Which Route would you pick?

[kamchatsky]

Fellow AFFers, due to work requirements I need to fly NTL-CBR. I need to make decision on which route to pick:

1) Pelician Airlines: on their British Aerospace Jetstream 32 aircraft, no lounge access (FlyPelican - Our Fleet - Jetstream 32), no SC earn:
FP138 NTL-CBR 16:30 - 17:40 (1 hr 10 mins): $399.00

2) Fly Virgin Australia via BNE, with lounge access at BNE (I am EY G), earn 20 SCs, cost is $255.00:
VA1109 NTL-BNE 18:20 - 18:35 (transit at BNE 40 mins)
VA1226 BNE-CBR 19:15 - 22:05 (Total Time of 3 hr 45 mins)

Now the company pays for the flight but VA ($255) is much cheaper than FP ($399). But I have never tried Pelican Airlines either.

So I have set up a poll to see what you all think and prefer.

Which flight would you pick?

MORE INFO:
To give you more idea, currently I am going for VA Gold. Have 160 SC so far after 3 months, all my travel are all short distance domestic only (longest would be SYD-ADL). My EY Gold expires at end of March 2017.

 

[RooFlyer]

Crumbs ... go the most direct route unless you are desperate for those SCs. More convenient boarding/arrival times too.

Is this one time or regularly?

 

[kamchatsky]

Crumbs ... go the most direct route unless you are desperate for those SCs. More convenient boarding/arrival times too.

Is this one time or regularly?

Should be one time but you never know. But I am going for VA Gold at least here. 160 SC after 3 months, all my work flights are all short domestic only. EY Gold expires end of March.

 

[SuzieQ68]

It's definitely the long way round, but I guess if you're looking for SC's to obtain SG and don't have much else to do that day, then maybe go with the VA flight. I know it's not many SC's in the scheme of things, but who knows, it might be the difference between obtaining SG or not.

 

[Mattg]

Is going via SYD an option? You could fly NTL-SYD on Rex departing at 17:00 - the flight generally costs $110.
Then fly SYD-CBR on VA at 19:05, arriving in CBR at 20:05. Generally costs $145.

Total travel time is 40 minutes less than going via BNE, you still pay $255 and you still get lounge access (in SYD) and some points/SCs. Obviously the cost depends on the actual day you want to fly.

 

[kamchatsky]

Is going via SYD an option? You could fly NTL-SYD on Rex departing at 17:00 - the flight generally costs $110.
Then fly SYD-CBR on VA at 19:05, arriving in CBR at 20:05. Generally costs $145.

Total travel time is 40 minutes less than going via BNE, you still pay $255 and you still get lounge access (in SYD) and some points/SCs. Obviously the cost depends on the actual day you want to fly.

Unfortunately no, as I cannot book this on 1 ticket, so I won't be protected if the flight is late ..... Also I checked, the Rex flight is way too early (10:10am)

Good suggestion though.

 

[Hvr]

Many years ago I had to travel CBR-NTL after Brindabella Airlines folded. This was a work trip and after travelling way too many times on the tiny Brindabella planes I was more than happy to go via BNE to be on a big plane.

 

[kamchatsky]

So after some thinking I have just booked the direct flight NTL-CBR on Pelican as I would have driven for 4 hours around the hunter region, so a direct flight to CBR and check in to a hotel to rest would be far more important on the day!

 

[astrosly]

So after some thinking I have just booked the direct flight NTL-CBR on Pelican as I would have driven for 4 hours around the hunter region, so a direct flight to CBR and check in to a hotel to rest would be far more important on the day!

Being from a regional area I think it is worthwhile going for the smaller airlines when there is such a choice as giving them business every now and then it helps keep routes and fares competitive.

 

[docjames]

Good choice.

FWIW I'd take the opportunity to fly something a bit more "unusual" than the 737s on offer with VA.

The cost difference vs time saving isn't unreasonable, plus as astrosly points out, keeping some of the "smaller" airlines viable is also worthwhile.

I'd have also considered a one-way car rental (subject to pricing).

 

[kamchatsky]

Being from a regional area I think it is worthwhile going for the smaller airlines when there is such a choice as giving them business every now and then it helps keep routes and fares competitive.

That was something that I considered as well. Whilst I am not living in the Hunter region I thought it is not a bad thing to keep them alive. Admittedly my company is paying the top dollars on it (most expensive fare actually, more than flying VA via BNE and QF via MEL). My flight is tomorrow afternoon so hopefully everything will go well.

Good choice.

FWIW I'd take the opportunity to fly something a bit more "unusual" than the 737s on offer with VA.

The cost difference vs time saving isn't unreasonable, plus as astrosly points out, keeping some of the "smaller" airlines viable is also worthwhile.

I'd have also considered a one-way car rental (subject to pricing).

I have never tried a Jetstream 32 so quite keen to see what it is about. I cannot even find Pelican Airlines in SeatGuru so I have no idea which seats to pick from.

No way I would drive all the way to Canberra though from Newcastle, as I would already have driven 4 hours for the day from Sydney to around hunter region visiting sites, before dropping my rental car off at Newcastle Airport to catch my flight. I think I would need a rest!

 

[trooper]

If you go to the Pelican website they have a seat map there.... its 1-2...and not many rows! The 4th pair from the front appear to have more leg room, appears to be the exit row.... the bulkhead seats are less attractive because it boards from the rear...

I wonder if they still have the Twin Otters... we used to charter those for skydiving.....and their Chief Pilot back then... "Stewie" often flew those charters because he didn't have to fly it like an airliner... lol

 

[kamchatsky]

I have flown Pelican two days ago, and I have written a Trip Report about it. I thought it is worth sharing my experiences here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-photos/why-fly-qantas-virgin-when-80632.html