Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

What have been ZL's load factors in its first (almost completed) week of flying MEL - SYD - MEL?

That doesn't tell us anything about yields, but it's still an interesting figure.

I wonder how it will go as its number of flights rises. Its costs per ASK must be lower than QFd/VAd and perhaps also compared to JQd.
 
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What have been ZL's load factors in its first (almost completed) week of flying MEL - SYD - MEL?

That doesn't tell us anything about yields, but it's still an interesting figure.

I wonder how it will go as its number of flights rises. Its costs per ASK must be lower than QFd/VAd and perhaps also compared to JQd.

I don't think Rex is going to reveal this publicly. But I can tell you them my 12pm MEL-SYD flight last Thursday was 75% full in J and close to 100% full in Y.
 
...convince them to instead travel on NSW TrainLink, Geryhound Australia/Murray's Coaches or a rent-a-car.
I have a little experience in this area, being at one time employed by the Aust Govt in Canberra.

I'm not sure how one would be able to attend a meeting in Sydney at say 10.00 am if travelling by surface transport leaving the same day (well at least after 6 am). Are you advocating that it is better for the Commonwealth to pay for overnight and related expense rather than fly someone up the same day?

Perhaps you should try it and see how you go driving to the Sydney CBD from Canberra at 5 am (and how much would that cost given Commonwealth Govt regulations?). And I'm sure you would feel quite refreshed and ready to go..
 
Flights are all pretty much everywhere out of Vic for the long weekend.
Next week they double the capacity so will be interesting to see.
 
I have a little experience in this area, being at one time employed by the Aust Govt in Canberra.

I'm not sure how one would be able to attend a meeting in Sydney at say 10.00 am if travelling by surface transport leaving the same day (well at least after 6 am). Are you advocating that it is better for the Commonwealth to pay for overnight and related expense rather than fly someone up the same day?

Perhaps you should try it and see how you go driving to the Sydney CBD from Canberra at 5 am (and how much would that cost given Commonwealth Govt regulations?). And I'm sure you would feel quite refreshed and ready to go..

But you're omitting that with delays on the SYD - CBR air route, it's often necessary to choose an earlier flight than one would otherwise.

Punctuality pre-CIVID-19 was appalling on many domestic air routes as I've highlighted >1000 times in the delays/cancellations threads. CBR - SYD wasn't exempt. Cancellations were frequent. The delays/cancellations did not just occur during winter. In the latter, it's well known that a flight departing CBR at 0600 or 0700 is normally not delayed by fog but departures around 0800 until c.1030 can be a disaster, and then there's the compounding effect of inbound delays. There's no way of predicting say eight days out whether there'll be fog unless one has access to a Lennox Walker type.

For a 1000 hours meeting in the Sydney CBD, one may need to leave home at say 0630, arrive at the airport at say 0650 - 0700 (could take longer if one lives further from the airport, and my timings don't include finding a parking spot if one doesn't use an Uber or taxi), check in for say an 0735 hours flight that nominally arrives SYD at 0830, go to Domestic (railway station), catch a train at 0855, arrive (say) Wynyard station at c.0915 and walk to the meeting. (Not all meetings will be in a CBD but I'm assuming it is, as it's where financiers, large companies and government offices mostly are (albeit some of the latter may be in Parramatta). I've built in a bit of a buffer as most of us know that being late to meetings means we miss out on crucial detail, or keep other attendees waiting. T

If the flight's late, one won't be early to the meeting.

Bearing in mind many meetings aren't able to be arranged much in advance, as a random date, I chose Tuesday 17 March 2021 as a QFd day-return, departing CBR at 0735 hours and SYD at 1835. The forward journey fare available was $219; the return $193, totalling $412. At times public servants may have to book closer to the date of travel. The comparisons may not be totally fair as during coronavirus, there's been fewer flights on the route, but demand is also lower so perhaps that's a draw.

Compare this to a NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass that as Mattg has highlighted can be purchased for six months' first class unlimited travel on its very extensive rail and coach network for A$550. They're not transferable.

If the public servant doesn't want that and attends meetings in Sydney just occasionally, a return NSW TrainLink fare - three return trips a day - or same on Murrays Coaches - normally many more weekday departures - plus an A$162-169 hotel room available for 16 March (Rydges World Square/The York by Swiss BelHotel) comes out way cheaper than A$412. There's no need to pay and be reimbursed for the Sydney Airport (Domestic) to Wynyard rail fare with its high by mass transit standards station access fee. Public servants would receive meal allowances but only dinner on the night of the 16th would be the addition and perhaps similar on the 17th if they didn't depart Sydney early enough, as the Rydges' tariff for instance includes free breakfast. The dinner payment on the 17th may be irrelevant as it's not mode-sensitive.

What I and many others would prefer (not your fault, of course Clifford) is proper high speed rail that works incredibly well in so many nations, and for which Oz in the east has the population density.

I too have a little experience in that neck of the woods. But it isn't a competition.
 
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Flights are all pretty much everywhere out of Vic for the long weekend.
Next week they double the capacity so will be interesting to see.

You may have meant 'full' between 'much' and 'everywhere'.

Occasionally on dates not far away, and pre-Holy Week and school holidays, ZL appears to be still offering the $48 fare but c.$79 is more common.
 
I flew Rex today on a day trip from Sydney to Melbourne. Overall the flights were about 80% full - although I did notice most people in J got upgraded at the gate. It was similar service to VA in that we got a snack (a Byron Bay cookie) and a glass of water. The crew were friendly and enthusiastic in particular one crew member who engaged in conversation with some aviation geeks in front of me). I was able to sit in Row 3, right behind the bulkhead and select it at the airport as I was checking in so I had plenty of legroom and was impressed. Unfortunately the flight down to MEL was slightly soured by having 2 of the irritating seat-mates I've ever had in all my years of flying - but overall came away with a positive impression of the onboard product and service.

After today's experience, I am still a loyal QF WP but would certainly pick Rex over VA and am intrigued to try their regional Saab flights which I haven't done before.
 
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I flew Rex today on a day trip from Sydney to Melbourne. Overall the flights were about 80% full - although I did notice most people in J got upgraded at the gate. It was similar service to VA in that we got a snack (a Byron Bay cookie) and a glass of water. The crew were friendly and enthusiastic in particular one crew member who engaged in conversation with some aviation geeks in front of me). I was able to sit in Row 3, right behind the bulkhead and select it at the airport as I was checking in so I had plenty of legroom and was impressed. Unfortunately the flight down to MEL was slightly soured by having 2 of the irritating seat-mates I've ever had in all my years of flying - but overall came away with a positive impression of the onboard product and service.

After today's experience, I am still a loyal QF WP but would certainly pick Rex over VA and am intrigued to try their regional Saab flights which I haven't done before.

Excellent report. You've omitted 'most' before 'irritating'.

Interesting comment re upgrading. Given lack of a FF program, how does ZL select those if there aren't many (or any) frequent rural flyers on board?

Given that they seem remarkably similar bar price, why would you pick ZL over VAd?
 
I've written a detailed review of my Rex MEL-SYD flight in J:


As a matter of interest, passengers in Y got a complimentary small snack with water, tea or coffee. Additional beverages were available in economy class for a cost of $7 (most alcoholic beverages), $6 (for light beer) or $4 (for soft drinks), with only cash accepted for payment.
 
We are moving towards a cashless society, I can’t remember the last time I had cash and I rarely even take my wallet anywhere these days
Mothballing your wallet? Ironically moths may fly out when you're paying for a purchase on board a Rex flight...
 
Oh, one other thing - I keep seeing Rex making references to its 737s having 176 seats.

By my count, there are 8 business class seats and 162 economy class seats (27 rows x 6 seats). That's 170 seats in total. Am I missing something, or does Rex not know how many seats are on their own planes?
 
Mothballing your wallet? Ironically moths may fly out when you're paying for a purchase on board a Rex flight...
Haha.
I have everything on my phone so very rare for me to take a wallet these days, probably plenty of moths in it 🤣
 
Oh, one other thing - I keep seeing Rex making references to its 737s having 176 seats.

By my count, there are 8 business class seats and 162 economy class seats (27 rows x 6 seats). That's 170 seats in total. Am I missing something, or does Rex not know how many seats are on their own planes?
I am pretty sure it is 28 rows on the 737s, plus 2 rows of business.

VA aircraft were Rows 1 & 2 J, then 3 through 30 for economy.
 
Haha.
I have everything on my phone so very rare for me to take a wallet these days, probably plenty of moths in it 🤣

What if you forget it, omit to charge it, leave it in your car/on the train/on the plane or far less likely, have your phone stolen?
 
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