Help... EK F+Y or chance of upgrade to QF J (Italy-BNE)

[chooms]

Decisions.... decisions...

Both Mrs Chooms and I have a QF credit voucher to use by end of April, so we're biting the bullet and heading of to Greek Islands and Northern Italy for a couple of weeks.

We have settled on EK Y BNE-DXB-ATH on the way over, but on the way back, we have a couple of options:

1. BA/QF FCO-LHR-SIN-BNE all in Y, but we have chance to upgrade to J with points for both of us for LHR-SIN-BNE (I am WP). No additional cost, but would deplete 261,600 FFPs if upgrades were successful. EF is showing J9 C9 D9 I9 for both flights at the moment (late April).

2. EK VCE-DXB-BNE with VCE-DXB in F and DXB-BNE in Y. Additional cost of $1,600 + 254,000 FFPs but F is guaranteed for first flight... with a significant downgrade to Y for the longer flight.

What do we go with?! Please help with any thoughts! If it helps, VCE-DXB is in a B777.

 

[jase05]

What dates are you looking at?
Personally I’m not a fan of the upgrade lottery so rarely go that way for fear I would be stuck in Y so as a rule I always go for the guaranteed upgrade. 254,000 plus $1600 is far too expensive IMO however for a 5 hour F flight (I thought the 777’s went to VCE) and then a 13+ hr ride in Y DXB-BNE. If you are flexible there looks decent availability in J on the DXB-BNE leg. I’d be looking at getting those and maybe just Y for the VCE-DXB leg if no J availability.

 

[chooms]

What dates are you looking at?
Personally I’m not a fan of the upgrade lottery so rarely go that way for fear I would be stuck in Y so as a rule I always go for the guaranteed upgrade. 254,000 plus $1600 is far too expensive IMO however for a 5 hour F flight (I thought the 777’s went to VCE) and then a 13+ hr ride in Y DXB-BNE. If you are flexible there looks decent availability in J on the DXB-BNE leg. I’d be looking at getting those and maybe just Y for the VCE-DXB leg if no J availability.

22 APR... but I can't seem to be able to book any DXB-BNE in J using the QF website for a classic redemption.

And you are right... B777 VCE-DXB.

Would I have to call up QF and see if they'll release two seats as a WP or they wouldn't do that for an EK flight?

 

[Happy Trails]

If it were me - Option 1.
$1,600 + 254,000 FFPs is a huge premium for the relatively short VCE-DXB, if I'm reading you correctly.

 

[jase05]

22 APR... but I can't seem to be able to book any DXB-BNE in J using the QF website for a classic redemption.

And you are right... B777 VCE-DXB.

Would I have to call up QF and see if they'll release two seats as a WP or they wouldn't do that for an EK flight?

Don’t think QF can do that.
You could also try VCE-DXB-SIN in J on EK for 189,800 points and then get a cheap Y home from SIN-BNE. Obviously this involves extra flights and time which may not suit you but that would atleast get you back to SIN in decent comfort.
If you are feeling adventurous you could always go VCE-DXB-AKL all on EK in J for 289,200 points and then a AKL-BNE award flight would also fit in that points tally or if it doesn’t suit get a cheap Y or J flight home. That would be my plan of attack

 

[chooms]

Don’t think QF can do that.
You could also try VCE-DXB-SIN in J on EK for 189,800 points and then get a cheap Y home from SIN-BNE. Obviously this involves extra flights and time which may not suit you but that would atleast get you back to SIN in decent comfort.
If you are feeling adventurous you could always go VCE-DXB-AKL all on EK in J for 289,200 points and then a AKL-BNE award flight would also fit in that points tally or if it doesn’t suit get a cheap Y or J flight home. That would be my plan of attack

Ooooh... nice tip.

Managed to get availability (for 2 people total) VCE-DXB-SIN in J for 189,800 + $1,400 and SIN-MEL-BNE for $817. That is pretty much as good as it is going to get I reckon... now added in a SIN stopover on the way back for some extra shopping for MrsChooms to justify the added cost..

 

[chooms]

Even better... with a bit of QF assistance over the phone we managed to jag VCE-DOH-SIN-SYD-BNE (VCE-DOH-SIN in QR J... and Q-Suites to boot, SIN-SYD-BNE in QF Y) for 259,400 FFPs+$1,428.10 for both (129,799+$714.05 per person). Couldn't unlock two X fares SIN-BNE direct as a WP.

Not the perfect use of points, but good enough for guaranteed (good) J from Europe to Asia at the end of a holiday period.