Help needed with redemption - first timer

[haggis45]

Hi all, the plan is for a week in Koh Samui this time next year and we have 195K and 95K in our respective AA accounts (enough for 2 xJ sectors and 2 x F). Our dates are fixed (20-27 Jan in KS, flexible other than that) but would like to stopover for a few days each way from LHR so maybe HKG or BKK on the way there, then fly back from SIN. So we are after J/F LHR - BKK/HKG and SIN - LHR for 2 people. Happy to just pay cash for the connections.

I have had a look online and it's hard to know what will be available when the flights are released, I am hoping for some help with the best way to book - online or ring the call centre? Also, any tips or issues to be aware of? Flight availablity in J/F looks specific to certain days on those routes- do more seats open up later?

Thanks for your help in advance, cheers, Haggis

 

[Alanslegal]

Easiest bet would be with BA, book only the long sectors using points and make your own way to Koh Samui, it's cheap as chips to get to anyway. So either LON-HKG BA F A380 or CX F, then SIN-LON with BA F 777. Taxes are going to be out of this world high though.

 

[Formal Hall]

CX taxes will be a little lower than BA taxes, and both would be vastly lower if you could start anywhere other than LHR due to UK Air Passenger Duty. Take the Eurostar to Paris and fly CX from there if you can.

 

[Hvr]

Well to book CX flights using AA points you need to do a phone booking and incur the $80 fee. You cannot see availability on the AA site.

 

[Formal Hall]

Yes, but Air Passenger Duty (Departure Tax) on business class departures from the UK is £138 each, so £276 for a couple. Even after paying a $US80 phone booking fee I could have a nice night in Paris with that saving.

 

[drron]

First you are going to have to wait a little longer.AA only release award seats 330 days out so only up to mid December at the moment.
F awards to asia in January may be a problem as it really is peak season for those from Europe fleeing winter and Aussies coming home after their Christmas hols.
Checking though on aa.com 2 F awards LHR-KUL are more common than to other countries.J awards are a little easier.
The problem with AA is that CX,MH and JL are not viewable on line.