Advice / help on some flights. Syd - Munich / Syd - DEN - UK - Munich

[xd9000]

Hi All
Really enjoy reading the posts from everyone and the advice given. It always seems that someone has usually answered my questions and I never get to post.
So this is my first real post and request for input from the collective wisdom

I have the following situation and am looking for some help on what it possible or how best to make it work.

My wife and I booked a river cruise last year and flying Syd - Dubai - Munich direct on Saturday 6th Aug returning Budapest - Dubai (1 day stay) - Sydney.
It was part of the cruise deal and we got the 2 flights for A$900 each so too good to turn down.
Unfortunately it is on Emirates so not a One World partner, so no status and it will be the cheapest fare going.

I know have a situation where my company wants me to fly to Denver on the 23rd July arriving back in Sydney 31st July (5 days before flying to Munich)
It would be great if I could fly Sydney - Denver and then to UK (visit Friends for the week) and then to Munich to meet my wife, to start our holiday.

2 questions.
1. Return airfare to Denver is about AU$1800 -2000 on Qantas which is what the company will pay. What is the best way to get flights Sydney - Denver - UK (Manchester if possible but any other airport is fine) one way, for a similar price. would then find a cheap flight from UK to Munich separately. I have been searching and trying different routes and it seems very hard to get the flights let alone a comparable price. I don't mind paying a little more but not 2x.

2. If I were to find something and make the above happen. What would happen to my flight / seat on the Syd-Dubai-Munich leg which I wouldn't use (it is already paid for and I don't care about any refunds etc).
Would we have to tell Emirates up front. ( I suspect yes, but how long before the flight would I need to do that)
Would my wife get the 2 seats to herself
would it be an issue when I come to get on the return flight after not doing the flight to Munich on Emirates.

Probably a load more variances but hopefully you can see what I am trying to do on this.
Any advice / help is greatly appreciated.

I am a Gold QF member and would like to do as much as possible on Q/One World but that is not the be all and end all.

regards

Mike

 

[scwappy]

Hi Mike
I can't answer part 1, but you are likely to have a problem with the airline cancelling the return leg of the ticket to Sydney. An option may be to go to Denver, return to Sydney and then fly out as originally planned. You can earn QF points on EK if the fare class allows it and your gold status would be recognised.

 

[xd9000]

Hi Mike
I can't answer part 1, but you are likely to have a problem with the airline cancelling the return leg of the ticket to Sydney. An option may be to go to Denver, return to Sydney and then fly out as originally planned. You can earn QF points on EK if the fare class allows it and your gold status would be recognised.

Thanks but what I am trying to do is NOT do the long leg back to Sydney from Denver and score an almost free few days in the UK.
So rather than flying SYD-DEN-SYD then 5 days later SYD-Dubai-Munich "cruise" Budapest-Dubai-SYD
I would do SYD-DENVER-UK-Munich on a new flight mostly paid for by work, and then just the return leg of the booked flights, Budapest-Dubai-SYD which is already paid for.
Hope that makes sense.

Mike

 

[Buzzard]

How much is a return Sydney - Denver - UK - Munich? Perhaps you could book this flight and not do the return leg as it may be cheaper than flying one way.

Or

Regarding your EK flight, I would contact the travel agent that booked the cruise. If they are a good travel agent, I'm sure they could put something together for you that includes your Denver trip. Given that you have ~$2K from your employer to spend, I doubt it would be a problem for the TA, just don't tell them how much you have to spend so they don't gouge you.

 

[Boca68]

I think Buzzard gives a good suggestion, RE: the travel agent.

One other possibility that came to mind, would it be possible for your company to pay a one way fare to Denver?

Then you continue on to the UK on your seperate ticket? If possible would take the expense out of it as Trans Atlantic flights can be quite reasonable in price.

With regards to the original ticket to Munich, I'd do as Buzzard suggests and go back to the Travel Agent, see if they can come up with something for you. If not, you would need to advise EK (either you or the TA) about your outward leg not being used as it would probably lead to the return leg being cancelled if they were not informed.

 

[xd9000]

I think Buzzard gives a good suggestion, RE: the travel agent.

One other possibility that came to mind, would it be possible for your company to pay a one way fare to Denver?

Then you continue on to the UK on your seperate ticket? If possible would take the expense out of it as Trans Atlantic flights can be quite reasonable in price.

With regards to the original ticket to Munich, I'd do as Buzzard suggests and go back to the Travel Agent, see if they can come up with something for you. If not, you would need to advise EK (either you or the TA) about your outward leg not being used as it would probably lead to the return leg being cancelled if they were not informed.

Thanks everyone.
I called Emirates and you have to do the whole itinerary and you cannot join part way through. So that part was out.
I called the travel agent and they did a good job on trying to accommodate me but here is the only thing they could dow iwth the tickets already booked.

Sydney - Dubai - Seattle - Denver Approx. 35 hrs ( They couldn't give me a price change for this straight away. But as I only paid A$990 return to start with I think it would be substantially more.)
Then separate flights from Denver to Uk and UK to Munich which ended up bing in the range of AU$1800+ and a few different flights as direct was A$2.8K with BA to UK alone.

So I have given up on that one.

I signed up for the Double status points on offer (which runs out tomorrow) at the moment and will book my Singapore flights for June and the Return Denver flights in July and just grin and bear the flights all in Coach.

Thanks for everyones help.

Mike