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New Route: Qantas Airways to Queenstown from Melbourne from $269 One Way @ Qantas

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Qantas will launch new seasonal flights direct from Melbourne to Queenstown to meet the growing number of Australians seeking winter holidays in New Zealand over the peak ski season*.

Between 21 June and 27 August 2019, Qantas will operate three services per week between Melbourne and Queenstown with a Boeing 737 aircraft, offering more than 10,000 seats on the route over the winter peak.

These new flights are in addition to the Qantas Group’s 33 existing Queenstown services available each week throughout winter, with Qantas’ flights operating from Sydney and Brisbane and Jetstar’s flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast.

Qantas International CEO Alison Webster said the new seasonal Queenstown flights would allow more holidaymakers to get to the ski fields on the South Island and meet increased demand over Queenstown’s busiest period.

“Every year we see more and more Australians travelling across the Tasman to experience a ski season in New Zealand,” Ms Webster said.

“We know there is already strong demand from Melburnians travelling to Queenstown in winter and our existing flights from Sydney are very popular.

“These new flights from Melbourne will allow Victorians to fly direct, maximising the time they have on the slopes and to explore everything else this beautiful destination has to offer.”

The flights – which will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays – have been made possible by reducing Qantas’ Melbourne-Christchurch schedule to four services per week over the winter when demand is lower.

To celebrate the launch, Qantas is offering sale fares from $269 one-way in Economy and $599 one-way in Business from Melbourne to Queenstown, available on qantas.com (opens in new window) or through travel agents until 11 March 2019.

Source: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/get-your-sk…

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  • +8

    $269 is hardly a bargain though

    • +1

      And it'll be in a B737. Worse than Jetstar!

      • +1

        but the price includes luggage.

        • So?

          Aug 16
          JQ
          MEL - ZQN
          $330 inc. 20kg luggage, meal, seat selection, 1375 FF points, 20 Status Credits

          QF
          MEL - ZQN
          $379 inc. 35kg luggage, meal, 1000 FF points, 20 Status Credits. Seat selection an extra $15 ($394 total)

          So while you get less luggage, if you intend on hiring your gear, you get more points, same credits AND seat selection for cheaper than QF. You fly over in an A322 which is considerably better in economy than a B737.

          This is the whole Bali w/ Jetstar vs Qantas again. There is no incentive to fly Qantas from Melbourne for lesser comfort (In Bali's case, it's JQ's B787 vs. QF's B737).

          • @Cyphar: For the seats,

            QF B737 seat Pitch 30 Width 17.2
            JQ A320 seat Pitch 29 Width 17.9
            They are very similar, except JQ A320 don't have free movie / entertainment.

            For on time rate, QF 88.9% vs JQ 76.5%

            For the price, JQ "20kg luggage, meal, seat selection" costs $57 extra each leg, which are $114 extra for direct return flight. Oh and it's not really a meal, it's a $10 in flight meal voucher in the bundle. $10 can get a coffee and muffin that's it. Want a wine? Pay. QF price includes meal and alcohol as well.

            Also, JQ charges $25 bulk item fee per item if you carry snow gear. I don't know whether QF charge bulk item fee, most likely no, but could be wrong.

            That's for non status pax.
            QF status pax comes with free seat selection and up to $60kg luggage.

            • @jerrysfang:

              They are very similar, except JQ A320 don't have free movie / entertainment.

              It comes with the tablet, that said there's limited on choice on both IFE's

              For on time rate, QF 88.9% vs JQ 76.5%

              That's the thing with averages. They aren't a reliable example. There's far more to it than a figure. Case in point, I've never had any major delays with Jetstar in my years of family trips with them but in my 4 international trips this year with Qantas, none of them have left on time, one had me sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours, 1 was waiting for crew and the other 2 were unannounced. Likewise, other people will have endless issues with Jetstar but have a perfect run with Qantas.

              Oh and it's not really a meal, it's a $10 in flight meal voucher in the bundle. $10 can get a coffee and muffin that's it

              Annecdotal? Done the flight many times and I get a hot meal comparable to Qantas Y in similar mid-haul flights

              For the price, JQ "20kg luggage, meal, seat selection" costs $57 extra each leg, which are $114 extra for direct return flight.

              Granted that I quoted a one way fares for both. Interestingly, with all inclusions on return, at current pricing its JQ $387 to QF $583 for 16/08 to 23/08

              Also, JQ charges $25 bulk item fee per item if you carry snow gear. I don't know whether QF charge bulk item fee, most likely no, but could be wrong.

              I mean, when you're saving nearly $200, an extra $25 isn't going to really matter except to those pinching pennies

              That's for non status pax. QF status pax comes with free seat selection and up to $60kg luggage.

              I'm QF Gold and I'd get 46KG. P & P1 gets 50KG. That said, I've never used anywhere near that amount unless combining with my family.I don't have my own board though so that would help in this situation.

              The point I'm making here is that being OzBargain and deals, Qantas don't really offer anything competitive here. It's not like their $500 flights to HKG which even JQ can't beat and would really only appeal to those exclusively loyal to QF.

              • @Cyphar: mate, $269 One Way @ Qantas is considerably a pretty good deal.

                Lets just compare the cheapest fare in winter.

                MEL-ZQN QF177 on 23/07 $269
                ZQN-MEL QF178 on 30/07 $204
                Total $473

                MEL-ZQN JQ219 on 22/07 $169 + $57 + $25 = $251
                ZQN-MEL JQ220 on 26/07 $134 + $57 + $25 = $216
                Total $467

                My point is, QF for this price is pretty good deal. For those 2 quotes I'd definitely go for QF, for the 50KG luggage allowance.
                For the seat, I have been only sitting in row 4 when flying QF 737 in the last 2 years. JQ Plus bundle can only select standard seat, but you'd still have to pay more for exit row or max bundle.

                Oh and if you are Gold, then you can only use QF lounge in the dungeon (MEL) when you fly JQ, but if you fly QF, you can use EK lounge.

  • -4

    Every year Qantas pays zero tax despite taking over a billon dollars profit because Australia is a corporate welfare state.

    • Sounds like you are confusing profit with revenue as far as the corporate tax is concerned?

    • I believe they didn't pay tax for a while when they were in the shit, but they definitely are paying tax this year. Also worth noting that the majority of international carriers operate in even more favourable conditions, including a few being state owned and therefore not being beholden to shareholders as Qantas is.

  • is this part of the new AirNZ trans tasman deal or is it Qantas metal?

    • QF metal on a B737. Don't bother. Cramped AF unless you intend on flying business class

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