Get me on a First Class long haul flight before I turn 25!!!

[brown891]

As travelislife says, you can book it all on line using the multicity tool. You could, if you wanted, book the connection to HKG a day or two later, just enter all the dates you want into the booking from the outset. For example, SYD-BKK 1 Jan, BKK-HKG 3 Jan. But for the return you would have to fly straight through, so you just enter HKG-SYD [xx] Jan and select the TG F options. The return options may give you transits overnight which you can select if you want more time in Bangkok.

But you'd have to book that ticket before the changes come in on 6 October. No stopovers after that time (and no stopovers on one way fares, although you can still get a long transit in BKK in which you can leave the airport and come back the next day, just pick the flight combos you want).

If you want to do your first class trip 'on the cheap' you can take Scoot, Air Asia or Jetstar one way to Hong Kong and fly home from there on TG with a long transit in BKK. All up that should come to about $1300 aussie dollars. I'd book exHKG rather than exSYD for the first class trip if you're only doing it one way.

Thanks for the info. I've read the United new details and it says they are introducing the 'excursionist' ability whereby SYD-BKK one way. BKK-HKG one way. HKG-SYD one way is still viable??
Photo here:


Also going back to Travelislife's comments. It is more expensive to book all three via multi city by about $30 in terms of taxes. Eg. One way SYD-BKK on 3rd. BKK-HKG on the 6th, HKG-SYD 15th as an example is more expensive than SYD-HKG, HKG-SYD. But still wondering if this is the only way of doing the 'stopover'.

@ Traveislife: when you say do not book separate flights, are you referring to booking SYD-BKK on the 2nd and then booking another flight from BKK-HKG on the same day??

Cheers..

EDIT: I do realise the photo says Economy cabin - Am assuming it also refers to other cabins as haven't seen anywhere saying about First class...

 

[travelislife]

No when I say separate flights I mean don't book as separate bookings. What you have described above is one booking with a stopover built in which is fine under the current rules.

It would be more expensive if you booked SYD-BKK as one flight then did another one way booking for BKK-HKG.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the info. I've read the United new details and it says they are introducing the 'excursionist' ability whereby SYD-BKK one way. BKK-HKG one way. HKG-SYD one way is still viable??

Yes, my bad. For the excursionist perk the stopover must be in the same region. For UA HKG and BKK are the same region - on Lifemiles they are different regions hence my confusion.

 

[SOPOOR]

My suggestions

1. Sign up bonuses. Get as many as your credit will allow. Wait for a good one.


2. Buy them from people adveritinsg. The going rate seems to be 1c . So 420k first class return will cost you 4.2k. However ther might be risks with account suspension

3. This is what i did.
Scrounge for points!!!. Put eveything possivle on credit card that doesnt involve paying a fee.
I put everyhting on cc. Try gettinf a 1.5 per dollar amex card and a 1:1 mc or visa card.
On top of that pay all bills on credit caed
If you have a friend or family memeber that pays bils in cash. Pay it for them and get the cash (disciplije isneeded to not soend the cash)
If you go out for dinner andpool cash. Put it on your card (however it might make you look like a tight cough)
If someone buys a car from a dealer. Ask to put 1k to 10k on credit card ( some dealers dont charge or allow certain amounts on card)
A bit dodgy but sometimes when you get a refund on something they sometimes dont check which card it goes on. So buy something on cc and if refunding put in a debit card.
Offer to buy stuff for work on your card and get reimbursed with cash (obviously not limited to everyone)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

2. Buy them from people adveritinsg. The going rate seems to be 1c . So 420k first class return will cost you 4.2k. However ther might be risks with account suspension

The risk of suspension is real and outweighs any benefits. You risk losing everything, including any points you might have legitimately earned.

 

[SOPOOR]

The risk of suspension is real and outweighs any benefits. You risk losing everything, including any points you might have legitimately earned.

of course,

I have never done it and highly doubt i will,
however I see sites with people selling them and they do seem to sell without too many problems

 

[brown891]

Odds on United Airlines releasing a 100% bonus after October 6....?