QF to return to OOL [$48 SYD fares until 3pm Wed 15Aug12 ($88 MEL)]

[Berlin]

So happy for Qantas to fly to OOL again! Just booked four trips altogether and am badly tempted to add another one or two at this price!

Now just waiting for my workplace to start conferencing in Surfer's again

 

[anat0l]

I saw this thread earlier but totally ignored it as a speculative thread based on the title.

I know I work in Brisbane but i am prepared to spend ~2 hours to get to OOL on Friday afternoons (train/bus fare would cost nothing) to return to SYD with that sort of airfare. It will be interesting to see where the non-sale airfare will settle.

Some serious money to be saved. Decisions, decisions.

If you do this, you may have to work a short day or call in really early on the Friday. The last flight OOL-SYD on QF on Friday leaves 1740h (possibly 1 hr later when DST is not active).


Another thought: is OOL part of the CityFlyer system? If not, doesn't that mean that all flights will only be refreshments, there are no newspapers and at all times there will be no free booze (in Y)? If so, that's going to be an epic fail....... (I could be wrong - I thought the latter points were only features of CityFlyer IIRC the ads of yore).

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AustFreqFly

 

[pauly7]

Just got off the phone to QF (changing another flight) and when the girl answered she sounded quite out of breath.

I joked and asked if she had just run a marathon and she laughed and said they had been completely swamped by people ringing up and booking the new Gold Coast service (Clearly some people still use telephone sales!!). Said it had been selling like hot cakes.

Said the route was a little bit of a surprise to many of the staff when they found out - had been rumored for ages but they were all very happy and pumped.

She said that they have been told that QF are testing the water with Syd as a concrete service they will hold and 'make work' but looking to see if it performs to see if OOL may support other routes...

Anyway a nice little piece of staff gossip to fuel everyone's hopes

 

[JessicaTam]

Well I am booked on QF860 and 861 ex MEL on the 28th.

Happy to guest into whatever passes for a lounge in OOL.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Despite what may think of the decision to withdraw from OOL a few years ago. Credit where credit is due, nice to see QF expand for once.

This gives a glimmer of hope that where market/economic conditions and fleet availability warrant a return to a cancelled route QF would seize the chance. Think PER-NRT or SFO...

On another note I'm a bit shocked how the website would not of been reviewed and user-tested before launch. This is part of my line of work and it's not that hard to do. And it's not the first time that website has had clear glitches outdated info AF launch of a product or service.

 

[awilcockson]

Score. Needed a return flight to Sydney for my family of 4. Ended up costing me $14 after using my $400 customer care voucher

 

[samh004]

Nah. You'll need it sometimes at OOL - there's no aerobridges

If it rains, planes don't land or leave... So the umbrella might be needed if you're stood out there for a while

Got some MEL-SYD-MEL trips to book for November and December, thinking I might take advantage of the $88 MEL-xSYD-OOL fares and just not fly the last leg as it works out cheaper than just MEL-SYD, would this have any ill effects if I was to be ticketed on SYD-OOL but not fly it?

If you miss a flight the rest of the trip is usually cancelled, so if you're going to do this, book only one-ways and use BPAY. Other than that, would work.

Well I am booked on QF860 and 861 ex MEL on the 28th.

Happy to guest into whatever passes for a lounge in OOL.

Change the return and spend some time at the AFF6 event BBQ at Royal Pines with a bunch of other members!

Score. Needed a return flight to Sydney for my family of 4. Ended up costing me $14 after using my $400 customer care voucher

Well done!

Predictably, I can't make use of any fares.


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[TheInsider]

Qantas is telling staff there will be a special staff travel fare. No more details until friday though!

 

[moa999]

On another note I'm a bit shocked how the website would not of been reviewed and user-tested before launch. This is part of my line of work and it's not that hard to do. And it's not the first time that website has had clear glitches outdated info AF launch of a product or service.

Agree with that but also pleasantly surprised on how quickly they fixed the problem, and indeed per RedRoo's post, admitted it existed..

 

[samh004]

Agree with that but also pleasantly surprised on how quickly they fixed the problem, and indeed per RedRoo's post, admitted it existed..

I just assumed it was a hush hush announcement and they chose not to tell that department. After all, they did fix the issue quickly. No biggie.


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[JohnK]

If you do this, you may have to work a short day or call in really early on the Friday. The last flight OOL-SYD on QF on Friday leaves 1740h (possibly 1 hr later when DST is not active).

My Fridays are flexible and I can go to work at 10:00am and leave at 11:00am as long as I turn up to work and give a day or 2 notice . e.g no flexi days

These flights are dirt cheap and while I want to book some I am not sure I will

a) endure the ~2 hour commute from Gold Coast to Brisbane
b) worried about weather at OOL and how the airport shuts down even for light drizzles
c) my parents will think I am nuts (actually they already think I am nuts but will now be convinced I am certifiable)

I am not too worried about not having a meal service or complimentary alcohol.

 

[kpc]

Just booked my +1 Syd-Ool return in Jan 2013 for $96.01. Not sure why the additional $0.01 but anyway...

Of course, with DJ matching the sale, the return is only $78 on DJ....

 

[JessicaTam]

Change the return and spend some time at the AFF6 event BBQ at Royal Pines with a bunch of other members!

A good idea but I will need to get back.

 

[anat0l]

These flights are dirt cheap and while I want to book some I am not sure I will

a) endure the ~2 hour commute from Gold Coast to Brisbane
b) worried about weather at OOL and how the airport shuts down even for light drizzles
c) my parents will think I am nuts (actually they already think I am nuts but will now be convinced I am certifiable)

I am not too worried about not having a meal service or complimentary alcohol.

I'm personally a bit concerned about the Brisbane to OOL airport transit myself. Actually, it's only that last bus transport from the relevant Gold Coast line station (can't remember which one, probably Nerang) to the airport. It's the Gold Coast traffic that'd scare me. That all said, if you go with plenty of time and outside rush hour, should be an easy ride.

Enduring the ~2 hour ride - should be easy. Enough time to relax, read the paper, get a light nap (especially if Quiet Carriages are included on Gold Coast line trains).

Unless your parents don't know, given all the trips you have to Asia and how you get to Asia and how you travel around Asia, this scheme you have doesn't even register a blip on the "nuts" scale.

If it rains, planes don't land or leave... So the umbrella might be needed if you're stood out there for a while

WTH??? Where are we, Queenstown in the dead of winter? Some third world country airport?? What's the deal with this?

How do Gold Coast residents expect to be able to travel seriously (especially for business) if their airport isn't up to serious standard?

Change the return and spend some time at the AFF6 event BBQ at Royal Pines with a bunch of other members!

I'm thinking of going to this BBQ (but not the other events of AFF #6 - does this mean I still need to register?).

If that happens, I'll be teetotalling due to driving responsibilities. On the other hand, this means I may be able to drive some people from OOL to Royal Pines.

 

[JohnK]

I'm personally a bit concerned about the Brisbane to OOL airport transit myself. Actually, it's only that last bus transport from the relevant Gold Coast line station (can't remember which one, probably Nerang) to the airport. It's the Gold Coast traffic that'd scare me. That all said, if you go with plenty of time and outside rush hour, should be an easy ride.

Enduring the ~2 hour ride - should be easy. Enough time to relax, read the paper, get a light nap (especially if Quiet Carriages are included on Gold Coast line trains).

I have been studying this one. Worst case scenario is to plan to get there ~2h early and if misses a connection or some delays it should still be possible to get there ~1h 30m early. On the way just make sure I can get into OOL ~6:00pm-7:00pm which should mean I am in apartment ~9:00pm-10:00pm which is reasonable.

The selling point of the whole exercise is assuming cheapest return BNE-SYD right is ~$200 then the VA option is ~$87 return - 10% Virgin Mobile credit and the QF option is ~$96. Both of these are a significant saving going directly to/from BNE. After 8 returns it is $800+ saving.

Unless your parents don't know, given all the trips you have to Asia and how you get to Asia and how you travel around Asia, this scheme you have doesn't even register a blip on the "nuts" scale.

They know because I tell them.

Dad knows because I took him on a Oneworld award in 2009 around the world to get to Greece. Even though he was tired and would not normally do it himself he was excited when he was recounting the trip to all relatives and friends and in Greece.

 

[anat0l]

Just a note for those feeling trigger happy on flying QF to fly in and out of Australia - the current 3 flights per day cater pretty lousily for same day international connections for a handful of QF international flights. SYD-JNB, SYD-SCL (both LA and QF) and QF107 come to mind. Also, if you're planning to do SYD-PER on the QF 744, you'll also have no same day connections for this.

The lack of a SYD-OOL late at night means that people flying returning to OOL from New Zealand via QF metal only will have to resort to leaving New Zealand early in the day rather than nearer to the end of the day.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Also can't leave on the last QF flight from OOL to connect to PER.

Edit: Well QF got 4 pax return to OOL from PER courtesy of this reintroduction - and I hasten to add it was not even on the horizon until this was announced, so hopefully there are more people like us out there.

QF still has a hold on some people in a big way - mate wanted to fly QF for $105 more because of the food...even my long explanation of the IFE on C2C DJ did not tempt him.

 

[pauly7]

I have a lot of mining buddies on the GC who FIFO over to WA who are cheering this news and actually this will be an automatic pick up for QF as well.... (I know some people will groan at the thought though)

 

[Ansett]

Whilst I agree it is good to see QF back into OOL it is disapointing no direct flights from Melbourne.

 

[Simo]

Whilst I agree it is good to see QF back into OOL it is disapointing no direct flights from Melbourne.

Yet,

IMHO they will add Melbourne once they see some figures on people that are flying OOL-SYD-MEL return.

J* and also VA do MEL direct so it will happen.

Back in Ansett days they use to have direct flights to Dubbo and other Regional NSW areas.

QF are just testing the water in the new market they have just re entered.