NRT to MEL in U - QF60 v QF360

[New Chump]

I am very interested in your views on the following.

Mrs NC and I cleaned out our points pre May 24 for two U seats from Melbourne to London in August. We are returning to MEL via Tokyo, where we have a 3 day stopover.

We depart Tokyo on QF 60 NRT-SYD, which leaves at 21:25, has 1 stop in Cairns, arrives SYD at 09:50, then we board QF429 SYD-MEL departing 11:30 and arriving 13:00.

We could change the last leg from NRT to QF 360 to Brisbane which is operated by JAL. It departs NRT at 21:25 and arrives Bris 07:15, then we could get on QF429 BRIS-MEL departing 09:50 and arriving 12:10.

We have not flown JAL before, so are not really sure what to expect. It would mean one stop (Bris) rather than two. It would save 50 mins travelling time. It would cost us 10,000 points to change routing. Would anyone recommend changing, or should we stay put on QF60/QF429?

There is a direct NRT-MEL flight (QF180) which would be ideal, but no U seats are available - I assume it is not worth gambling that U seats on that flight will come up for grabs before we depart.

Many thanks in advance!

NC

 

[serfty]

... then we could get on QF429 BRIS-MEL departing 09:50 and arriving 12:10. ...

I think you mean QF615

... It would cost us 10,000 points to change routing. ...

You are not really changing routings as the QF60 NRT-(CNS-)BNE is only one "segment", so the penalty would be 'only' be a 2500 revalidation fee each (unless you have Silver or better QF status then it would 'cost' nothing). You can do this anytime U seats are available as it is a "Revalidation".

... There is a direct NRT-MEL flight (QF180) which would be ideal, but no U seats are available - ... NC

This would cost 5000 points each to change as the ticket would need to be 'reissued'. Be aware that if the ticket gets reissued after the 24th May, any new points calculation may be done under the new scheme (increasing from 220,000 to 256,000 each MEL-LHR-MEL)