GFC, airlines in trouble, give me a break!!!

[DJ737]

Hi there

Looking at booking MEL-LHR R/T for my mother Sep-Oct 09, the fares are pretty expensive at around A$2,500-A$3,300.

I thought the airlines on the Kangaroo route were crying poor because of the GFC?

Bring the fares down and they may get the passengers to fill the seats.

Cheapest during this period was Etihad & Thai, most expensive were Singapore and QANTAS ( no suprise there).

Seems like the main carriers on this route are going to end up flying half empty aircraft on this route and then grizzle about it.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Evan]

Are you kidding the QF9/QF10 flights i take are already full or nearly full, be F,J,W,Y, sure its one of the more popular flights but busy none the less. Prices though if advance purchase seem rather cheap.
E

 

[tuapekastar]

Random dates (Sep 28 out, Oct 28 back) give me AUD2378 on QF...may not work for the dates you want though (perhaps the 'season' changes)...just seems a lot cheaper on QF than the AUD3300 (or close to) that you mentioned...

 

[yo yo ma]

I thought the airlines on the Kangaroo route were crying poor because of the GFC?

What makes you think this?

 

[Mal]

At that price, you could probably do a return to Singapore and a return from Singapore to London for slightly cheaper .... or with the current PE sale, for around the sale price MEL-SIN/HKG in PE, SIN/HKG-LHR in Economy. vv

 

[DJ737]

Random dates (Sep 28 out, Oct 28 back) give me AUD2378 on QF...may not work for the dates you want though (perhaps the 'season' changes)...just seems a lot cheaper on QF than the AUD3300 (or close to) that you mentioned...

Hi there

Was the $2378 on the QF website?
The QF quote i have is via the BA website on the QF codeshare dep MEL Sep 16 @ $2937 for the round trip, although BA via SYD is much cheaper at $ 2557, looks like it's going to be Etihad at who managed a price of $1993 incl taxes for Sep 19 out Nov 01 back.

The chances of me or any member of my family getting on QF in the near future is about remote as me taking a flight with NASA......It won't happen anytime soon.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[straitman]

The chances of me or any member of my family getting on QF in the near future is about remote as me taking a flight with NASA......It won't happen anytime soon.

Cheers
DJ737

Whether you like it or not, Qanats is more popular than a lot of the others and consequently they can charge more.

An unfortunate fact of life :!:

 

[Evan]

Whether you like it or not, Qanats is more popular than a lot of the others and consequently they can charge more.

An unfortunate fact of life :!:

Just as any home market airline changes more than the out of towners. Because people will pay it. Dont see either of these things changing in the short term.
E

 

[tuapekastar]

Hi there

Was the $2378 on the QF website?
The QF quote i have is via the BA website on the QF codeshare dep MEL Sep 16 @ $2937 for the round trip, although BA via SYD is much cheaper at $ 2557, looks like it's going to be Etihad at who managed a price of $1993 incl taxes for Sep 19 out Nov 01 back.

The chances of me or any member of my family getting on QF in the near future is about remote as me taking a flight with NASA......It won't happen anytime soon.

Cheers
DJ737

Yeah, 'twas via QF website. AUD1993 is a good price, and would be inerested to hear how Etihad goes (if you can coerce your Mum into a TR)

 

[Flashback]

I paid just over 2k for my PER-FRA//LHR-PER flight in November.

 

[dajop]

Often getting to somewhere (eg HKG, SIN) and separately booking returns on the same flight (eg MEL-SIN-MEL on QF 9/10 & SIN-LHR-SIN on QF9/10) is cheaper than booking same flights all the way through (MEL-LHR-MEL on QF9/10).

Also with current deals to US, could be cheaper to book a fare to New York and a connecting AA or BA flight from their to London. BUt that's the long way there...

 

[Evan]

<..>

Also with current deals to US, could be cheaper to book a fare to New York and a connecting AA or BA flight from their to London. BUt that's the long way there...

Yes but i could think of a few people who would do that
could be fun. (in J or F, don't think Y would be much fun)

 

[JohnK]

And looking at airfares SYD-ATH return for July-September the cheapest airfares are ~$2402. Most of the flights are reasonably full so the airlines can justify the higher airfares.

Incidentally that airfare is with QF/LH. The airfares with SQ and TG who fly there with one stop only are ~$2680+....

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Airlines are like any business. They will squeeze the market where they can.

The amazing price drop on flights to the US shows just how hard they will try to get blood from a stone

I suppose my attitude is these days you just got to shop around for the best deal, and if that means paying the extra so you get ya SCs and lounge access, well that's up to the individual to decide if it's worth it.

As for myself, I'm a stingy travel planner and take pride in scoring cheap flights. I might not get a nice toiletries bag, and I'm stuck in whY class, but the last 6-9 months i've been lucky enough to get 3 or 4 seats to myself on more than half my trips. $690 return to bkk with a a nice 4 hr nap is my idea of a bargain :mrgreen:

 

[docjames]

And looking at airfares SYD-ATH return for July-September the cheapest airfares are ~$2402. Most of the flights are reasonably full so the airlines can justify the higher airfares.

Incidentally that airfare is with QF/LH. The airfares with SQ and TG who fly there with one stop only are ~$2680+....

John, how about snapping up one of the specials currently on offer to Franfurt and buy Frankfurt-ATH seperatley?

 

[Commuter]

Just as any home market airline changes more than the out of towners. Because people will pay it. Dont see either of these things changing in the short term.
E

Case in point. QF return LHR-MEL-LHR up to 15 June departures were available for under £500, when the cheapest out of Australia to LHR for similar dates were still being sold for AUD2000+.

 

[gzmourg]

You can definitely do things much cheaper with the current sale being held by Qantas. I am planning to go to Athens in July/Aug which is peak season, and even though Singapore Airlines have been advertising fares of $1433, nothing was available (I started checking as soon as I received the alert email from Krisflyer) best price was approx $3,000+.

Instead, tried the Qantas website, and booked a return Y ticket to London for $1,499, Depart 29th July and Return 2 Sept. I then used points to book connecting flights with BA to Athens. Even if I had to pay for the LHR-ATH return flight which was approx $400, it is still much cheaper than the $3000+ quoted on the SQ website. Also, with Qantas, I am also able to earn points and have access to the lounges whilst travelling. Singapore stipulated that there would no mileage accrual in Y for their flights.

Overall, I believe, Qantas had a much better deal available for my personal situation. Yes, I would have prefered to fly direct to Athens, but what are a few extra hours travelling time, when you can save $1,000 and use it on holiday.

 

[JohnK]

Overall, I believe, Qantas had a much better deal available for my personal situation. Yes, I would have prefered to fly direct to Athens, but what are a few extra hours travelling time, when you can save $1,000 and use it on holiday.

Try explaining that to a 71 year old or 65 year old who could care less about FF programs and think there is something seriously wrong flying over ATH and continuing on for another 4 hours only to turn around again a few hours later and fly another 4 hours.

To them a $1500 airfare to LHR + $400+ to return to ATH is not incentive enough and would prefer the 1 stop flights even if it means spending another $600. There is no right or wrong but sometimes I wish I did not make my life so complicated chasing status and FF points. It is a sickness and a serious addiction and it is just as bad, if not worse, than gambling....

 

[Evan]

<..>
There is no right or wrong but sometimes I wish I did not make my life so complicated chasing status and FF points. It is a sickness and a serious addiction and it is just as bad, if not worse, than gambling....

But would you have otherwise got to see all those interesting mining towns ?
And yes travel is addictive, still i prefer direct within reason, flying to MEL-HKG-PVG is direct for me but i hate those SIN-SYD-MEL where you have SYD-MEL at the end.. yuck, the other way is ok.

Anyway $600 is saves time and is the best way is not that much extra to spend to make sure you keep parents happy.

E

 

[JohnK]

Anyway $600 is saves time and is the best way is not that much extra to spend to make sure you keep parents happy.

Believe me whan I say have tried many times to convince them that the cheapest airfare is through one of the other Eiropean hubs. The only reason my father is going on the RTW with me is to get to Greece but will put up with a few extra flights via USA and Canada to keep me happy and we really could not get to Europe via Asia on the dates we wanted to travel.