Jumpseating to Australia...need info

[chase]

Any folks who might have any information on jumpseating to Melbourne in late Sept would be greatly appreciated...haven't been there before so would also appreciate any travel info on best deals, places to visit, etc....planning a side trip to New Zealand also so would appreciate intel on jumpseating from Australia to New Zealand as well as travel info....my apologies in advance for using the board for this reason....I have found the travel intel on here to be as good as any travel agency, thanks in advance.....always happy to meet with any aviators wishing to chat about SWA also....will make the same offer to anyone in MSO for the end of this month & early July...send PM if interested. Thanks again in advance to anyone who wishes to respond via PM or this thread.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Some of the freight outfits will have jumpseats available. Check Polar. I think they do Sydney via Honolulu. I'd throw a post on the Cargo forum. The nice thing about the cargo outfits is less competition for the jumpseats than you have on the pax airlines which will be packed since it's summertime.

 

[chase]

Dave B,


Great intel...thanks so much, I'll do that

 

[Below Mins]

Some of the freight outfits will have jumpseats available. Check Polar. I think they do Sydney via Honolulu. I'd throw a post on the Cargo forum. The nice thing about the cargo outfits is less competition for the jumpseats than you have on the pax airlines which will be packed since it's summertime.

UPS has two flights from Honolulu to Sydney on Saturdays -- a 747 and an MD-11.

 

[Bobby Orr 4]

UPS has two flights from Honolulu to Sydney on Saturdays -- a 747 and an MD-11.

I called UPS in April about international jumpseating. They do not offer international jumpseating at this time for non-UPS pilots.

 

[ironwedge]

Any folks who might have any information on jumpseating to Melbourne in late Sept .....

As suggested, I think you'll find it easier to get close, maybe NRT or HNL & then push to Aus. If you can find someone to offer a JS from the states you'll find a relief pilot sitting in them - so it really is going to be tough there.

Also, the cargo carriers would be the eay to go - seats + crew rest.

Have fun "down under"

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Dave B,


Great intel...thanks so much, I'll do that

No worries mate!

Here's the URL for the Polar schedules
http://www.polaraircargo.com/scheduledservices/schedule.asp

Just click on "Schedules" and it will tell you what goes where. If you need the phone # for dispatch let me know and I'll send you a PM. Polar seems quite friendly towards jumpseaters. I spoke with them before I did my SE Asia vacation and they were courteous and helpful. I ended up on a different carrier since Polar didn't really go where I wanted to be but I think it would work out well for Oz.

 

[slowdryver]

Chase,

Also check out the visa entry requirements. I seem to recall a bud having problems jumpseating without one.
Have fun
slowdryver

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Atlas Air to SYD, MEL, AKL

Atlas Air Jumpseating

You can fill out the information on the website and submit it to the company, and then call our Jumpseat Desk to confirm your request and get updated schedules. Please allow 48 hours before planned travel date to submit your request, but heard it can be done in as little as 24 hours.

If going to Australia, the company requires that you have a valid passport and a visa (ETA) for entry. The usual trips are: HNL-SYD, HNL-AKL-MEL, HNL-AKL, we do not usually operate back to HNL from SYD. From SYD we usually go to SYD-PER, SYD-PVG or SYD-HKG.

I hope you find this information useful, see attached link for further information:
http://www.atlasair.com/travel/confirm.asp?type=1

Phone number: in USA 800-862-8527 outside USA 914-701-6400 and then press the following numbers at the voice prompt in order to get to the Jumpseat Desk 1-2-2-4

 

[Erndogg]

Hawaiian has 4 flights a week out of HNL-SYD- Mon,Wed,Thur,Sat. You should have no problem getting a seat in the back.

 

[halfmoon]

Just go on united from sfo or lax. you can buy your electronic visa at ticketing for $25 if you are not an australian citizen. Atlas / polar is another option, you'll have to arange the visa through the australian embassy in DC or your nearest city, that could take up to a couple weeks. If you go on united both the lax and sfo a/c stop in SYD and one continues to Melbourne(not sure which one) this could be a problem or more of a hassle jumpseating as you don't won't to get stuck in the transet lounge. As far as taxes, on your return trip they will hit you with taxes. About $75usd.

 

[J Dawg]

Just go on united from sfo or lax. you can buy your electronic visa at ticketing for $25 if you are not an australian citizen. Atlas / polar is another option, you'll have to arange the visa through the australian embassy in DC or your nearest city, that could take up to a couple weeks. If you go on united both the lax and sfo a/c stop in SYD and one continues to Melbourne(not sure which one) this could be a problem or more of a hassle jumpseating as you don't won't to get stuck in the transet lounge. As far as taxes, on your return trip they will hit you with taxes. About $75usd.

Don't pay for your visa/ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). Simply call United's 1-800 number for reservations, select "international" from the phone tree, and tell the agent that you are planning a trip to Australia on United in the future (don't need a reservation when you call), and that you would like help with the ETA. Have your passport ready, because they will ask a few questions. The agent will type the info into the computer, and 30 seconds later, it will come back with ETA approval (or disapproval). That's it. Doesn't cost anything. The other airlines probably can do the same. ETA good for one year, 3 months stay at a time.

Here is a more complete route system for Polar. I wish Atlas would provide their schedules online.
http://www.polaraircargo.com/10/10.pdf

I took Polar to SYD, it was great. Great crews, let me sleep on a bunk from HNL to SYD, also had 4 business class seats to myself, enough food to last a week, and sat up front for the great view of Sydney Harbour on the way in.

Also remember that United only takes 2 jumpseaters, even if there are 100 open seats.

 

[ILLUMINATI]

Chase, talk to Scott Robertson (SWA PHX CA) he goes to Australia 3-4 times a year. He has a high rise condo on the beach, he might even rent out to you.

 

[chase]

To all,

thanks for the intel...any other insights on New Zealand would be great...again the folks on this board never cease to amaze me....I've got a much better picture of where to go & enjoy our trip...will catch on the PMs & respond....cheers & 'gooday mate'

 

[typhoonpilot]

Chase:


The above posters seem to have the jumpseat info covered. Once in Melbourne I'd look to stay downtown near the river if possible. We overnight at Le Meridien Rialto, which is a nice hotel in a good location for both. Other options that might give crew discounts are the Sheraton Towers and Travelodge Southbank. Some of the trips I've done there while on overnights include the Great Ocean Road, which I highly recommend. I did it as a tour, but you could rent a car and do it yourself. The Yarra Valley winery region is another good trip, but better not to rent a car for that one . I've yet to get further up into the mountains or down to see the penguins, but that might be worth doing. Downtown is nice, lots of good restaurants in the Southbank area near the river.

You'd do well to buy the Lonely Planet guide to Melbourne/Australia as well as New Zealand. They have all the good info on how to get around and what to do. In 1995 I did a big trip around the world and spent one week in New Zealand and three weeks in Australia. If I had to do it over again I would change it to two and two. There is a lot to do in New Zealand, especially on the South Island. One week was not enough time.

Have fun,

TP

 

[dash8driver]

you can get your visa online thru the australian travel authority for AUS$20:

http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

never used the free method previously mentioned. i'll have to give it a go next time!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

i'll have to give it a go next time!

Ya gotta have a go!

 

[xarchangelx]

Just got back from getting married in Canbera, yes to an Ausie, jumpseating was easy on United just make sure that there are more than 50 open seats because they will usually pack on extra fuel and cargo.

I took 2 bags of goodies one I gave to the head purser and the other to the captain. When I got on the plane I asked for the head purser to intorduce myself and then went up and gave the other to the flight deck. By the time I walked back down the stairs I went from row 56 up to row 8 in business class. I did the same thing on the way back and same treatment.

As far as getting around I would use public transport. It is easy and much safer there than here in the states. I bought a 5 dollar ticket that was good all day long in both Canbera and Sydney, the one in Sydney was also good on the water ferries. When you get on the bus just ask the driver if this is the best one for where you want to go and he will help you out on times and routes and buses to take.

Hope this helps

 

[xarchangelx]

Just got back from getting married in Canbera, yes to an Ausie, jumpseating was easy on United just make sure that there are more than 50 open seats because they will usually pack on extra fuel and cargo.

I took 2 bags of goodies one I gave to the head purser and the other to the captain. When I got on the plane I asked for the head purser to intorduce myself and then went up and gave the other to the flight deck. By the time I walked back down the stairs I went from row 56 up to row 8 in business class. I did the same thing on the way back and same treatment.

As far as getting around I would use public transport. It is easy and much safer there than here in the states. I bought a 5 dollar ticket that was good all day long in both Canbera and Sydney, the one in Sydney was also good on the water ferries. When you get on the bus just ask the driver if this is the best one for where you want to go and he will help you out on times and routes and buses to take.

Hope this helps

 

[chase]

Fellow Flightinfoers,


Thanks so much for the intel...it has certainly started me thinking about things I hadn't before now......the misses & I are looking forward to trip...keep the suggestions coming or send a PM, thanks again to all,forever in your debt.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Chase:

If you do end up in Sydney for a day or two, instead of taking a Harbor tour, you might just take the regular ferry over to Manly. It accomplishes almost the same thing as the tour with the added bonus of being able to get off and walk around Manly. I'm told the tour boats do give airline discounts, as do a lot of places in Australia, so be sure to ask if you go that route. The other thing that works well in Sydney are the Red and Blue tourist ( hop-on, hop-off ) busses that each have different routes. One is more geared towards the sights in proximity to downtown and the other goes further afield to places like Bondi Beach. I've done both and felt they are worth it.

TP

 

[typhoonpilot]

Almost forgot the vital Australian drinking info. No matter what you do, don't ever order Foster's beer in Australia. You probably knew that, but I thought it best to throw it our there anyway. Crown Lager, VB, XXXX, and a few others would be better. As far as wines go, I prefer wines from the Margaret River and Coonawarra regions over the others. It's hard to get a bad Australian wine, but you would find those regions better.


TP

 

[Green]

The beer advice is right on. My personal favorite is VB, great beer. If you get the chance I would recomend visiting Byron Bay. It's halfway up the eastcoast, about 2 hours south of Surfers Paradise. Surfers is a tourist trap but Byron Bay is a funky little surf town with good beaches, excellent restaurants, and amazing women. Best time of year to go there is December through February.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

The beer advice is right on. My personal favorite is VB, great beer.

Actually, I found the beer to be about the most disappointing thing in Australia. Down under is not the place to go to find quality beers. They piss you up, alright, matey, but they are overall pretty lame. Hell, VB isn't even bitter. Anyone with a discriminating beer palate should not get their hopes up any more in Australia than you would in say, Mexico. Germany, Belgium or the Pacific Northwest, it ain't.

 

[dash8driver]

..

 

[Green]

by the advice being right on I meant don't order a Fosters. I was agreeing that nobody in Austrailia drinks the stuff. I'll have to disagree with you though, I think VB is a darn good beer.

 

[herewego again]

"Down under" "God Zone" "Middle Earth" etc etc

Chase,

We met at HPA about 18 months ago.
I'm a born and raised Kiwi, so please write to me with all your New Zeland Q's. I would be more than happy to help out, just need a few details on your plans and what you're interested in doing. Tickets are easy to get from most West Coast Australian cities, to most major NZ towns. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown will probably be your best bet. I usually book mine on the internet before I go.
How long do you have?? I am obviously heavily biased towards New Zealand, but honestly its a thousand times better than our big ugly sunburnt neighbor! There is a very friendly relationship between the countries, until it comes to sports, so use appropriate caution.
I was down there in Feb, and jumpseated both ways on United, LAX-SYD return. They were superb, but remember may be weight restricted west-bound, even though seats are available. Upon your return, check in with UA customer service, who will arrange payments of the tax charges - about $60US, and who will tell you when to head through to the gate. It can be charged to a Credit card no problem. Leaving NZ, you'll have a departure fee of approx $25NZ per person, again, it can be charged if you've spent all your cash. Also NZ and Oz have very strick agriculture regualtions, so dont go carrying fruit and veges with you. I had 2 bananas taken off me just from ChCH to Sydney.
Please get in touch, I'll be more than happy to share some insight into Middle Earth.
Herewegoagain