Qantaslink flights with stops

[leny]

I have a few questions about continuing on on a QF flight which has 1 or more stops. Do you get food for each segment of the flight? Do you stay on the plane when it stops or do you get off-get on? How long do the planes usually stop for? And how do they tell who has to get off at certain stops anyway?

Thanks

 

[Mwenenzi]

You stay on the aircraft. Some stops are 15 minutes. If you are on a DH4 service in QLD its all very causal.

 

[Mal]

As Mwenenzi posted, you normally stay on the aircraft.

The cabin crew do a count of passengers to ensure that the right number of pax have remained/left/newly boarded the aircraft.

Meals wise, I don't ever recall being given 2 snacks on this type of journey. Can't recall exactly what the process is with food.

 

[littl_flier]

Meals wise, the QF website gives the details as REFRESHMENT/REFRESHMENT for two sector ROK services implying that you will get a snack twice.

I know on the CNS-GOV-DRW Qantaslink services, a fantastic snack then dineer is served CNS-GOV and a snack and tea/coffee and choccies are served GOV-DRW. Likewise, the return served Brekky on DRW-GOV and Morning Tea on GOV-CNS.

As an aside, does anyone know whether its possible to book QF2308 BNE-CNS without multi-sectoring it? It could make for a nice sightseeing journey.

 

[Mal]

As an aside, does anyone know whether its possible to book QF2308 BNE-CNS without multi-sectoring it? It could make for a nice sightseeing journey.

Would be a nice trip in a Q400. Alas, Qantas normally zero's out availability on these 'milk run' flights from BNE-CNS. The individual sectors (eg BNE-ROK or MKY-TSV) will have availability though so a multi-sector flight is probably the only choice you have (but then comes issues with time between sectors etc which the online booking engine won't like)

 

[dajop]

Do you get food for each segment of the flight?

I imagine it depends on the length of the segment. The only one I am familiar with is NAA-MRZ-SYD, where the first sector is usually only about 15 mins in the air - so no way you get or would expect food.

 

[JohnK]

Would be a nice trip in a Q400. Alas, Qantas normally zero's out availability on these 'milk run' flights from BNE-CNS. The individual sectors (eg BNE-ROK or MKY-TSV) will have availability though so a multi-sector flight is probably the only choice you have (but then comes issues with time between sectors etc which the online booking engine won't like)

I have researched this milk run many times and I have found occassionally that QF offers the milk run in 2 sectors eg, BNE-MKY and MKY-CNS. Would love to be able to book it as BNE-CNS but is almost impossible.

During specials I have seen BNE-ROK at $79, ROK-MKY at $99, MKY-TSV at $99 and TSV-CNS at $99. So all up for around $376, 40 SCs and 4000 FF points, and you can be on the milk run BNE-CNS. Much easier for a BNE based FFer as I would have to add on the cost of SYD-BNE-SYD as well. One day....

 

[littl_flier]

Mmm, thanks guys. I thought I might do this on an upcoming work trip instead of going direct. I don't even mind just getting the normal FF points and 30 SC's (full economy) but I checked and its completely zeroed out.

It makes sense from a QF perspective though. One day I might have to do the milkrun booked separately. I could could do the regional QLD trip with Macair and then trot back down the coast. BNE-ISA with 6 stops, then 4 stops to CNS. Would make for a nice long weekend.

 

[JohnK]

Mmm, thanks guys. I thought I might do this on an upcoming work trip instead of going direct. I don't even mind just getting the normal FF points and 30 SC's (full economy) but I checked and its completely zeroed out.

Have you tried my suggestion? Wednesday seems to be a good day to fly the milk run BNE-CNS.

Looking at airfares for Wednesday 6 Feb 08 there is red e-deal availability QF2300 BNE-MKY (via GLT and ROK) for $149 and QF2300 MKY-CNS (via TSV) for $200. OK, I will admit that it is almost double the airfare BNE-CNS but that is the price to pay for flying the milk run.

The other possibility using the above dates is to redeem an award ticket BNE-MKY-CNS (via GLT, ROK and TSV) for 12,000 FF points and $88.19 in taxes and fuel surcharges or 24,000 FF points removing the taxes and fuel surcharges. Looking at the first award option I may decide to book this one myself.

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks JohnK. I did have a quick look but was doing three sectors rather than two. I could get on QF2300 all the way but it wanted about $430 for pure red-e-deals on the three sectors.

Just checked out your suggesstions, $538 BNE-MKY(via GLT & ROK)-CNS(via TSV)-BNE. Definitely something I'll have a think about at the next sale. I have family/friends in every stop except GLT so I could take a few days over it. I'm thinking the money would be better spent on flying QF to HBA for the 'do' next year though. Its at least $200 more than DJ but.......... (and JQ doesn't get a look in domestically)

PS. Thanks for the tips JohnK. I echo others today- this forum is tops!

 

[leny]

Thank you everyone :mrgreen:

Qantas has a pretty good sale on at the moment: Brisbane-Rockhampton,Gladstone,Fraser Coast,Bundaber for $69 travel 03-11/11/07. It has some pretty good deals from Sydney too. Shame those sales are never advertised.

 

[markis10]

Note that the Gladstone-ROK leg is only 15 minutes and no food, in fact its seat belt light on all the way, you would be better getting the direct ROL flight, waiting 20 mins in the QF club at ROK and then joining the flight to Mackay.

 

[Mal]

I looked again at 'Milk runs' from Brisbane to Cairns. The minimum connection time for a through ticket is 25 mins at most of the smaller cities on the way.

So not all combinations work on a multi-trip ticket. You could probably cheat by buying seperate tickets and using online checkin, but it's added fees and more mucking around. Qantas may even be able to track these non valid connections and give you a call to advise you to rebook.

I did a search on a Saturday in November.

The following does work due to a 25 min stopover in ROK:

bne-glt-rok (QF2308) {25 mins stopover}
rok-mky-tsv-cns (QF2308)

You can also do this with the stopover in GLT:
bne-glt (QF2308) (25 mins stopover}
glt-rok-mky-tsv-cns (QF2308)

Not possible to stopover in MKY due to the stop only being 20 mins and a TSV stopover is tricky to get the booking engine to find the Milk Run flights.

Current price on the day I looked at was about $450 no matter which way the trip was taken. Pretty steep for a BNE-CNS!

Another option I found was the following for slightly less $.

BNE-GLT-ROK (QF2308) {25 mins stopover}
ROK-MKY-TSV (QF2308) {4.5 hours stopover}
TSV-CNS (QF2314)

and also
BNE-MKY (QF2514) {1:40 stopover}
MKY-TSV {QF2308} {25 min stopover}
TSV-CNS {QF2308}
This was $280 on the day I looked at.

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks Mal. If we travel on the same flight number, even if it's booked separately, would there be any issues?

Its all just ideas at the moment. I can't really justify $350-$450 to CNS in Discount Y at the moment. A YUPP would be a much better way to spend the money. Or spending a Saturday afternoon with Skoogle SYD-CBR-SYD in J.

 

[Mal]

Thanks Mal. If we travel on the same flight number, even if it's booked separately, would there be any issues?

Generally should be ok, but don't expect the FF points to credit properly without followup to Qantas. Qantas' computers don't automatically credit same flight number on same day flights normally.

Like I said though, if you disregard the MCT (Minimum connection times) even on the same flight, then Qantas may not like it too much. The invent of Online Checkin is great, because you could check into these types of flights if you have seperate tickets, but could still cause some issues. Checking in with a human is hit and miss, Expect at worst a 'telling off' (Been there, done that ) if you don't meet the MCT.

I've flown QantasLink to various Queensland ports - GLT, ROK, MKY, LRE (early next year). CTL, and I think TSV (but not entirely sure right now without checking flying records) etc. I think Qantaslink are great. But I really wouldn't think that spending $400 on a Milk run is reasonable value. Each to their own though

 

[JohnK]

I think Qantaslink are great. But I really wouldn't think that spending $400 on a Milk run is reasonable value. Each to their own though

Would you consider 12,000 FF points and $88.19 good value for the milk run?

 

[Mal]

Would you consider 12,000 FF points and $88.19 good value for the milk run?

I'm assuming you're talking about award here. Maybe. Maybe not. I've been to all those airports plenty of times before - but havn't flown into Cairns on a DH8 yet. That would be a nice landing. It should be very scenic as well TSV-CNS if the flight follows the coast.

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks Mal, I doubt I'd pay the $400 for BNE-CNS, but if I could have swung it as part of a Y work ticket, then it may have been a different story. I would think about it as an Award though.

Much better places lik LRE, Biloelia and BDB to visit before I hop up the coast for $400.

 

[Mal]

Much better places lik LRE, Biloelia and BDB to visit before I hop up the coast for $400.

LRE is currently on sale $99 e/w for a limited amount of time (Nov 4-11 only). Biloelia is also on sale for $79. You could always fly to Blackwater and get a free 25 min (probably) stopover in Biloelia on the way out At least BDB has the Bundy Rum distillery. I flew up there one Sat just for the tour (although I recommend doing the tour during the week. The packaging plant isn't open on weekends).