QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1804 posts, RR: 2 Posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1172 times:
I'm planning a trip to Sydney this August 1-14 on Qantas out of LAX and the ticket prices, so far, are in the $1300 range. Why would ticket prices be so high for winter down there and where/when could I find cheaper airfare?
Thanks!
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
Airplanetire From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1809 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1137 times:
I don't know if you'll find anything much cheaper. I've looked a lot at airfares to Australia from LAX, and that's lower than anything I've ever seen. I haven't been there before (wish I had!), but I have checked airfare out of curiosity. Remember, it's a 14.5 hour flight going there and something like a 13.5 hour coming back. That's a long time to fly, so that means more fuel, and more crew. That all equals more money to operate, so a more expensive ticket. It would be great if you can get lower and just because I haven't seen it lower doesn't mean it won't happen. Good luck!
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1804 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1108 times:
Air New Zealand is having a special for $799 now, and I don't know what to do since I've always wanted to fly Qantas! What do you think? Qantas or ANZ?!?!
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
Setjet From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 1088 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1098 times:
Airplanetire:
The cost of a ticket has NOTHING to do with the length of the flight and the actual costs of the flight.
The main factor is competition, which is usually stronger in the East-West direction than in the North-South. This explains why you usually always pay more for a sih hour flight "London-Lagos" than for the flight "London-New York".
To Australia you have relatively little traffic in Business and First Class, so Economy has to pay the price. This is the reason why Lufthansa pulled out of Australia a couple of years ago after trying to serve it with a Condor 747-400 with all Economy (!) for a short time...
Airplanetire From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1809 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1080 times:
You make a lot more sense than I did Setjet. Wouldn't you need at least a little more for a 14 hour flight to cover extra fuel, food, and crew? Sorry about my post. It was more based on my reasoning (which was proved wrong) than on actual fact, when it comes to why the price was high. Thanks for getting the right thing posted.
Zeus01 From United States of America, joined May 2001, 744 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1077 times:
Anyone know why KLM and NW pulled out a few years ago? I know KL flew there in 2000, but since then is gone, and NW pulled out years ago (1995) I think. They had a HNL-SYD 747 flight.
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1068 times:
QANTAS 747-438 - QF only has PTVs on 2 of their 744s, so the chances of getting one aren't great anyway.
NZ doesn't have PTVs, but what they do have is a clear service advantage over QF, much more comfortable seats and 2 inches more space per seat, and excellent food.
799 sounds like a bargain for an Air NZ flight. And if you fly with them, I can guarantee you a good seat if you email me
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 21 Reply 11, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1036 times:
It may be winter in the south, but it's warm weather from Brisbane north. Also, you will find that First and Business class tickets are always difficult, and there is more availability in Y. Yes it's a long flight, and most of them are all-night marathons, but QF does have a daylight flight. On the flights without PTVs, QF runs back-to-back movies on the cabin screens, which helps (unless you want to sleep). NZ has a bit more leg room. But it's all worth it when you arrive, Australia is a great destination!
Bill
Kdonohue From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 365 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1015 times:
What about Air Pacific, Fiji's national carrier? I know they offer specials from time to time out of YVR to SYD. They would route through Nadi. I think they operate out of LAX. I know they operate a 737-800 from YVR.
ETA Unknown From Comoros, joined Jun 2001, 2010 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1008 times:
Don't forget Qantas747-438, that your August travel takes place during US school vacation time, hence higher airfares. Local management don't take the fact that it's winter down under into consideration when setting the airfares.
However, you should be able to find something slightly cheaper- you just have to know where to look. Phone a few consolidators in the L.A. area and see how you go.
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1804 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1003 times:
ETA Unknown---
You're right about school vacations... I hadn't thought about that.
TNboy---
I liked how you said that the whole point of this is the destination... Australia. I think thats important to remember, and that getting there is just part of the journey.
Thanks!
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 21 Reply 15, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days ago) and read 987 times:
Yes, Air Pacific operate out of LAX - a 742 to Nadi (Fiji) and then connections on to several Australian ports. AC also operates an A343 to SYD via HNL and a 763 to MEL via HNL.
It's worth checking QF as they occasionally have some add-on fares, or multi-city deals in Australia and you can often get good deals which allow you to get to places other than Sydney, such as the Gold Coast, Barrier Reef, Central Australia, etc.
But whichever airline you fly, you'll be tired on day 1, and probably wake around 0200 for a couple of days!
Bill
The Coachman From Australia, joined Apr 2001, 1411 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (11 years 2 months 6 days ago) and read 987 times:
TG992
QF have 4 aircraft - VH-OJE, -P, -C, -R.
2 more due out in March and April.
Arsenal@LHR - AirNZ don't have PTV's, at all.
Setjet - you might want to rethink your 'little first or business traffic to Australia'. Before Sept 11, there were up to 2 daily SYD-LAX, a 5 x weekly SYD-LAX-JFK, a daily BNE-AKL-LAX, a 5 x weekly MEL-LAX all on QF. UA had SFO-SYD and LAX-SYD and LAX-AKL-MEL dailies.
65% of QF's international profits come from the North American market, and the westbound flights from the US are often weight-restricted due to headwinds. The main source of revenue will always be the QF premium cabins, in fact, they've configured about 1/2 their B747-400's with 14 extra business class seats, which mostly fly the Trans-Pacs. Reward tickets in the premium cabins for trans-pacs are notoriously hard to get. Please rethink your comments Set jet.
TNboy - the day flight (QF7/8) was pulled just after Sept 11, I don't believe it's been reinstated.
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 21 Reply 17, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 977 times:
Coachman - you may be right. I know that the LAX - JFK leg has just been reinstated, and flights are building, so by the time Qantas 747-438 flies it may be back. Hope so. NZ also had daily LAX-SYD (couple of days now deleted), as well as dailies via AKL. And I endorse your remarks about the premium traffic. QF, UA and NZ all fly with premium cabins full, (79 J Class seats on those 744s you mentioned) and I believe that AC is also doing excellent daily premium business YVR-SYD. A lot of the Y class business is families (high proportion of kids quite often) travelling to Disneyland/World etc.
The Coachman From Australia, joined Apr 2001, 1411 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 972 times:
TNboy
Yep, it's 79 J seats on QF premium 744's, for the sake of 50 economy seats (265 in premium, 315 in normal).
It's not cheap to fly the trans-pac...it's often cheaper to fly to Europe from SYD than it is to LAX. I believe SYD and LAX also have some of the highest landing fees in the world...
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