SYD-SCL why are the fares SO high?

[L.Sinc]

Does anyone understand why the SYD SCL fares on QF are so high? They seem more expensive than any other route per mile. Is there a reason for this? Am I missing something?

 

[simongr]

The basic answer is because they can...

You might find though that it isn't the highest price per mile - try SYD-HNL in a beaten up 763 - A$5,847 in J for 5082 miles compared to SCL for A$5,187 for 7053 miles... (random dates in the year picked.

 

[UP4014]

Airlines charge what the market will bear.

Matt

 

[Alanslegal]

FWIW around 5 months ago SYD-SCL were on "sale" where the return Y fare was a bit under $1,200 inclusive of all taxes - for most dates in 2012. Then around 3-4 months ago, it went to $1,400 inclusive for most dates, and then since this year, prices are now $2,400 or so. I have been constantly looking at these fares as a friend of mine wants to travel to SCL but missed out on the sales (due to indecisiveness) and now is stuck with these $2,400 fares. If you have the points, maybe try a classic award or even a ASA as they are now good value given cash fares are quite high (imo). I'm booked on one of these flights as part of a OneWorld Award.

 

[eastwest101]

Well beat this - Mount Isa to Brisbane A$1200 one-way in J for 974 miles..... Thats SYD-HNL territory!

 

[knasty]

My solution was 100,000 AA miles redeemed for business class return. Works out about $2.5k inc flight taxes if you buy the AA miles during a bonus promo.

 

[medhead]

$443 full flexi Y ADL-OLP 323 miles. $1335 for 974 miles in Y.


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[eastwest101]

Pretty spectacular medhead! What was the $1334 for?

 

[Canny man]

LAN also charge a fortune for the Oz-Chile route via Auckland. I was $12k for a J return last week. The cabin seemed full of mining industry types and conference attendees so maybe the market can bear it.

I had hoped that QF/LAN competition would briing down fares though.

 

[Mal]

I quoted a ripper deal syd to lima the other day on flightfox. Sub $2k us return in econ. Creative routing can solve many issues with pricing.

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[juddles]

QF/LAN competition.....

LOL! This is exactly why the fares are so high. LAN and QF are best buddies, and effectively there is no competition on the Sth America/Australia route. They have hd thsi sown up for decades. Aerolineas Argentinas are cheaper but I would never fly them. I do a stack of flights each year across this area, but it is so much better (usually) to go via LAX and then down.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Well beat this - Mount Isa to Brisbane A$1200 one-way in J for 974 miles..... Thats SYD-HNL territory!

KTA-PER, J, $1169 for 775miles.

(or, via Darwin-Sydney-Perth for $5546)

 

[Greggsy]

KTA-PER, J, $1169 for 775miles.

(or, via Darwin-Sydney-Perth for $5546)

BNE - MOV (Moranbah) $750 one way full flexi for 468 miles....... on a Dash 8.


Greg.

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[Oneworldplus2]

BNE - MOV (Moranbah) $750 one way full flexi for 468 miles....... on a Dash 8.

LOL.

Oneworldplus2

 

[L.Sinc]

LOL! This is exactly why the fares are so high. LAN and QF are best buddies, and effectively there is no competition on the Sth America/Australia route. They have hd thsi sown up for decades. Aerolineas Argentinas are cheaper but I would never fly them. I do a stack of flights each year across this area, but it is so much better (usually) to go via LAX and then down.

Hey, what makes going via LAX better? It's even more expensive right? Or do you mean better SC/points mileage?

Does anyone know if this route ever goes on sale and if there is a pattern to this? Friends of mine flew QF/LAN last year for $1800 SYD BUE.

 

[Canny man]

One of my guys has to go to SCL early April. Availability is really tight, so the pricing isn't hurting capacity. Suggests they know what the market can bear.

 

[medhead]

Pretty spectacular medhead! What was the $1334 for?

That's just multiplying the per mile cost of ADL-OLP to the same distance as BNE- Isa.


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[juddles]

One of my guys has to go to SCL early April. Availability is really tight, so the pricing isn't hurting capacity. Suggests they know what the market can bear.

Canny man, that´s what I mean about the cosy little arrangement between LAN and QF. They enjoy very healthy load factors. I was actually very surprised that QF is now (within days?) flying direct into SCL. That has to hurt LAN a bit, as their J seats in their A340s dont do it for me as much as the QF product. And you get to fly over NZ without stopping, a bonus not to be sneezed at! But I guess much of the QF pax will feed straight into the LAN network once there.

Hey, what makes going via LAX better? It's even more expensive right? Or do you mean better SC/points mileage?

Does anyone know if this route ever goes on sale and if there is a pattern to this? Friends of mine flew QF/LAN last year for $1800 SYD BUE.

I am normally heading to northern Sth America, so flight time is pretty much the same via the USA, with better connections. Costwise they are similar. Flying LAX-MIA then down in American Airlines in their domestic ¨First¨ (LOL) class does bring a zillion status credits on a QFF account, but that is not a big issue for me. As for specials on the southern routes, I have not seen a pattern. Last time I came that way was on a very good J companion fare. If you just need to get to SCL or EZE, there really isnt much you can do. If you like travelling or are on a holiday or something, have a look at the Round The World specials.

 

[adrian]

LOL! This is exactly why the fares are so high. LAN and QF are best buddies, and effectively there is no competition on the Sth America/Australia route. They have hd thsi sown up for decades. Aerolineas Argentinas are cheaper but I would never fly them. I do a stack of flights each year across this area, but it is so much better (usually) to go via LAX and then down.

OMG. Aerolineas.... A couple of years back I flew them enough to get platinum status with them. What a coughpy airline. Always late. Worst IFE ever.Horrible lounge. But maybe a half or a third the cost of LA or QF, so I didn't have much of a choice. Interestingly, when you made platinum with them, they would give you a half-price voucher for a partner fare, so it became even cheaper to fly them.

 

[Canny man]

Canny man, that´s what I mean about the cosy little arrangement between LAN and QF. They enjoy very healthy load factors. I was actually very surprised that QF is now (within days?) flying direct into SCL. That has to hurt LAN a bit, as their J seats in their A340s dont do it for me as much as the QF product. And you get to fly over NZ without stopping, a bonus not to be sneezed at! But I guess much of the QF pax will feed straight into the LAN network once there.

I get what you say. I had a knieve hope that the additional capacity brought by the direct QF flight would have had a downward impact on prices. Maybe it will in time.

I actively manage our travel to avoid the route if at all possible. As my bsuiness is also in South Africa it is cheaper for me to send someone to Joburg first , then to SCL and back than just going to Chile.