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I really would love to go to Australia (Adelaide)this February with my son. How difficult do you think it is to non rev there? I am on the eastcoast USA...can easily get to LAX and leave from there. There just seems to be a couple of connects from what I can research, makes me a bit nervous about getting stuck someplace. ~luv2fly
Here are a couple of good links to start with:
<a href="http://www.nonrev.net/articles/australia/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nonrev.net/articles/australia/index.htm</A>
<a href="http://www.nonrev.net/articles/al/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nonrev.net/articles/al/index.htm</A>
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Hey ya.
Feb/Mar are traditionally the "low and slow" months on the South Pacific, so I'd say the odds would be reasonable. Who are you with? Knowing who you get ID's with may help some in suggesting some alternates for you.
As there are only a handful of nonstop flights from LAX and 1 daily from SFO down south, and given you are on the east coast of USA, you may also want to consider coming down via Europe. There are a myriad of opportunities from within Asia to many ports in Oz, although SQ, CX and MH are the only 3 foreign carriers to offer service nonstop into ADL from their respective hubs. Getting to anywhere else in Oz, particularly MEL and SYD will mean easy connections to ADL as well. Quite often you will find it's easier to get nonrev through Asia than on the nonstops from the West Coast. This is not only just due to the few services offered, but also with the capacity restrictions placed on the carriers heading southbound over many months of the year with the prevailing winds. The distance, against the wind, is right at the limit of the 744 endurance, and quite often QF for one has to leave seats and/or cargo space empty, pending the winds forecast.
Normally I'd say February would be fine to travel, but these days with a myriad of "specials" on offer due to lower demand, it may not be. Stick to a Tue/Wed/Thu departure if
possible. Any more info, holler. Cheers.
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Thanks Chris for the links. And thanks Al for the suggestions. I am with Southwest. I have lots of experience traveling within the USA. I did learn this summer how to get back-up tickets on other airlines to assure my arrival back home from our trips. I have no experience traveling outside of the USA. So all your suggestions are a great help to me. Also,if you could please move Australia alittle closer to the USA it might make it easier for me and my son to get there :-)
~Luv2fly
I am going to Blair Athol,(South Australia) I am assuming the closest airport is Adelaide. Am I correct?
~Luv2fly
Well yeah - we are one hell of a long way from the rest of the world, that's for sure!! We like it that way - keeps us immune from undesireables like Migflanker and Coyne !! LOL.
That's why I am always amazed at the people that come here for a week or 10 days or so. It's such a massive country, and takes so long to get here, you'd want to make it worth your while!
Blair Athol is a suburb of ADL, so ADL is definitely the airport to head for. I know WN staff used to get ID100 with Ansett, but as they are now toast, I'm not too sure if Qantas give you anything or not. Do you have anything with Air Canada or United? Both fly down here daily and you can pick up cheap as chips internet one ways, planning ahead, with VirginBlue.com.au or Qantas.com.au Air Pacific from LAX via Fiji is an option if they give you anything - and there are worse places in the world to get stuck at other than Fiji if you did get stuck there!
Give us a yell for more info when/if you need it.
Also check with Randy (ORD correspondent.) He's WN and has travelled quite a bit out of the USA. He'd probably have some pointers for WN staff.
Cheers.
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Dear Luv,
You should pick up a copy of the Interline Travel Guide from the Pass Bureau for complete details on our agreements, it's usually published annually sometime during the first quarter. This is the WN bible for those of us that travel frequently. You can still obtain the 2002 from them even though it's rather late in the year.
As for the agreements mentioned by Al, QF offers an ID90 for both international and domestic travel. AC offers a service charge pass based on distance. FJ offers an ID90. When you determine your routing you can call the Pass Bureau for a quote. Our UA agreement is an ID90 walkup, the Pass Bureau can provide you with an estimated quote but the rate is actually a 90% discount off lowest Y fare at the time of purchase at their ticket counter.
I hope this helps.
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Thanks, it does help. I do own a copy of the WN bible: the Interline Travel Guide :-) A bit overwhelming, but I am learning how to use it ;-) You make everything seem so simple! Thanks...I need someone to make it sound simple!
~Luv2fly
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Well yeah - we are one hell of a long way from the rest of the world, that's for sure!! We like it that way - keeps us immune from undesireables like Migflanker and Coyne !! LOL.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My fiendish plot to inject Australia with a little of the California life style has been discovered. Curses, foiled again. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Keep'em flying
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Thanx Mig, but you can keep the People's Republik of Kalifornia in it's own little place! McCarthyism is not dead in Oz !!!! :-)
Cheerio.
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Hey ya,
I tried SYD last Feb. Sometime around the 18th. The winds were a huge problem. After gettting bumped four nights in a row, I gave up. The loads started to lighten up, but the loads coming back went crazy. Does anybody know how Jan. is? I want to try again in '04. Can't decide on Jan or late Feb. I plan on flying UA out of SFO or LAX.
Thanks
January is a horrible time - there may be space, but don't count on much and be flexible. Mid to late Jan is the end of the long summer vacation down here, as well as industry and corporate Xmas shutdown period, so there are many families travelling. Also the VFR Xmas traffic is returning, and there is now quite a large Nth American ski season traffic base as well. If you can do February, I'd reccommend that as the better of the two options, given Feb/Mar and Nov down here are our 3 slowest months.
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Thanks Al, good info. I think I'll stick to late Feb. Early Mar.