Time for a Qantas sale? Another DSC offer?

[BD1959]

And as we all know, live & breathe by the adage "why fly direct when you can connect", tending to changes happening at/to stopovers enroute is going to an issue.

I'm thinking very deeply to make a booking for Mar'22 involving at least 9 flights between CBR & MAA over 30 hours of flying ... should I do it or skip the transits and book direct? #Confusions!

I'm leaning towards making the multi-city hop/transit, but wondering what happens if I get stuck in ADL or CMB ...

I don't think transits will be the issue - usually there's no need to check-in once you've kicked-off from the first sector (this was my experience earlier this year flying MEL-SIN-LHR and then LHR-SIN-BNE).

I'm currently looking at MEL-HND-HEL-MAN (there's currently some decent J fares available) and was thinking of overnighting in HEL having always transited but wanting to experience the city. This would mean having to present a PCR prior to leaving both MEL and HEL - restricting my test and time in HEL to either being reliant on a test just before check-in at MEL or having to source/submit to an additional test prior to flying from HEL, updates to the UK Passenger Locator Form etc etc etc.

Frankly, travelling is becoming more of a chore and less of an enjoyment; trivial in the scheme of the numbers of serious casualties but enough to make me question my wanderlust.

Regards,

BD

 

[Ade]

and then having to find availability in a similar fare class at very short notice ....

I think I had this issue pre-CoVID too. Anytime I made a change to a intl booking, the class that I had selected is not available - so a fare difference & a change fee applied. I usually book Saver fares (gives me sufficient SC to retain WP without over shooting my budget). Anytime I made a change, I had to purchase a Flex fare at the time of change as the Saver fares are all sold now.

I don't think this will ever change CoVID or otherwise. This is one way the airline can make more $

 

[Ade]

I don't think transits will be the issue

Fingers crossed. I have a lot of transits.

So far the trip looks like CBR-SYD-ADL-MEL-BNE-SIN-CMB-MAA-CMB-SIN-BNE-MEL-ADL-SYD-CBR. Heavily reliant on QLD borders changes for the MEL-BNE-SIN (return) segment. Let's see. This is netting me 320 SC for $2100 (actual cost $2500-ish, minus $450 back from AMEX).

In the spirit of the thread, now if only a DSC was announced before I can book this trip (Or, booking this trip as FLEX, happy to cancel & re-book if QF can do a DSC early Feb'22)

 

[BD1959]

I think I had this issue pre-CoVID too.

I don't think this will ever change CoVID or otherwise. This is one way the airline can make more $

Yes, I've also hit this previously - from memory on a J Sale fare with MH. Usually not an issue because everything is within the control of the passenger (ie not planning to change your return flight unless your purposely book a flexible fare) however with COVID - and especially when vaccinated - asymptomatic infection could easily change plans at very short notice and totally outside of my control.

Regards,

BD

 

[RichardMEL]

My two cents on the availability of reward seats as indication of demand...

I don't think anything can be taken from the availability or lack thereof as any kind of indication of forward bookings or if more would be opened up or what.

In my view with the reasonably flexible nature currently of reward bookings, the "I'll book it while it's there" crowd will have snapped them up - with no penalty to change or cancel then it's a no brainer in a way to book a flight for many while the seat is going - the only cost being the cost of points and $$$ in charges, but if they will be refunded if the flight is not taken then it's a temporary cost.

On the other hand, an airline would still limit reward availability even if demand is not as high as forecast. Why? Because there'd be a hope (or assumption) that things would pick up and they can get revenue bookings still. For example, let's say we're looking at flights to LAX in July 2022. Normally a peak time for demand. Right now there may be hesitation due to the covid requirements, test cost, insurance etc... but what if, these requirements change in say April next year - for example test requirements are dropped. Guaranteed surge in demand will follow I am certain. So if you're an airline you want to still have those seats available to sell - at a premium no doubt - rather than make available for rewards. If this surge in demand does not happen, they could always release more seats as flight time approaches and hope for some take up but in the medium term I am certain the airlines are absolutely banking on the uncertainty and hassle of things like insurance and tests being reduced and changed and then people will feel much more certain to go.

so basically I reckon the current allocation policy is probably staying more or less as is and probably does not reflect demand - at least in the medium term.

 

[AIRwin]

Together Once More sale on now for both domestic and international including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/bne/all/economy/together-once-more-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Asale-christmas%3Aen%3Aflights

 

[AIRwin]

QF has just published a "strictly limited" sale ex-BNE to NAN:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals/flights-from-brisbane-to-nadi.html/bne/nan/economy?int_cam=au:en:flight-deals:flight-deals:en:flights

 

[AIRwin]

Together Once More sale on now for both domestic and international including business class:

Now that people are Together Once More, it's time for an international Fly Away sale including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/any/all/economy/fly-away-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Afas-international%3Aen%3Aflights

 

[Lynda2475]

J fares to NAN some NZ destinations look to be good value, certainly cheaper than any of the domestic J offerings. But Im wary of booking anything NZ since they seem to have no plan to open up.

 

[AIRwin]

Now that people are Together Once More, it's time for an international Fly Away sale including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/any/all/economy/fly-away-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Afas-international%3Aen%3Aflights

Asia Fly Away sale including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/any/as/economy/asia-fly-away-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Afas-asia%3Aen%3Aflights

 

[Mox_Fulder]

Asia Fly Away sale including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/any/as/economy/asia-fly-away-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Afas-asia%3Aen%3Aflights

Nice...now just spring us the DSC promo we are all awaiting for

 

[jrfsp]

Asia Fly Away sale including business class:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals.html/any/as/economy/asia-fly-away-sale/lowest?int_cam=au%3Aen%3Ahomepage-promotion%3Afas-asia%3Aen%3Aflights

Those Asian fares are definitely higher than pre covid sale fares.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Those Asian fares are definitely higher than pre covid sale fares.

$3269 to bangkok is not a bad fare on Qantas. Combine it with LX F to get round-trip AU-Europe for around $8500. Which is not a terrible fare.

 

[AIRwin]

Those Asian fares are definitely higher than pre covid sale fares.

SQ is cheaper

 

[pippen_2k]

I'm hoping for a USA Sale sometime soon. Last time I went was in Nov 2019. Canberra - Salt lake City return cost be $1300. I want to get to Denver in early July and that is now around $2500 return

 

[mviy]

Hoping there will be a DSC offer in the next month or two. It seems bookings are strong for when I want to travel though, so the DSC promo if there is one coinciding with a good sale may be wishful thinking.

 

[RSD]

Hanging for a DSC offer too as have to IAH for a two day meeting at the end of June - which strikes me as being a dumb time to have to go to Houston - hot and humid as all hell! Will have to look at SC earn to decide whether it will be MEL-LAX-IAH or MEL-SYD-DFW-IAH - whatever it is it will be on an A380 - not going to try one of the horrible Y seats on the 787 again - just awful!

 

[NSun]

Likewise hanging for a DSC because I'm hoping to go to the USA this northern summer but if there's a sale before then (especially if it includes QF7/8) I'll take that.

 

[RSD]

Likewise hanging for a DSC because I'm hoping to go to the USA this northern summer but if there's a sale before then (especially if it includes QF7/8) I'll take that.

Some sale fares were showing when I took a glance on the QF website at MEL-IAH last night

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Hoping there will be a DSC offer in the next month or two. It seems bookings are strong for when I want to travel though, so the DSC promo if there is one coinciding with a good sale may be wishful thinking.

Hanging for a DSC offer too as have to IAH for a two day meeting at the end of June - which strikes me as being a dumb time to have to go to Houston - hot and humid as all hell! Will have to look at SC earn to decide whether it will be MEL-LAX-IAH or MEL-SYD-DFW-IAH - whatever it is it will be on an A380 - not going to try one of the horrible Y seats on the 787 again - just awful!

Likewise hanging for a DSC because I'm hoping to go to the USA this northern summer but if there's a sale before then (especially if it includes QF7/8) I'll take that.

In fairness though, are DSC promotions a moot point right now? I mean QF has now stated all you need to do is take a single QF flight before your membership year end and you'll get your status extended by a further 12 months. I suppose a benefit of DSC might be towards lifetime status but that's a longer term concern I would say.

-RooFlyer88