Quick question: Best SYD-MAD flights?

[Febs]

Hi guys,

I have to book a trip to Madrid this morning, and I'm trying to work out the best way.

According to the OneWorld site I have a few options, but most involve either SYD-LHR-MAD or SYD-FRA-MAD.

If anyone's done this trip before can they recommend the better route? Both are within 15mins total time, so that's not a big deal, and the stopovers at both are around 2hrs, so there's no time to get out and explore (I've never been to Paris or London before).

Also, some flights on the OWA site list BA flight numbers, and others list QF flight numbers. I'm assuming the flights from SYD-LHR are in fact all QF?

Finally, do BA flights (some of the options include LHR to MAD on BA) earn similar SCs and points to regular flights? I know the minimum point earn is 500 on BA, but apart from that are they similar? Or would Iberia be a better choice (also LHR to MAD)?

Thanks guys, much appreciated.
- Febs.

[Dave Noble]

SYD-FRA-MAD would avoid the T4-T1/2 shuffle at LHR which would be a plus to me. If you have lounge access , then the BA lounges at T1 international are nicer than those at FRA. From SYD-LHR , there are 2 QF flights and 2 BA flights per day . BA16 (QF319) and BA10(QF301) are operated by BA whilst QF31(BA7371) and QF1 (BA7311) are operated by QF

On the LHR-MAD run, the economy min mileage earning on BA is 125 unless booked in BH or Y class in which case it is 500

Dave

[cssaus]

If you're not restricted to OneWorld carriers you could consider SQ who now do a one-stop service from Sydney to Madrid via Singapore.

[Febs]

Thanks Dave, much appreciated.

I'm leaning towards FRA at the moment. The times between flights are ~2hrs so I wouldn't have much time to spend in the lounge anyway.

Is the SC earn on SYD-FRA similar to SYD-LHR? The Qantas site says they don't fly directly to Paris, but the OW site says otherwise.

Also, the OW site seems to list a few different flight numbers to those you posted. Eg:

BA 7305
BA 7311
QF 0031
BA 0456

Would they just be mistakes? Eg: Is QF0031 really supposed to be QF301, etc..?

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Dave, much appreciated.

I'm leaning towards FRA at the moment. The times between flights are ~2hrs so I wouldn't have much time to spend in the lounge anyway.

Is the SC earn on SYD-FRA similar to SYD-LHR? The Qantas site says they don't fly directly to Paris, but the OW site says otherwise.

Also, the OW site seems to list a few different flight numbers to those you posted. Eg:

BA 7305
BA 7311
QF 0031
BA 0456

Would they just be mistakes? Eg: Is QF0031 really supposed to be QF301, etc..?

Cheers,
- Febs.

QF0031 is QF31 which is a SYD-LHR service

BA7311 I have mentioned . Can't rememberwhere BA7305 codeshare goes

Check the OW timetable and you will see the flights and their codeshares. BA456 is definately not an OZ-UK flight but is a service from LHR-MAD.

~2 hours could give an hour to an hour and a half in a lounge I would expect if you have access. What I would suggest is do SYD-HKG on QF and then connect onto BA to LHR. This would deliver you directly to Terminal 1 at LHR giving an easy connection onto MAD and a decent lounge whilst waiting. QF187 to HKG dep 14:25 arr 21:55 connecting to BA26 dep 23:15 arriving into T1 at 05:05. The BA flight (BA456) to MAD departs LHR at 08:20 ,arriving at 11:45.


QF do not fly to Paris at all; they only offer a codeshare on Air France

Dave

[Febs]

<snip>

Thanks once again Dave. I love this site.
Apologies, BA456 is LHR-MAD. I copied the wrong one.

SYD-HKG-LHR sounds like a nice way to break up the flight (and getting to T1 would be a bonus as you said), but then again, if I'm going to be on a long flight anyway, I might as well make it longer (SYD-LHR) and save myself a stopover. Also, work is paying for it and I'm not sure if SYD-HKG-LHR would be more expensive (can't enter it into the QF site).

Hmm..I'll go away and have a think about it.

Cheers guys,
- Febs.

PS: SYD-MAD direct would be nice, but I need the FF points for a trip next year...and my lounge access (QFF Gold) would be useless.

[simongr]

SYD-HKG-LHR sounds like a nice way to break up the flight (and getting to T1 would be a bonus as you said), but then again, if I'm going to be on a long flight anyway, I might as well make it longer (SYD-LHR) and save myself a stopover. Also, work is paying for it and I'm not sure if SYD-HKG-LHR would be more expensive (can't enter it into the QF site).

Is a DONE4 an option for you - longer flight back but more FF points (and you really should think about AAdvantage ) and might in fact be cheaper overall?

[Dave Noble]

Thanks once again Dave. I love this site.
Apologies, BA456 is LHR-MAD. I copied the wrong one.

SYD-HKG-LHR sounds like a nice way to break up the flight (and getting to T1 would be a bonus as you said), but then again, if I'm going to be on a long flight anyway, I might as well make it longer (SYD-LHR) and save myself a stopover. Also, work is paying for it and I'm not sure if SYD-HKG-LHR would be more expensive (can't enter it into the QF site).

SYD-LHR services stop enroute at BKK,SIN or HKG anyway. There is no nonstop service to London so changing to BA at HKG will make no odds. Also, booking as 2 sectors will give you more SCs than if you book it as a single sector

Dave

[NM]

Assuming discount economy travel, you will earn more SCs by flying QF SYD-HKG, then BA HKG-LHR. The single flight number SYD-LHR will earn 60 Status Credits, while the SYD-HKG-LHR using two different flight numbers will earn 30+40=70 SCs each way. Add on the LHR-MAD for an extra 15 in each direction and you have 150 SCs using SYD-LHR-MAD vs 170 SCs for SYD-HKG-LHR-MAD routing.

[simongr]

I thought Febs flew J int'l? I seem to remember that they joined at a similar time to me with a similar change in travel pattern