Sydney to Santorini

[PremierLisa]

hi everyone - this is my first post so am excited to tap into your knowledge!

I need to be in Santorini in October as my son is getting married. I have loads of FF so keen to hear your advice on my best option…..do I try and book a flight with points (business class) or do i buy economy seats and upgrade with points? I can be a bit flexible with dates just so long as I am there for the 2nd October.

I have had a bit of a play around and am struggling to be honest hence my plea for help!!

thanks in advance.

Lisa

 

[Bofter]

Which program are your FF points with?

 

[PremierLisa]

Which program are your FF points with?

Hi - oops sorry Qantas.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Do not even consider cash and then points upgrade. QF upgrade with points is a lottery with the result not know until close to deparure (if you win). Anyway to Greece (or Italy?) will probably be on Emirates EK from Dubai (DXB) Points upgrades are not possible on a QF flight number on an EK aircraft.

Be very flexible with your search on date & route. Trains go everywhere in Eu

 

[Bofter]

BA is the only oneworld carrier I could see that had flights into Santorini itself (via LHR).

If you are happy looking just to Athens on an award/upgrade, your options open up to include Qatar (direct from Doha, ie. one stop from Melbourne or Perth but not Sydney) or Royal Jordanian.

I am not sure what availability is like for business rewards on Qatar, and I am pretty sure you would need to book that over the phone rather than online with Qantas.

 

[samh004]

Interesting to see this thread come up as I'm in the beginning stages of planning an Australia-UK-Santorini/Athens-Istanbul/Antalya-Australia trip for mid-year, and naturally will want to keep it to partners I can earn and be recognised on I'll try and report back if I get anywhere with options.

BA is the only oneworld carrier I could see that had flights into Santorini itself (via LHR).

In addition to BA, Niki flies from Vienna, and they're an affiliate member, and earn on Qantas.

 

[ashleyn]

BA is the only oneworld carrier I could see that had flights into Santorini itself (via LHR).

If you are happy looking just to Athens on an award/upgrade, your options open up to include Qatar (direct from Doha, ie. one stop from Melbourne or Perth but not Sydney) or Royal Jordanian.

I am not sure what availability is like for business rewards on Qatar, and I am pretty sure you would need to book that over the phone rather than online with Qantas.

I recently locked in Qatar J Award flights to and from Europe online on Qantas.com. Also from Athens to Santorini is an easy high speed ferry ride.

 

[kpc]

I went to Santorini in Oct last year. Basically, you need to get to Athens and then you can either fly (Aegean, Olympic) or take the ferry to Santorini. With QF pts, you are looking at OW partners...eg get to London with BA or CX or MH or QF, then BA to Athens / Santorini. If you are lucky, you could get a QF codeshare award on Emirates from Dubai directly to Athens. Maybe also try QR as well who are now part of OW. Getting a J seat WILL be a challenge but not impossible if you are very flexible!

The only way i could get +1 to Athens in business last year at the times we wanted was to fly Syd-Auh-Ath on Etihad, using Velocity pts, booked just under a year ahead; we paid $$ for the short flight on Aegean from Ath to Thira (Santorini). Note Aegean are part of *A, so if you have pts with any *A member, there is another option for an award flight.

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Weddings in Santorini, whilst popular because of the spectacular backdrop scenery (of the Caldera), won't be cheap . i took the above picture for fellow AFFer, Alanslegal whom I believe is also planning to get married in Santorini

 

[JohnK]

Good luck with your search. I tried getting mum a business award SYD-ATH return for June/July this time last year and it was almost impossible. Managed to do it with US Airways Dividend miles but even that turned sour at the end.

Trains go everywhere in Eu

Apprently trains don't go to Santorini!

 

[mark4217]

Hi all, my wife and are renewing our vows in mid sep. We got married on Santorini in 2007. Been back many times . We are taking the kids this year 1st time. We booked through VA 4 pax J class (full points )flying Etihad. Got connecting flights straight to Athens with a 3 hour wait then on to Aegean for 1 hour to Santorini (5pm touch down) We married on top of the church with the blue dome and the bells, it's a famous spot for a photo that has the Dome, bells and volcano behind it. We loved getting married with the local celebrant on the church and wouldn't change it for the world, however we did plan to marry in the church and were refused by the priest as we didn't have letters of blessing or authority from our local priest. Hope you have sorted that out. If not I have all the tips to do it our way hahahahah . We leave for Turkey on the 1st oct. Have fun you will love it.

 

[mark4217]

Sorry forgot to mention. I would be trying to book J if you are traveling straight through to Athens as it's a long long trip, you need to comfort to make the journey that much easier.

 

[pyffii]

Done this trip 4 times...All in J using classic awards...... 3 times to London with Qantas then BA to Athens wait a few hours then connect on Aegean to Santorini and the last time BA to Madrid and then Iberia to Athens...Used Iberia as no availability on BA...both the same in J and both lounges in London and Madrid superb...Enjoy

 

[vetrade]

If the sole purpose of your trip is to get to Santorini and back (i.e. you don't intend to have a stopover somewhere else as well) I think it would be best to fly to Athens via Dubai. It seems a fair bit of extra flying time to go via London and then fly back east to Athens unless you intend to stay a few days in London or somewhere else. Then from ATH it's a simple 1 hr flight on Aegean or Olympic (have flown both and they're equal) to Santorini. Would not recommend the ferry over flying unless you are keen on a boat trip because it takes sooo much longer and after the first couple of hours it's just boring.

We flew the ATH - DXB leg (via AMM) with Royal Jordanian a few months ago as part of a OW RTW in J and found the inflight service / meals etc very good. There were plenty of J seats available on the RJ flights when we booked but maybe you'd better be quick if you want to get J classic awards seats on QF to DXB - especially now that QF have cancelled QF10 from MEL to LHR via DXB (not sure if the cancellation is permanent).

 

[mark4217]

Couldn't have said it better. It's over and done with in one trip. When you land in Santorini it's 5pm your somewhat rested due to J trip and a glass of champaign awaits you.