Traveller's guide to the new Qantas

Qantas has secured a partnership with Emirates that will see all flights to Europe go via Dubai. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

THE new Qantas-Emirates partnership has opened up a host of new routes. Here's everything you need to know about the new Qantas.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW QANTAS

PRICE COMPARISONS
Sydney to Amsterdam on May 5, returning May 12
Qantas $2607
Emirates $1979

Sydney to Paris on July 15, returning July 22
Qantas $3148
Emirates $2767

Melbourne to Manchester on June 1, returning June 8
Qantas $2817
Emirates $2557

Melbourne to Rome on August 20, returning August 28
Qantas $2279
Emirates $2181

Adelaide to Rome on August 2, returning August 15
Qantas $2603
Emirates $2417

Brisbane to Rome on June 8, returning June 22
Qantas $2833
Emirates $2443
* Cheapest available return fares on dates indicated according to the airline websites

TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO THE QANTAS/EMIRATES PARTNERSHIP

What does the change mean?
Qantas passengers heading to Europe will fly via Dubai instead of Singapore, as they did under the airline's longstanding partnership with British Airways, which began in 1995. There will be daily A380 services from Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai where passengers will fly on a Qantas plane the whole way. For other European destinations they will switch to Emirates planes.

What is the biggest benefit to Qantas passengers?
The agreement will provide ``one-stop'' access to 33 European destinations including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona (rather than having to fly to London first) as well as destinations in the Middle East and North Africa. Emirates is the world's largest international airline, giving Qantas customers a bigger range of travel options.
Qantas is also boosting its baggage allowance for economy passengers to 30kg and removing rules about the number of bags on international flights to everywhere except America to bring it into line with Emirates.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members and Emirates Skywards members will also earn points or miles on all flights on the joint network worldwide. They will also be eligible for lounge access with both airlines, except in the Americas, New Zealand and South Africa
But Skywards members can only earn miles on Qantas domestic flights that are part of an international journey with Qantas or Emirates.
The earn rate for points/miles will be different depending on the fare purchased and the airline flight number on the ticket.

How much time can I save?
Qantas says the total travel time (in-flight and on-ground) to the top 10 destinations in Europe is an average of 2hrs 15mins less via Dubai from Sydney to Melbourne compared to the former Qantas network via Asia.
Some other examples:
Sydney to Manchester 2hrs 15mins hrs faster
Brisbane to Barcelona 5hrs 25 mins
Melbourne to Milan 3hrs 45 mins faster
Sydney to Rome 3hrs 5 mins faster
Sydney to Zurich – 5hrs and 40 mins faster
Melbourne to Zurich – 5hrs and 10 mins faster
Perth to Barcelona – 2hrs 45 mins faster

Why did Qantas form the partnership with Emirates?
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the agreement was necessary to return Qantas International to profit and the airline had just been waiting to find the right partner. Emirates also gets access to Qantas' domestic network.

What happens if you have a long time between flights in Dubai?
Qantas will provide complimentary hotel accommodation, transfers, meals and visa costs when passengers connection time in Dubai is longer than six hours and less than 24 hours.

If I want to stopover in Dubai what is there to do?
Activities include shopping, 4WDing or sandboarding in the desert, staying at luxury hotels and beach resorts, dining at restaurants by celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver, visiting the highest building in the world the Burj Khalifa, visiting mosques, playing golf, skiing at an indoor ski hill, pearl diving and camel polo.

What are the drawbacks for the deal?
The flight time to Dubai is around 14 hours, making the first sector longer than it would be via Asia (Sydney to Singapore is around eight hours).

What rules do I need to know about Dubai?
Travellers should beware of committing cultural misdemeanours such as holding hands or kissing in public and swearing. In the United Arab Emirates it is against the law to share the same hotel room with someone of the opposite sex to whom you are not married or closely related. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warns that de facto relationships, homosexual relationships and acts of adultery and prostitution are subject to severe punishment. Australian travellers of Jewish background who are Israeli passport holders can only transit through Dubai and are not allowed to leave the airport because the UAE is a participant in the Arab League boycott of Israel. Qantas encourages all passengers to check the Australian government's Smart Traveller website so they are fully informed of local laws and customs before they board their aircraft.

What should I wear on the plane?
While you will see tourists in singlet tops and shorts and Dubai is more western than other parts of the United Arab Emirates, it's considered polite to dress modestly for your stopover. Women should cover their shoulders and knees and avoid low-cut tops.

View the original article here

The readers' guide to Perth

Cottesloe Beach, Perth. Picture: Robbie Goodall Source: National Features

The beach view at Salmon Point, on Rottnest Island, WA. Picture: Tourism Western Australia Source: National Features

OUR readers give advice on the best hotels, wineries and restaurants in WA's capital.

* See *

- Kings Park

Kings Park is the place where I first came to appreciate the flora of Australia. Attached to the Botanic Gardens there's an expanse of manicured grass and gorgeous eucalypts to picnic under. Short and long walks wrap all the way round with views of the Perth CBD and the Swan River. 

- See bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park

- Janet 

- Cottesloe Beach

Catch the train to Cottesloe Beach, which is on the Fremantle line. The beach is a 10-minute walk from the station  - just follow the crowds up the hill and down to the clear blue water. The iconic Cottesloe pub is popular for Sunday afternoon drinks, especially if you're under 30.

The Blue Duck would be my pick if you want to savour a WA sunset and a matching glass of wine without the thumping music. 

- Brandon 

- Rottnest Island

Catch a ferry from the Barrack St jetty in the city and spend a day on Rottnest. The water is crystal clear and there's a nice laid-back feel to it.

My wife and I took our two boys (seven and nine) who enjoyed touring the island on bikes that we hired when we got off the boat. We packed a picnic and would stop for a bite and swim at different beaches. We also played a game of spot the quokka, a small relative of the kangaroo. 

- See rottnestisland.com

- Drew

- Wineries

The Swan Valley is a 30-minute drive from Perth and home to some great wineries and cafes. There are decent wines at Houghton and Sandalford, which has a lovely onsite restaurant. 

- Lucy

* Stay *

- Holiday Inn Hay St

Hay St runs quite some distance but I find the side of the mall on the Kings Park side the best. The Holiday Inn is metres from the mall and up-market shopping strip King St.

There's a wonderful bookstore called Boffins that specialises in design (architecture, interiors, graphic) just a few doors down and a great second-hand bookstore called Elizabeth's if you're in need of a fiction fix. This is not a luxury hotel but, if location is important to you, the clean and comfortable rooms should more than compensate. 

- See holidayinn.com

- Tara

- Emperor's Crown Backpackers Hostel

There is a hotel room shortage in Perth so it's almost impossible to get value for money for a room in the CBD these days.

I found that the Emperor's Crown Backpackers Hostel in Northbridge served its purpose well. More budget accommodation than noisy hostel, you can get a good night's sleep here. There are clean, private rooms, a large communal kitchen and the CBD is a few minutes' walk away. 

- See emperorscrown.com.au

- Matt

- Hotel Northbridge

Hotel Northbridge might be in the gritty part of the city but I enjoyed staying there when I was last in Perth. The rooms are large and clean and all the amenities you require for a one night or one-week stay are on hand. There's a good range of mid-priced restaurants nearby. 

- See hotelnorthbridge.com.au

- Brandon

* Eat *

- Matsuri

I'm often in Perth for work and rarely go past Matsuri without stopping for quick and healthy Japanese. Eating out in Perth can be expensive but I find dinners here, specifically the beef teriyaki, to represent good value and good quality. If you're dining with a group it's worth booking a table, their CBD location on the corner of Hay and Milligan streets keeps them busy. 

- See matsuri.com.au

- Leighton

- Velvet Espresso

For the best coffee in Perth head to Velvet Espresso on St Georges Tce, which is two minutes' walk up from the Hay St mall. Don't be deterred if there's a bit of a queue, as the name suggests the coffee here has the texture of velvet and is absolutely worth the short wait. 

- Radek

- David Jones food hall

If you're planning lunch up at Kings Park look no further than the David Jones food hall for all your picnic provisions. Gorgeous salads, freshly baked tarts and the best tempura prawn sushi I've had. Arrive before noon to beat the lunchtime rush. 

- Mikala

- Brisbane Hotel

Perth CBD can be quiet on the weekends, especially Sunday. If you're looking for atmosphere, the Brisbane Hotel on the corner of Beaufort and Brisbane streets is a popular spot for Sunday lunch and afternoon drinks. The beer garden is fantastic and I can't go past their salt and pepper squid. 

See thebrisbanehotel.com.au

- Todd

- Little Creatures

The Little Creatures brewery on Mews Rd in Fremantle is a must for all visitors. Even if you don't drink beer or cider it's a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or bite to eat - their buckets of mussels and pizzas are very good and they're perfect for sharing. 

- See littlecreatures.com.au

- Christine

* Tips *

- The Freo Doctor

If you're planning on spending an afternoon outside in Fremantle be warned, even if you go in the heat of summer "The Freo Doctor" inevitably arrives - it's a cold wind so take something warm to wrap in. 

- Sam

- Exercise

Keep fit while in Perth with a few sets of runs up the stairs near Kings Park and a run through the park itself. You can also hire a bike near the bell tower and do a bridge-to-bridge loop of the Swan River. 

- Gary 

View the original article here