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

[MartinMemo]

Hang on, not a "top gear" style race? Wouldn't one using one method and the other using the other method count as a "top gear" style race?
The other choice (which would involve a great deal of trust, but would be a load of fun) is do it as a "race around the world" style race. Get a friend to do some bookings of flights and not tell you what your next flight is until you get to each airport along the route. A quick SMS sent to you mid flight (so you can't access it until arriving, but so your friend does not need to be available at specific times) is your only clue as to where you'd be going next.

Either way sounds like fun...

I suppose its a top gear style race to see if/how different VA & QF are?

That idea is epic too!

 

[smit0847]

If you are doing this in J (ie because you have more points or money than you know what to do with), or else doing it purely as a giant status run (with a specific SC goal in mind) or as some sort of documentary/blog event I can understand it but otherwise I think this sounds absolutely horrible. As much as I enjoy travelling, spending an entire weekend getting on and off domestic Y flights (some quite long) without even leaving most of the airports, for 'fun' is not my idea of fun at all. I would be exhausted, irritated and extremely bored by the end of it.

 

[MartinMemo]

If you are doing this in J (ie because you have more points or money than you know what to do with), or else doing it purely as a giant status run (with a specific SC goal in mind) or as some sort of documentary/blog event I can understand it but otherwise I think this sounds absolutely horrible. As much as I enjoy travelling, spending an entire weekend getting on and off domestic Y flights (some quite long) without even leaving most of the airports, for 'fun' is not my idea of fun at all. I would be exhausted, irritated and extremely bored by the end of it.

Haha. Rule is no J (unless upgraded) but neither of us will be platinum. The point is purely to document and compare and see if it is possible. I am sure we will hate everything about flying by the end, and the irony is that April is usually our biggest month for travel; so doing it in March will be interesting indeed...

 

[erkpod]

I wonder which way would be quicker if 2 people left MEL at the same time & one went clockwise & the other person went anti clockwise?

 

[MartinMemo]

I wonder which way would be quicker if 2 people left MEL at the same time & one went clockwise & the other person went anti clockwise?

From what I have seen so far, you have to fly into darwin from perth, otherwise you add a day.
In a perfect world it would look something like MEL-ADL-PER-DRW-BNE-SYD-CBR-HBA-MEL or MEL-BNE-DRW-PER-SYD-CBR-HBA-ADL-MEL But that aint happining.

 

[casanovawa]

I wonder if you could do this as an AA award??? Something tells me they might draw the line at more than a couple of flights???

I did one time on here suggest about whether we could organise a bit of a Amazing Race type thing as we have so many people travelling to so many countries could just each leave a clue or something to be found in different cities and countries then at some point have a start date where people could have to go and find the 10 different items in 10 different cities etc across how ever many continents you wanted to do it...

We haven't had one of thos contests/challenges where members have to supply photos of the 50 items on the list for a long time...

 

[Simo]

Sounds like a interesting trip.

Look forward to the TR.

 

[MartinMemo]

Sounds like a interesting trip.

Look forward to the TR.

I just hope the airlines are as excited and interested as me, and are super helpful. I have spent this morning emailing etc and hopefully by the end of the day today or tomorrow I will have a contact at each to work out the fine detail with. My job is taking care of the flights and hotels, my friend Dan's job is publicity, production & liability (things i don't know about).

 

[MartinMemo]

Simultaneous runs?

You nailed it - I completely overlooked your comment and my mate Dan came up with the exact same genius idea this morning!

 

[smit0847]

I just hope the airlines are as excited and interested as me, and are super helpful. I have spent this morning emailing etc and hopefully by the end of the day today or tomorrow I will have a contact at each to work out the fine detail with. My job is taking care of the flights and hotels, my friend Dan's job is publicity, production & liability (things i don't know about).

What sort of $ or points budget do you have for this trip?

 

[MartinMemo]

What sort of $ or points budget do you have for this trip?

Nothing. I'm expecting in total it'll be a few grand. Awaiting first quote from either airline to get a better picture. VA points I don't want to touch because I use them for upgrades birthday & xmas. Between us we prob have about 90,000 QF points which we don't use, which again i know is basically nothing.

 

[smit0847]

Nothing. I'm expecting in total it'll be a few grand. Awaiting first quote from either airline to get a better picture. VA points I don't want to touch because I use them for upgrades birthday & xmas. Between us we prob have about 90,000 QF points which we don't use, which again i know is basically nothing.

You have very different priorities for your money than I do. I'd much rather spend a few grand on a USDM or Lifemiles J award to Europe or North or South America on a proper full-service than spending it visiting 10 Australian airports. I only enjoy the journey if its in J or better, otherwise its the destination I concentrate on.

 

[MartinMemo]

Fair enough. I used to hate anything below J but now I just love all of it. The lounge, the sky bus, the FAs, everything

 

[MartinMemo]

Update on the VA route;

Will look like the following -
Wed 12 March 2014
MEL - HBR VA1316 D;8.40am A;9.55am
HBR - MEL - CBR VA1325/227 D;1:00pm A;4:30pm
CBR - ADL VA581 D;6.50pm A;8.50pm
Layover ADL
Thu 13 March 2014
ADL - PER - DRW VA407/1351 D;7.00am A;1.05pm
DRW - SYD - BNE VA1352/9993 D;1.55pm A9.00pm
***all airports reached***
Layover
Fri 14 March 2014
BNE - MEL VA302 D;5:00am A;8:20am

Total cost at current sale prices ~$1000

 

[GladstoneTim]

I wonder if you could do this as an AA award??? Something tells me they might draw the line at more than a couple of flights???

I did one time on here suggest about whether we could organise a bit of a Amazing Race type thing as we have so many people travelling to so many countries could just each leave a clue or something to be found in different cities and countries then at some point have a start date where people could have to go and find the 10 different items in 10 different cities etc across how ever many continents you wanted to do it...

We haven't had one of thos contests/challenges where members have to supply photos of the 50 items on the list for a long time...

Or have a people start in each capital city on the same day, visit every capital city and then compare the length of time from first departure to arrival back in that city, and cost.

 

[MartinMemo]

Or have a people start in each capital city on the same day, visit every capital city and then compare the length of time from first departure to arrival back in that city, and cost.

I took down the flight times but not durations... I know the durtions would be different, but I wonder by how much. Ill look into it when I am less tired tomorrow.

 

[CaviAck]

Update on the VA route;

Will look like the following -
Wed 12 March 2014
MEL - HBR VA1316 D;8.40am A;9.55am
HBR - MEL - CBR VA1325/227 D;1:00pm A;4:30pm
CBR - ADL VA581 D;6.50pm A;8.50pm
Layover ADL
Thu 13 March 2014
ADL - PER - DRW VA407/1351 D;7.00am A;1.05pm
DRW - SYD - BNE VA1352/9993 D;1.55pm A9.00pm
***all airports reached***
Layover
Fri 14 March 2014
BNE - MEL VA302 D;5:00am A;8:20am

Total cost at current sale prices ~$1000

^For a total of 1 day 20 hours and 20 minutes from leaving MEL to arriving back at MEL.

Just looked at QF...

Wednesday 12/03
MEL-HBA QF1011 0700-0815 73H
HBA-xSYD QF1020 1200-1350 73H
xSYD-CBR QF1485 1445-1540 DHC8-4
CBR-ADL QF737 1755-1910 73H

Thursday 13/03
ADL-xPER QF593 0645-0735 73H
xPER-DRW QF792 0830-1335 73H
DRW-xCNS QF1871 1955-2255 717

Friday 14/03
xCNS-BNE QF799 0530-0740 73H
BNE-MEL QF613 0900-1220 73H

All up for $1478 booked individually in Y on QF's website as of 02/09 night. Looks like QF may end up being more expensive and outside 48 hours if starting from MEL. If JQ is allowed, better timings are there but not sure if it'll make 48 hours either. ADL-xPER-DRW seems to be the limiting factor on QF as there's a DRW-xSYD-BNE that'll get you to BNE by Thursday night but it leaves 15mins after landing in DRW from PER.

I only followed your flight path, so there might be a better way on QF if you went MEL-ADL first and left HBA to last and follow a clockwise direction of travel or MEL-HBA-CBR and follow a anti-clockwise direction. Seems getting in and out of PER to/from DRW is the limitting factor on QF. I'll delve deeper and see what comes up for QF.

If I can somehow find some cash I'm highly interested in this, something for kicks and to help get some SC's to reach WP. Although I can only do weekends and start the journey out of CNS...


Edit 1: Just plugged it into MilageMonkey and comes out as 7,507 miles and 135SCs... Adjusting for minimum points on the MEL-HBA and SYD-CBR legs comes to 8,978 points for NB, 12,467 points for PS, 14,211 points for SG, and 15,956 points for QP.

Edit 2: Looks like if you want to circle Australia within 48 hours your only option is VA... well from my quick look anyway.

Edit 3: And I just manged to find a routing that visits all capital cities on QF within 48 hours, although it'll require a red eye out of PER (and even get back to MEL same day if you want to take the second last or last flight out of HBA to MEL)

Wed 12/3
MEL-ADL QF671 0700-0750 73H
ADL-DRW QF754 0840-1115 73H
DRW-PER QF793 1420-1640 73H
PER-BNE QF652 2310-0540 332

Thu 13/3
BNE-SYD QF507 0645-0920 763
SYD-CBR QF1473 1045-1140 Q400
CBR-MEL QF853 1225-1335 73H
MEL-HBA QF1015 1455-1610 73H
and then the immediate turn around
HBA-MEL QF1016 1650-1805 73H

Home for a late dinner for a total of 1 day 11 hours and 5 minutes from leaving to arriving at MEL.

Cheapest I could work it out for is $1373.67 over 4 multi-city itineraries plus $28 in credit card fees.

110SC and 10,523 points for NB, 12,467 points for PS, 14,211 points for SG, and 15956 points for WP.

Anyone game to circle Australia on JQ? xD

 

[MartinMemo]

That is exactly how I wanted it to look, but not possible on VA! The worst thing is that painful flight home on Friday, of only it could all be wrapped up in 2 days like this one. Again, seems like a waste of time and money for SCs alone and more of an investment in doing something unbelievable.

 

[MartinMemo]

^
Wed 12/3
MEL-ADL QF671 0700-0750 73H
ADL-DRW QF754 0840-1115 73H
DRW-PER QF793 1420-1640 73H
PER-BNE QF652 2310-0540 332

Thu 13/3
BNE-SYD QF507 0645-0920 763
SYD-CBR QF1473 1045-1140 Q400
CBR-MEL QF853 1225-1335 73H
MEL-HBA QF1015 1455-1610 73H
and then the immediate turn around
HBA-MEL QF1016 1650-1805 73H
D

Still nowhere near as tight as that QF one you did up, but here is what ive done this morning. Just adding the 12 hour layover in BNE and skipping SYD saves $100+ in flights. and means I only cross back once (at the beginning MEL-HBA-MEL).

[TABLE="width: 494"]
[TR]
[TD]Date[/TD]
[TD]From[/TD]
[TD]To[/TD]
[TD]Flight[/TD]
[TD]Depart[/TD]
[TD]Arrive[/TD]
[TD]Cost[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13-Mar[/TD]
[TD]MEL[/TD]
[TD]HBA[/TD]
[TD]VA 1316[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8:40 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9:55 AM[/TD]
[TD] $ 85.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13-Mar[/TD]
[TD]HBA[/TD]
[TD]MEL[/TD]
[TD]VA 1321[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]10:30 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11:45 AM[/TD]
[TD] $ 158.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13-Mar[/TD]
[TD]MEL[/TD]
[TD]CBR[/TD]
[TD]VA 271[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:25 PM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2:30 PM[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13-Mar[/TD]
[TD]CBR[/TD]
[TD]SYD[/TD]
[TD]VA 661[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5:05 PM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5:55 PM[/TD]
[TD] $ 158.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13-Mar[/TD]
[TD]SYD[/TD]
[TD]ADL[/TD]
[TD]VA 444[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8:10 PM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9:50 PM[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Overnight Layover in Adelaide[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14-Mar[/TD]
[TD]ADL[/TD]
[TD]PER[/TD]
[TD]VA 713[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6:35 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7:25 AM[/TD]
[TD] $ 299.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14-Mar[/TD]
[TD]PER[/TD]
[TD]DRW[/TD]
[TD]VA 1433[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8:15 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:25 PM[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Mid-Day 12hr Layover in Darwin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15-Mar[/TD]
[TD]DRW[/TD]
[TD]BNE[/TD]
[TD]VA 446[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:05 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5:25 AM[/TD]
[TD] $ 232.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15-Mar[/TD]
[TD]BNE[/TD]
[TD]MEL[/TD]
[TD]VA 304[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5:55 AM[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9:15 AM[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] $ 932.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Warks]

This also made me think of people trying to do all the Sydney CityRail stations in a day. If anything it's harder!

How fast could you get around the world I wonder?