SIN-MEL re-routing and options to hit PS

[Isochronous]

I have a SIN-MEL ticket I need to reschedule to late February for work reasons. It will leave me 40 SC short of hitting PS for the first time if I stick with QF10 on the A380 direct to MEL. Looking at the dates I'd need, the same flight is priced at SGD$636, which is the cheapest option unless I route via Perth to save SGD$30, leaving SIN at 0845 on QF72. That would gain me an extra 15SCs to leave me 25 short. I'm not a morning person, but if I go through Perth on the night flight, that arrives at PER at 1.10am with connecting flight to MEL at 6am - I assume I'd then have to pay for a hotel overnight...

I can get the same SCs by going via BNE. Is it worth losing the comforts of the A380 for the A330 (I assume these that fly SIN-BNE/PER have IFE?). All flights are in economy.

The only other possible travel I have in mind is MEL-Alice Springs over Easter, which gets 30 SCs direct (or 60 if I go through SYD, which currently looks cheaper than the direct flight). So to hit PS I probably need to reroute my Singapore flight to be safe.

 

[munitalP]

I have a SIN-MEL ticket I need to reschedule to late February for work reasons. It will leave me 40 SC short of hitting PS for the first time if I stick with QF10 on the A380 direct to MEL. Looking at the dates I'd need, the same flight is priced at SGD$636, which is the cheapest option unless I route via Perth to save SGD$30, leaving SIN at 0845 on QF72. That would gain me an extra 15SCs to leave me 25 short. I'm not a morning person, but if I go through Perth on the night flight, that arrives at PER at 1.10am with connecting flight to MEL at 6am - I assume I'd then have to pay for a hotel overnight...

I can get the same SCs by going via BNE. Is it worth losing the comforts of the A380 for the A330 (I assume these that fly SIN-BNE/PER have IFE?). All flights are in economy.

The only other possible travel I have in mind is MEL-Alice Springs over Easter, which gets 30 SCs direct (or 60 if I go through SYD, which currently looks cheaper than the direct flight). So to hit PS I probably need to reroute my Singapore flight to be safe.

ask yourself why you want silver and will the cost of the additional flying outweigh the cost of a Qantas Club membership which has benefits near equalling gold?

 

[serfty]

ask yourself why you want silver and will the cost of the additional flying outweigh the cost of a Qantas Club membership which has benefits near equalling gold?

It may be worth it ... 'free' international seat selection for one which is more than QP get (even if just an aisle down the back).

Via BNE earns 500 more QFF points than via PER and 900 more than by going direct.

As posted, if either the BNE/PER route is taken that leaves 25 SC's to be obtained rather than 40.

(Of course, another 425 rather than 440 to SG )

 

[fresherbill]

If you have the flexibility in your ticketing you could cancel and go Business Max on Jetstar - 120 SC in one hit. Not quite "business" but a good SC earner for the money spent, and it's an overnight flight... but only if you don't get penalised for cancelling of course

 

[harvyk]

I agree with munitalP, save your time \ money and look at buying a QP membership. QP membership give lounge access + PS benefits (minus seat selection).

The PS benefits (which we all know can be enhanced to squat at any time :evil are not worth actively seeking IMHO esp as QP gives similar benefits.

Of course there is more "status" in being a PS than having a QP membership, as it's not something everyone has...

 

[oz_mark]

The issue to me seems to be one really of time than money (given it is cheaper to route through Perth, than fly direct, a not uncommon thing to happen). If I were to do that I would take the morning flight ex-SIN rather than deal with an overnight transit through Perth (which would have you on an early flight anyway).

The main issue I have had with the morning flight to PER is if QF32 inbound from LHR is delayed they hold the flight to PER waiting for the connecting Pax. Others have had the A330 morph into a 767 but that seems a bit rarer :shock:

The terminal transfer process is also quite ordinary in Perth. You could end up waiting quite some time for the bus.

 

[JohnK]

I have a SIN-MEL ticket I need to reschedule to late February for work reasons. It will leave me 40 SC short of hitting PS for the first time if I stick with QF10 on the A380 direct to MEL. Looking at the dates I'd need, the same flight is priced at SGD$636, which is the cheapest option unless I route via Perth to save SGD$30, leaving SIN at 0845 on QF72. That would gain me an extra 15SCs to leave me 25 short.

If you can somehow get V class ticketed ex-SIN this should earn you double SCs on domestic sectors. So a routing such as

SIN-PER-MEL earns 65 SCs
SIN-PER-SYD-MEL earns 85 SCs

Now while I have seen SYD-MEL-PER-SIN offered I have not seen double connections offered coming back. I guess it is possible.

I'm not a morning person, but if I go through Perth on the night flight, that arrives at PER at 1.10am with connecting flight to MEL at 6am - I assume I'd then have to pay for a hotel overnight...

A hotel should not be necessary and the free transfer bus is now operating 24 hours.

By the time you clear customs, collect your luggage and clear quarantine it should be ~2:00am and you should be at domestic by ~4:00am. I believe the first PER-SYD flight is ~5:30am.