Help required on whether to book a reward flight

[Rose1208]

Hi fellow Frequent Flyers,
I am wanting to travel from Sydney to Frankfurt in July 2023 using my Qantas FF points. At present there are reward seats available with Qantas and British Airlines SYD -SIN- LDN- FRANKFURT , 26.5 hours. My question is I would prefer a Syd- Dubai - Frankfurt or a Syd - Doha - Frankfurt ( less stopovers). These reward seats are not available at least not presently. Is anyone able to advise in their experience if these seats may become available at a later date or is what is currently being offered the best option. There are only 5 reward seats left so I will need to make a decision very soon. Thanks for any insight you can offer

 

[DCFF1961]

My advice is take what’s available, and keep an eye on your preferred option..if that comes up, book it and cancel the original booking and take the hit of cancelling, 6000 points ? That’s provided you have enough points

 

[levelnine]

Is anyone able to advise in their experience if these seats may become available at a later date or is what is currently being offered the best option.

If you are looking for business class redemptions, Emirates and Qatar are releasing very few seats to/from Australia at the moment to Qantas frequent flyers. Do not hold your breath thinking seats will become available later on.

 

[ChrisMars]

Plus remember that at the moment emirates charge way too much in taxes carrier charge fuel surcharge. One way AU EU in J probably more than 1500$ from memory (plus the points)

 

[DCFF1961]

PS. Not sure when you want to fly in July, but via Tokyo is available…economy to Tokyo bus to Frankfurt..

 

[Anna]

Is 5.5 hours enough for a NRT - HND transit? Assuming that's allowed by July next year?

 

[DCFF1961]

Is 5.5 hours enough for a NRT - HND transit? Assuming that's allowed by July next year?

Apologies, didn’t notice that bit…can’t really answer as to whether it’s viable…personally I tend to use the multi city option and go economy to Asia, then business on to Europe…if possible..just did that in July..Mel-Sin-Dubai-Milan….Econony with Qantas to Sin…then business with Emirates….Have also booked next year in Aug…Economy to Sin..then business with BA on to Pisa via London…a few stops…but if you are in business and get lounge access it doesn’t bother me…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

5.5 hours is more than enough for a *very comfortable* transfer between NRT and HND or v.v. The minimum connecting time is three hours, and I have done it in such with about an hour to spare on reaching Haneda.

Assuming Japan is open, and allowing for any extra time because of reduced bus frequencies between the two airports, i’d be comfortable with such a connection.

The coach service between the two airports leaves close to the arrivals exit of one place, and drops you at the entrance to the other.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

If I was you (and I'm not you), I'd just keep the itinerary I have and don't waste any brain cells looking for a slightly better itinerary. Yes adding an additional connection is not ideal but you know what? You've found a seat! As someone who has had their fair share of experience booking and taking business class awards, it's always better to have an itinerary in hand than one on paper! And look, airlines will change and cancel your flights, that is an inevitability of travel in general, particularly during COVID which means that even if you don't find the most ideal routing now you'll have a chance to do so when that occurs. Case in point, I was originally scheduled to fly back from Canada on July 27th with Air Canada on a business class award. I didn't want to fly back that early but that was all that was available when I was booking. However, a few months later, Air Canada ends up changing the departure time, allowing me to call them up and get the return flight changed to my intended date of travel July 30th. Some people hate flight cancellations and schedule changes but I absolutely love it! It's the airline gods way of giving you complete control over the flights you have booked.

-RooFlyer88

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

How about QF (SYD - SIN/BKK) then AY (SIN/BKK - HEL - AMS?

 

[RichardMEL]

July is PEAK time for Europe. Getting QF/BA is actually pretty good imo.

You can keep looking of course, and if you find something cancel the one you have, but as above I'd stick with this to get to FRA (not AMS)

 

[Rose1208]

If I was you (and I'm not you), I'd just keep the itinerary I have and don't waste any brain cells looking for a slightly better itinerary. Yes adding an additional connection is not ideal but you know what? You've found a seat! As someone who has had their fair share of experience booking and taking business class awards, it's always better to have an itinerary in hand than one on paper! And look, airlines will change and cancel your flights, that is an inevitability of travel in general, particularly during COVID which means that even if you don't find the most ideal routing now you'll have a chance to do so when that occurs. Case in point, I was originally scheduled to fly back from Canada on July 27th with Air Canada on a business class award. I didn't want to fly back that early but that was all that was available when I was booking. However, a few months later, Air Canada ends up changing the departure time, allowing me to call them up and get the return flight changed to my intended date of travel July 30th. Some people hate flight cancellations and schedule changes but I absolutely love it! It's the airline gods way of giving you complete control over the flights you have booked.

-RooFlyer88

Thank you for your advise, I have taken the itinerary and glad I did as the next day, all 5 remaining seats were gone ☺☺

Post automatically merged: Sep 6, 2022

My advice is take what’s available, and keep an eye on your preferred option..if that comes up, book it and cancel the original booking and take the hit of cancelling, 6000 points ? That’s provided you have enough points

Thankyou, I have taken your advise, and very pleased I did, by tge next day all reward seats were taken ☺

Post automatically merged: Sep 6, 2022

July is PEAK time for Europe. Getting QF/BA is actually pretty good imo.

You can keep looking of course, and if you find something cancel the one you have, but as above I'd stick with this to get to FRA (not AMS)

Thankyou