New Qantas trip noisier and dearer

[Yada Yada]

New Qantas trip noisier and dearer
By DANIELLE BLEWETT , Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Launceston got its first taste of Qantas's Dash 8 service to Melbourne yesterday with the 4.35pm one-way fare costing $374.92.

The service started yesterday after Qantas announced in May that it would drop its Boeing 737 jet service from the Launceston-to- Melbourne route because of lack of support.

An online comparison of air fares showed a Virgin flight leaving Launceston at the same time for Melbourne and taking an hour cost $102 and up to $205 for a Flexi Saver fare.

A Jetstar Jetsaver flight two hours earlier cost $61.

Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jo Archer said the fare comparison was outrageous.

"It's not a great start to the service. Why pay more to be in the air 20 minutes longer in a smaller, noisier aircraft?" Ms Archer said.

"If they wanted to make this new service work, you would have thought they would have at least been price competitive.

"It would appear they are not trying to attract customers."

<...snip...>

Virgin Blue has promised to look at the potential patronage of a business-class service from Launceston to Melbourne during the new few months.

Full Story...

Smaller noisier aircraft? They forgot to mention the smooth ride! :shock:

That last paragraph got my attention!

 

[serfty]

New service? I flown in Crash8's (and indeed, 146s & 737's) many times between MEL & LST.

As for the price, Sunday afternoon you can travel for as little as $62 on JQ, $199 on DJ and $129 on QF.

On Sunday Jan 14, the cheapest fares are $62 on JQ, $70 on DJ and $129 on QF.

 

[NM]

Smaller noisier aircraft? They forgot to mention the smooth ride! :shock:

That last paragraph got my attention!

Umm, smaller yes, but noisier? Certainly not from the outside. Or at least according to those that set the noise restrictions at Sydney airport where the prop services are excluded from the curfew and noise levy charges.

 

[Yada Yada]

Umm, smaller yes, but noisier? Certainly not from the outside. Or at least according to those that set the noise restrictions at Sydney airport where the prop services are excluded from the curfew and noise levy charges.

I guess they are referring to the noise level inside the cabin?

No doubt that the Crash-8 is more of a "raw" aviation experience.

 

[NM]

I guess they are referring to the noise level inside the cabin?

No doubt that the Crash-8 is more of a "raw" aviation experience.

The old BAe146 was often called "The Muffler", not only for the odour from the engine bleed air, but also due to the fact that it was noisier inside the aircraft than outside .

 

[bammac]

The article is bang on about the price difference etc. I would always prefer to fly Qantas and build up my points as well as make use of my QP membership (really just a tea and biscuit stop). But it's not enough to sway me from flying Virgin Blue, as I did last weekend for about half the price.Plus as we arrived at the airport in under 20mins from departure I was especially glad I did not book with JetStar!!!

 

[ziggypop]

We get crash-8s into and out of CBR. Nothing wrong with them. Can get a bit cramped for some. However, somehow I think that Qantas should have left the domestic brand alone as an individual entity and kept the mangy roo as the international flag. I liked Ta Ta and AA and Ansett and liked flying Kendell, good food and booze on them.

oh those were the days (the ancient crock said.... )

 

[Commuter]

The old BAe146 was often called "The Muffler", not only for the odour from the engine bleed air, but also due to the fact that it was noisier inside the aircraft than outside .

I've been joking that the reason why 146 is quiet is because its engines are under-powered. Like "1 airframe, 4 engines, needs 6" joke.