Case Study: How Matt books flights to Europe

[AFF Editor]

Interesting article thanks Matt. I’m all for a stopover, but not sure i’m onboard with all these nested stopovers.

As I said in the article, my approach isn't necessarily for everyone

 

[ronb]

A useful way to get to Europe/Middle East using QF miles is to combine a cheap paid ticket to Asia, from which there are plenty of reward seats to onwards with partner airlines.

 

[FlyingFiona]

A useful way to get to Europe/Middle East using QF miles is to combine a cheap paid ticket to Asia, from which there are plenty of reward seats to onwards with partner airlines.

Yes, a popular choice. Which are your top three Asian ports for this approach?

 

[Berlin]

Yes, a popular choice. Which are your top three Asian ports for this approach?

I’ve found SIN, BKK and KUL all useful for this- to a not insignificant part because they’re enticing stopover locations in their own rights.

While I’m personally not a fan of Manila, it is often the cheapest choice.

 

[jase05]

Yes, a popular choice. Which are your top three Asian ports for this approach?

CGK, MNL and BKK are my favourites and are all good stop over options IMO.
I quite often do the opposite though and use points to get to Asia and then cash fare in J to Europe

 

[Seat0B]

We are using a similar approach to you @Matt Graham for our upcoming trip to see Seat Son in the UAE.

We are flying CBR-SYD (overnight stay as the next onwards flight leaves too early in the morning for a comfortable connection for us) using a rewards flight with DSC as I am Points Club.

The rest of our flights are paid J (actually a mix of D and I, but I mean Business Class).

• First is SYD-BKK (DSC) on the Finnair wet lease for a three night stop over. We've booked a private driver for a tour to Hellfire Pass and the Bridge on the River Kwai (of interest to us both as ex-ADF)
• Then BKK-DXB (not DSC) for a 2 week visit with Seat Son. This counts as second stop over for outwards journey.
• Then DXB-MAD-DXB (not DSC) to give him a break from the invasion of the parents, but back in time for lead up to Christmas. As an aside, as has been the case on two previous trips, it was actually cheaper to fly to Madrid (previously done Rome and Munich) and have stop overs in each direction in DXB that to just get a J fare SYD-DXB-SYD. I do not know why this anomaly persists, but it makes a side trip to Europe for the fun of it and the SC earn totally worth it, for us. This counts as first stop over for return journey.
• Then home from DXB via SIN for 2 nights (no DSC) (second stop over) and then on to SYD (DSC) and finally home to CBR on rewards flight (DSC).

We don't save a heap of money, given the costs of 2 weeks in Europe, but it is much more bang for buck than just flying to DXB and back. This is the first time we have had enough time available (now all but retired) to really enjoy taking the second stop over permitted in each direction by the fare we bought. They are not cheap fares - $11,500 each, but you get a lot of bang for buck in terms of places visited, and with DSC, all but enough to requal WP for the year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But even with matt’s cheap combination fares, it worthwhile comparing to Aeroplan, which comes in around $4400 return business class from australia. Stopovers are permitted each way for 5000 points (so roughly $100, one allowed each way).

Even at short notice availability for 2 pax can be quite good. For example the recent launch of Turkish airlines meant IST-SYD (and vv) was wide open for the next year (and still is pretty much, give or take a couple of dates).

In some cases it might be $1000 more to get the itinerary via aeroplan, but it means no overnighting, business class the whole way, and protection in the event of IRROPS.

Our upcoming itinerary is stopping in DXB one way, flying SQ and then connecting on to Egypt (but pretty much anywhere in Europe is easy with connections on Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian and Turkish)

 

[ronb]

Yes, a popular choice. Which are your top three Asian ports for this approach?

BKK is my favourite - a good hub with plenty of affordable overnight sleep options. SIN has plenty of onward options but is expensive to stay.

 

[Flying Fox]

How do you manage delays that might impact your subsequent individual flights?

 

[AFF Editor]

How do you manage delays that might impact your subsequent individual flights?

That's a good question. When I'm connecting between separate international tickets (e.g. Sydney-Singapore and then Singapore-Helsinki on different tickets), I usually allow at least 24-48 hours between flights in case of any delays. That way, even if I need to take the following day's flight, I can still make it on time for the next leg.

I figure that travel insurance would probably cover any delays beyond 1-2 days, but thankfully have never needed to test this.

If flights are booked on the same ticket, then the airline would rebook you at their expense if you missed a connection due to an inbound flight delay.

 

[kookaburra75]

Thanks @Mattg for putting that together, as it is the approach we will be taking after I retire at the end of next year - as I mentioned when we bumped into you at the CBR QF lounge.

Our plans are not to rush around, so taking a week or more to get to Europe through stopovers is part of the holiday, as much as the time we spend at the final destination. However, if was travelling for work, it would be a case of get me in as few hours as possible.

 

[ellen10]

Very interesting article. We are mulling over some ideas for next years travel to Europe at the moment.