A CLONCURRY family man posted a frustrated Facebook status directed at Qantas about the airline’s disparity in pricing between regional and international airfares.
The writer, Hamish Griffin, also tagged Cloncurry Shire councillors, the chief executive, and the State MP for Mount Isa, Rob Katter, into the post on Monday.
Mr Griffin said return flights to Townsville on Thursday and Saturday would cost him $1598. In comparison international flights from Sydney would cost $1889 to New York, $1569 to London, and $480 to Auckland.
“How on earth can it cost less to fly from Sydney to LA return than Cloncurry to Townsville, 800kms away?” Mr Griffin said.
“Convince me that this is not profiteering and taking advantage of people living in the bush.”
A Qantas spokeswoman responded to Mr Griffin’s post that same afternoon.
“All of our fares are released 353 days in advance. Our cheapest fares will always sell out first. The fare will then jump to the next available fare/price and will continue to do so until the flight is sold out,” she said.
“We do fully understand your frustrations and we’ll be sure to take your comments onboard.”
It’s not the first time that a North West Queensland resident has publicly criticised the airline on social media for the prices of its services, nor is it the first time that it has been widely shared and agreed on.
In September last year, Mount Isa local Kyle Keighery published a rant known nationally as ‘the spirit of ripping people off’.
It triggered a political callout for a parliamentary inquiry into airfares. Mr Katter recently pushed deputy premier Jackie Trad for an updated response.
Still, we interview Mr Griffin about his concerns on airfare prices, and what motivated him to write about it. But we also recommend these articles on the subject:
How long have you lived in Cloncurry now, and why are you so passionate about the airfares?
Mr Griffin: I've been here three years. I'm passionate about exposing any kind of rip off.
The airfares are a classic example of how we get our pants pulled down living in remote and rural areas, Telstra are just as bad.
I once looked at flying from Mount Isa to Alice springs with my wife and son and it was going to cost over eight grand.
We had a two week long holiday in Manila in a five star hotel with flights included for under 6k. There is no way it should cost more to fly return from Cloncurry to Townsville than Sydney to LA return.
It just doesn't make any sense. Grrrrrrrr....!!!!
What motivated you to post this to Qantas this time round (on a reoccurring subject)? You've tagged Cloncurry councillors, the CEO, the State MP as well. Are you so far surprised by the response?
And are you hoping witnessing government representation can do more, or do you believe they've done what they can?
Mr Griffin: I'd be more surprised if it had no response. I know that Mr Katter is working on this issue, I hope my post is able to add some support to his efforts.
I know it's an emotive subject so I'm not surprised.
Maybe Alan Joyce wants us all to know what a pie in the face feels like?
Why does it matter to you that Cloncurry and regional Australia's airfares are much higher?
Mr Griffin: Why wouldn't it matter?
Fatigue is one of the biggest killers on regional roads. I put my family's live at risk driving to Townsville for a weekend. You work long hours and only have a weekend away, so it's pointless taking two days to drive each way.
Viable flights would eliminate having to do those long drives after working all week or two weeks in my case. If the flights were less expensive you wouldn't have to drive.
That 1600 bucks for a return flight was just for me. If it was my wife and son and I it would be tripled. 4.5k to go to Townsville for the weekend?
Mr Griffin checks his Facebook post which was published an hour earlier.
Mr Griffin: My post is going nuts! Wow. (As of 5pm there were 99 shares and around 500 Facebook likes including about 60 angry expressions and 20 ‘wow’ expressions).
Do you believe the price is high because it's simply short notice?There are occasionally sales months in advance. Can you wait until these sales' times for cheaper travel costs?
Mr Griffin: Sales from time to time are fine, but show me a sale price that coincides with a Cowboys home game or school holidays.
It would be great to be able to plan so far ahead to take advantage of the sales, but generally we would be traveling to Townsville because we need to, not just because we want to.
I don't believe that booking months in advance even makes a huge difference. I just looked at cloncurry to Townsville at the end of November and it's still $958.
Sydney to LA on the same dates is $1187. (There’s a) $229 difference.
There's a story examining Townsville flights from a $ to km ratio published last October. Cloncurry residents would pay $1 a kilometre to buy an airfare to Townsville, while Townsville residents would pay 10 cents a km to travel to Brisbane. What do you believe of such findings and does this relate to your own experience?
Mr Griffin: It’s a good story. Accurate.
Domestic versus international is a whole other scenario. Curry to Townsville versus Sydney to LA?
It’s quite the distance disparity.
