Qantas G'Day USA Promotion

[VirginiaF]

I note an article in SMH today about the above promotion. It seems to be partly funded by NSW Govt (glad to know the coffers are not being wasted) and offers return fares ex LAX at USD798 (AUD859) and JFK at USD998 (AUD1074) as opposed to SYD originating return fare of AUD1432 SYD/LAX. Seems a little unreasonable that the same metal on the same sector is offered at such a discounted rate. Maybe I'm just young and naive. Any arbitrage opportunity?

 

[drewbles]

I note an article in SMH today about the above promotion. It seems to be partly funded by NSW Govt (glad to know the coffers are not being wasted) and offers return fares ex LAX at USD798 (AUD859) and JFK at USD998 (AUD1074) as opposed to SYD originating return fare of AUD1432 SYD/LAX. Seems a little unreasonable that the same metal on the same sector is offered at such a discounted rate. Maybe I'm just young and naive. Any arbitrage opportunity?

This is commonly done. It's usually always cheaper to fly LHR-SYD-LHR than it it to fly SYD-LHR-SYD.

Why? because they can, pretty much. Supply and demand. If they can put bums-on-seats for that price, why would they sell it cheaper? It sucks, yes, but it's what we have to deal with

 

[newformula]

Any arbitrage opportunities? One would be if you are flying to the USA twice during the promotional period - book two trips, one a SYD-US return, the other a USA-SYD return, and benefit from one cheaper return flight.

Trip 1
SYD - USA (regular ticket 1 outbound)
USA- SYD (cheap ticket 2)

Trip 2
SYD - USA (cheap ticket 2)
USA - SYD (regular ticket 1 inbound)

Worth it? Only if you actually want/need to go to the US twice.

 

[serfty]

It's the same with New Zealand, generally about 25% cheaper NZ-OZ-NZ (e.g. AKL-MEL-AKL) than OZ-NZ-OZ.

In November I purchased a return fares on AirNZ LAX-xAKL-MEL-xAKL-LAX for ~AUD950 each.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

I note an article in SMH today about the above promotion. It seems to be partly funded by NSW Govt (glad to know the coffers are not being wasted) and offers return fares ex LAX at USD798 (AUD859) and JFK at USD998 (AUD1074) as opposed to SYD originating return fare of AUD1432 SYD/LAX. Seems a little unreasonable that the same metal on the same sector is offered at such a discounted rate. Maybe I'm just young and naive. Any arbitrage opportunity?

I travel 4-5 times per year from BNE to LAX/USA. Have been buying US originating tickets for years, probably once a year I miss a deal, but I can save quite a bit of money playing the arbitrage fare game.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I'd never thought of this as an option - using the US website for a booking.
Can you use an Austrlian Credit card on the qf US site? I know many US sites that will not let you use a non US card.
I've got 2 more trips to the US this year, and this is a distinct possibilty to say some money. I'm looking at a trip in April, and another in June.

 

[Keith009]

Ticketed a SFO-LAX-SYD return in I for a mate with QF A380 both ways (book the AA sectors in A to get First SCs rather than the QF codeshares which book into I) - USD4875.10 all in. Bargain! Could've been had for USD300 less but the dates didn't suit.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

I'd never thought of this as an option - using the US website for a booking.
Can you use an Austrlian Credit card on the qf US site? I know many US sites that will not let you use a non US card.
I've got 2 more trips to the US this year, and this is a distinct possibilty to say some money. I'm looking at a trip in April, and another in June.

always use my ANZ Visa card on QF USA site....no issues

 

[Blackadder]

I'd never thought of this as an option - using the US website for a booking.
Can you use an Austrlian Credit card on the qf US site? I know many US sites that will not let you use a non US card.
I've got 2 more trips to the US this year, and this is a distinct possibilty to say some money. I'm looking at a trip in April, and another in June.

Not sure if it applies to QF, but using the AA website within the US and CC you need a US based billing address.