PER-IAH in J Options

[minesapint]

I have a work trip coming up to Houston and am looking into options for flights. Fortunately it will be in business class. I am trying to avoid domestic connections in the US.

My top 3 options are

Singapore Airlines

PER-SIN-MAN-IAH on a 787 for the PER-SIN and then A350-9 for the PER-MAN-IAH. Layovers in Singapore are 4 hours on the way over and 2 hours on the way back.

Pluses for me is that this would get me KF Gold status, wide bed on the long haul segments and is generally my airline of choice out of Perth, however, minuses are these are 30+ hour journeys and the lack of dine on demand and no onboard bar to help pass the time (first world problems I know) are putting me off a bit. It is such a long trip so hard to imagine serious boredom not kicking in.

Not sure what the lounge situation in MAN would be like, but a quick stop there so probably not a big factor either way. SQ have announced they will end the MAN-IAH leg next year, could be a risk.

Qatar

PER-DOH-IAH on A380 from PER-DOH and A350-1000 for DOH-IAH. Layovers are 3 hours on the outbound and almost 10 hours on the return leg - overall duration is comparable to the flying SQ as the route is more direct and only 1 stop.

Pluses are the bar on the A380 to help pass the time, Qsuites on the A350 to get a good rest. Also dine on demand will be welocomed to hopefully start to shift my body clock. I should be able to squeeze oneworld sapphire from this trip (which airline would you go for?), wouldnt be as useful as KF gold but a nice to have (could always get KF gold through HSBC card).

Emirates

PER-DXB-IAH on A380 for both legs. Layovers are 4 hours on the outbound and 7 hours on the return. Again overall durations are comparable (still 30+ hours). Pluses are the bar on the A380 for both legs to help pass the time. Food doesnt look as good as on Singapore or Qatar. Also dont think this flight would help with getting status on a major alliance airline - any good options?

I have also looked at ANA but thier seasonal flight to Perth would only work on the return leg and doesnt look like they operate flights to IAH (would be on United - meh).

If I couldnt get KF gold status I think I would pick Qatar but also having somewhere to stretch my legs on all 4 legs of the Emirates flights is attractive too! Which would you go for and why? what other options should I consider?

 

[Human]

I'm flying MEL-SIN-MAN-IAH early next year because that was the only option to use points to redeem business class flights.

Obviously if money were no object my preference would be either MEL-SYD-IAH (Virgin/United) or MEL-DFW-IAH (Qantas and American). Given you're in Perth, have you considered the Virgin/United PER-SYD-IAH option?

If your preference is to head west, then I'd take the Qatar and Emirates (in that order) options. But you should also be aware that loads on Singapore's MAN-IAH leg are very low (they're cancelling the route next year) and unofficially it shouldn't be a problem for them to let you dine on demand, at least to some extent.

 

[jase05]

If you are going West then I’d take QR followed by EK.
Is NZ an option for you?
United is a decent option from the East coast of Australia but you have to factor in the Virhin domestic leg which is a PITA

 

[minesapint]

NZ could work, but their hard and soft product don’t seem on par with SQ or EK never mind QR…

 

[Comoman]

I’ve actually done them all Perth to Houston.

As Jase05 mentioned United direct from Sydney to Houston (if they’re still running). Polaris seat is ok - crew and food can be variable.

The SQ contract lounge in Manchester is awful.
The long layovers in the ME on the way back are annoying.
Agree with SQ and QR food being better - QR dine on demand is excellent.
EK onboard bar is the best.

 

[aamslfc]

Of course, any (in)sane AFF member would do the following:

• QF/VA to SYD
• CZ/LA to AKL
• NZ/UA to IAH
• SQ to MAN
• QR/EK/TK to SIN
• EK/TK to MEL
• QF/VA to PER

But in all seriousness, this is actually quite the dilemma. I'd probably prefer SQ as the IAH-MAN leg is going next year, and the two-stop breaks up the hideously long journey (with an excellent lounge at Changi). Not to mention Krisflyer status which would give you perks with VA and Star Alliance.

However, QR's soft product is better and the one stop is more direct, but much longer legs vs the SQ option. Probably better to accrue the Avios and TPs with BA, QR from PER/SIN to IAH would get you 600 TPs which is instant Oneworld Sapphire provided you do the 4 BA legs. Plus you get the nice lounge at Doha... perhaps QR is the better option after all.

I'm surprised the ANA option didn't work - they do HND-IAH daily, shame the PER leg is so limited. Suppose you could go SQ to SIN then NH via HND on a two-stop, but as much as I love NH's soft product, in that case I'd probably stick with QR or SQ.

 

[minesapint]

Of course, any (in)sane AFF member would do the following:

• QF/VA to SYD
• CZ/LA to AKL
• NZ/UA to IAH
• SQ to MAN
• QR/EK/TK to SIN
• EK/TK to MEL
• QF/VA to PER

But in all seriousness, this is actually quite the dilemma. I'd probably prefer SQ as the IAH-MAN leg is going next year, and the two-stop breaks up the hideously long journey (with an excellent lounge at Changi). Not to mention Krisflyer status which would give you perks with VA and Star Alliance.

However, QR's soft product is better and the one stop is more direct, but much longer legs vs the SQ option. Probably better to accrue the Avios and TPs with BA, QR from PER/SIN to IAH would get you 600 TPs which is instant Oneworld Sapphire provided you do the 4 BA legs. Plus you get the nice lounge at Doha... perhaps QR is the better option after all.

I'm surprised the ANA option didn't work - they do HND-IAH daily, shame the PER leg is so limited. Suppose you could go SQ to SIN then NH via HND on a two-stop, but as much as I love NH's soft product, in that case I'd probably stick with QR or SQ.

ANA fly into NRT from Perth and a trek across Tokyo in the middle of this journey would be too much!

Really appreciate the reflections.

Post automatically merged: Aug 15, 2024

I’ve actually done them all Perth to Houston.

As Jase05 mentioned United direct from Sydney to Houston (if they’re still running). Polaris seat is ok - crew and food can be variable.

The SQ contract lounge in Manchester is awful.
The long layovers in the ME on the way back are annoying.
Agree with SQ and QR food being better - QR dine on demand is excellent.
EK onboard bar is the best.

If you had the choice which would be your first pick?