BHX (Birmingham, UK) to MEL return (originating UK), possibly with QF points

[dominicburton]

Hi,
I need to find flights from BHX (Birmingham, UK) to MEL return, 1 passenger, arriving MEL between 18[SUP]th[/SUP] and 28[SUP]th[/SUP] March, leaving MEL between 14[SUP]th[/SUP] and 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] April.
No stopovers & reasonable flight duration please (2 changes is OK though eg BHX into Europe, and then on via 1 more stop is OK as long as the wait times aren't too bad and it's all part of same booking as regards checked baggage).
I have 104,400 QF points. I could up this to 134,400 but not before mid-October (CC points transfer). Happy to use them all.

Looking for cheapest option on a reputable full-service airline (no Chinese, Garuda etc) as this is for my Mother in Law and she won’t take ‘experimental’ flight options…

Would be good to consume the QFF points if at all possible (at reasonable value) as I am unlikely to get anything from them myself being a Bronze QFF and Platinum VA, any points bookings are going to be VA for the lounge access etc.

Thanks,
Dom

 

[Kefci2000]

EK is least stops but will cost $2400, but maybe able to get award bookings via help desk

I would suggest SQ/LH/LH at around $2000 return in lowest Economy class.

could go cheaper if willing to do JQ to SIN

EY/EY/Flybe at ~$1900 is also an option (for family pooling if she lives with you):evil:

 

[dajop]

Best option for QF partner seems to be booking QF coded Emirates operated flights on QF website for around $1180 GBP ($2060), Could use all your 104000 points to reduce that to 725 GBP under points plus pay if you wanted to, although not much different to using the points for vouchers. Award flights are difficult, as Emirates are fairly tight with availability but surcharges and taxes are in the order of 500GBP anyway.

Edit: forget above advice Emirates seem to have heaps of options around that date - departing BHX on 18 or 19 March - for £858 (~$1500). Go to Emirates site, use flexible search to choose preferred dates.

 

[greenfish]

Would your mother consider flying into / out of MAN instead, at least in one direction?

For some reason there are no rewards showing from MEL/DXB to BHX in April, and very little from BHX to DXB/MEL in March.

If MAN or LHR were OK, you could use your points for a business class redemption in one direction (probably best ex-MEL), economy the other direction.

 

[dominicburton]

Hi Dajop,
Are the Emirates flights possible to use QF points on ie if booked as QF coded, or again do the fees make it a waste of time?

@greenfish - sadly BHX is only option.

Thanks
Dom

 

[dajop]

Hi Dajop,
Are the Emirates flights possible to use QF points on ie if booked as QF coded, or again do the fees make it a waste of time?

@greenfish - sadly BHX is only option.

Thanks
Dom

Unfortunately you can only book Awards on the EK code, and I can't really see any availability on your dates from BHX.

In any event you would have to spend 128,000 points plus £500 in taxes, so only saving around £360 ... or $630, compared to paying for a commercial fare. Now if you shop at woolworths, myer, david jones or put fuel in your vehicle you could get ~$850 in vouchers for 128,000 points and would earn another 10,000 points from the flights (or another $65 in vouchers). Do the math which is better ... save $630 in flight costs or get $915 worth of groceries!!!

 

[support]

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