Questions on travel to Papua New Guinea (on QF)

[Tassie Devil]

A trip out to Bomona War Cemetery is well worth it, if you are in to that sort of thing. It is beauitiful and well kept and certainly makes you reflect on things. I wouldn't go out that way without a local escort though as it is out of town a fair way and can be difficult to find.

A trip to the North Coast via Popendetta will be very pleasent. One of lifes great experiences is flying in to Popendetta in bad weather in a Dash 8.

 

[Austman]

One of lifes great experiences is flying in to Popendetta in bad weather in a Dash 8.

Will be doing this twice. Can't predict the weather but...

 

[PineappleSkip]

wondered about the Yacht Club in the late afternoon and maybe for dinner? I'll be alone so that might be a bit more of a social place? Is it easy to get in as a visitor? And is getting back to the CP at night easy?

I see that both the HI and CP have shuttle busses for the airport. How do they work? I've emailed both hotels but got no reply, so far. Do they have a desk at the airport where you ask for the bus?

There are some Ok taxi services: Red Spot, Scarlet and Ark. Their numbers are in Papua New Guinea (PNG) White Pages - Telephone Directory . As noted elsewhere, don't hail taxis in street. Licensing is totally corrupt and most street taxis have incompetent drivers in unroadworthy vehicles.

You'll find the people from the hotels inside the terminals in uniforms, with signs. It appears to be traditional in PNG to ignore emails, so give the CP a call.

If you go to Ella Beach, go in the morning and go with a group. The Ella Beach Hotel is also a good spot for meals.

Agreed. While other parts of town are a lot worse, there are rascals wandering up and down Ela Beach, I had a friend carjacked there.

This could be an excuse for an AFF gathering in POM. Any starters? Just wondering what it entails, I've never been to one. I suspect the Balus Bar, or the Terrace Bar, at Airways would be the logical venue.

Cheers skip

Cheers skip

 

[openseat]

A trip out to Bomona War Cemetery is well worth it, if you are in to that sort of thing. It is beauitiful and well kept and certainly makes you reflect on things. I wouldn't go out that way without a local escort though as it is out of town a fair way and can be difficult to find.

Bomana itself is quite safe. When in POM I stay out near the War Cemetery. The problem is nine-mile which is on the way from the CBD to Bomana. It's just a matter of driving with care and locked doors! I must say I've had no trouble.

 

[docjames]

I have been following this thread with interest, but I cant help but think POM is not somewhere I ever want to go voluntarily......:shock:

 

[Tassie Devil]

I have been following this thread with interest, but I cant help but think POM is not somewhere I ever want to go voluntarily......:shock:

Yes, it amuses me that after a couple of weeks travelling on business around PNG, the guys at work always say "how was your holiday?"

I keep threatening them that i would be quite happy for them to take the "holiday"

The thing is PNG is actually quite a beautiful place, especially New Britain and up around Madang, Wewak, etc, but there is just so much corruption and nasty things that go on that it scares a lot of people off going there.

It does take a fair bit of getting used to the way things happen as well.

Flying Air Nuigini for instance, you often get a dose of "TANGFU" = Typical Air New Guinea F$%# Up. The stories i could tell about flying around PNG?

 

[PineappleSkip]

It does take a fair bit of getting used to the way things happen as well.

...or in many cases don't happen when they should

Flying Air Nuigini for instance, you often get a dose of "TANGFU" = Typical Air New Guinea F$%# Up. The stories i could tell about flying around PNG?

You don't even need to fly. Most spectacular TANGFU I've seen is their loyalty program, launched with much fanfare in October 2009, and again in April 2010, and still mired in 'administrative issues'.

Cheers skip

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hey Austman,

Don't forget to post a trip report; looking forward to hearing you survived and all is well.

JV

 

[Austman]

Hey Austman,

Don't forget to post a trip report; looking forward to hearing you survived and all is well.

JV

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/trip-tufi-dive-resort-papua-27731.html

 

[Austman]

Thanks for all the help!! I'm back from my trip now, see my report:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/trip-tufi-dive-resort-papua-27731.html


Q1. Qantas international at Cairns
I know the international Qantas Club is closed, but Jetstar give Starclass passengers access to the Reef Lounge. Does Qantas now do the same for gold/platinum/QC passengers?

A: Yes, if travelling on QantasLink! Also you get access to the Air Niugini Paradise Lounge in Port Moresby International when travelling on QF flight number.

Q2. Visa on arrival at POM
Costs PGK100.00. Is it possible to pay in AUD or credit card? Are there ATMs or a bank before the VOA process? Do you need a passport photo for the VOA?

A: Cash only. An ATM is there BEFORE the VOA process. Banks and ATMs exit after the VOA. No passport photo is needed.

Q3. ATMs at POM airport
Are there any/many? Is it risky to arrive without PGK? Are there banks in case the ATMs don't work?

A: ATMs exist before and after the VOA process. They will let you through to a bank, which is just on the other side of the VOA counter, if you don't have the kina.

Q4. Port Moresby
Is it really that dangerous? I'm at the Holiday Inn for 2 nights (on points stays that I needed to align my international and PNG domestic flights), but I plan to at least see the place.

A: It's not so dangerous in the day. It's more unpleasant in parts, than dangerous. 100% of the persons I spoke to said it's dangerous at night.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Only bit I would qualify is POM not dangerous in day. Some parts ok. Some parts are like 'never go there'. Many in between. I was carjacked on a Sat afternoon, but not in the best part of town. Cheers skip

 

[Austman]

Only bit I would qualify is POM not dangerous in day. Some parts ok. Some parts are like 'never go there'. Many in between. I was carjacked on a Sat afternoon, but not in the best part of town. Cheers skip

Q1. Qantas international at Cairns
I know the international Qantas Club is closed, but Jetstar give Starclass passengers access to the Reef Lounge. Does Qantas now do the same for gold/platinum/QC passengers?

A: Yes, if travelling on QantasLink! Also you get access to the Air Niugini Paradise Lounge in Port Moresby International when travelling on QF flight number.

Q2. Visa on arrival at POM
Costs PGK100.00. Is it possible to pay in AUD or credit card? Are there ATMs or a bank before the VOA process? Do you need a passport photo for the VOA?

A: Cash only. An ATM is there BEFORE the VOA process. Banks and ATMs exist after the VOA. No passport photo is needed.

Q3. ATMs at POM airport
Are there any/many? Is it risky to arrive without PGK? Are there banks in case the ATMs don't work?

A: ATMs exist before and after the VOA process. They will let you through to a bank, which is just on the other side of the VOA counter, if you don't have the kina.

Q4. Port Moresby
Is it really that dangerous? I'm at the Holiday Inn for 2 nights (on points stays that I needed to align my international and PNG domestic flights), but I plan to at least see the place.

A: The central town part of Port Moresby is not so dangerous in the day. It's more unpleasant in parts, than dangerous. 100% of the persons I spoke to said it's dangerous at night.

 

[ps107]

I will be going to PNG later this week and returning POM-CNS on the Qantaslink Q400 service. My Air Niugini connecting flight is scheduled to arrive at 0820 and I'm supposed to be catching QF192 at 0920. How long before departure do you reckon they'll close the flight given that it's POM and *only* a Q400?

 

[drmikki]

I think the more pertinent question may be "will my Air Niugini flight happen that day"? Unless they have greatly improved, they have quite a few cancellations of flights. (Yes, worse than Tiger).

Unfortunately I can't tell you how late they close boarding on the POM-CNS flight as our flight was between 1.5-2 hours late and we got no info whatsoever... Indeed, the flight info display was for the wrong day and bore no relevance to the actual flight departures!

Suffice it to say you should expect a degree of 'Island time' and be flexible. The PNG part should sort itself out (eventually), its more if you have an inflexible connection in CNS it may be a problem.

Maybe someone who has more recent experience (mine was 2 yrs ago) might have more info...

 

[ps107]

I've taken the 0935 PX flight out of POM a couple of times in the past, but even that was cutting it fine. Possibly an option if I miss my flight - I think it actually gets to CNS earlier than QF192 but probably takes longer to unload etc. Got a couple of hours up my sleeve in CNS anyway.

My last attempt to get to POM involved being whisked onto an F100 with no boarding pass after the flight had closed and waiting behind the curtain in the galley with another expat while they pulled a couple of local passengers off to make room for us. It was a long, awkward walk to my seat. Thankfully this time there are no [scheduled] stopovers on the way to POM.

I haven't even left New Zealand yet and I'm already looking forward to the sweet smell of the inside of the Q400.

 

[yo yo ma]

I will be going to PNG later this week and returning POM-CNS on the Qantaslink Q400 service. My Air Niugini connecting flight is scheduled to arrive at 0820 and I'm supposed to be catching QF192 at 0920.

I frequently do POM-CNS with no problems (my charter arrives at 0815). I do travel with hand luggage only and always sit near the front of the charter. My work colleagues do travel with luggage and always make the flight too.

Those times shouldn't be a problem

 

[PineappleSkip]

1 hr layover strikes me as minimal and I'd be building in time for delay if arriving on PX. While cancellations are uncommon, delays are very common. PX are pretty laid back but I always check in early at POM due to possibility of aircraft changes and overboking. Not sure how laid back QF would be, but its actually PX who issue boarding passes etc.

cheers skip

 

[ps107]

Haha - currently in Gateway Hotel courtesy of PX4's late departure this morning which meant I missed my onward leg.

 

[ps107]

Hooked up with QF192 no problems on the way back. Much better 'snack box' than the PX 'breakfast', and nearly 50% empty seats compared to the F100 full of Japanese going to Cairns that I always seem to strike on PX.