like evening the playing field a bit!

To take three examples of QF price fares quoted in the press release:

Adelaide-Melbourne	from $88* (Half Off Flights sale)
Sydney-Sunshine Coast	from $92* (Half Off Flights sale)
Canberra-Gold Coast	from $95* (Half Off Flights sale)

Currently fares available mid-May include ADL-MEL ($109), SYD-MCY ($185, so half price seems right) and CBR-OOL $190 ... half price seems right)

 

[Mattg]

Here is QF media release:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/half-price-flights-take-off-as-qantas-and-jetstar-launch-network-wide-sale/

I'm not sure about Qantas' claim that "Qantas has reopened 35 Qantas Club and Business Lounges across Australia."

By my count, there are now 27 Qantas Club and Business Lounges open in Australia (including in BNE, although the lounges there are temporarily closed due to the lockdown right now). If we also include Chairman's Lounges, there are 33 Qantas lounges open in Australia. The other two lounges, the Qantas Clubs in Rockhampton and Port Hedland, are still closed.

Service updates | Qantas

The latest updates to Qantas network, inflight and airport services.

www.qantas.com

 

[Must...Fly!]

Useless.promo with state borders closed or about to be closed! The threat of 14 days retrospective hotel quarantine at your expense doesn't help either!

Given Qantas "fly flexible" means you pay the fare difference, and can't put fares in credit without attracting the fee (I believe), I am not really interested in the half price fares either. I like my money to stay in Australian dollars, rather than kangaroo bucks...

That said, Virgin (and Jetstar), to my understanding, still allow cancel in to credit to use as you wish.