QF J sale to Johannesburg

[dvt]

Hi,

I'm looking at fares from Melbourne to JNB for March/April next year. Sale fares are currently $4300 return and availability is very good. Does anyone have any insight on prices, is this a good deal? Prices even dip a little at Christmas so I'm wondering whether I should wait for a better deal or promo (double status credits etc) or just bite the bullet and lock in that price.

Thanks in advance!

 

[toasty]

It's a very good deal. The current sale is 4.3k but only if you're travelling with someone else, otherwise it's 4.4k. For comparison, last sale was Dec/Jan for 4.8k. Another sale back in Feb 16 was 4.7k.

Just beware that QF have a tendency to put unrefurbished 747's on this route. Expect an angle lie flat but hope for a fully flat bed.

 

[dvt]

It's a very good deal. The current sale is 4.3k but only if you're travelling with someone else, otherwise it's 4.4k. For comparison, last sale was Dec/Jan for 4.8k. Another sale back in Feb 16 was 4.7k.

Just beware that QF have a tendency to put unrefurbished 747's on this route. Expect an angle lie flat but hope for a fully flat bed.

Thanks for the information. I decided to book last night, the price seemed to be very good. I also did a price match with the fly365 website so I got the ticket for $4k!! Price match was approved this morning!

 

[takenbyaliens]

I fly this route and last time both ways was up in the old FC section on a lay flat. I am told the old 747s are off the route in June. I'm on it again next Feb. In the dream seat 5C on the new layout. Cost me $4.1k from memory. Same as this year.

 

[dvt]

I was hoping for the old first class but I also believe that they will be off the route by then. I've chosen 5B for both legs, looks like a great seat!

 

[takenbyaliens]

Yep that's what I've got too Not 5C....doh. Although there is talk they may keep it another 18 months....who knows...but crew told me it's a goner.

 

[SYD]

I booked the same fare about this time last year. Same fare and the lowest I've seen. You did very well with the price match.

On the QF website, we were able to get open jaw flights home out of CPT for + $150 ea in SA J up to JNB then QF home. Some handy VA SCs (family pool) on top of a reasonable QF haul for the fare paid.

We had refurb 747 both ways. Remember to do POSH seat selection (Port Out Starboard Home) for the chance to see icebergs.

 

[dvt]

I booked the same fare about this time last year. Same fare and the lowest I've seen. You did very well with the price match.

On the QF website, we were able to get open jaw flights home out of CPT for + $150 ea in SA J up to JNB then QF home. Some handy VA SCs (family pool) on top of a reasonable QF haul for the fare paid.

We had refurb 747 both ways. Remember to do POSH seat selection (Port Out Starboard Home) for the chance to see icebergs.

thanks for the great tips!

 

[juddles]

Regarding refurb/non-refurb, one of the the two non-refurb has had a F cabin facelift and should be great - so even if it is a non-refurb, 50/50 chance of a very nice seat!! In any case, I think the new J seats in the refurb jets are better than the F seats in the old plane, even though that old F cabin is fun

What you don't want is to get a non-refurb J seat!! I would suggest checking on expertflyer what plane it is before you book - even though there are no guarantees it wont change, IMHO, and I do LOTS of flights on the SCL-SYD non-refurb / refurb lottery run, they usually stick to the plan. As a WP with QF you can then tell if it is an old plane and if you can get a seat in the front cabin. But if you have flexibility of date, I would go for a refurb and 5B or 5J (the "rockstar" seats)

A couple of days ago I lost the SYD/SCL lottery and flew in the old F cabin. Another pax was horrified - he said it looked like the cabin hadn't been updated or cleaned since the 70's!

 

[takenbyaliens]

Yes I got the SA connecting flight in J for about the same. Wonder why they do not use BA as there are a few flights that work and have caught before (e.g. BA316 CPT>JNB).

 

[SYD]

Yes I got the SA connecting flight in J for about the same. Wonder why they do not use BA as there are a few flights that work and have caught before (e.g. BA316 CPT>JNB).

There are BA options, but I've only seen whY availability for about $10 more than SA J!

The cheap add on only seems to work for me <SYD>-JNB//CPT-JNB-<SYD>. SYD-CPT (Ret) doesn't appear to benefit from the Sale fare and prices much higher. It might be doable as a multi-sector if you have the patience to grapple with the QF multi-sector engine...

 

[takenbyaliens]

Yes doable as a multi sector which is what I used. It pinged up the SA J sector as the only option. I think I paid about AUD120 which is way cheaper than BA as you say. I have used BA when I have flown QR or MR in the past.

 

[madrooster]

Yes I got the SA connecting flight in J for about the same. Wonder why they do not use BA as there are a few flights that work and have caught before (e.g. BA316 CPT>JNB).

They do. BA is a little more though as BA's fuel fines are more than SA's fuel fines.