Now for something completely different

[Blackduck59]

27 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

$9,000 ,That seems like a lot of money?

 

A suggestion Lyle.

If the cruise doesn’t happen and you can fly you could do a road trip from Auckland to Queenstown and fly to Sydney.

 

That is for Premium Economy and it does feel like a lot of money.  If the cruise doesn't go chances are the borders are closed in New Zealand so the road trip wouldn't happen as plan D.1 but a road trip is a possibility.

We're going with the "trip is on as Planned" approach and hoping a government health agencies in all our countries get the vaccine situation sorted. Just call it Canadian optimism or foolishness take your pick. BTW all accommodations are free cancellation and pay when you stay so no money outlay. The flights have a $200.00 per person cancellation fee.

Edited April 2, 2021 by Blackduck59

[NSWP]

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

That is for Premium Economy and it does feel like a lot of money.  If the cruise doesn't go chances are the borders are closed in New Zealand so the road trip wouldn't happen as plan D.1 but a road trip is a possibility.

We're going with the "trip is on as Planned" approach and hoping a government health agencies in all our countries get the vaccine situation sorted. Just call it Canadian optimism or foolishness take your pick. BTW all accommodations are fully refundable and pay when you stay so no money outlay. The flights have a $200.00 per person cancellation fee.

Explains it, price is ok For PE. Stay positive Lyle. The pies await

[MMDown Under]

32 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

That is for Premium Economy and it does feel like a lot of money.  If the cruise doesn't go chances are the borders are closed in New Zealand so the road trip wouldn't happen as plan D.1 but a road trip is a possibility.

We're going with the "trip is on as Planned" approach and hoping a government health agencies in all our countries get the vaccine situation sorted. Just call it Canadian optimism or foolishness take your pick. BTW all accommodations are free cancellation and pay when you stay so no money outlay. The flights have a $200.00 per person cancellation fee.

$9000 for two Premium Economy?  What was cost of business class?  I have mentioned that Air Canada didn't give my friend a cash refund for her business class tickets, just a credit!

[Blackduck59]

29 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

$9000 for two Premium Economy?  What was cost of business class?  I have mentioned that Air Canada didn't give my friend a cash refund for her business class tickets, just a credit!

We didn't even ask, I think our travel consultant would have pitched Business class if the price was close. I think that the refund situation reached a head here a few months back and the government got involved. I seem to recall there were some "orders" emanating from Ottawa and refunds began to be issued, your friend should check it out.

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

That is for Premium Economy and it does feel like a lot of money. 

 

Yikes that is high😱. Business class from SYD to Mad was only just over $AU7000. Normally I have seen PE around the $AU3000 mark. 

[MMDown Under]

4 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

We didn't even ask, I think our travel consultant would have pitched Business class if the price was close. I think that the refund situation reached a head here a few months back and the government got involved. I seem to recall there were some "orders" emanating from Ottawa and refunds began to be issued, your friend should check it out.

Thanks, I will.  You are too trusting.  TAs often offer best deal for themselves, not necessarily the best deal for you.  A friend recommended a TA who specialised in business class airfares so I used her because I had an into one location, out of another flight situation.  After she look forever and it was getting close to departure, I did it myself. When I thanked her and told her I found a fare myself, she said she couldn't do that fare.  Maybe not enough commission?  

[Blackduck59]

8 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

Yikes that is high😱. Business class from SYD to Mad was only just over $AU7000. Normally I have seen PE around the $AU3000 mark. 

That was just under $9,000.00 for both of us. I think we paid about $5,000.00 for economy seats on British Airways YVR to Heathrow in 2008. We decided after an economy flight to and from Hawaii followed by a "First Class" flight to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines 737 more like premium economy on long haul flights now) after that we made the decision that we would never fly economy again; good thing Premium economy is a thing now it's worth the extra money to us and we can afford that better than Business class. We can stay in nicer hotels on land and a veranda suite on a Celebrity Cruise with the savings from Business class to Premium economy.

[By The Bay]

6 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

That was just under $9,000.00 for both of us. I think we paid about $5,000.00 for economy seats on British Airways YVR to Heathrow in 2008. We decided after an economy flight to and from Hawaii followed by a "First Class" flight to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines 737 more like premium economy on long haul flights now) after that we made the decision that we would never fly economy again; good thing Premium economy is a thing now it's worth the extra money to us and we can afford that better than Business class. We can stay in nicer hotels on land and a veranda suite on a Celebrity Cruise with the savings from Business class to Premium economy.

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

Yikes that is high😱. Business class from SYD to Mad was only just over $AU7000. Normally I have seen PE around the $AU3000 mark. 

Not too many flight deals around currently and not a lot of competition on the Australia/Canada air routes, unlike to and from Europe.

 

[Chiliburn]

There where some Americans on a roll call ,said from DFW it was $US14,000 for 2 on qantas .That was a couple of months ago.

A couple of years ago you could get it $A900 return.

[NSWP]

9 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

There where some Americans on a roll call ,said from DFW it was $US14,000 for 2 on qantas .That was a couple of months ago.

A couple of years ago you could get it $A900 return.

Correct, 2 years ago, return fares from here to the east coast of the Americas, north and south, under $1000.

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Maybe not enough commission?  

 

I read somewhere that they get around 2.5% commission on flights alone. If a customer books a holiday package it is between 25-30%.

 

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

That was just under $9,000.00 for both of us. I think we paid about $5,000.00 for economy seats on British Airways YVR to Heathrow in 2008. We decided after an economy flight to and from Hawaii followed by a "First Class" flight to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines 737 more like premium economy on long haul flights now) after that we made the decision that we would never fly economy again; good thing Premium economy is a thing now it's worth the extra money to us and we can afford that better than Business class. We can stay in nicer hotels on land and a veranda suite on a Celebrity Cruise with the savings from Business class to Premium economy.

 

Well this is embarrassing😳 I completely misunderstood, I thought you meant $9000 per person😂. Personally the few times I have been in PE I have not found it worth the extra cost from economy😕. It probably depends on the airline but after my disappointments I am hesitant to be forking out that money again. 

[Docker123]

Just did a quick webjet check for January Mel-van-mel Air Canada

 

PE was $4900 pp

Bus was $8200 pp.

 

Others were around these prices.

 

[Chiliburn]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Correct, 2 years ago, return fares from here to the east coast of the Americas, north and south, under $1000.

I think last time we got it about $900 to `Hell  A’ and $100 per flight after that.
We did 6 domestic flights $600

[lyndarra]

In 2017 when wife and I did a 7 day Mississippi cruise on American Queen, we decided to go Business Class. SYD/LAX/New Orleans/Memphis/Atlanta/LAX/SYD.

We chose to business class for the US internal flights but shouldn't have bothered, they were barely Premium Economy standard.

Total was AUD15,000 for both.

[Blackduck59]

11 minutes ago, Docker123 said:

Just did a quick webjet check for January Mel-van-mel Air Canada

 

PE was $4900 pp

Bus was $8200 pp.

 

Others were around these prices.

 

Thanks for checking the difference is probably exchange rate also the multi city aspect. We can get Maple Leaf lounge access for the layover in Vancouver for the low fee of $25.00 each. We are taking an earlier flight in case of weather and the flight to Auckland is truly a "Red Eye" we fly out of Vancouver at almost midnight on the 10th and arrive in Auckland around 11:00 AM Auckland time. It is a 14 hour flight.

[ilikeanswers]

1 minute ago, lyndarra said:

We chose to business class for the US internal flights but shouldn't have bothered, they were barely Premium Economy standard.

Total was AUD15,000 for both.

 

I remember walking past business class on an intercontinental flight in Europe and I thought that does not look worth the extra dollars🤑. To me business class is only worth it for long haul flights. They usually have lie flat beds so at least you're paying extra for something. 

[Blackduck59]

4 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

In 2017 when wife and I did a 7 day Mississippi cruise on American Queen, we decided to go Business Class. SYD/LAX/New Orleans/Memphis/Atlanta/LAX/SYD.

We chose to business class for the US internal flights but shouldn't have bothered, they were barely Premium Economy standard.

Total was AUD15,000 for both.

Yes I get the impression the domestic "Business" class is similar to long haul premium economy. Like I said we flew "First class " on Alaska Airlines Vancouver to Honolulu and back, it was decidedly better than coach. 2 seats in the same space as 3 across and also more space between rows. Much like premium economy on long haul now. To be sure the original decision about flights some time ago was if we can't afford business class flights we can't afford the trip, then we discovered Premium Economy which makes it more affordable for the better cruise cabin and hotels on land. We have a few more hotels to book in Oz and of course the hire car.

[Chiliburn]

20 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

In 2017 when wife and I did a 7 day Mississippi cruise on American Queen, we decided to go Business Class. SYD/LAX/New Orleans/Memphis/Atlanta/LAX/SYD.

We chose to business class for the US internal flights but shouldn't have bothered, they were barely Premium Economy standard.

Total was AUD15,000 for both.

 

15 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

I remember walking past business class on an intercontinental flight in Europe and I thought that does not look worth the extra dollars🤑. To me business class is only worth it for long haul flights. They usually have lie flat beds so at least you're paying extra for something. 

I would rather go with a cheaper flight and spend the money on a good hotel. Marriott or a four seasons.

The kind of hotel that opens your beer can for you.

[MMDown Under]

23 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

In 2017 when wife and I did a 7 day Mississippi cruise on American Queen, we decided to go Business Class. SYD/LAX/New Orleans/Memphis/Atlanta/LAX/SYD.

We chose to business class for the US internal flights but shouldn't have bothered, they were barely Premium Economy standard.

Total was AUD15,000 for both.

I flew from Boston to JFK once to get free three port luggage entitlement.  It was worth it because they checked my luggage through to Brisbane!  But on the plane forget it, a tiny drink with a tiny packet of pretzels.  

 

 

[MMDown Under]

25 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

I remember walking past business class on an intercontinental flight in Europe and I thought that does not look worth the extra dollars🤑. To me business class is only worth it for long haul flights. They usually have lie flat beds so at least you're paying extra for something. 

Yes business class is worth it for lie flat beds, long haul.  The Business Class Lounges are also worth extra cost.  I'd be happy to stay in youth hotels or basic hotels as long as I can fly business class.  Of course I only started flying business class when I got older.  I once booked friends business class (they are big people who need the room) whilst I flew economy.  

[Docker123]

I have flown business on a number of long haul flights — Singapore,Tokyo, Hong Kong, transpacific.

 

The lie flat beds are great for the overnight legs. As is more room in general.

 

A benefit is lounge access. Lovely being in a quiet place, and the ability to have a shower in the break between legs, or before boarding overnights out of humid places like Singapore provides for a happy traveller. 
 

[MMDown Under]

1 hour ago, Docker123 said:

I have flown business on a number of long haul flights — Singapore,Tokyo, Hong Kong, transpacific.

The lie flat beds are great for the overnight legs. As is more room in general.

A benefit is lounge access. Lovely being in a quiet place, and the ability to have a shower in the break between legs, or before boarding overnights out of humid places like Singapore provides for a happy traveller. 

Yes I have discovered I enjoy lounge access almost as much as lie down beds.  En route I have a shower and wash my hair.  A highlight is the tropical fruit in Bangkok Lounge.  I can recommend EVA Air where dining is an event with fine china, tablecloths and napkins.  I always order the food of the airline, as Asian airlines don't do western food as well.  

[Blackduck59]

So we have most accommodation booked, we just need to book something in Bateman's Bay and decide on the stop between Bateman's and Phillip Island. We did book Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat. We have also decided on 2 nights on Phillip Island, 2 nights in Torquay and 2 nights in Princetown. These locations seemed to be a reasonable driving distance apart and act as little bases to see the surrounding area. If they are poor choices...oh well.

[Chiliburn]

40 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

So we have most accommodation booked, we just need to book something in Bateman's Bay and decide on the stop between Bateman's and Phillip Island. We did book Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat. We have also decided on 2 nights on Phillip Island, 2 nights in Torquay and 2 nights in Princetown. These locations seemed to be a reasonable driving distance apart and act as little bases to see the surrounding area. If they are poor choices...oh well.

Batemans bay to Phillip Island  Theres 3 places you could stop .

Eden ,Mallacoota and lakes entrance .  
I don’t have any advice for you Lyle.

Eden has a nice little harbour where cruise ships stop .Theres a good museum on whaling there.