Comments on: Qantas Link Introduces a Extra Hervey Bay Flight

By: Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:51:51 +0000

Hi Angela

Yes there certainly were some horror stories when the service was being run by the previous operator. My father-in-law flew to Brisbane one Friday for a business meeting and was due home on the late plane.

He, and all the other passengers, finally got back to Hervey Bay early on Saturday morning after spending a number of hours jammed in a very small bus.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:16:58 +0000

Leaving price aside, I think the extra flight service to Brisbane is great. I can’t fault QantasLink for their service over the last 6 months. I travel regularly to Brisb, Syd and Melb for work and with the previous operator I couldn’t guarantee to a client I would be in their office at an agreed time. For the business traveller, a regular cost effective air service from HB is a service I need and I hope to see it expand even more as the town grows.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:20:16 +0000

Hi Ben, The current price of $89 is a special fare the normal fare is $114 but with the increasing frequency of Qantaslink’s flights to the Bay I think we will gradually see the prices come down.

By: Ben May

Ben May — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 22:26:56 +0000

Hi Jacob, thanks for setting me straight. I was under the impression that these were in fact the same plane as the old sunshine express shoe-boxes.

Hopefully the price won’t go above $89 - as I think that just comes in as affordable. I agree that if I needed to get to Brisbane in a Hurry (Me only) I would Fly. But it if was a family trip, then I still think the car is the best way to go.

Cheers mate

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:48:54 +0000

Hi Jacob

Thanks for adding your point of view - it’s good to see that you could put Ben’s comments in perspective.

I certainly have to agree with you that the fares are quite reasonable. If I’m going to Brisbane on business it makes economic sense to fly rather than spend wasted hours (certainly very wasted at my hourly rate) in the car. And when you then add in the cost of fuel for the round trip there’s even more economic sense in flying

By: Jacob

Jacob — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:33:13 +0000

As an employee of the Hervey Bay Airport Fraser Coast i would just like to say that the actual “air time” from Hervey Bay to Brisbane is around 35 minutes plus 10 minutes for taxiing etc.

I personally think that $89 is a very acceptable price for the type of service and aircraft offered. It is alot better than that of Sunshine express with their old Shorts 360 service, now this is the aircraft you should go on if you want to be bounced around it was not even preassureised and it used to cost $140 one-way from Hervey Bay to Brisbane.

And the reason why the Sydney flights are much cheaper than the Brisbane flights is because there is greater competition from other airlines. if Hervey Bay was served by a second airline from Brisbane then the fares would decrease greatly.

Finally you would be surprised at the amount of people that come off these Qantaslink flights and say to us that they are so much better than the old Sunshine Express flights and that they have actually enjoyed their experience on this type of aircraft.

By: Ben May

Ben May — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:36:38 +0000

I head the ad on the radio, which was for $89 one way to Brisbane, per person. It is a 1.15 hour flight, and in that time, you’re cramped, bounced around. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who likes those trips to Brisbane from Hervey Bay!

For $188 I could fill my car up 6 times, which is about 2500km I could travel.. and still carry 4 more people… I love Qantas, and always travel with them internationally.. But domestic.. I like Jetstar (which is their’s) and VirginBlue.

I went to sydney for about 45$ one way a few weeks ago, Much better value!