Circle Pacific Fare increases steeply

[MelUser]

I learnt the following today from a reliable travel industry source:

"Qantas has just advised that they are increasing the
levels of the circle pacific airfares as of 15 May. The new level on the
22000 mile fare will be $9299.00pp + tax from $7599.00 - quite a hike"

Quick time to book that DCIR22 you've been talking about!

 

[Evan]

Ouch !!! in a lot of cases people used these fares since it was cheaper than booking a direct return J fare. I guess we will see the number sold drop a lot soon.
E

 

[DTM1]

I can't believe that they'd increase it that much. that's outrageous.

well, that will defintiely have people booking via NRT ! (glad i just paid for an ex-NRT DCIR22 today).

do you know if they're planning on changing the DCIR26 as well ? I assume so, as the 22 would otherwise be mor than the 26 !

 

[aybee]

Star's Circle Pac rose by about 2K in J cabin on 01 May - probably the catalyst.

 

[MelUser]

It is $9000 something in 1st - I wonder what will happen to the 1st class fare.

 

[simongr]

But does QF control this fare or oneworld?

 

[MelUser]

thats what i said. apparently at qantas's request the fare will be raised. my source tells me that qf was annoyed that people were using this fare to travel to usa and not paying qf the 16K it likes to receive for a trans pacific return business class flight

 

[dajop]

I'm not surprised really. What we pay for trips to HQ in midwest US (from MEL) has increased from ~$8500 in 2005 to ~$9400 last year to $10900 this year. These prices have always been comparable to DCIRC26, and the trip can even be done via NRT on a DCIRC22 with substantial savings. So I guess the DCIRC fares need to be in synch with the direct fares. Wonder if this will mean more upwards movement in DONE's as well?

 

[SeaWolf]

Star's Circle Pac rose by about 2K in J cabin on 01 May - probably the catalyst.

At the moment, the *A fares are a good bit more expensive, but if this price rise goes through the the *A ones will be much cheaper than oneworld again.

 

[Travel Guru]

As far as i'm aware, the price increase affects all Y, J & P Circle Pacific and Asia fares for issue from 15 May.

Current levels apply to any bookings tktd by 14 May.

TG

 

[Dave Noble]

As far as i'm aware, the price increase affects all Y, J & P Circle Pacific and Asia fares for issue from 15 May.

Current levels apply to any bookings tktd by 14 May.

TG

All, or just from SWP? Do you know if the ex USA fare changing?

Dave

 

[jaffa]

Well this makes the SQ "ONLY" RTW F ticket ($8400.00) look like the best deal to be had now.

I know its not the widest of destination options, but still, for the money l will screw around with itin's to take the price and service advantage.

 

[MelUser]

Or the Thai/Lufthansa/United First Class RTW which is $8600 plus taxes. It is Aust to BKK on Thai, BKK to anywhere in Europe where LH flies [including 2 stopovers in FRA if you want them]. FRA to either SFO or LAX [LH] and then LAX to SYD or MEL [UA]. All in 1st and as many or as few stopovers as you want. In fact you can fly both ways through US if you want more Miles/Points!

 

[Keith009]

Or the Thai/Lufthansa/United First Class RTW which is $8600 plus taxes. It is Aust to BKK on Thai, BKK to anywhere in Europe where LH flies [including 2 stopovers in FRA if you want them]. FRA to either SFO or LAX [LH] and then LAX to SYD or MEL [UA]. All in 1st and as many or as few stopovers as you want. In fact you can fly both ways through US if you want more Miles/Points!

And I have to say LH F far surpasses SQ F in terms of soft product IMO - better caviar, better wines, more exciting range of champagnes, LH catering is more imaginative,FAs about equal. And let's not forget the legendary FCT. Now LH only has to roll out updated seats and they'd be rather unbeatable in F.

The LH mini RTW is one of the best value ways to sample the FCT. Quick and easy way to get LH SEN status too if you're aiming for *G, due to generous earning rate for premium cabins on LH (and it lasts 2 years). Did 2 of them, one fully RTW in F, the other via America both ways in UA C/LH F but upgraded to UA F on borrowed SWUs. Got my SEN-hood halfway through 2nd one.

 

[DTM1]

well, I'll be booking my next DCIR26 (march next year) tomorrow !

 

[MelUser]

The LH mini RTW is one of the best value ways to sample the FCT. Quick and easy way to get LH SEN status too if you're aiming for *G, due to generous earning rate for premium cabins on LH (and it lasts 2 years). Did 2 of them, one fully RTW in F, the other via America both ways in UA C/LH F but upgraded to UA F on borrowed SWUs. Got my SEN-hood halfway through 2nd one.

How did you get F from MEL to BKK? We looked at this fare and couldn't get Thai Airways F from MEL to BKK.

 

[Keith009]

How did you get F from MEL to BKK? We looked at this fare and couldn't get Thai Airways F from MEL to BKK.

They offered F ex-MEL when I used the fare, but they've ceased offering F out of MEL since Dec 2006. Was heaps cheaper back then too (back in 2006, mixed J/F was approx A$6500 +++ and F was not much more)! You'd have to do the mixed J/F fare as there's no longer TG F to Australia, not even SYD!

If you don't need Asia, great value to do UA both ways on mixed class and chuck in SWUs.

Maybe do it ex-AKL? There's TG F out of AKL but I don't know how you can come back in F unless you fly via Asia both ways. Last I checked you can also use NZ Business Premier on the ex-AKL mixed J/F fare, unless that's changed. NZ C far surpasses TG and UA C and is almost F-esque IMO.

 

[MelUser]

Thanks for the that.

The thing that finished this deal for us in the end was that LH don't offer an infant fare (10%) on the mini RTW F/J or mixed fare.

 

[tgh]

I'm stuffed... just cannot finalise the routing by wedneday.

I wanted to buy and pay for the Dcir29sa.. and only nominate first segment..and only that if I absolutely had to.

Advice is that the full routing must be booked and the first segment dated.
Any changes to routing will be repriced at the current ( latest) fare.
You can re route once under way and out of "Oz .. but a bit risky in terms of flight availability

The one world rules seem to say something different ..but I have been assured that the above is the deal

I'm stuffed... a $10500 dcir29sa.. is maybe now gonna be $13000+

I'm stuffed... damn damn damn

 

[tgh]

Stuffed ??? ..AAaaawwww... poor me ...well maybe not .. hopefully ticketing today.

For those not fully aware .. Qantas clarified the matter of repricing.
The One World rules, as published , apply.. ie sectors after the first are changeable for US 100 per sector.. whenever they are changed.
No sector repricing.