Qantas out - Jetstar in on Trans-tasman

[Altair]

I thought you were flying SYD-AKL and AKL-SYD? That would be the last route to suffer jetstarisation given the business traffic and competition.

If this is the case the QF flights are operated by Australian mainline? Jetconnect only operate the 737s and cabin crew the 747s out of AKL?
If QF do Jetstarise the Tasman I think it will be the routes to BNE (due to DJ) and half the MEL & SYD ones. It will be a shame as QF do have a better product and that is why I choose them most of the time over NZ. If it is either JQ or NZ I would take NZ unless there is a major $200 each way fully flexible, difference.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Jetconnect isnt the issue, and anyway they are rather short on a/c at the moment. So much so that I refuse to fly them for business currently given the disruptions (which work has agreed now more important than BFOD policy).

 

[Altair]

Jetconnect isnt the issue, and anyway they are rather short on a/c at the moment. So much so that I refuse to fly them for business currently given the disruptions (which work has agreed now more important than BFOD policy).

I sometimes have the same issue. Meeting in AKL this Friday that was due to finish at 5. QF flight at 5:30 or 8:30, not really helpful for us but we need to take it, leaving at 6:30 is going to make it a long day. NZ has them every 30 minutes.
When I go to CHC there is one flight in the morning at 8:30 very civilised but the return is only at 6:00. Lucky for me I can access the CHC office and do some work there and then go to the QP at CHC which is quite nice and quite. I also always got the J seats on the 737-300 return but I do not think they have that plane now.
QF domestic is really hamstrung by lack of destinations and frequency but I like their service better than NZ, except the KC which are better. I have yet to go to the new CHC KC. I wonder if QF had kept their codeshare with Origin that things would be better and Origin would still be flying.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For me it isnt so much the schedule (it isnt too bad between AKL and WLG for example) but the lack of reliability.

With NZ flights are rarely late unless an airport is closed, and any small delays early in the day get recovered quickly. With QF flights seem to be late often, and the schedule/utilisation is so tight that any small delays compound and they don't seem to have a chance to get back on schedule.

BTW QF does still have some 733 a/c with old business seats sold as Y (as well as a couple of 734 with convertible business seats). Regos (for the good ones) are 733 ZK-JND, JNG, JNN and 734 JTP, JTQ.

 

[JohnK]

You never know with my luck and the aggressive push of the Jetstar product!

And yes I am flying SYD-AKL-WLG-CHC and returning AKL-SYD on LA.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Ouch LA AKL-SYD leaves at 0545 in summer! Needless to say, not my favourite flight.

 

[Tooner]

Ouch LA AKL-SYD leaves at 0545 in summer! Needless to say, not my favourite flight.

Only slightly earlier than QF out of WLG @ 6 am

 

[JohnK]

The choice was really easy.

LA business class AKL-SYD 5:45am at $360 for 80 SC's.
QF cattle class AKL-SYD 9:00am at $320 for 20 SC's.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Only slightly earlier than QF out of WLG @ 6 am

The difference being it only takes 10 minutes to get to WLG airport at that time of day and not many flights out so no need to turn up especially early. I used to leave my place at 5am for the early flight out.

AKL, otoh takes 30 minutes at that time of day, more if there are roadworks en route. And with so many early flights you need to turn up early (premium check in isnt open yet). To make LA flight I have to leave by 3:30am.

 

[Altair]

The difference being it only takes 10 minutes to get to WLG airport at that time of day and not many flights out so no need to turn up especially early. I used to leave my place at 5am for the early flight out.

Yep WLG is 8 minutes for me and taxis at that time off day arrive within 2 minutes for calling .
But I leave home around 4:15 so I can take full advantage of the QP, I fly a fraction of KF .
Oh JohnK LA BC for that price is that a special fare as that could mean I do SC runs and try to go for gold, I will be short 100 SC as I have just booked Thai J for the honeymoon trip instead of a DONE4. Oh well the soontobe is now warming to the idea of visiting Muscat thanks to KF's recent ATW trip so the first anniverary couls either be a Circle Pacific with travel in the US or a DONE4:mrgreen:

 

[Tooner]

AKL, otoh takes 30 minutes at that time of day, more if there are roadworks en route. And with so many early flights you need to turn up early (premium check in isnt open yet). To make LA flight I have to leave by 3:30am.

Agreed, AKL is a shocker to get to/from - especially with the traffic out of the city and no direct route. Point taken, I can't complain about WLG!

 

[JohnK]

Oh JohnK LA BC for that price is that a special fare as that could mean I do SC runs and try to go for gold, I will be short 100 SC as I have just booked Thai J for the honeymoon trip instead of a DONE4.

That fare is from the LA website ~US$270 one-way. When purchasing one-way or return with SYD as point of origin it is slightly more expensive than purchasing one-way or return with AKL as point of origin. I think it is either an I or D class fare.

 

[Altair]

That fare is from the LA website ~US$270 one-way. When purchasing one-way or return with SYD as point of origin it is slightly more expensive than purchasing one-way or return with AKL as point of origin. I think it is either an I or D class fare.

Thanks JohnK.
It is interesting that I tried a booking AKL-SYD on 16 Feb there is I class available but when doing a booking the ticket says Business - D? Return where I is not available gives Business - D at the same fare $274 USD. I wonder if you can actually get an I fare? QF current I fare special runs out when I need to travel but it is still more expensive than me flying to WLG-AKL-SYD.
Oh has anyone done a SC run eg. AKL-SYD-AKL on the same day on these LAN flights? Can you get the boarding passes in AKL and go through the transit point in SYD without clearing immigration and customs?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Oh has anyone done a SC run eg. AKL-SYD-AKL on the same day on these LAN flights? Can you get the boarding passes in AKL and go through the transit point in SYD without clearing immigration and customs?

I haven't done this with LA but no reason why you couldn't. SYD-AKL-SYD however requires an overnight in AKL.

 

[Altair]

I haven't done this with LA but no reason why you couldn't. SYD-AKL-SYD however requires an overnight in AKL.

And WLG-AKL-SYD-AKL-WLG also involves an overnight in AKL for me. Anyway I do not think I could do this for a while but I feel so close to SG that I am looking at realistic options. Climb a tier each year, am I sick or is it pure co-incidence that I started feeling this way after I joined FT & AFF? Of course disappearing for a night and day could require some explaining the the SO.

 

[JohnK]

Climb a tier each year, am I sick or is it pure co-incidence that I started feeling this way after I joined FT & AFF?

Sheer jealousy of all those around you with higher status and more dollars than sense.

 

[Altair]

Sheer jealousy of all those around you with higher status and more dollars than sense.

Yes you are right.
I even started a savings account where the increased rate I charge goes to fund my travels. This kept the SO happy, well about the financials as I showed that we can pay for the wedding and honeymoon and we can still travel, (SO has access to NZ staff travel so she flies NZ)....Oh I have even booked the longhauls on TG in J and have not told her, a pleasant surprise I hope, if she asks it was due to points upgrade.
My travels between WLG-SYD were curtailed this year so we could save up the the wedding however if I had been on this site two years ago I would have been SG now and not spent any extra as I was regularly doing SYD-WLG while I was living in SYD.