Silly idea MEL to SGN

[Cessna 180]

Need a bit of moral support from the community. Been accumulating time to start burning again! Girlfriend has decided we should to go to Vietnam. Which seems a decent idea in the middle of our winter I think.Of course the only dates we can line up are early July...
MEL to SGN on JAL for 120k points plus $129. I was keen on the direct JQ for the northbound leg but that is now up to around $1500 one way. Is 16 hours on JL a fun experience for what could be around 9 hours direct with a decent earn of SC?

Is there plenty to do in that area?

Still coming up with a return scheme.

Ta.

 

[MELso]

You used to be able to book VN (on QF codes) to get to Vietnam but I think that died in the pandemic.

Do you have any points other than QF? (e.g. any Skyteam or SQ?)

Personally, I'd be looking at the fares on Vietjet or Bamboo...

 

[Cessna 180]

You used to be able to book VN (on QF codes) to get to Vietnam but I think that died in the pandemic.

Do you have any points other than QF? (e.g. any Skyteam or SQ?)

Personally, I'd be looking at the fares on Vietjet or Bamboo...

Only Velocity, have been keeping an eye on that too for SQ. Our dates are not at an ideal time.

(This is all in J of course, I would do PE in the daytime, but not interested in economy for that length when it is for a holiday)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Need a bit of moral support from the community. Been accumulating time to start burning again! Girlfriend has decided we should to go to Vietnam. Which seems a decent idea in the middle of our winter I think.Of course the only dates we can line up are early July...
MEL to SGN on JAL for 120k points plus $129. I was keen on the direct JQ for the northbound leg but that is now up to around $1500 one way. Is 16 hours on JL a fun experience for what could be around 9 hours direct with a decent earn of SC?

Is there plenty to do in that area?

Still coming up with a return scheme.

Ta.

16 hours on JAL won’t be entirely fun, you’ll have plenty of sleep time too! . And you’ll arrive well rested on a nice flat bed and ready to enjoy your holiday… rather than wanting to crawl into bed and sleep!

 

[eminere]

(This is all in J of course, I would do PE in the daytime, but not interested in economy for that length when it is for a holiday)

Then 100% on JL.

 

[RichardMEL]

tbh I'd look at Bamboo or Vietjet and/or Scoot for low cost flights over (I thought JQ were pulling out of .vietnam?). You're only a few months out and going via Tokyo is probably going to be more painful than the cost of a low cost flight. Or at the very least just do it one way imo.

Definitely a popular time for anyone to get over to Asia so prices could be difficult but it might be better for your relationship than the runaround via Tokyo. imo

 

[aikman]

That JL marathon looks tiring.

MEL-SGN on Vietjet's Skyboss flat bed is ~$1,300 (on July 7). Overnight flight so you can sleep.

 

[RichardMEL]

The other thought is to look for reward seats on QF/MH/JQ to say SIN, KUL, BKK, HKT or other close by asian destination, and then just grab airasia, JQ or some other flight to SGN?

 

[Cessna 180]

That JL marathon looks tiring.

MEL-SGN on Vietjet's Skyboss flat bed is $1,200 (on July 7). Overnight flight so you can sleep.

All good info. So a 1.5 hour transit in Tokyo is no good? I did wonder about this but was thinking as it is a connecting flight it should be ok?

I do agree it looks tiring Aikman. The direct JQ is really appealing from timing perspective and being an afternoon flight. And not much difference in price to Vietjet plus a bit of "F" lounging in MEL which was always my favorite back when I used to go to NZ a bit back in the day..

I have been looking in to that as well Richard, that is when today I saw the JAL option. KUL on MH is something I have not thought of. SIN is all pretty full it seems. All part of the challenge I suppose.

 

[Quickstatus]

So a 1.5 hour transit in Tokyo is no good

The connection is a bit tight. What if the arrival flight is delayed?
But it is a married ticket so if any delays JL will put you on another flight but note the JL NRT-SGN is only once a day but I believe JL have a codeshare with VietJet later in the evening.

Another option:
MEL-DPS-KUL-SGN

 

[MELso]

All good info. So a 1.5 hour transit in Tokyo is no good? I did wonder about this but was thinking as it is a connecting flight it should be ok?

I guess the big philosophical question is: is this about the destination or the journey? Personally, it seems like a fair bit of stuffing around on a journey that short, and the QF points may well be better burned off elsewhere?

How are you flying back from SGN? Is it booked?

 

[Quickstatus]

is this about the destination or the journey?

This is AFF. Why fly direct when you can connect!

 

[WilsonM]

Will point out that your points could be used through Qantas Hotels (definitely not the best use of points though) - so you could get (potentially) nicer accomodation wherever you're going instead of a more comfortable, but longer trip over. Or, if you want to end on a higher note, pay for Vietjet Skybed or even get to SIN and fly Scoot Business back?

I'm flying VietJet Y in the next few weeks from MEL - SGN, and while I'll be the first to admit the prospect of an 8 hour redeye in a tighter economy seat doesn't fill me with joy, I paid ~$220 AUD, so I guess it comes down to how much you value your time and comfort. No one right answer, and of course the SO being comfortable might be priceless (or not!). Might be useful to try and put a price per hour on how much you want to spend, compared to the base price you can get - would you want to spend an extra $100 per hour of flying, $200 etc etc.

Also the SC earn is useful, but bear in mind that if you don't hit the thresholds then its just useless.

Sounds like a fun trip though, hope you and your girlfriend enjoy!

 

[MELso]

Looking on Qantas' site, there are quite a few classic reward flights from MEL to SGN on JQ from 10 July, so if you can hold off a week or so, that'd work...

 

[Cessna 180]

I guess the big philosophical question is: is this about the destination or the journey? Personally, it seems like a fair bit of stuffing around on a journey that short, and the QF points may well be better burned off elsewhere?

How are you flying back from SGN? Is it booked?

A bit of both, does not actually have to be Vietnam. Thailand or similar would be ok. I have never been overly interested in going there myself. Do not really know what is what over there.

Not booked yet, am hoping to ring up an get a classic reward from HKg and there is award availability showing for CX to there. Still just coming up with ideas at the present. Not the end of the world either way. I have just had a bit of time to look at options the last couple of days.

Will point out that your points could be used through Qantas Hotels (definitely not the best use of points though) - so you could get (potentially) nicer accomodation wherever you're going instead of a more comfortable, but longer trip over. Or, if you want to end on a higher note, pay for Vietjet Skybed or even get to SIN and fly Scoot Business back?

I'm flying VietJet Y in the next few weeks from MEL - SGN, and while I'll be the first to admit the prospect of an 8 hour redeye in a tighter economy seat doesn't fill me with joy, I paid ~$220 AUD, so I guess it comes down to how much you value your time and comfort. No one right answer, and of course the SO being comfortable might be priceless (or not!). Might be useful to try and put a price per hour on how much you want to spend, compared to the base price you can get - would you want to spend an extra $100 per hour of flying, $200 etc etc.

Also the SC earn is useful, but bear in mind that if you don't hit the thresholds then its just useless.

Sounds like a fun trip though, hope you and your girlfriend enjoy!

The 'SO' would probably care less than I do. I am 6ft 3 and do not enjoy being squashed in next to anyone from MEL to ADL let alone for eight hours.

The SC will be useful at this stage. That is all part of a bigger picture

 

[Cessna 180]

Looking on Qantas' site, there are quite a few classic reward flights from MEL to SGN on JQ from 10 July, so if you can hold off a week or so, that'd work...

Really,? I cannot see that, and have been poking around on the sight all day.
That could work, as about the latest day to depart. Have to be back by the 16th.

Oh. I see it now. In economy

 

[MELso]

Oh. I see it now. In economy

Yup - although if you can select row 10 on the JQ 787, then food aside, it's not too bad.

EDIT spendthe money you save on a schmick hotel instead!

 

[mx838383]

JAL soft product has always been good. If you are going to SGN via NRT then check if you are going to be on the JL 774 from MEL to NRT. Even though you are in J, they’ve recently temporarily changed their planes from their sky suite seats to shell neo business seats which means angle flat and not a true flat bed. This might not worth you burning the points and the increased travel time. I am unfortunately one of those who booked thinking sky suite flat bed for 10hrs and ended up with shell neo angle flat instead. Definitely far inferior product than flat bed but the food and service makes up for it.

Edit:JAL now back to apex lie flat until 1st of sept 2022 for now.

 

[RichardMEL]

Given that you're WP that potentially changes the equation given the potential (but time is not on your side and peak demand season) to release some reward seats (but J would be pretty difficult, Y probably doable - but then again you might as well go JQ direct in that case).

I would have guessed SIN to be no go, but thinking of other potential places - JQ to HKT etc - if you can get "Business" then that's doable for that kind of flight if not the most wonderful.

I suppose there's going to be a trade off between what you can get and is practical for BOTH of you vs what probably makes the most sense.

If the JL flying via Tokyo is in J, that changes the equation (I apologise, I thought that was Y reward pricing for two!). Certainly that option would appeal more given the relative comfort o the indirect route - vs JQ on the direct (and knowing you're WP, JQ makes far more sense than vietjet or Scott - I was thinking of lower cost either Y or J-ish(ScootBiz) products to compete with JQ). Being able to use WP benefits - at least in aus for lounging would be rather nice, and if going JL of course very helpful.

If SC earn is also potentially a desired benefit, then you'd want to get an SC earning JQ bundle of course (since reward flights won't give you any, unless QF metal and you're also PC/PC+). If this is a minor consideration of course then that again changes the pros and cons of the various options.

 

[Mattg]

MEL-SGN on Vietjet's Skyboss flat bed is ~$1,300 (on July 7). Overnight flight so you can sleep.

This isn't a fully lie-flat bed, it's on an angle which I find a bit hard to sleep on. Definitely still better than Jetstar Business Class though!