Need to send the wife to Europe in 08/14, DM or LM?

[aaronmiles]

First off let me apologise in advance as I am sure its one of those roll eye moments when seasoned veterans see someone join and their first post is a question asking what is probably old hat and one of those *rolls eyes* moments (assuming this is even the right forum to post in), but here goes anyway

The good lady wife is going to france next year (August) for a horse show with a friend of hers and a mate of mine has used FF programs (DM) before to book J and F flights for great prices through the usual 100% combos and such like. I too would like to give this a shot and try and send the mrs on TG in either F or J as when my friend was talking about it, the notion of possibly 'turning left' made her very excited indeed and you know that the one who must be obeyed.... must be obeyed.

Assuming I am looking at a TG route of SYD-BKK-CDG (we are in Melbourne, but its best to leave from sydney I am told for F) you need 210k LM/150k DM for F and 175k LM/120k DM and you can buy LM at 3c/mile and much the same for DM. With LM I could book SYD-BKK-CDG F on the way out and CDG-BBK-MEL in J on the way back as after a long trip away, coming straight to MEL would be preferrable but for the sake of calculations lets assume SYD-BBK-CDG both ways.

Given that I read that the USAir-American partnership will result in the dropping of DM on *A in favour of oneworld, is it worth attempting the plan before things change or is it worth waiting it out and attempting a LM solution?

The mate that put me onto this system has a current promo on the 2 for 1 on DM's so the original plan was to buy the maximum 50k DM and transfer to my account so I would then have 100k, and would just need to either buy the remaining 20k/50k (given the merger this would probably have to be the plan) or should I wait for LM and get the required miles that way?

Am I missing something in that using LM will cost more than DM would have for the same route given the miles roughly cost the same but you require 55k more LM for J and 60k for F?

Big TIA and do be gentle

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

Assuming I am looking at a TG route of SYD-BBK-CDG (we are in Melbourne, but its best to leave from sydney I am told for F) you need 210k LM/150k DM for F and 175k LM/120k DM and you can buy LM at 3c/mile and much the same for DM. With LM I could book SYD-BBK-CDG F on the way out and CDG-BBK-MEL in J on the way back as after a long trip away, coming straight to MEL would be preferrable but for the sake of calculations lets assume SYD-BBK-CDG both ways.

Welcome, re your routing, I assume you mean SYD-BKK-CDG? BBK is Kasane airport in Botswana.

Welcome to AFF and I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable people will provide feedback in the next 24-48 hours.

 

[aaronmiles]

LOL!, good point... no, Im not going to botswana any time soon (lets hope), although I am sure its a lovely place... I once drank a can of coke that had "Keep Namibia Beautiful" on it, I dare say that is the closest I will ever get to africa.. thanks for the pickup

 

[robd]

I've just done SYD-BKK-CDG with DM in F and your wife will love it. Have you checked flight availability? If all the flights are there, then get on ASAP!

With LM, you will only need 40% of the required miles from the chart, using the slider towards more money. LM's will be a bit more expensive, but still a bargain for what you get.

 

[aaronmiles]

I've just done SYD-BKK-CDG with DM in F and your wife will love it. Have you checked flight availability? If all the flights are there, then get on ASAP!

With LM, you will only need 40% of the required miles from the chart, using the slider towards more money. LM's will be a bit more expensive, but still a bargain for what you get.

That's the plan, I am just after the best way to start from today with 0 given the changes, i need some direction.. and quick with the changed about to occur

 

[robd]

That's the plan, I am just after the best way to start from today with 0 given the changes, i need some direction.. and quick with the changed about to occur

I'm certainly not going to tell you what to do.

You could ring USDM to confirm that the flights are available and put them on hold. Then buy your points and purchase the flights.

 

[aaronmiles]

I'm certainly not going to tell you what to do.

You could ring USDM to confirm that the flights are available and put them on hold. Then buy your points and purchase the flights.

True, Its just around what to do in relation to which program to drop the money on, LM or DM with DM about to change awfully quickly, if I cant get the required miles up by the end of the year realistically its going to be money wasted?

 

[travelislife]

Here is what I would do. I would use USDM. Check if the flights you want are available (you can mix classes) so could fly F SYD-BKK-CDG//CDG-BKK and J BKK-MEL. The way USDM is though at the moment with unknowns I would just book J MEL-BKK-CDG return. Why you ask? Well you could put the flights on hold today for no cost. Get your friend to gift you the 50,000+50,000 for about $1900. Buy 20,000 yourself at normal prices for about $700. Ticket the booking and you will have return J to Europe locked in for about $3k. Note values are off the top of my head. I don't think it is worth doing this strategy for F as the cost then gets in to possible revenue levels for J seats. And I don't think it is worth the risk waiting for another USDM promo for the extra 20k or 50k.

 

[aaronmiles]

Here is what I would do. I would use USDM. Check if the flights you want are available (you can mix classes) so could fly F SYD-BKK-CDG//CDG-BKK and J BKK-MEL. The way USDM is though at the moment with unknowns I would just book J MEL-BKK-CDG return. Why you ask? Well you could put the flights on hold today for no cost. Get your friend to gift you the 50,000+50,000 for about $1900. Buy 20,000 yourself at normal prices for about $700. Ticket the booking and you will have return J to Europe locked in for about $3k. Note values are off the top of my head. I don't think it is worth doing this strategy for F as the cost then gets in to possible revenue levels for J seats. And I don't think it is worth the risk waiting for another USDM promo for the extra 20k or 50k.

Thanks for the tip, this is the information that I am looking for what do you mean by Revenue levels? If nothing else J is certainly better than flying Y.

Given previous history and the changing nature of DM coming up you don't think its worth doing the F: SYD-BKK-CDG and on the way back F: CDG-BKK then J: BKK-MEL route as the points required is too risky to wait for 100% bonuses to come along in such a short space of time?

As for availability, I checked on the LM site and there was availability but she is flexible on the days by a week or so which helped.

She is actually going with a friend of hers so I will have to do this twice, i looked around and it should be possible for my mate to get the 100% bonus when gifting to both my wifes and her friends DM account?