Qantas to Norfolk Island

[Mattg]

Where are you looking to see availability?

About the same time that QF was announced to pick up NLK, I was looking for award seats on NZ to use some SQ miles that were at risk of expiring (fortunately they’ve been extended) but I do recall seeing reasonable availability ex-SYD. I can’t recall where/how I saw that other than via UA because SQ doesn’t know “NLK” exists unless you call, and I wasn’t a member of NZ at the time.

I just looked at random dates in the future and UA has nothing at all ex-SYD. But maybe they’ll trickle through once it’s all confirmedIn one of my early posts in this thread I noted that QF award availability was patchy at first but was fully up after a few days.

I was looking on the United website. In my experience, if something is available on there, you can book it by calling SQ.

 

[henrus]

Where are you looking to see availability?

It's possible to search *A availability via United or Air Canada both of which don't need an account/sign in to search. United may come up with a login box but you can X out of it in the corner.

 

[SYD]

It's possible to search *A availability via United or Air Canada both of which don't need an account/sign in to search. United may come up with a login box but you can X out of it in the corner.

Yeah, I use UA (with Login). I was curious that @Mattg was seeing availability (albeit ex-BNE) and I was seeing nada ex-SYD.

Pretty sure there was availability prior to NZ being bumped.

I guess this is getting OT anyway.

 

[kpc]

Glad I used my Qf points to fly to NLK at Easter when I could. Having explored nearly every bit of this island over 7 days, I don't think I need to rush back to NLK anytime soon...previously I found it very difficult to find award seats on NZ to NLK.

 

[justinbrett]

It makes no sense - now they can operate with NZ based crew, they've elected to open a crew base in BNE; but back before the bubble, they didn't do that, they just didn't serve the contract.

I wonder if someone in the government told them "use it or lose it"

It would be nice if they included the AUS-NLK flights in the "it's definitely not an alliance" alliance so we could use QF points.

 

[henrus]

Odd question does anyone know if there is anything stopping Qantas from continuing to offer the Norfolk Island flights?

From what I understand the government underwrites freight costs and locks in fuel prices for the chosen carrier but does this stop new entrants to the market?

 

[DC3]

… From what I understand the government underwrites freight costs and locks in fuel prices for the chosen carrier but does this stop new entrants to the market?

…. Rex?

 

[SYD]

Odd question does anyone know if there is anything stopping Qantas from continuing to offer the Norfolk Island flights?

From what I understand the government underwrites freight costs and locks in fuel prices for the chosen carrier but does this stop new entrants to the market?

A former insider friend mentioned that some Gov supported routes have “exclusivity” built into the deal. That would be an obvious hurdle, but as I mentioned a while back, I heard QF flight crew to NLK talking about “commercially viable” being the decision point to continue. That suggests that there is the option. If the demand stays, I wouldn’t be surprised if JQ makes an appearance.

 

[henrus]

A former insider friend mentioned that some Gov supported routes have “exclusivity” built into the deal.

I think the Norfolk route is ok given "Norfolk Island Airlines" operated from BNE-NLK using Air Nauru 737's as recently as 2018.

Short term whilst international borders remain closed the demand will remain so it just remains to be seen what happens.

 

[Bindibuys]

Booked last night for long weekend at Norfolk using QF points in J for the 3 flights.
Syd-Bne-Nlk-Syd.
On the last fight back on 29 Aug.
$574 out of wallet for $6160 value.

 

[jakeseven7]

What a bummer NZ is returning to the route!
Can’t QF continue anyway, give them some competition...?

 

[henrus]

What a bummer NZ is returning to the route!

NZ holds the contract to the route, QF temporarily took over. The AU gov contract is for subsidised freight and locked in fuel prices, the contract comes with the AusPost freight plus other essential stuff.

QF could continue but that's their financial decision to do so, they'd likely not be carrying any freight in the process. It might not be a 737 route but a twice-weekly E190/F100 from QQ could probably work.

 

[lastrow]

I read very recently that air NZ will fly to Norfolk Island out of BNE but QF will continue to fly out of SYD

 

[henrus]

I read very recently that air NZ will fly to Norfolk Island out of BNE but QF will continue to fly out of SYD

Air NZ sent out an email this morning suggesting otherwise:



As to QF continuing from SYD, that's a commercial decision for them and one that I don't believe has been made public yet.

 

[CMA222]

I read very recently that air NZ will fly to Norfolk Island out of BNE but QF will continue to fly out of SYD

The AIrNZ press release shows flights to and from SYD and BNE.

Flight number	Departure airport	Arrival airport	Departure time	Arrival time	Day of week
NZ914	Brisbane	Norfolk Island	10.15am	1.30pm	Monday, Thursday, Saturday
NZ915	Norfolk Island	Brisbane	2.40pm	4.05pm	Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
NZ912	Sydney	Norfolk Island	9.55am	1.35pm	Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
NZ913	Norfolk Island	Sydney	4.30pm	4.30pm	Monday, Thursday, Saturday

 

[samh004]

Based on the article yesterday I had intended to book some redemptions and fly via SYD for the F lounge. Then SYD started to have issue and having recently lost a trip to Melbourne (should be on the plane now) I figured I might as well just fly direct. Then Qantas seemingly launched a sale? So now I've used my remaining AMEX vouchers for J both ways! Guess I should read back through this thread to see where I should stay and what I should do while there for 2 nights.

Booked last night for long weekend at Norfolk using QF points in J for the 3 flights.
Syd-Bne-Nlk-Syd.
On the last fight back on 29 Aug.

Looks like we'll be there on the same weekend. I'm flying over on the 26th but back on the 28th as no real need to route via SYD on the way home.

 

[Bindibuys]

Sam, on 26th we are at South Pacific Resort, 27 & 28 at Channers on Norfolk (wanted the 3 nights with them, but already booked ~ they provide a car for free to get around the island)
drRon I am sure has a trip report on Norfolk.

 

[Bindibuys]

We must be on same flight out of BNE on 26th QF 183, both of us in J.
We are on flight from SYD first, arriving domestic at around 8am

 

[SYD]

QF is now offering 40% discount on award flights through to 29 August.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/member-offers/classic-flight-rewards-norfolk-island-june21.html

 

[henrus]

From Brisbane, this means a return trip is 14,400 points and $246 taxes in Economy or 33,000 points in Business (not bad!).

An interesting thing was that the domestic Australian flights are also discounted, the best value is from Perth in Business class where PER-BNE-NLK-BNE-PER is 68,400 points and $288 taxes. Cash fares are about $3395 for this round trip meaning a value of over 4c per point.