Flight suggestions

[VM94]

I am a newby here, but have tried to find the information I am seeking first by reading various threads, but as I either haven't found it or else it's not there I am posting my questions so please bear with me. My husband and I are looking to fly from Brisbane to the UK return (not necessarily London - its negotiable) using QFF points next year. He has enough points for us to use a classic reward in either Business class or First class (or a combination). We do not have enough points to use Points and Pay which does not seem like value to me. As my husband has mostly retired from business we intend to use most of our points (if not all of them) on this trip and we are unlikely ever to accumulate sufficient points for such a level again. My Husband is a Silver Qantas Club member but will probably lose that status before we fly (but after we book our award seats). My main question comes in relation to which flights should we look at as being the "best". I realise the best comes from what is on offer for the dates we wish to travel but if we had to grade any possibilities what should they be? I've had a look at the award site (my date isn't available yet) and from Brisbane the "best" seems to be with Cathay to Hong Kong arriving at 7.25 and then leaving at 9.40 and arriving in to London Heathrow at 15.00 for a total of 24h 10m. This particular offer was all business class. There was also (not today) a Emerates flight that went from Brisbane to Dubai, then Dubai to Manchester all first class for a total of 25h 10m. The Qantas offers were from Brisbane to Perth, then Qatar to Doha, then Qatar to London Heathrow but I wouldn't consider that at all because it takes too long. So what else? If I can only get first class for part of the journey should it be the part into Hong Kong where we will be in transit or the part into London? We are not looking to "save" our points and status credits are a thing of the past. Any suggestions appreciated.

Vicki

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

We are looking at a classic reward in either business or first (or a combination) out of Brisbane to the UK (London or Manchester)

 

[trixydoza]

There was also (not today) a Emerates flight that went from Brisbane to Dubai, then Dubai to Manchester all first class for a total of 25h 10m.

That would be my choice for sure. Emirates will also be cheaper than Cathay in terms of points (for the same class), although it sounds like the cost in points isn't too much of a constraint for you.

You'd have to call to make the booking, but Qantas to Narita in Business and then JAL to London in First might also be worth considering.

 

[drron]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Just had a quick look at QFF and your best bet is to fly in and out of Melbourne.Reasonable availability of 2 J or F awards to LHR on QF.Though J one way and F the other is 320000 points each.
The problem searching out of BNE is that they send you to Adelaide or Perth and then either CX or EK the rest of the way and that costs more points.
However this availability is from late Feb to early April 2016.Only patchy availability before that.And just be careful as often it indicates J or F awards available though if a little i in front of the seat when it comes to selecting flights it usually means the longest sector is in economy.

 

[VM94]

That would be my choice for sure. Emirates will also be cheaper than Cathay in terms of points (for the same class), although it sounds like the cost in points isn't too much of a constraint for you.

You'd have to call to make the booking, but Qantas to Narita in Business and then JAL to London in First might also be worth considering.

Forgive my ignorance but how is an award seat BNE/Narita/LHR available by phone when it doesn't appear when you search? (Or is this something I should know). Also I've seen the Emirates flight twice (not recently) so maybe it's not offered that often. Do you prefer the Emerates flights for the quality of the flights or lounges or ...?

 

[trixydoza]

Forgive my ignorance but how is an award seat BNE/Narita/LHR available by phone when it doesn't appear when you search? (Or is this something I should know). Also I've seen the Emirates flight twice (not recently) so maybe it's not offered that often. Do you prefer the Emerates flights for the quality of the flights or lounges or ...?

Unfortunately some airlines are not covered by the Qantas search engine, and JAL is one of those. (You should still be able to search for the BNE-NRT leg on QF.)

I like the Emirates option because the timing sounds nice (just one stop to the UK, as opposed to going via MEL or SYD) and arriving somewhere other than LHR would also be good. Cathay J is not a bad option at all, but EK F would be a fair bit fancier, and the points are the same as for QF flights, whereas there is a premium to use CX. I'm yet to travel on EK F on an A-380, but even on the 777 I found it pretty special.

Sometimes you might find you see different options if you use Multi-city instead of letting the QF search engine come up with its own one-way routings. For example, search BNE-HKG and HKG-LHR rather than BNE-LHR.

 

[VM94]

Thank you for your suggestions and help. There is just one other thing, are the taxes the same whether you fly J or F?

 

[trixydoza]

are the taxes the same whether you fly J or F?

I think so, yes. Perhaps a little higher for F if flying out of LHR, but not sure.

Enjoy the hunt!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Considering DrRon's comments, maybe a thought is to call Qantas and see what they can offer? Out of Brisbane there's better availability on EK on a QF reward in J or F but these are not immediately obvious.

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Thanks for your suggestions. We would certainly consider flying out of Melbourne but it makes for a long flight by the time we leave home GC travel to Bne, fly to Melb and change to International, then fly out to fly back over half the county which we have travelled to get to Melbourne but if someone was to tell me that by doing that we would get a once in a lifetime (our lifetime that is) experience that we would certainly consider it. Otherwise, we would be looking at the best alternatives (experience wise) travelling out of Brisbane.

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Definitely thinking a phone call could be the way to go but I need to get my head around best possibilities first.

 

[JohnM]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Thanks for your suggestions. We would certainly consider flying out of Melbourne but it makes for a long flight by the time we leave home GC travel to Bne, fly to Melb and change to International, then fly out to fly back over half the county which we have travelled to get to Melbourne but if someone was to tell me that by doing that we would get a once in a lifetime (our lifetime that is) experience that we would certainly consider it. Otherwise, we would be looking at the best alternatives (experience wise) travelling out of Brisbane.

If it was to travel in J or (especially) F and these classes are generally not within your experience, then for the 'once in a lifetime', I would think going via MEL would be a small price to pay. I always position to MEL or SYD from PER for QF outbound, whichever way I'm heading (usually travelling J but with a UPG request for F).

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

JohnM would you choose F out of Melbourne over (possibly) F with EK out of Brisbane?

 

[VM94]

Thank you for your responses.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

JohnM would you choose F out of Melbourne over (possibly) F with EK out of Brisbane?

Not JohnM, but we chose F on EK out of BNE every time now rather that F on QF out of SYD or MLB. Even J out of BNE on EK or QF is preferable than wasting the extra tine via SYD or MLB, QF F lounges notwithstanding.

 

[JohnM]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

JohnM would you choose F out of Melbourne over (possibly) F with EK out of Brisbane?

If you can get F on EK out of BNE with QFF points, then that's the way to go IMO.

I've not flown EK. Usually I'm on a DONEx, so I need to stick to the OW Alliance (ie. QF codeshares on EK are not eligible DONEx sectors).

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Thank you TheRealTMA this is the sort of information that I was hoping to find here on this site. Real people who have done it and can tell of their experiences first hand. In the end it will come down to what is on offer when it comes time to book but I needed to know whether to rule any option out straight away. I checked the reward flights from OOL to Melbourne (which go via Sydney) and it will make for a long day as we would probably leave OOL at lunchtime and not fly out of Melbourne until nearly midnight.

 

[trixydoza]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Another nice thing about EK (compared to CX) is that you'll get chauffeur transfers at both ends... also true of QF F, though.

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

Thanks JohnM. Here's hoping we can get EK F when the time comes.

 

[VM94]

Re: Hi. We are a semi-retired couple seeking suggestions

trixydoza, CX doesn't offer chauffeur??