QF to Europe returns to the Kangaroo Route (via SIN)

[justinbrett]

We were hoping to get FF tix Sydney-Dubai-Nairobi next August (esp with those seats opening up now) with our many Qantas points. So question is: what is the best way to get to Nairobi now? Will we still be able to get Emirates seats using Q points? Using the Emirates FF program gives less points exchange, is my understanding.

Reading is your friend - this is clearly answered on the Qantas public announcement page which is advertised on their front page

You can use your Qantas Points to book available seats on Emirates flights across the globe using Points Plus Pay - Flights or Classic Flight Rewards

 

[TheBOSman]

Sorry JT I was thinking differently.
If a long stopover in SIN don't do what this goose did-
Video: Guy Attacks Police Officers At Changi Airport, Gets Six Months In Jail - One Mile at a Time

I wish more places would do the same.

Going way off topic but I don't even want to think of what would happen to someone pulling the same stunt(s) here in LOTFAP .

On topic:

Positives of this move in the general perspective of what I'm reading here:

SIN > DXB as a transit airport experience
Singapore > Dubai as a transit/stopover experience
The expected return of bacon (some of y'all are really obsessed with this!)
MEL retains all-A380 service to LHR, even though a long layover may be required, but an A330 isn't that bad either for a shorter connection that is still all QF metal
Likely fewer delays via SIN than via DXB
Another A380 freed up for HKG service

Negatives:

No more DXB lounges, SIN lounges not quite on the level of DXB lounges, particularly so for F travelers/WP/OWE
More difficult to fly QF metal further to non-LHR Europe points without going through LHR as no clear QFF point earning European connections available at SIN other than LHR
QF ceding much of Australia-rest of Europe to EK metal
Potential cutback in hours of MEL F lounge
QF definitely going in on the 787 PER-LHR service and clearly now only one flight a day to/from LHR with F
Both flights ex-LHR now (PER and SIN) are longer flights than the onward flights to east coast of Australia and same in reverse, for those of us who would generally prefer the longer flight second this isn't good when flying LHR-Australia

 

[mel1]

Yes, full services are still available with EK. They will remain an FF partner of QF's. Nothing is changing in that respect except you won't be able to fly on an actual Qantas aircraft between Australia and Dubai.

Oh that is great news, thanks. And I prefer the Emirates aircraft (at least until the Qantas ones are overhauled)

 

[mel1]

Reading is your friend - this is clearly answered on the Qantas public announcement page which is advertised on their front page

You are right. I did not read the announcement. Thank you

 

[serfty]

That's really helpful for many reasons esp planning. Thanks.

Guess we should get back on topic though.

Actually, it is very on topic as this (micro) discussion has provided valuable info on ways to travel QF marketed flights to Europe whilst avoiding LHR.

Did you know that a QF marketed flight from DXB to anywhere in Europe earns the same points/SC's for each fare class/type. DXB-IST on QF*EK earns the same as DXB-CDG on QF*EK and DXB-LHR on QF*QF or QF*EK.

 

[Flying mermaid]

So maybe someone with too much time on their hands could see just how many flights have QF code past DXB. Then we could see whether my experience is more 'general' than you think, and that is an EK code past DXB - in this case to Venice.

I have been investigating flights to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with Emirates via the Qantas site. Nairobi gives you the choice of Qantas codes or EK codes to and from Dubai. DAR just gives EK codes. Nairobi is probably the more popular destination for Australians, so maybe that is why.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Oh that is great news, thanks. And I prefer the Emirates aircraft (at least until the Qantas ones are overhauled)

yes we are going to Nairobi in September next year and I was toying with maybe doing one leg Qantas (QF1), and three Emirates, just because I am still sentimental about Qantas. So this change is good, as I now have to book all 4 with Emirates, which will make Mr FM happy (and we will have the onboard shower for 2 sectors, which is fun ).

 

[mviy]

Would be nice to have a F route to HKG again, even better if they would then go onto LHR but no slots at LHR plus yields would not support three flights a day to LHR

In the unlikely event they scrap the PER-LHR flights before they can do MEL-LHR direct non-stop, I guess HKG-LHR could be an option again but that would mean the A380 fleet utilisation improvements would be lost.

 

[Kangol]

Looking at QF's SC calc page, for J / Bronze I get

MEL-SYD on QF 1400/40
SYD-SIN on QF 7800/120
SIN-LHR on BA 8125/120 (no QF option ATM)
Total: 17,325 points / 280SC

Just falls short of requalifying for WP (by 80 SC) with one return flight if they have a DSC offer.

Currently MEL-SYD-DXB-LHR on QF returns 33,000 points /320 SC.
I guess the SIN-LHR would probably earn ~160SC on QF metal to give parity with the DXB routing.

I thought DSC was only on QF metal with a couple of EK TT codeshare exceptions. BA not included?

 

[sww199]

As has been pointed out, QF still forces ADL PAX through EK or another stop in MEL, SYD, BNE. Yes, we aren't as big as those cities but 1m+ population is still significant and no QF international service sucks.

Or I just stick with SQ who offer a superior soft and hard product to EK and QF anyway, at least at the back of the bus.

 

[CaptJCool]

Except for LGBTQI rights and death penalty, but sure :s

If you're going to start using human rights as a reason not to travel somewhere, you'll soon find most of the World off limits, including our own backyard.



I was told by my contacts at EY if the difference between them and EK is $4, pax will book the cheapest option.

anyone got a spare $4 dolla

Singapore imho has got more going for it than the exotic East -

perhaps it's an unfair assessment seeing it and Asia was developed far ahead of UAE and neighbouring countries

 

[CaptJCool]

As has been pointed out, QF still forces ADL PAX through EK or another stop in MEL, SYD, BNE. Yes, we aren't as big as those cities but 1m+ population is still significant and no QF international service sucks.

Or I just stick with SQ who offer a superior soft and hard product to EK and QF anyway, at least at the back of the bus.

same for me.

with the way SCs are divvied up, it pays to fly transits.

I'm about 75% toward LTG so I think that's worth completing then after that spread the cash around.

Fortunately as child support comes to an end and mortgage halved and work done and a great super scheme, I'll have the cash to splash on the Kangaroo Route

 

[Bilton]

but 1m+ population is still significant and no QF international service sucks.

Complain to your MPs then. :shock:

 

[Aussie_flyer]

As has been pointed out, QF still forces ADL PAX through EK or another stop in MEL, SYD, BNE. Yes, we aren't as big as those cities but 1m+ population is still significant and no QF international service sucks.

Or I just stick with SQ who offer a superior soft and hard product to EK and QF anyway, at least at the back of the bus.

The Perth to London route now means Adelaide residents had what they did before that is one stop to London all on Qantas. You should actually be happy.

It's actually just like those in Melbourne or Sydney where we have one stop to London with Qantas or use Emirates in qf code one stop to other parts of Europe. I don't get what your problem is.

 

[Pushka]

Complain to your MPs then. :shock:

What relevance is that for Pete's sake?

The Perth to London route now means Adelaide residents had what they did before that is one stop to London all on Qantas. You should actually be happy.

Flying to Perth first and trying to time that with an appropriate time in transit? Four hours between flights minimum. Yeah. Really happy. Not.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Flying to Perth first and trying to time that with an appropriate time in transit? Four hours between flights minimum. Yeah. Really happy. Not.

A pretty good example of how Qantas can hardly hope to please everyone.

 

[Pushka]

A pretty good example of how Qantas can hardly hope to please everyone.

Of course. But they displeased SAussies ages ago and this announcement doesn't impact on us one bit. Guess that's why we aren't sharing the love

 

[gaz0303]

Complain to your MPs then. :shock:

lol...won't they have one less soon with AEC changes?

 

[mviy]

I thought DSC was only on QF metal with a couple of EK TT codeshare exceptions. BA not included?

That was this year. Last year it was QF with a few AA exceptions to LA, I think. It's uncertain what exceptions would be offered (if any) if there is a future global DSC promo.

 

[kermatu]

lol...won't they have one less soon with AEC changes?

Yep, but as long as they have NXT the handouts will continue.

I too am surprised ADL doesn't have QF international services. But given fleet size and the number of other carriers now servicing it obviously isn't high on the priorities.

It's early days and I was only doing a dummy booking out of interest, but a multi-city search for F flights to LHR with stopover in SIN on the return provided QF options on the way out but only EK (via DXB) and BA to SIN on the return. Was well within the date range.