No Redemption - Olympic Dam - Alliance Airlines?

[shearsense]

Has anybody ever managed to redeem an award flight on OLP-ADL or ADL-OLP? While flights are operated by Alliance with a QF flight number, I would have thought that it was considered similar to QantasLink in terms of redemptions (after all, you can earn SC's on these flights), but it is not listed as an option in the awards part of the QF website and award nexus finds no availability on any random days I have tried so far.

 

[Stealth]

I think you will find that the Alliance 'scheduled' flights are still effectively a BHPB controlled charter. You'll get points and SCs, but status only counts on wait listing. I'd be very suprised if you could get an awards flight, even if there was a lot of free seats.

 

[shearsense]

I think you will find that the Alliance 'scheduled' flights are still effectively a BHPB controlled charter. You'll get points and SCs, but status only counts on wait listing. I'd be very suprised if you could get an awards flight, even if there was a lot of free seats.

Pity, but odd, if that was the case. After all, the town (and presumably the airport) is a publicly owned entity and anybody can fly there. Not as though it is a company strip. Oh well....

 

[markis10]

Pity, but odd, if that was the case. After all, the town (and presumably the airport) is a publicly owned entity and anybody can fly there. Not as though it is a company strip. Oh well....

Both the town and airport are owned by BHP and are private facilities, private aircraft require approval.

 

[shearsense]

really? the Roxby Downs Indenture Act doesn't seem to support that assertion. But I guess it's beyond the scope if this discussion....

 

[medhead]

Your both right and both wrong. The airport is controlled by BHPB, or the joint venturers in terms of the indenture act. The airport is in the industrial area called Olympic Dam that is not part of the Roxby downs municipal area. Roxby downs is a municipality under the relevant SA local government legislation. People have free hold land in Roxby Downs, including me. However the joint venturers, BHPB are require to support the town/council until it reaches a size of 10,000 IIRC.

Anyway, it is a company charter that earns points/SC but it seems no awards. It also has an interesting history with Alliance operating the route under both DJ and QF - much speculation that senior management were with QF hence the change of codeshare partner (or whatever is the proper term). However, BHPB policy is that points/SC can't be earnt on the route for company tickets. Before Alliance it was with Kendall under DJ and Ansett. Hence, I've got to fly the route on 2 operating airlines and 3 airline codes.

 

[shearsense]

I had thought that the SA Government supported the town and infrastructure with a tidy sum each year (I recall reading that somewhere), although this may change with the possible expansion. Anyway, interesting, but maybe OT for this board.

We have probably been sat next to each other at some stage! Although this is the first time I have tried to redeem points on the sector for personal travel (I don't work for the company).

An interesting situation with these flights - I can't think of any other similar example on the QF (or indeed OW) network where SCs are earned on flights which are effectively charters. Maybe other BHPB or Rio Tinto examples exist in WA?

 

[medhead]

Indeed it is also a unique town. One idea behind the indenture was to create a town and develop regional infrastructure rather than have FIFO.

 

[quark]

"However, BHPB policy is that points/SC can't be earnt on the route for company tickets"

Actually I'm pretty sure that was their old policy. They reversed it a couple of years ago. Although even when it was in place, it was pretty clear (from boarding passes) that most people were still claiming points and SC.

 

[medhead]

"However, BHPB policy is that points/SC can't be earnt on the route for company tickets"

Actually I'm pretty sure that was their old policy. They reversed it a couple of years ago. Although even when it was in place, it was pretty clear (from boarding passes) that most people were still claiming points and SC.

Welcome to AFF.

Well there you go.

Guessing who you are,* I would say you told me about the policy in the first place and should have updated me when it changed


* I could be very wrong with this guess

 

[quark]

not like you to self doubt

must have told you after a visit to Bistro Dom and you can't remember.

 

[shearsense]

Good thing that I don't work for "da company" then, because I can still collect the points and the SC's. But still a contradiction that I can't redeem them, I feel.

 

[medhead]

Good thing that I don't work for "da company" then, because I can still collect the points and the SC's. But still a contradiction that I can't redeem them, I feel.

Fortunately, it's not the policy anymore, but even when it was there didn't seem to be strict enforcement.

 

[shearsense]

Fortunately, it's not the policy anymore, but even when it was there didn't seem to be strict enforcement.

The points would be racking up if it were a true fly-in fly out operation for the majority of staff, as is the case for some WA ops. But if the company purchases the ticket and the fare basis is such that no points or SCs are awarded.....................:?: