Is anyone else commuting?

[Commuter]

Just wondering if anyone else is commuting by air (not necessarily every day, but every week, for instance)?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not now but I used to. One or two round trips every week.

 

[Ikara]

I have a National role for a major Australian Company and live in Adelaide. I (typically) leave Adelaide on a Tuesday morning and get back on Friday afternoon. I don't do "sparrow fart" flights and I'm back home for tea on Friday. I know these numbers don't add up , but you'll get the drift. I usually do 2 weeks a month in Melbourne, 2 weeks in Sydney and 1 week in Brisbane. Perth is about one in every 2 - 3 months.

Got the best of both worlds - live in Adelaide and work in Australia.

 

[shillard]

Just wondering if anyone else is commuting by air (not necessarily every day, but every week, for instance)?

Back in the day, I'd often commute daily NTL-SYD-NTL on QF1647/ 1648 - the QF Link 717 services. There were half a dozen guys who literally did it every day - I would 1-3 times a week, either getting the train or driving the other days. At $49-$69 for a red e-deal on those flights, it was points and SCs aplenty for me.

Sadly, with the arrival of DeathStar, they were kaput. Aeroduck (OT) still offers such a service.

Now most of my work travel is to MEL or BNE, both frequently serviced by direct flights out of NTL, so the SYD connection isn't such a big deal for me.

For most of 2005 I would do a day in Melbourne every week, down and back the same day.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Planes are glorified buses these days anyhow.

 

[oz_mark]

Living in Perth and working in Canberra for a while, I did a weekly return trip (which was how I got to platinum in the first place). At the time there were no direct between PER and CBR, so was always via somewhere.

 

[SeatBackForward]

My companys policy of cheapest available flights and therefore half the credit points (if any) makes commuting twice as painful.

 

[Commuter]

Living in Perth and working in Canberra for a while, I did a weekly return trip (which was how I got to platinum in the first place). At the time there were no direct between PER and CBR, so was always via somewhere.

That sounds like a rather painful commute!

SeatBackForward the only thing 'glorified' about the plane ride in comparison to a bus ride is the price.

 

[oz_mark]

That sounds like a rather painful commute!

And on discount economy tickets it is a lot of flying to get to platinum. At the time I usually got 60 SC for the round trip. Usually went PER/SYD/CBR and return was CBR/ADL/PER.

 

[Commuter]

And on discount economy tickets it is a lot of flying to get to platinum.

It is, isn't it.

Some of the time, the difference between the available discount economy and the FlexiSaver is about $100 and it may be worthwhile for me to start using FlexiSaver on those occasions (if I remember correctly, FlexiSaver is counted as a full economy on domestic?).

 

[oz_mark]

It is, isn't it.

Some of the time, the difference between the available discount economy and the FlexiSaver is about $100 and it may be worthwhile for me to start using FlexiSaver on those occasions (if I remember correctly, FlexiSaver is counted as a full economy on domestic?).

Flexi-Save is now counted as Full Economy. I would need to check, but when I was doing most of my commutes to Canberra I think it actually had to be Y class to be counted as full economy.

 

[SeatBackForward]

My approach to my employers regarding the "cheapest fare" policy is that I remind them about the rules. No cancellation or refunds, and no changes less than 24hrs. That means:

1) I leave early to the airport so no hanging back for extra meetings or finishing off tasks I'm working on.

2) If for any reason I am delayed, they have to forefeit the discount ticket AND pay the fare required to get me home on the next available flight (usually a full fare at the last moment). Because i'm not hanging around for the next discount fare to suit them.

At least that way I get the flights that I am booked on, or the flexible fares..

 

[Commuter]

I don't even get to remind the employer of the rules, since I foot the bill for commuting!

 

[oz_mark]

Things change constantly depending on what the finance people and accountants are focussing on as the latest cost to try and manage. I think airfares are a little off the radar at the moment as my recent flights have booked into 'B'.

 

[Commuter]

Flexi-Save is now counted as Full Economy.

I thought so. Thanks for the confirmation. I might start travelling on FlexiSaver if it looks like I'll miss out of Platinum (I think I'll make it in another 6-9 months by just travelling on discount economy, but it might be a bit of a close shave). I'm getting an average of 120 SCs per month, so it's cutting it somewhat fine, although my planned visit overseas in J should bump it up quite nicely (but depends on the leave and workload).

 

[Yada Yada]

Got the best of both worlds - live in Adelaide and work in Australia.

So Adelaide is not in Australia any more. :-|

 

[GDSman]

I live in Hobart and work in Sydney - not much fun since QF all but pulled out of the route....

 

[Mal]

I actually thought about commuting once.

I've done some university study at one of the fine Melbourne universities.

If I continued on, then I would be required to attend once per week. Seriously gave thought to flying down and back every week to finish things off.

Once I figured out the cost and the eventual tax rebates, I realised that this really wasn't the best option to get the degree I wanted. But it still remains an option one day -- especially if I can convince work to pay for it

(BTW, the course I was doing is not offered where I am, so it does have merit!)

 

[serfty]

For a six week period and a three Month period in 1994 and 1996 respectively, I commuted from MEL-SYD on Sundays and back Friday evenings.

Just wish I had the LT SC's from those flights.....

 

[NM]

For about 6 months (back in 2001 I think) I was commuting between BNE and DFW. It was 2 weeks there and 2 weeks home each month. Did wonders for helping me achieve QF LTG status as each trip was a DONE4 (non-optimised in order to get back home in the quickest possible time).