14 Return Trips from Oz to LHR Per Year - Best Strategy

[Mrmaxwell]

Isn't the point of a FIFO roster for you to get rest during your time off? How are you going to sustain working 20 days, then hoping on a long haul flight around the other side of the world, driving 3hrs...spending a few days there and then doing it all over again in reverse only to arrive back to start another 20 days?

I hope you are damn fit and healthy!

 

[ChrisDPom]

Just read the thread and great strategy suggestions

I agree Emirates as I have found them very good for service and their lounges (I know some don't like Dubai but I personally like it and have spent a culmantive 50+ hours in transit there).

I presume you are going to buy a year long travel insurance policy as well. If you are hiring a car in Dublin, watch the excess available as quite a few have cut this below the amount where you have to take out excess insurance through the car hire places.

I just renewed mine and changed my insurer as the extra car hire costs were higher than the TI annual premium for next year's planned hire car bookings!!

Another reason for Emirates is the ability to still use electronics in the cabin (not sure if Ireland has done anything regarding the UK ban list for some flights via the Middle East).

Emirates seem to be OK for now (who knows what will change in the next 12 months)?

TI insurance doesn't include electronics in hold luggage and I never put any of mine in the hold due to the risk of bag loss of the way they throw them around.

Good luck and enjoy

 

[k974]

Hi

The real deciding factor was the existing 150k miles with emirates and 9,300 tier miles (i forgot I had them) so along with the 1 stop to DUB I didn't really explore SQ QF CX much after that, getting lifetime QF gold as someone said i would prob get was tempting tho


So some of my swings have changed to 19/9 which makes it more feasible, I also rearranged everything so its all ex Dubin tickets this will save me about $2k, so its about $29k (depending on FX) all up for the 12 trips, the 2nd one of which has been booked in business. The travel agent has advised I can cancel for E150 per trip so not too bad. I will see how I go and maybe in the middle I will stay in Oz for some proper rest or maybe only go as far as DXB/SIN and meet Mrs there.

As for some of the questions, yes I will be tiring but I'm hoping a combination of the upgrades will make those trips easy and hopefully some op upgrades when I reach platinum (has anyone any idea on the likelihood of getting op upgrades when you are a platinum flyer with EK?)

I've not looked into travel insurance yet but I will be travelling very light, with nothing i cant afford to loose. After the first trip I will have all my clothes set up in Ireland and back here its mainly work clothes which I will leave behind. so i'll be set up at both ends to travel with minimal baggage, maybe even carry on.

I have a car in Ireland so depending I will leave in Dub airport or get collected. the costing doesn't seem to make it worth it to go DXB-LHR-ORK as opposed to DXB-DUB.

I will report in after a few trips and let you know how its going.

one thing is that the points per trip on emirates site when you book and their calculator don't match up , i.d 15,400 vs 18,000 . I've posted this question but no reply and emirates have yet to answer.

I've set up a excel sheet calculating the mileage accruals and when I will hit what status etc.

Thanks

 

[JessicaTam]

...

I've not looked into travel insurance yet but I will be travelling very light, with nothing i cant afford to loose. After the first trip I will have all my clothes set up in Ireland and back here its mainly work clothes which I will leave behind. so i'll be set up at both ends to travel with minimal baggage, maybe even carry on.

...

TBH your belongings in transit would be the easy part of travel insurance. Medical is where the bills can add up very quickly.

Image the costs if you slipped and sprained an ankle in Dubai leading to a hospital stay, missed connection and time off work.

There are plenty of threads about travel insurance on AFF to convince you not to skimp.

 

[YSSY]

I am also shuttling between the UK and Australia at the moment, working in the UK and living in Australia and doing a similar number of sectors as you. I also found it cheaper to fly UK-OZ-UK rather then vice versa.
I already had Qantas status and have been booking MAN-DXB-SYD-DXB-MAN all on QF Flight numbers for circa 600 GBP / 1100 AUD. This works really well for me, good lounge access, good connections and also if I need an extra few points for the same price can often throw in a SYD-MEL-DXB or SYD-SIN-DXB in the mix.
The hardest part is deciding which metal to use between DXB-SYD-DXB as on QF tend to be able to book into the upper deck, however on the occasions when the QF flights have issues the delays can be horrendous. The other thing with booking on QF flight numbers but EK metal is that EK staff can't touch the tickets when things go wrong until they've got permission and this can be a real hassle during IRROPS.
Otherwise, this is all working out for me. As for the jet lag, sometimes it hits hard, other times its fine. But I miss me kids so its worth it and hopefully won't have to do it for that much longer.

 

[Cynicor]

Hi

The real deciding factor was the existing 150k miles with emirates and 9,300 tier miles (i forgot I had them) so along with the 1 stop to DUB I didn't really explore SQ QF CX much after that, getting lifetime QF gold as someone said i would prob get was tempting tho


So some of my swings have changed to 19/9 which makes it more feasible, I also rearranged everything so its all ex Dubin tickets this will save me about $2k, so its about $29k (depending on FX) all up for the 12 trips, the 2nd one of which has been booked in business. The travel agent has advised I can cancel for E150 per trip so not too bad. I will see how I go and maybe in the middle I will stay in Oz for some proper rest or maybe only go as far as DXB/SIN and meet Mrs there.

As for some of the questions, yes I will be tiring but I'm hoping a combination of the upgrades will make those trips easy and hopefully some op upgrades when I reach platinum (has anyone any idea on the likelihood of getting op upgrades when you are a platinum flyer with EK?)

I've not looked into travel insurance yet but I will be travelling very light, with nothing i cant afford to loose. After the first trip I will have all my clothes set up in Ireland and back here its mainly work clothes which I will leave behind. so i'll be set up at both ends to travel with minimal baggage, maybe even carry on.


Thanks

Mate, you need TI. An annual policy will cost you something like $200-300.

Medical costs overseas, injury at work that means you need to cancel some trips, any amount of things could happen.

 

[Pushka]

Mate, you need TI. An annual policy will cost you something like $200-300.

Medical costs overseas, injury at work that means you need to cancel some trips, any amount of things could happen.

Have never ever travelled overseas without Travel Insurance and luggage and delays are the least of your concerns. And I've claimed successfully, multiple times starting with a sudden back injury in my early thirties.

 

[CaptJCool]

What a great adventure !

it definitely ought be cheaper ex-DUB.

When I did some analysis awhile back, my aim was pay for 2-3 get one free (roll in credit card points) then as you go up the status; pay for 2 get one free (more points for higher status) working to pay for one, get one free, not sure you can get all free other than joining a miles program... the upgrade lottery does mean you got no chance flying QF tics on EK metal - that happened to me two years ago, but of course no guarantees.

Were you to do J or F out of there. QF is a pretty good gig but a hefty first up investment.... but at least prices tend to be steady or on-sale unlike whY which is variable based on low and high season. Which means you could book just ahead of time (subject to exchange rates but favourably priced in Euros not pounds)
comparative fares actually quickly retrieved in a minute or two on momondo.com.au

Reward flights are pretty reasonable seeing EK are available even if taxes are hefty. If not out of brissy try repositioning to ADelaide, Perth or perhaps Melb....if Bris isn't.

I look forward to hearing how you progress.