Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV [$/SC flexi]

[Horatio]

My wife and I were looking for a cheap flight away to take advantage of a free night’s accommodation that we won with a hotel chain that has properties everywhere in Australia (I realise this creates its own set of false economies). Initially we were looking at one of the cities closest to CBR, but the prices weren’t fabulous so we decided to spread the net wider and see if we could make a small status run of it (she currently has a double status credits offer which should help her retain platinum).

Anyway, I found a red e-deal CBR-BNE-TSV for $205 for this coming weekend (23-24 Feb) which in and of itself wasn’t terrible. But I also saw that the Flexi-Saver fare was just $247. That seemed a very small differential for the extra SCs, so we grabbed it. With the offer, my wife will accrue 100 SCs at just $2.47 each, which we thought was a great outcome.

Do people think this is potentially an anomaly, or have QF and VA been competing on this particular route? As a reference point, if we booked the two legs separately as Flexi-Savers, the total would have been $614.

For the return journey, we found VA flexible fares at suitable times for virtually the same price. As a side note - using $300 in travel credits from an earlier service-related problem, we were only up for about $190 in full for TSV-SYD-CBR. An added bonus was that we got to use an upgrade voucher each, meaning we go J Class from TSV-SYD.

Overall, a very good result for us. Granted we still have to spend a few bob to get one free night in a hotel, but we’re very comfortable with this type of hit-and-run weekend away.

Cheers, Horatio

 

[samh004]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

It is good value, but CBR-BNE-TSV is 50SC not 100SC, I think you'll find (20 + 30).

 

[Simo]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

It is good value, but CBR-BNE-TSV is 50SC not 100SC, I think you'll find (20 + 30).

They have DSC offer

 

[TheEmu]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

Very hard to see a downside to any of that, Horatio.
Just checked the reverse trip, same week-end (no, I don't have a free night in CBR hotel ) and there are a few Flex-Saver seats @ $247 TSV-BNE-CBR.
Best return on QF is a Red-e-Deal for $308 so your upgraded VA return is a sweet deal as well.
What more excuse for a quick week-end get-away in sunny TSV (its p!##ing down right now!) do you need?

 

[samh004]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

They have DSC offer

My bad.

Waiting for one of those myself

Seems to be plenty of available days at that price, perhaps it's TSV thing (they have a lucrative JASA too).

 

[TheEmu]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

Waiting for one of those myself

Aren't we all? (Assumes praying position)

 

[RWJ777]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

Thanks for posting this Horatio; that's a great little earner. I'm often in CBR for extended periods so this would be a good means to 'defrost' in the long, colder months.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

This seems to be one of those trips that you either do or don't know about. I was told about this in 2011 and used it for the 2012 FT AGM. Coupled with a cheap night at the local HI it was a cheap weekend.

The only downside was having the same crew from BNE-TSV-BNE-CBR. They were excellent but amazed that someone would do the trip over a weekend. I wasn't the only person doing it for different reasons.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

Thanks for posting this Horatio; that's a great little earner. I'm often in CBR for extended periods so this would be a good means to 'defrost' in the long, colder months.

I would have thought all the hot air coming from Parliament House would thaw you out fairly quickly.

 

[Horatio]

Re: Unusually good value, CBR-BNE-TSV?

Thanks for posting this Horatio; that's a great little earner. I'm often in CBR for extended periods so this would be a good means to 'defrost' in the long, colder months.

Hi RWJ777.

I have checked this for other times during the year and the Flexi-Saver pricing seems to be pretty consistent. Clearly some others were well and truly clued into it, including Hvr.Like you say, though, it's a very appealling thought for the end of July. I have spent 21 of the last 22 winters in Canberra and as you know it can get trying (although the days are generally pretty pleasant if you're out of the wind).

Ozbeachbabe; Federal Parliament almost never sits in July, so I guess it's that very lack of hot air that contributes to just how cold it is!

Cheers, Horatio