MEL to IST return in J on QF points?

[flyingfan]

I'm aiming for two return flights in J from MEL to as close to Türkiye as possible this October, using QF points for CR or to upgrade (as opposed to paying $20k cash fares or excessive CR+ burn). Wondering if there are any clever ways to do this.

It seems like reward seats to DXB and DOH don't exist. So far I've come up with either:

• Requesting seat releases for SYD-PER-FCO (and then cheap Y fares to IST), although I'm not sure of my chances, QF5 ends its season a bit earlier than I'd like and afterwards I'd still have to get back to MEL
• Requesting seat releases to LHR, and then cheap fares to IST
• BFOD in Y to IST (oh the humanity)

Thoughts and recommendations welcomed.

 

[RnD]

I have never been successful in getting a seat released to LHR, CDG or FCO. Though possibly poor timing for me? I have got CR seats from SIN via DBX.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Award is certainly possible with Qantas for an outbound of October 26, 29 or 31 for 2 passengers to Istanbul. These are all with Emirates with some dates giving you multiple options:


A note about Emirates: they tend to impose quite high taxes and fees on award bookings (no doubt someone from AFF can chime in on the pricing here).

As for the return, if I may ask, do you happen to have any Virgin Australia points? The reason I ask is that Virgin actually does have quite a decent amount of availability in business class, particularly on the return segments (this is November 13, picking a random date):

 

[Tiki]

Wow $1960 taxes one way for J QF/EK!

If you can get Avios via Amex or elsewhere J from Australia to IST is 85k Avios plus around $510 in taxes. That's what I paid back in Sept, not sure if it's gone up. I couldn't find availability in J on a few random searches to get the current price.

 

[flyingfan]

Award is certainly possible with Qantas for an outbound of October 26, 29 or 31 for 2 passengers to Istanbul. These are all with Emirates with some dates giving you multiple options:

A note about Emirates: they tend to impose quite high taxes and fees on award bookings (no doubt someone from AFF can chime in on the pricing here).

As for the return, if I may ask, do you happen to have any Virgin Australia points? The reason I ask is that Virgin actually does have quite a decent amount of availability in business class, particularly on the return segments (this is November 13, picking a random date):

Thanks! I didn't find availability before but that was on earlier dates and I've been able to replicate your results.

I don't have enough VA points to get anywhere near my intended destination unfortunately.

Wow $1960 taxes one way for J QF/EK!

If you can get Avios via Amex or elsewhere J from Australia to IST is 85k Avios plus around $510 in taxes. That's what I paid back in Sept, not sure if it's gone up. I couldn't find availability in J on a few random searches to get the current price.

I've heard about those infamous EK taxes/surcharges and it looks like I face ponying up for them for the first time. They're ugly but it's still a saving over paying for a cash fare.

I'll have to read up more about Avios, I've heard them being talked about here but am ignorant about how to earn or use them.

Thanks again.

 

[pjm99au]

I'm aiming for two return flights in J from MEL to as close to Türkiye as possible this October, using QF points for CR or to upgrade (as opposed to paying $20k cash fares or excessive CR+ burn). Wondering if there are any clever ways to do this.

It seems like reward seats to DXB and DOH don't exist. So far I've come up with either:

• Requesting seat releases for SYD-PER-FCO (and then cheap Y fares to IST), although I'm not sure of my chances, QF5 ends its season a bit earlier than I'd like and afterwards I'd still have to get back to MEL
• Requesting seat releases to LHR, and then cheap fares to IST
• BFOD in Y to IST (oh the humanity)

Thoughts and recommendations welcomed.

If you don’t mind multiple flights try a multi city search MEL - MNL - IST. Lots of J seats in Oct with QF and WY

Edit: I take back the plenty of availability. Now that I look again it appears to have disappeared other than J availability MNL to IST on 21/10