Best way to use/maximise points (MEL-LHR)

[_kab_]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered in the past. I am purely a leisure traveller and do not regularly make award bookings (last one was 18 months ago)

So...I currently have ~ 200k and planning on using these to for a trip for 2 Europe in 2011. I would really like to be able to travel PE but I do not think that - even by that stage - I will have enough points to book 2 rtn fares. Assuming I only have around 250k to play with I was wondering what your thoughts are on the best way to go about things.

1. Pay outright for 2 x economy fare and try for upgrade to PE using points...but risk getting stuck in economy the entire way

2. Pay outright for one fare flying PE and use points to purchase the other PE fare. This strikes me me as potentially a bit of a nightmare if the tix are not bought as part of a single itinerary though...?

Although I have stated destination is LHR I am not commited to that (it's a holiday, afterall) so quite prepared to fly in via France or Italy if that is better to do points wise...and if that increases chance of upgrade to PE being not such popular routes.

Appreciate any thoughts at all.
Thanks in advance.

 

[winfred]

How about the following options:

• purchase 1 return ticket and use points to redeem another one.
• use points to redeem 2 return tickets to HKG (or any other destination such as SIN) and paid for HKG-LHR-HKG. You will need to research which city offers the cheapest airfare to LHR.

Please remember that PE is only available on certain flights and you may have enough points to go Business Class for the MEL-HKG leg (120k per pax).

Good luck!

 

[futaris]

Consider flying PER-SIN-LHR, it is 9186 mi, so less than the 9600 mi limit for Zone 9 redemptions, i.e. around 12.5% cheaper than a Zone 10 redemption .

 

[Evan]

I would book one person PE and play the other. This way you are assured of both being in PE, you can then link the bookings so you are seated together. Upgradeing 2 people i think is risky.

Also note that PE is only available to LHR and i think when you fly also FRA. QF do not fly direct to Italy or France, the only code share there or do something like MEL-SIN-LHR-CDG where LHR-CDG is on BA cityflyer service.

 

[_kab_]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I hadn't readily considered flying out of another city... even though I did exactly that on my last award booking ....it's a bit of a pain but something I will look in to. Thanks again for putting some thoughts in to my otherwise vacant head