Tell me how to get to Chicago

[UP4014]

Looked at this thread several times, there are so many tempting one liner answers to this subject. And I'm not brave enough to put my answer in here.

Cheers

Matt

 

[blackcat20]

I've done NRT-ORD on JL and ORD-NRT on NH over the past month, albeit in F. Both magnificent.

We're doing JAL F from HND-LHR in a few weeks, can't wait.

 

[travelislife]

Okay so I would do any of the following:

MEL-LAX-ORD QF/AA (128,000 points pp) (a lot of options through SYD/MEL/BNE and SFO/DFW/LAX)
MEL-HKG-ORD CX/CX (139,000 points pp)
MEL-DOH-ORD QR/QR (139,000 points pp)

Though if you are wanting to experience product having flown all of the above airlines I would pick QR even though it is a long way!

Now coming back, you said you have approx 300,000 VFF points.

ORD-LAX-MEL DL/VA (127,500 points pp) (this would have to be via SYD or BNE, but you would get to try the new Business Class)
ORD-AUH-MEL EY (139,000 points pp)
ORD-LAX-AKL-MEL DL/NZ (139,000 points pp) (only issue here is that it might be near impossible to get availability on NZ but they do fly out of SFO as well)
ORD-LAX-SIN-MEL UA/SQ (97,500 SQ miles = 131,625 VFF miles) (This is a Star Alliance award due to the need for UA)
LAX-SIN-MEL SQ (85,000 SQ miles = 114,750 VFF miles) (would have to buy a separate ORD-LAX)
IAH-SIN-MEL SQ (91,375 SQ miles = 123,356 VFF miles) (would have to buy separate ORD-IAH, same cost from NYC)

Out of those I would probably go EY or VA. Your surcharges on those 2 should be pretty low as well.

Edit: all pricing is in J

 

[blackcat20]

Okay so I would do any of the following:

MEL-LAX-ORD QF/AA (128,000 points pp) (a lot of options through SYD/MEL/BNE and SFO/DFW/LAX)
MEL-HKG-ORD CX/CX (139,000 points pp)
MEL-DOH-ORD QR/QR (139,000 points pp)

Though if you are wanting to experience product having flown all of the above airlines I would pick QR even though it is a long way!

Now coming back, you said you have approx 300,000 VFF points.

ORD-LAX-MEL DL/VA (127,500 points pp) (this would have to be via SYD or BNE, but you would get to try the new Business Class)
ORD-AUH-MEL EY (139,000 points pp)
ORD-LAX-AKL-MEL DL/NZ (139,000 points pp) (only issue here is that it might be near impossible to get availability on NZ but they do fly out of SFO as well)
ORD-LAX-SIN-MEL UA/SQ (97,500 SQ miles = 131,625 VFF miles) (This is a Star Alliance award due to the need for UA)
LAX-SIN-MEL SQ (85,000 SQ miles = 114,750 VFF miles) (would have to buy a separate ORD-LAX)
IAH-SIN-MEL SQ (91,375 SQ miles = 123,356 VFF miles) (would have to buy separate ORD-IAH, same cost from NYC)

Out of those I would probably go EY or VA. Your surcharges on those 2 should be pretty low as well.

Edit: all pricing is in J

You've kinda read my mind!

We're actually thinking:
MEL-SIN-JFK on SQ in F/R
BOS-DOH-ADL on QR J (then ADL-MEL on a cheap QF fare)
Allows a few days in NYC and BOS which is perfect.

I'd love to do the new VA J but availability seems pretty poor these days compared to last time I booked...

 

[travelislife]

Sounds good. You shouldn't need to pay extra for the ADL-MEL flight, just tack it on.

 

[blackcat20]

Sounds good. You shouldn't need to pay extra for the ADL-MEL flight, just tack it on.

It ups the points required.

 

[travelislife]

It ups the points required.

Really? That seems strange.

BOS-DOH-ADL is 13,547 miles, BOS-DOH-ADL-MEL is 13,947 miles. So both itineraries fall in the 9,601-15,000 band which is 139,000 points in business class. So why is it pricing higher?

 

[blackcat20]

Really? That seems strange.

BOS-DOH-ADL is 13,547 miles, BOS-DOH-ADL-MEL is 13,947 miles. So both itineraries fall in the 9,601-15,000 band which is 139,000 points in business class. So why is it pricing higher?

The only way to get it to show me those flights is through multi city, and it adds the points for the two legs together. Can't find a way to force the full booking for the lower price.

 

[travelislife]

The only way to get it to show me those flights is through multi city, and it adds the points for the two legs together. Can't find a way to force the full booking for the lower price.

May be worth a call to the service centre (argue to avoid the fee as it wasn't working online) as I would have thought it should work, as long as there are no stops >24hrs, unless I am missing something that someone else might be able to provide info on.

 

[Abdul_A350]

BOS-DOH-ADL is 13,547 miles, BOS-DOH-ADL-MEL is 13,947 miles. So both itineraries fall in the 9,601-15,000 band which is 139,000 points in business class. So why is it pricing higher?

That happens because you're switching from QR to QF. Switches among AA, EK, and QF are "free" in that sense. (c) below is the relevant part.

"Trip" means a series of one or more consecutive Flight Segments within an Itinerary:
(a) that does not include:
(i) a Stopover; or
(ii) a Flight Segment whose arrival city is the same as the departure city of any other Flight Segment in that series (in this instance the Trip will be broken at the farthest point from the departure city for that series);
(b) not exceeding the maximum permitted miles in the Qantas, Jetstar or Partner Classic Flight Reward tables as applicable (see qantas.com for the tables); and
(c) not broken by a change to or from any airline included in the Partner Classic Flight Reward table (see qantas.com for the table).

 

[travelislife]

That happens because you're switching from QR to QF. Switches among AA, EK, and QF are "free" in that sense. (c) below is the relevant part.

"Trip" means a series of one or more consecutive Flight Segments within an Itinerary:
(a) that does not include:
(i) a Stopover; or
(ii) a Flight Segment whose arrival city is the same as the departure city of any other Flight Segment in that series (in this instance the Trip will be broken at the farthest point from the departure city for that series);
(b) not exceeding the maximum permitted miles in the Qantas, Jetstar or Partner Classic Flight Reward tables as applicable (see qantas.com for the tables); and
(c) not broken by a change to or from any airline included in the Partner Classic Flight Reward table (see qantas.com for the table).

So does that mean it is or isn't possible to add the domestic flight? Seems crazy if you can't.

 

[Abdul_A350]

So does that mean it is or isn't possible to add the domestic flight? Seems crazy if you can't.

You can add it, but like blackcat20 said, the points get added together as though you're doing two "trips". Same with something like MEL-SYD-SIN with the second flight on BA, you'll pay an extra 16,000 points for the MEL-SYD leg if you're doing it in J. No "penalty" if you do MEL-SYD-SIN all on QF.

 

[travelislife]

That seems really strange! I haven't come across that with any other FF program that uses bands.

 

[TomVexille]

That seems really strange! I haven't come across that with any other FF program that uses bands.

I'm guessing it might be because QF use two(?) different award tables and their backend isn't smart enough to deal with consolidating both on the same ticket.

 

[blackcat20]

I'm totally happy with a cheap Y fare between MEL and ADL anyway, but it is a bit of an odd one.