Qantas does Vegas direct

[dajop]

I

People can make up their owns minds, I think it’s pretty clear people don’t fly to Vegas 8 weeks before a single NRL match.

Perhaps the NRL march supports the service continuing on to March, beyond the period that is normally considered the summer holidays peak period. But people aren’t going there for 9 weeks for the match and if they are (going to US that period, 9 weeks in LAS would be on very few people’s bucket list ) saving a few hours by doing direct to LAS is immaterial.

 

[Aeryn]

For those not from NSW/ACT/Qld its not 1 match, its 2 games; as only 4 NRL teams travel to LASand the rest of round one is played back in Aus/NZ the following weekend.

There may be some other demo games but none that count for the premiership. Then a bunch of fan events and excursions with chances to meet players etc.

As they change the 4 teams each year (there are 17 to choose from, 18 next year), there are targeting different teams fan bases from the previous year; given for some fans they'd only ever afford to do it once.

Its not like Magic round where all 8 (will be 9 in 2027) games of the round are played in the one city.

 

[justinbrett]

For those not from NSW/ACT/Qld its not 1 match, its 2 games; as only 4 NRL teams travel to LASand the rest of round one is played back in Aus/NZ the following weekend.

There may be some other demo games but none that count for the premiership. Then a bunch of fan events and excursions with chances to meet players etc.

As they change the 4 teams each year (there are 7 t choose from, 18 next year), there are targeting different teams fan bases from the previous year; given for some fans they'd only ever afford to do it once.

Its not like Magic round where all 8 (will be 9 in 2027) games of the round are played in the one city.

Yes, the two games are played consecutively as a single event. You have a single ticket and the gap between the games is about the length of a halftime break. It’s not a tournament

I think all of us reasonable people are on the same page - I’ll let the others continue screaming into the void.

 

[BrianQQ]

Wondering why they are doing services between December and March, and not between May and July/August/September? Where they would benefit from the increased American traffic?

 

[Aeryn]

Wondering why they are doing services between December and March, and not between May and July/August/September? Where they would benefit from the increased American traffic?

Depends where they source the aircraft.

Maybe they are using the frame that usually does PER-FCO from May - Oct?

 

[dajop]

Wondering why they are doing services between December and March, and not between May and July/August/September? Where they would benefit from the increased American traffic?

Planes probably much better deployed on the seasonal Rome service which has much higher seasonal demand than US. And if they had a spare aircraft seasonal services to ATH, BCN, or additional Rome frequency would probably also be better use of the aircraft than seasonal to LAS at the height of summer.

Remember also that demand in the other direction is stronger during the Australian summer, which is why AA and UA have seasonal services during then, and not during the Australian winter.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just had a random look at some dates in January
SYD-LAS direct J return $19751
SYD-SFO/LAX-LAS J return $11,612

Really?! Qantas is definitely taking the Mickey with the LAS direct service. You'd have to be a mug to do that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Come to think of it… back in 2023 I was flying SYD-LAX. On the shuttle to the hotel there were heaps of aussies attending the world gaming (gambling) conference/shiw/convention in LAS. The QF flight was late so they all had to overnight before flying onwards.

They were all business/first… so there’s probably a market there for that convention season!

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Really?! Qantas is definitely taking the Mickey with the LAS direct service. You'd have to be a mug to do that.

If flying on other people's money, and if your corporate travel engine prices the "benchmark" fare allowed for a route based on the cheapest nonstop option, and if this is the only nonstop option, people won't care.

I noted above that we routinely have to pay $3000+ in Y per pax for return flights to LAS to get our people to tech conferences in January. If QF charges $4000 in Y for this one, all of our employees will still book it.

 

[RooFlyer]

If flying on other people's money, and if your corporate travel engine prices the "benchmark" fare allowed for a route based on the cheapest nonstop option, and if this is the only nonstop option, people won't care.

I noted above that we routinely have to pay $3000+ in Y per pax for return flights to LAS to get our people to tech conferences in January. If QF charges $4000 in Y for this one, all of our employees will still book it.

Sure, when flying on other people's money, or even sponsored by the airline, or given a freebie to publicise, people will go. I was more on about the mindset of a corporation that can so blatantly over-charge compared to comparable itineraries.

BTW, this pricing super-premium shouldn't be ignored by those contemplating the possible pricing of the 'Sunrise' direct flights.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Sure, when flying on other people's money, or even sponsored by the airline, or given a freebie to publicise, people will go. I was more on about the mindset of a corporation that can so blatantly over-charge compared to comparable itineraries.

BTW, this pricing super-premium shouldn't be ignored by those contemplating the possible pricing of the 'Sunrise' direct flights.

Well, as you noted, you'd have to be a mug to do it, and this is Qantas we're talking about, so that sorts that.