How much longer or out of your way are you willing to fly so you will fly in J on points?

[airstriker]

Another who will take the rewards J long way round in preference to economy
I am actually doing that to south Korea later on this year

Tell us more about the trip to South Korea in J

 

[SCM]

If I can get a good deal, much rather J even if it takes an extra day... allow me to explain why.

During a longer set of flights and transit of any length, I can work - and don't have to take annual leave. I also get free food, alcohol, electricity and shower. It doesn't really matter how much longer it is, because there is no opportunity cost - I can always be working during all downtime, and then perhaps do time in lieu and get even more holiday time off!

A really good example is recently there is a good SQ J ~3k to Japan for next northern winter, I would much rather that than paying maybe 1.5k for economy direct flight, for the reasons above - plus extra comfort (not to mention the usual status credits, etc).

 

[Scarlett]

Thank you for repairing the thread title mods!

And with that done I’ll now engage with the thread:
I flew SIN to MNL via IST at the end of last year to use up points (in J). Could’ve done the direct trip in whY much quicker but was very happy with my routing and had the bonus of taking a side domestic trip IST-ADA-IST to spend a day in Adana due to an otherwise long transit in IST.

 

[aikman]

Wow. To call this lopsided is an understatement. I thought it was not 'rational' but clearly I'm in the minority. Wondering where I went so wrong...

Ask the same question outside of AFF and you will probably get a different answer.

I've had J flights that just dragged on and on and on and on. Plus the time spent in transit. It's a case by case decision for me.

 

[liamsal]

Flying OOL-SYD-SIN-JFK with VA/Singapore in J in July as I couldn’t find any direct J redemptions with UA/AC. Roughly 46 hours including stopovers instead of 12~ if I went direct. Was tempted to buy Y but thought I’d spurge for the first international trip since covid.

Looking forward to the SIN-JFK leg at 18 hours and 40 mins alone

 

[Denali]

We flew Sydney>LA>Atlanta>Chile>Easter Island to use points and fly only J. Border control at LA were a bit confused that our stay was only approx 8hrs.

 

[Lost Redditor]

We're doing SYD-SIN in Economy next month. I wanted to spend points to go via Manila all in business but partner put her foot down on 6 extra hours of travel
We are traveling with a toddler so that comes into it. To a toddler, an economy seat is basically a lounge and lie flat. Luckily we fly biz from there to HEL and OSL.

 

[Gremlin]

This may be sacrilegious on this site, but it's not all about the flights for me. Mrs G and I are going to the subcontinent early next year for a wedding. We considered two options for the leg there.

1. Day time flights via SIN in Y. Evening arrival. Transfer to a five star hotel suite for the night. Wedding the next day (and day after, and day after that - it IS an Indian wedding!). ~15 hours travel.
2. Overnight flights in J via CMB. Arrive morning of the (first day of the) wedding. ~22hours.

Sleep in a King Bed in a hotel suite trumps sleeping on a lie flat J seat any day of the week for me. Option 1 was an easy decision.

 

[Matt_01]

I normally prefer to fly direct but recently booked x2 ICN-TPE-BNE and x1 ICN-TPE-SYD with CI as the J seats were available during school holidays. These had a 10 hour layover in TPE which wasn't ideal. I was fortunate that QF released x3 J seats ICN-SYD-ADL that worked for us so I changed the flights. In the past we have booked routes such as SYD-SIN-HND-LHR if I cannot get seats AU-JP direct.

 

[Anjan]

Oh I remember the days the wifey tolerated J class revenue tickets ex Colombo. On one side it was Cmb Sing Syd sometimes Cmb Sing Melb Syd. Then on the other side usually a 4-5 hour layover in transit hotel then Doh Mad to Lisbon or Doh to Cdg It was like 40 hours...she said no more to this! It was fun whilst it lasted...but too many variables. Missed a connection in Abu once and had to spend 14 hours at a hotel courtesy of EY...when doing short holidays it is a time killer. If you can score J class redemption to Asia and then a discounted J class rev ticket on the like of AY it is reasonable compromise...flat bed price and duration.

 

[Anjan]

We're doing SYD-SIN in Economy next month. I wanted to spend points to go via Manila all in business but partner put her foot down on 6 extra hours of travel
We are traveling with a toddler so that comes into it. To a toddler, an economy seat is basically a lounge and lie flat. Luckily we fly biz from there to HEL and OSL.

I know the feeling on putting the foot down

 

[Scarecrows]

My last trip in economy was only 5 hours. I'd go double or triple the time to fly business. No comparison!

 

[Quickstatus]

I once did a LAX-MEL-SYD on J points as I could not get SYD nonstop
This was prior to the Dreamliners. The A380 on occasion had to short stop somewhere for fuel - a "splash and dash"

In my case it did and splashed into SYD- due to fog in MEL
Luckily the CSM was very proactive and with the captains permission got a bus and stairs pronto to the remote refuelling stand to get us off before the aircraft dashed. There was a possibility we would go to MEL if a remote bus and stairs did not arrived before it dashed. Us being a random group whose final was SYD.

Swanned through SYD T1 baggage collection without stopping as all our checked luggage was still onboard the 94

Got home.
Got the original routing SC for the paid domestic sector and a refund
Got the bags delivered the next day.

 

[Leroyb]

The longest Ive gone is SYD-HKG-LAX (9+13), instead of SYD-LAX direct (14)

 

[Quickstatus]

SYD-HKG-LAX

Those CX redemption flights used to come up on the QF system before any QF availability would (even with WP visibility)

 

[dajop]

My last trip in economy was only 5 hours. I'd go double or triple the time to fly business. No comparison!

Welcome to AFF.!

I know the sentiment, but would you, say if you wanted to travel from Singapore to Perth (which is a 5 hr flight) leave at say 2pm, have a 6 hr layover in Manila then fly to PER arriving next morning on Philippine Airlines? Or just eat it up and fly take the 5 hr flight down to SIN in the evening in economy on Qantas or Singapore Airlines?

One thing I find better than a lie-flat business class seat ..... a queen or king sized bed in a nice hotel

 

[NM]

And even though the J points option includes a transit, we can only assume that as a J pax they will have lounge access, so time to freshen up, eat, drink, relax, work etc. in the lounge would work nicely for me.

 

[mrsterryn]

Actually yes I am going the long way round but I get to see a new airport aka Taipei it may or may not be exciting but somewhat new
Just checked my flight trip will be about five hours longer than the 10 or so hours direct from Sydney to Incheon

 

[winfred]

Unless I'm really pressed for time, I'll take the J option.

I'm flying from HKG-JFK next week. Instead of a direct flight from Hong Kong with CX that will cost $5k+, I redeemed a ticket to fly to Jakarta then catch QR/AA via Doha to JFK in J. Total cost is slightly less than $5k. I'll take an extra day but I'll gladly spend the extra time in J + enjoy the lounge in Doha.

 

[dajop]

And even though the J points option includes a transit, we can only assume that as a J pax they will have lounge access, so time to freshen up, eat, drink, relax, work etc. in the lounge would work nicely for me.

Depends on the lounge!!! At an extreme, I'm not sure spending 5 hrs in the lounge used by many airlines at DPS is particularly relaxing or something that I would look forward to.