MEL-NOU $448 economy / $998 return business with Qantas (Nets up to 200 SCs!!)

[adelee]

Hi all

Posting a deal I shared over on the OzBargain forum.

Qantas currently have Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane to Noumea return for $448 economy / $998 business class as part of their "Fly Away Sale". Flight availability is from mid July all the way through to next May. Melbourne departures transit through Sydney, with both Qantas and AirCalin making the flight to Noumea.

The business return fare ex Melbourne is a good status run option, as provided your flights all hold QF numbers, it will net you 200 status credits, which is a significant haul for the cost outlay (and one of the best dollar to SC ratios I've seen for a long while). Ironically, most QF MEL-SYD business fares I can see are more expensive than one way MEL-SYD-NOU!

Note that these fares are available through the AMEX travel portal - https://travel.americanexpress.com.au/travel/arc.cfm - and booking the economy return fare would be a great way to use the $300 travel bonus that comes with the AMEX Platinum Charge card . Please consider using my referral link for the card if you're tempted to sign up: http://amex.com.au/refer/adeleeF6LP

Whatever you choose to do, move quickly, as this sale ends 24th June (tomorrow)

 

[Dr Ralph]

I looked at this last night.

There are certainly plenty of seats at peak times available.

For example I could see 4 x J seats leaving Dec 29 and returning Jan 7 for Sydney Noumea return. At under $1000 I was ready to jump.

Then I started to research New Caledonia as a holiday destination as I knew virtually nothing about it.

Needless to say that I did not proceed with my booking.

If you're after the status credits then go for it.

If you're after a cheap holiday close to home, think again. As from what I can see accommodation and food/alcohol prices are at the high end.

I suspect that there is a lot of spare capacity because many people don't want to visit.

 

[get me outta here]

I spent a day in Noumea on a cruise once. I could see that it is not interesting, but also found out it is expensive.

The sale also had seats over Easter too.

 

[Steady]

I worked in New Caledonia for 18+ months and spent many Sundays driving about the southern part of the main Island - there are experiences to be had. French wine from Supermarkets can be cheap - but like anywhere they gouge at restaurants. I was always amused that most Cruise Ships seemed to dock in Noumea on a Sunday and all of the shops choose to close their doors....

I enjoyed this TR by SponsorSFC

 

[junbugging]

I had a pleasant enough time there last Christmas, spent six nights at the Hilton. It's definitely an easier place to get around economically if you speak some French, but shopping in the supermarkets is of course easy enough in English.

Dismissing the place entirely seems just a tad ludicrous.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I enjoyed this TR by SponsorSFC

Thanks for the link to this thread. I enjoyed reading it. And for me it confirmed some of the reasons why I didn't proceed with the booking.

 

[Cossie]

We spent a week in Noumea 18 months ago, didn't think it was that expensive and enjoyed walking around the town, bit noisy Friday and Saturday nights, but apart from that, no complaints. We caught cheap local buses to the end of the line as a bit of fun. I'll have to check this out as we would like to hire a car and drive round the island, but as they say: ymmv.

 

[SponsorSFC]

If anyone does book this and is thinking of staying at the Le Meridien on Ile des Pins or Noumea then it will probably be worth getting the Star Privilege card.

I just had a call asking if I wanted to renew mine from last year at $190, they do a bit of a hard sell but you probably can get some extras or possibly a price reduction out of them. This card more than paid for itself as it gives 50% off meals and 15% of drinks at SPG hotels in Australia and the Pacific. So for a place like Ile des Pins the it makes eating and drinking much more reasonable (I wouldn't say cheap).