Points Plane to LAX: Final flight for VH-OJU 747

[Hvr]

Got this offer today:

Our next Points Plane is departing Sydney for Los Angeles on Sunday 13 October 2019. After 20 years of flying, this flight will be the final journey for our Boeing 747 - 'Lord Howe Island' (VH-OJU) and for a limited time, every single seat can be booked using Qantas Points.^

Qantas Frequent Flyers have exclusive access until midnight 2 September 2019 to book a Classic Flight Reward for:

• All 58 seats in Business
• All 36 seats in Premium Economy
• Over 200 seats in Economy

So anybody getting on board? And how will you return?

 

[Kangol]

I see J is wide open, as are the other cabins. Searched for 9 seats and they are available.

 

[levelnine]

Still got to get home.

If there's no reward availability to get home, you're up for a very expensive one way ticket back to Australia.

 

[sudoer]

Final 747 flight

It's the final long-haul flight for VH-OJU, but not the final QF 747 flight.

 

[Hvr]

It's the final long-haul flight for VH-OJU, but not the final QF 747 flight.

You're correct, I have reported my post asking for a title amendment.

 

[Lynda2475]

When they did the other points plane there was also a return points plane, as there is no return points plane on this and likely very little (if any) classic awards availability less than 2months out, i think they may struggle to get points offers for all seats.

 

[Princess Fiona]

When they did the other points plane there was also a return points plane, as there is no return points plane on this and likely very little (if any) classic awards availability less than 2months out, i think they may struggle to get points offers for all seats.

I agree with this. Not sure how easy it’s going to be to get back.
Won’t be doing this trip, I’m away anyway.
Hopefully the final 747 flight will be some kind of similar points flight but with a suitable return Award flight put on.

 

[Lynda2475]

The plane itself is probably headed to one of those US aviation graveyards. You'd hope QF would offer special one-way fares (i.e half a return cost not the usual one way markup) to help people get home.

 

[The man with no name]

The plane itself is probably headed to one of those US aviation graveyards. You'd hope QF would offer special one-way fares (i.e half a return cost not the usual one way markup) to help people get home.

Haha ! Qantas certainly is not going to do anything to assist a cheap/easy return based on the previous points plane to Japan

 

[levelnine]

You'd hope QF would offer special one-way fares (i.e half a return cost not the usual one way markup) to help people get home.

LOL.

 

[Lynda2475]

based on the previous points plane to Japan

Well that had a return points only flight so if one was willing to do a very short trip was pretty easy to get points seat both ways.

 

[harvyk]

Yes, the way they wrote the email I at first thought it was the final 747 flight. It wasn't until I saw the date (and year) that I realized that it was simply OJU's last flight.

AFAIK OJU is the last of the non-ER's that QF still has in service.

 

[dajop]

There’s always the chance of cheap flights to HNL and Jetstar from there to get back.

 

[SYD]

As at 2pm, J is well subscribed. Upper deck and nose mostly full but a couple of good seats still available. I pondered booking this first thing this morning but couldn’t be bothered ringing up QF to request a seat home. Or I could have gambled on VA releasing *the* one award seat back once I was over there....

Zero take up of Y+ and whY so far. The later could be quiet on the day as there are still award seats on QF11 (A380). Perhaps snag an entire row for ‘poor mans’ lie flat seat....

 

[ozfflyer]

just got this QF email below with above title.

Obviously October is a quiet time & must be low season, but what's the idea behind this ?

Qantas frequent flyers then buy a one way QF ticket home which might be nearly the same cost as the cheapest return ?

If likes of VA yield management were switched on, they might be offering some really cheap one ways out of LAX back to OZ to try & grab some of these passengers,

Our next Points Plane is departing Sydney for Los Angeles on Sunday 13 October 2019. After 20 years of flying, this flight will be the final journey for our Boeing 747 - 'Lord Howe Island' (VH-OJU) and for a limited time, every single seat can be booked using Qantas Points.^ Qantas Frequent Flyers have exclusive access until midnight 2 September 2019 to book a Classic Flight Reward seat on this historic flight. Travelling from Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart? Use your points to book a connecting flight to Sydney and on to Los Angeles (LAX) for the same amount of points.**

Fly from Brisbane via Sydney to Los Angeles

Brisbane via Sydney Economy one way​ 41,900 pts + $243 cash*​

Brisbane via Sydney Premium Economy one way​ 72,000 pts + $443 cash*​

Brisbane via Sydney Business one way​ 96,000 pts + $518 cash*​

 

[oz_mark]

It's on its way to another operator. So I guess fill it with Frequent Flyers rather than fly it empty.

 

[walter82]

This may sound silly but aren't they due to get more Dreamliners and the end of this year. They could have coordinate this into something special last and first flights!

 

[odysseus]

It's on its way to another operator. So I guess fill it with Frequent Flyers rather than fly it empty.

It'll be opened up for cash sales in another week, so won't be empty in any case.

They're just giving first dibs for FF redemptions in premium seats which is a nice thing of them, to be fair.

 

[Quickstatus]

It is still relatively young when it is retired. 19 yrs I think

 

[TheInsider]

Only about 20 J class seats left