Would you go the long way to save money

[Dyslexic traveler]

Hi all

I have decided to go to Gettysburg in July next year with a mate, for the 150th anniversary of the Battle and as I'm not a keen civil war enthusiast, my friend is, and I think he needs a backstop, I was looking at Qantas ff seats in first, and have to get to JFK


My question to all is would you fly via London to get there, or would you just bit the bullet and pay so you can fly direct.

What would you do ?

The Dyslexic Traveler

 

[drewbles]

I had a situation earlier in the year where I was in JFK with a JFK-LAX-MEL flight booked, but for various reasons had to change this to a business class flight. As it was an award I couldn't, so I booked another, JFK-HKG-MEL. It was a lot longer including transit, but it did the trick.

Also, to get to LHR and BOS I did MEL-SYD-SIN-LHR-MIA-BOS-LHR-SIN-SYD-MEL, as a) it was cheaper and b) I wanted the SC's (was paid obviously).

As yours is a redemption, in First, I would happily go via LHR, but it is a lot more miles and as you say, a lot more time.

If paying, i'd probably pick the most indirect route to get as many points and SC's as possible. Why fly direct, when you can connect

 

[simongr]

Yes - both in terms of cash and points if I can make it cheaper then if travelling by myself I would go the cheapest way (and when spending cash I would certainly look to go the most complex way to maximise earning of SCs and points).

However if travelling with mrssimongr and boygr then direct is the only available option at this stage.

 

[serfty]

For the actual travel is part of the experience - I would have no qualms about travelling to the USA via Europe.

 

[Fruitcake]

Hi all

I have decided to go to Gettysburg in July next year with a mate, for the 150th anniversary of the Battle and as I'm not a keen civil war enthusiast, my friend is, and I think he needs a backstop, I was looking at Qantas ff seats in first, and have to get to JFK


My question to all is would you fly via London to get there, or would you just bit the bullet and pay so you can fly direct.

What would you do ?

The Dyslexic Traveler

As someone who recently flew AKL-MEL-LAX on VA to save ~$1200 each on a SYD-LAX return in Y+ - yes, I would. Travelling in a genuine premium cabin (ie J or F, not Y+ - that's not a premium cabin!) I'd definitely be happy to go the long way around.

 

[casanovawa]

Definitely... And if it means a bit of extra time enjoying J or F if your a bit of a newb to the front of the plane as I am, so much the better...

I did do a PER-BKK-ZRH-FRA-ATL-MIA leg earlier this year practically all in J (only last leg was Y) and including transits that added up to something like 40 hours straight travelling, so can def be a bit exhausting so if any possibility of an overnight transit to jump in a real bed it could be an idea, but J made it doable, Y would meant having to be carried off the plane i imagine...

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Serfty I must say I'm with you the actual travel is a big part of going and it's nice to spend some time in the Concord lounge.

 

[tuapekastar]

No problems here going the long way if it is in F. Agree it is part of the travel experience.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Absolutely

As a family of 4 we saved about $3,000 flying PER-SIN-DOH-ATH in 2009, instead of taking SQ or EK and one-stopping. Even in Y it so very much worth it.

Usually I try and go the long way! More time in the air sounds good to me

 

[JohnK]

I travel extra sectors just for the fun of it. Now if I could save money at the same time then this would be the icing on the cake!

 

[Paddy55]

For the actual travel is part of the experience - I would have no qualms about travelling to the USA via Europe.

I'd love to do that... SWMBO doesn't share that feeling

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'd love to do that... SWMBO doesn't share that feeling

I have a feeling that occasions such as that Serfty is travelling minus SWMBO.

 

[serfty]

I have a feeling that occasions such as that Serfty is travelling minus SWMBO.

Maybe not in economy - we did travel business MEL-AKL-LAX on NZ, First LAX-ORD and Business ORD-FCO on AA on pre-upgraded fares (with a two day stay LAX/SFO).

It was the resumption of a LONE4 which had been parked West coast USA.

 

[Fantic125]

Go for it!

I've done ADL-SYD-HKG-xCAN-HKG-xTPE-NRT-YVR-xDFW-TPA with 1 day stops in CAN & TPE for meetings, and an overnight stop in DFW. Unfortunately it was all in Y so if I can survive that you can survive doing it in F.