advice from the experts: Perth to Singapore trip

[perthjay85]

Ok so, first of all, I am still learning all of the abbreviations so you will have to put up with me not using them.

The better half and I are planning on getting married next year and we are taking a cruise from Singapore to Brisbane, now being a honeymoon I figured we should fly in style and use some of our Qantas points.

Originally I was looking at business class from Perth to Melbourne and then Emirates first class from Melbourne to Singapore for a total of 216,000 points.

Lately, I have been playing around with longer flights and I have just been researching Perth to Dubai and Dubai to Singapore first class all the way for 336,000 points.

now is where the experts come in, We have flown business class within Australia and we love it, My partner is not a huge fan of flying but once underway she doesn't have a problem. What I would like to know is whether the first class lounges in Dubai and first class flight from Dubai to Singapore is worth it?
We have enough points to cover and as we may never travel first class again as I am guessing kids are in the near future is it worth adding 11 hours on to the total flight time to enjoy first class more.

I understand this experience would be subjective but I wouldn't mind asking for others opinions.

Cheers in advance for any advice.

 

[Danger]

You're essentially looking at either the Melbourne QF F lounge (the 216k option) or the Dubai EK F lounge (the 336k option).

If you have the point then by all means take the second. Opinions will certainly differ as to which is the better F lounge but, coupled with the long haul EK F, that would be my preferred option. If you've got a handful more points up your sleeve you could buy a ticket to Melbourne and originate there (MEL-DXB-SIN). That way you'll get two top-notch F lounges. Ideally you'd want to allow at least three hours between flights in Dubai (which should give a solid two hours in the lounge).

Be aware you're probably looking down the barrel of about $600 or so per person in taxes.

 

[Daver6]

Does EK release more than one F award seat on the Perth to Dubai sector? Suspect this might be your limiting factor.

 

[perthjay85]

You're essentially looking at either the Melbourne QF F lounge (the 216k option) or the Dubai EK F lounge (the 336k option).

If you have the point then by all means take the second. Opinions will certainly differ as to which is the better F lounge but, coupled with the long haul EK F, that would be my preferred option. If you've got a handful more points up your sleeve you could buy a ticket to Melbourne and originate there (MEL-DXB-SIN). That way you'll get two top-notch F lounges. Ideally you'd want to allow at least three hours between flights in Dubai (which should give a solid two hours in the lounge).

Be aware you're probably looking down the barrel of about $600 or so per person in taxes.

Cheers for the response Danger,
As far as taxes go that is not too much of an issue being a once off and over a year in advance, I like your idea with Perth to Melbourne but I feel I'm pushing it with the Dubai trip as it is, on top of this we need to fly back from Brisbane to Perth after the cruise, we currently have around 500,000 points with two credit card bonuses on the way.
As for your time allowances I have seen there is a 4 hour difference between Arrival and departure in Dubai so that should cover us adequately.

The cruise isn't until August so we have plenty of time but I want to keep checking availability every few days so I can book as soon as we can and ensure our seats which ever way we go, I just need to decide which route we are taking haha.

 

[perthjay85]

Does EK release more than one F award seat on the Perth to Dubai sector? Suspect this might be your limiting factor.

Hi Daver6,
I have been checking route options every day nearly for the past weeks and "adding" them to cart on the qantas flight selection pages and there is no error when adding first class to the final page for 2 passengers, it shows up total price of taxes and points for 2 passengers.
I have been looking around July 5tth-8th 2018 so that might help regarding 2 seats being available.

 

[Daver6]

Hi Daver6,
I have been checking route options every day nearly for the past weeks and "adding" them to cart on the qantas flight selection pages and there is no error when adding first class to the final page for 2 passengers, it shows up total price of taxes and points for 2 passengers.
I have been looking around July 5tth-8th 2018 so that might help regarding 2 seats being available.

Awesome! Glad I'm mistaken on this.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, go for the longer F flights! The usual caveat applies - once you've flown First, Business seems a bit tawdry

The F lounge in Dubai (DXB) is over-the-top (in a good way). I had one of the best steaks ever in their a la carte restaurant. Then there is the spa etc etc.

Do try to get on Emirates' A380, and you can enjoy the shower in the sky ... you won't forget that.

Dubai is good for a couple of day's visit as well. Absolutely go for it ...

 

[get me outta here]

Once your chosen route and dates come up, start checking more like every hour to see availability for 2 seats. And, once you see them grab 'em.

 

[perthjay85]

Awesome! Glad I'm mistaken on this.

I just have to hope I am early enough to book these flights before anyone else takes them, I can imagine they go pretty quickly.
I just double checked and yeah it all looks fine getting to the final stage before accepting the terms and conditions. It comes to around $1155 in taxes so not bad for 18 hours in first class lol.

 

[perthjay85]

Yes, go for the longer F flights! The usual caveat applies - once you've flown First, Business seems a bit tawdry

The F lounge in Dubai (DXB) is over-the-top (in a good way). I had one of the best steaks ever in their a la carte restaurant. Then there is the spa etc etc.

Do try to get on Emirates' A380, and you can enjoy the shower in the sky ... you won't forget that.

Dubai is good for a couple of day's visit as well. Absolutely go for it ...

I am making sure all flights are on the A380 as I have never flown in one and I am really keen to try the shower, I am leaning a lot more towards the long trip to Dubai.
I would love to spend more time in Dubai even though I hate heat, but that will increase the amount of points and cut our Singapore stop short which we are looking forward to.
But might be something to think about in the future.

Thanks for the information.

 

[perthjay85]

Once your chosen route and dates come up, start checking more like every hour to see availability for 2 seats. And, once you see them grab 'em.

Good advice, I am checking every morning and every night. I have seen there is plenty available and seeing as our dates won't be released for about 2 months I will have plenty of notes, seeing as I am making note of every available flight every day so I know when I can book them as soon as they are released.

This applies whether we go via Dubai or Melbourne.

 

[get me outta here]

You are hoping for 05-08 July 2018 - I just looked at the QF Rewards calendar (not specific flights or class) PER-DXB, and the calendar is open as from 01 July. Be careful on your dates and check very frequently. Twice a day on your chosen 3-4 days may not be enough.

Good advice, I am checking every morning and every night. I have seen there is plenty available and seeing as our dates won't be released for about 2 months I will have plenty of notes, seeing as I am making note of every available flight every day so I know when I can book them as soon as they are released.

This applies whether we go via Dubai or Melbourne.

 

[perthjay85]

You are hoping for 05-08 July 2018 - I just looked at the QF Rewards calendar (not specific flights or class) PER-DXB, and the calendar is open as from 01 July. Be careful on your dates and check very frequently. Twice a day on your chosen 3-4 days may not be enough.

The dates we are travelling are in August of 2018, we will be leaving for Singapore about 4 days before our cruise so thankfully we have a fair bit of overlap.
But I definitely plan to be checking the website a lot more than twice a day when it is approaching the award seats being released.
Thank you though.

On a side note I am sure this is a silly question and the answer is yes but I am guessing our bags will be checked straight through between flights correct?

 

[Mattg]

Why not just get a couple of J seats on QF71, the direct 737 flight?

(Just kidding - enjoy the Emirates first class experience )

 

[perthjay85]

Why not just get a couple of J seats on QF71, the direct 737 flight?

(Just kidding - enjoy the Emirates first class experience )

Believe it or not I was looking into that and then slapped myself at how easy and cheap the Dubai first class experience is.

Also at the moment I'm thinking of only mentioning business class as the only option.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you get the offer on board for lunch/dinner, and its Thai beef salad and roast lamb, choose them.
One is appetiser, which was the Thai beef salad for me, and a side of salad, and the lamb for mains.
The in J bar is a great thing, try the prawn and mango coughtail.
Personally, if I were in the OP's shoes, I would try the long way around, ie, PER - east coast - AKL, then AKL - DXB, could spend some time in AKL, give the AKL QF F lounge a visit, and then the AKL EK J/F a visit, then the 380 from AKL - DXB non stop dep 20.30.
Also gives the OP chance to try either of the QF MEL/SYD F lounges, or the QF BNE J/F lounge.

 

[perthjay85]

If you get the offer on board for lunch/dinner, and its Thai beef salad and roast lamb, choose them.
One is appetiser, which was the Thai beef salad for me, and a side of salad, and the lamb for mains.
The in J bar is a great thing, try the prawn and mango coughtail.
Personally, if I were in the OP's shoes, I would try the long way around, ie, PER - east coast - AKL, then AKL - DXB, could spend some time in AKL, give the AKL QF F lounge a visit, and then the AKL EK J/F a visit, then the 380 from AKL - DXB non stop dep 20.30.
Also gives the OP chance to try either of the QF MEL/SYD F lounges, or the QF BNE J/F lounge.

Hi AustraliaPoochie, cheers for the info I'll take some notes.

I'd love to do what you suggest but I'm running into a brick wall being that the other half isn't a fan of flying. She might come around if I tell her it's already booked haha.

 

[Pleb Status]

Maybe I have just flown a bit too much, but as someone who flies PER-SIN v.v. every month or so, I would just go direct on SQ (or 3K if you want QF SC) and use the remaining money/points value on some very nice things (hotels, restaurants etc) in SIN.

 

[perthjay85]

Maybe I have just flown a bit too much, but as someone who flies PER-SIN v.v. every month or so, I would just go direct on SQ (or 3K if you want QF SC) and use the remaining money/points value on some very nice things (hotels, restaurants etc) in SIN.

If kids weren't in the near future we would probably do that and then do a round the world trip or something like that.

We will see. Cheers for the recommendation though.

 

[perthjay85]

So today is officially a great day.
Not only because it is the day before my birthday but for the fact that we just booked our flights.
Perth to Dubai
and
Dubai to Singapore

all first class and on the A380's with a perfect stop over of 4 hours in Dubai.


I forgot to say thanks to everyone who offered advice.

Cheers.