Sydney to Europe using Velocity points

[epsc]

Hi all, I'm just trying to update my familiarity with using Velocity points to fly to Europe in business - can someone tell me if I'm right, or correct me if not? My understand is: (a) I can fly either Etihad or Singapore Airlines for 278,000 points return, but availability is limited; (b) I can transfer my points to my KrisFlyer account, and would need 232,000 Krisflyer points (saver award) or 300,000 (advantage award), which works out as 359,000 Velocity points (or 465,000) - more points but better availability. I did read somewhere of a suggestion that if I book on the KrisFlyer website I'd get a discount of 15%, but I can't find info about that. I also gather that flying back out of Europe and not England would reduce the fees payable.

This is all probably covered somewhere, I just can't seem to find an up to date link. Any assistance/advice greatly appreciated.

 

[n7of9]

I did read somewhere of a suggestion that if I book on the KrisFlyer website I'd get a discount of 15%

I don't think that's available anymore

 

[jase05]

EY has higher fees so makes it not really a viable option IMO.
How many points are you willing to burn?
For me personally If you have fixed dates I’d grab them ASAP with whoever has them available. Availability is a lot better on SQ so maybe best to transfer over to them once you confirmed availability

 

[docjames]

We purchased MEL-HKG-MEL on a VA sale fare, then redeemed VA points with VS HKG-LHR and then redeemed QFF on AY to do MUC-HEL-HKG (all in Y) (which suited our plans well).

Have a look at whether you can purchase a cheap return to a point in Asia then add on the longer haul using points.

 

[piratematerial]

You do also have the option of VA from Syd/Mel to Hong Kong and Virgin Atlantic from Hong Kong to London. You can’t book online though, you have to call.

Executive Traveller formerly AusBT | Travel News, Reviews & More

The global destination for business travellers and premium frequent flyers: news, reviews and expert guides to help you travel better.

www.ausbt.com.au

 

[Pleb Status]

EY has higher fees so makes it not really a viable option IMO.

Those on 'the other side' would most likely jump at the EY J availability, as they are quite used to paying that level of surcharges when booking awards on EK (and BA.. and QF).

We are very spoilt with the significantly lower SQ surcharges...

 

[travelislife]

Experience Booking Europe Trip with Velocity Points

I thought I would just give my experience from booking a recent trip to Europe using Velocity points to help out others in future. Especially with all the questions people have with regard to booking direct with VA points or transferring points to SQ. I was booking this trip for my wife and I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

This a little bit out of date now with points changes on SQ side, but still same process.

 

[epsc]

Thanks all for your input. I’m in the process of accumulating points, so there is no travel fixed on the horizon at the moment, but I’m trying to do some advance planning to work out what to do. The moment I get enough points to get to Europe in business i’ll make a booking, but that is some ways off yet. I just wanted to make sure that my understanding of how the system currently works was correct.

 

[epsc]

We purchased MEL-HKG-MEL on a VA sale fare, then redeemed VA points with VS HKG-LHR and then redeemed QFF on AY to do MUC-HEL-HKG (all in Y) (which suited our plans well).

Have a look at whether you can purchase a cheap return to a point in Asia then add on the longer haul using points.

My other idea, gleaned from these pages, was the Turkish Airlines business KUL-Europe, pretty cheap when combined with a budget airlines SYD-KUL daytime flight.

 

[RB]

Maybe as a reference point-yesterday we were able to find and book 2X J seats FRA-SIN for June 2020 using VA points. The flight is on Singapore SQ325 on a 777-300ER. There were a few different flight numbers available on the couple of days we were looking for. Interesting enough the flight we got on VA points was not showing availability for Kris points bookings.-think we were pretty lucky but they were there

 

[Dr Ralph]

Maybe as a reference point-yesterday we were able to find and book 2X J seats FRA-SIN for June 2020 using VA points. The flight is on Singapore SQ325 on a 777-300ER. There were a few different flight numbers available on the couple of days we were looking for. Interesting enough the flight we got on VA points was not showing availability for Kris points bookings.-think we were pretty lucky but they were there

How many points?

 

[henleybeach]

I just booked Zürich to Perth Singapore airlines for 121k points x 2, for June next year. Wasn’t showing online , only option was Etihad via Melb.
Also booked a mate for, Melbourne - Düsseldorf x2 with Singapore airlines for May next year. It was showing sold out online , so I rang the call centre for my mate, and like magic it was available. Seems to be a problem because 2 months ago ADL-BKK with Singapore airlines showing sold out for next year but after ringing call centre they see availability.

 

[RB]

How many points?

They were from Mrs RB's account, I believe 92,000 each plus $130 odd dollars

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I want to do the same thing, so interested in this thread. Have 600k VFF points, want wife and I to get Europe return in Business class Sept 2020. Ideally buying economy and upgrading on points (so we get SCs for another year of status) but open to all options.

 

[travelislife]

I want to do the same thing, so interested in this thread. Have 600k VFF points, want wife and I to get Europe return in Business class Sept 2020. Ideally buying economy and upgrading on points (so we get SCs for another year of status) but open to all options.

Just book the flights outright using points. You should be ready to book in a month or so and shouldn't have any issues getting 2 seats in business for then.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I was hoping to land some SCs though, as I'll need to requal for Gold.

 

[travelislife]

I was hoping to land some SCs though, as I'll need to requal for Gold.

Okay, I have no idea on if you can upgrade SQ economy flights. But imagine it will be an incredibly poor value use of your Velocity points by the time you transfer them to SQ and pay for an economy ticket in an upgradeable class. Probably deserves it's own thread.

 

[MathNerd]

I did read somewhere of a suggestion that if I book on the KrisFlyer website I'd get a discount of 15%, but I can't find info about that.

That option has unfortunately now ended. However, when the 15% points discount was offered, there were higher surcharges (they were fuel surcharges IIRC). So when SQ removed the 15% discount, they did decrease the cash component of the fare payable.

I also gather that flying back out of Europe and not England would reduce the fees payable.

That's correct. Flights departing LHR are slugged with an APD which increases when you're in a premium cabin (£172 until 31 March 2020). Arriving in LHR is fine, but departing it is expensive.
Exit out of any other EU port and you should be fine. Somewhere such as CDG, FRA or ZRH is good (if you're after an A380 flight).
I hope this helps

 

[knagelli]

I am planning to do something similar and looking for the best options to book flights to Paris using velocity/krisflyer points. At the moment , I have around 85K velocity points and sure to accumulate around 70K points in next 2-3 months.

Is it better to book reward flights using velocity points or transfer all my points to Krisflyer and book flights with Singapore airlines.

 

[MathNerd]

I am planning to do something similar and looking for the best options to book flights to Paris using velocity/krisflyer points. At the moment , I have around 85K velocity points and sure to accumulate around 70K points in next 2-3 months.

Is it better to book reward flights using velocity points or transfer all my points to Krisflyer and book flights with Singapore airlines.

In general, SQ will have more availability given to its own KF members, as opposed to partners such as VA. It's always best to book directly with the airline you will be flying with. Of course, this is general only, there are some weird cases where partners get more availability but this is the exception rather than the norm.