The predicament of J ex Oz

[laffer]

All

Hoping for some sage advice.

Here is the predicament.

The OH has about 140k in QF points. I have about 65k in Amex points (but cannot transfer them into QF) and about 30k in QF points.

I have been pricing travel from Syd to Europe leaving any time from Late Sept to mid October.

I have been looking at Business Class fares. I think the prices are crazy.

So I am considering my options about how this might be done to bring down the prices.

The QF points that we have (combined) will get an easy one way fare for both of us in economy to Europe (or a return fare for one of us to Europe with the other on a paid fare).

But the options I have been considering is to whether:

1. Buy a return ticket in business from Europe (as presumably it would be cheaper than ex oz). The only downside is that we would have to go back to Europe in 10 months or so (not soo bad hehe).

2. The alternative is that we use the points to get a business class one way fare into asia and then buy a return ticket from there. Is there a major price difference between asia/europe for business class tickets?

3. Should I look at CC options to maximise Amex points and chuck them into QF (if Amex will let me transfer the original 65k).

I am with QF but get little value from them and am thinking of moving to another scheme and flying someone else (for the business legs). Any suggestions on who is reasonably priced?

The thing that worries me is that I am tied to going to Europe (so as to not lose the ticket) even though I might want to go to the States the next time a trip is on.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Look at Australia to Singapore and then Singapore to Eu as separate tickets. Bus fares will be cheaper

 

[dajop]

2. The alternative is that we use the points to get a business class one way fare into asia and then buy a return ticket from there. Is there a major price difference between asia/europe for business class tickets?

This is wise, but it does depend on who you are willing to fly with. Often fares are relatively affordabel. ... (eg from SIN to Europe can get fares in Sep for around $3,500 AUD). But you need to do the homework on various websites, such as zuji.com.sg, zuji.com.hk, asiatravel.com etc (plus individual airline websites).

 

[adrian]

I have found some pretty reasonable fares out of Bangkok, usually on Finnair, I think around AUD3000 from memory.

The Finnair flights used to link up quite well with some of the OneWorld flights out of Sydney, but I think that has changed recently, and the Finnair flights seem to be leaving early morning, which make for some long connections.

 

[simongr]

Given yo don't have that many points and are looking to spend cash I would certainly consider alternatives to QF. QF still have angled flat beds on some flights which is comparable to a lot of other carriers who are much cheaper.

I am also looking at 2013 with a trip to the EU and (with 700K points) and seriously considering points to HKG and paid on any other carrier from there. Three of us travelling including a then to be 4 year old... The thought of not earning status on personally funded flights is disconcerting...

 

[laffer]

Thanks for the tips. It is a difficult thing to work out what is the best thing to do. Anyone recommend some sites to price flights ex Asia? I presume BKK or Singapore are the best ports.

 

[xt_20]

Last time I travelled to Europe, I used points ex Oz to Singapore, stayed a night there (have family there) and onwards from there. Saved quite a bundle even in Y. If you don't have enough points or don't want to use too much, just use points for a 1 way out of Oz. Then buy a 1 way from SIN to Oz -- prices are usually OK. Maybe you can try Scoot's J/PE

 

[amaroo]

I would seriously think about dropping back a class or fly another carrier in J and just forget about earning for this trip. You have a good base of points therefore, I would conserve & continue to build with better CC options that are available.

For most CC's are really the way to accumulate points. If you hunt around & sign up with another CC you will/may be gifted sufficient points to add to what you already have & enjoy another trip......maybe F to SIN or HKG

Whatever you decide just ensure you get the best return for burning points.

Don't forget F/JASA when deciding to cash in.

 

[turtlemichael]

Have a look too at Royal Jordanian. I got BKK-AMS return on your timetable in J for a whisker over AUD3000.

 

[dajop]

Don't forget, you don't have to necessarily forgo earning altogether for a business class from Asia. There is more to life (despite what you might see on AFF) than Qantas (and to be fair to the minority, Virgin). If you have 65K in Amex you could something from a Star Alliance partner to credit to SQ Krisflyer, which you can eventually combine with the 65K, likewise with partners of Malaysian, etc.

Also check out fares from Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei - often have cheap fares from these cities as well (not sure of which airline sites, other than airline websites themselves).

 

[laffer]

Finnair ex BKK is coming in at 3k each. Not bad at all. Anyone flown them before? I presume it is a 1:1 credit to QF given it is oneworld? Also turkish is coming in at 2800 if I fly to Paris instead of LHR (with Finnair equivalent).

 

[adrian]

Most of the AY flights out of BKK in J are on fully flat beds. I think there is one flight a week on a sloping bed. I had an uneventful flight, nothing to complain about. Can't remember the food. The J lounge in HEL is nice (but avoid the chilled red wine from the beer-type tap) - if you have Emerald status, you can also use the spa, which is very nice - has about 5 different saunas and a pool.

If you depart Europe from anywhere other than the UK, you will save hundreds in UK taxes. If you price AY to CDG, it should price less than LHR.

 

[xquisite]

If you're unconcerned with points & just want a top J class carrier my pick is Qatar out of BKK for just over $3000 return - bargain. Only slightly cheaper to fly Oman ex KUL. Upside is a better J class product; downside is a stopover in the Middle East (Doha/Muscat).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

1. Buy a return ticket in business from Europe (as presumably it would be cheaper than ex oz). The only downside is that we would have to go back to Europe in 10 months or so (not soo bad hehe).

I wouldn't tie yourself down to having to go back to Europe within the next 12 months unless you definitely had a reason to go back there. Why not compare a return ticket in J ex Europe with a one way ticket ex Europe to Oz as you may abe able to get a reasonable one way fare.

You could then do a oneway (any seat) award ticket Aust to LHR one way - you may have enough points for 2 x PE tickets Aust to Europe or 2 x J tickets ex SIN to LHR or FRA. If the latter option you could then buy a cheap one way ticket Aust to Asia.

2. The alternative is that we use the points to get a business class one way fare into asia and then buy a return ticket from there. Is there a major price difference between asia/europe for business class tickets?

I believe AY have some good J fares ex Asia via HEL to Europe. Compare the cost of that to using the QF ff points Asia/Europe/Asia as I think that is a better return of investment on your points.

I always like to use points on flights that would be the most expensive fare if I bought a ticket eg HNL/Aust in J - you'd never pay J on that sector as way too costly, therefore to me doing a JASA on that route represents the best value to me.

3. Should I look at CC options to maximise Amex points and chuck them into QF (if Amex will let me transfer the original 65k).

If you can't transfer the Amex points to QF I'd look at getting an Amex card that does this eg Amex Platinum Charge ($900.00) or QF Amex card $450.00 etc plus get a Woollies EDR Mastercard. In addition to the applicable QF ff points bonus for signing up, you will earn QF ff points for what you spend on the card which adds up quickly.

Both you & your OH once a year can purchase a maximum of up to 20,000 QF ff points (AUD557.50 for 20K points) which could come in handy if you are just short of points & need to 'top-up' your balance. Once you have done this once a year you can do a (family) transfer of your QF points to the QF ff account of your OH. This points transaction is immediate.

The thing that worries me is that I am tied to going to Europe (so as to not lose the ticket) even though I might want to go to the States the next time a trip is on.

As mentioned above I wouldn't tie yourself down to going to Europe again, however you could eg on UA probably get a reasonable J fare LON/Aust/LON which would be via the US both ways allowing stopovers there. Next trip in 10 months time you could go to the US & spend the majority of time there then use your UA ticket USA to the UK & buy a cheap one way home from there UK to Oz.

You may even have enough points to be able to do an award ticket LHR/SIN then just buy a cheap one way Asia to Oz.

 

[laffer]

Thanks for the all wonderful assistance. It has been very helpful. I think I have settled on the option of booking J ex BKK as it is so much cheaper (ridiculous really). At the moment, Finnair is leading the charge. I did, however, notice an insanely cheap fare from Sri Lankan Airlines via Columbo. I am not sure of their product or their reputation but the price is tempting (could be for good reason given the service). Has anyone had personal experience with them?

As for Finnair the reviews seem positive although I am aware that the HEL to CDG leg would not be true J class we understand it (rather Domestic J).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for the all wonderful assistance. It has been very helpful. I think I have settled on the option of booking J ex BKK as it is so much cheaper (ridiculous really). At the moment, Finnair is leading the charge. I did, however, notice an insanely cheap fare from Sri Lankan Airlines via Columbo. I am not sure of their product or their reputation but the price is tempting (could be for good reason given the service). Has anyone had personal experience with them?

As for Finnair the reviews seem positive although I am aware that the HEL to CDG leg would not be true J class we understand it (rather Domestic J).

What are you doing for the Oz to Asia bit - earning or burning?

 

[maninblack]

I have been looking at Business Class fares. I think the prices are crazy.

What is your definition of crazy? A number of good airlines have return fares around the $5-6k mark which is a fair value price for biz.