Intro and initial question

[andye]

Personally I would avoid Phillipine Airlines for the trip to Heathrow with a child as one of the legs always seems to be over 40h long.

I would go for best(ish) fare of the day while trying to get some airline frequent flier points. Signing up for Qantas, Velocity & Krisflyer which will cover a lot of options.

As RAM said, joining British Airways Executive Club (with a someone's UK address) is also worth considering if you regularly do SYD-LHR as:
1) BA miles are more valuable than QF miles
2) you can use BA miles for good value short-haul Reward Flight Saver redemptions in Europe
3) you earn the same number of Tier Points (status credits) with all OneWorld airlines, unlike QF who give reduced earn on those routes

If your partner flies Virgin, family pooling could easily push you up to status level, from a trip to the UK with VA, Etihad or Singapore

Looking on skyscanner there are some better fares in September than you have mentioned here, but you may be tied into exact dates. I certainly wouldn't be paying over $2000- for a 1-stop sub-30h journey more like $1600, lower still if you are happy with Malaysian

 

[timster]

The best approach for the infrequent Y flyer wishing to maximize comfort, benefits, and award flights, while minimizing cost, will require a combination of strategies.

Airline loyalty has become more of a one-way street, especially for the infrequent flyer. Alliance loyalty makes some sense though. That way status miles / points can be accumulated while flying a range of airlines. Just choose an FF program where points never expire.

For benefits (lounges etc), it is possible to get to Gold while flying Y long haul only once or twice a year, especially if your FF allows family pooling. There are FF programs that require far fewer miles to get status than others. Note that you may never fly with the airline with which you achieve gold status. However many airlines charge more for the points/status-accumulating fares, so you need to weigh up the actual cost vs benefit.

There are also cheaper ways to get lounge access for infrequent users, eg AA 30-day membership for AA and QF lounges (does NOT cover EK lounges when flying QF).

But by far the simplest approach is BFOD. But the only benefit is cost-saving.

My approach is basically BFOD within an alliance, routing convenience, paying extra for miles accrural fares when I need miles to maintain status. While QF don't charge extra for miles accrural fares, they actually charge everyone for that benefit with (generally) higher fares.

I used to chase points for award flights, but now realize that is a mug's game at the bottom end of the food chain where most flyers are. Whatever points I get go into the one (or at most two) FF program. If I had a way of accumulating mega points via credit card - at reasonable 'true' cost-per-point - then I would change approach.

Re the OP's height and desire for extra leg room. Many airlines still give exit rows to tall people just for being tall - like QF used to. Just checkin early to maximize your chances (which will be increased by having gold status with that airline's alliance). Others sell exit rows for less than QF.

The only advantage of the A380 to my mind space-wise is that it has more exit rows than any other airframe, as configured by most airlines.

 

[Tassieoptom]

From my own perspective I fly overseas 1-2 times per year, and a number of domestic flights. 90% of my flights are with my wife, and my stepson flys a few times a year too when returning home. We have booked mostly in Y and prefer Virgin domestically and Singapore airlines internationally. The Velocity FF family pooling allows us to reach Gold status/retain Gold and we get very close to platinum. We really appreciate the Gold perks, namely priority checkin and security lanes, Extra checked baggage, and lounge access, it can make all the difference. In saying that we will fly cheaper airlines when the price is right.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Welcome . You will find a lot of useful travel information on these boards even if you are not sticking to one program.

I have friends who don’t fly much, but maximise points through card sign on bonuses and CC use and although they are bronze (I.e. no status), still manage, with some careful planning, to book award flights. So even if the status is out of your reach, learning how to earn and use points could be useful for you.