Article: How I Flew to St Helena with Qatar Avios

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/flying-to-saint-helena/

How I Flew to One of the World’s Most Remote Islands with Points is an article written by Matt from the AFF editorial team:

How I Flew to One of the World’s Most Remote Islands with Points

Thanks to Airlink's partnership with Qatar Airways, you can now redeem Avios to fly to Saint Helena - the remote British Overseas Territory where Napoleon famously died. I did, and cannot recommend it enough.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sensational. Very jealous - I'd love to do that. Great place - flights on points - Accor points for accommodation - what's not to like?

I guess you knew that Napoleon isn't in his tomb any longer?

 

[Scarlett]

Having never interacted with Avios up to this point, is the QR (or general avios ecosystem) setup such that you can open an account; identify potential seat availability; buy/transfer in avios; and then make a booking in quick succession (say within a day or two)?

Or, are there extra hurdles, such as requiring avios-earning flights to have been taken, before this sort of rapid award access can be enabled?


I have also had St Helena (and Ascension Island) on my radar for a few years now and have a trip there parked somewhere in the back of my mind. I believe there are avenues which would complement Airlink to satisfy my trip requirements, which would likely also include the Falkland Is and travel between Stanley (Mt Pleasant airfield) and Ascension, prior to or after St Helena. The timings would probably require spending the full week on St Helena between flights but I reckon that would be fine.

 

[sudoer]

Having never interacted with Avios up to this point, is the QR (or general avios ecosystem) setup such that you can open an account; identify potential seat availability; buy/transfer in avios; and then make a booking in quick succession (say within a day or two)?

Yes. I did this recently to book a UL J award (CMB-SIN) using QR Avios, for a fraction of the points & taxes of what QFF wanted. From memory it was 22k Avios $100 taxes vs 45k QFF $300 taxes.

Transferred Amex > BA > QR on a newly opened account.

 

[kamchatsky]

I watched the documentary on St Helena airport a few years ago and it was facinating. It is such a shame that a fully loaded standard 737 (let alone XLR!) cannot land there due to the wind sheer problems. It would have made such a difference in tourism there if it can:

 

[Myrna]

A fantastic TR!

 

[ksthommo]

Thanks for the TR.

Should be paying a visit to Saint Helena in early November, cruise visit.
Hope the sea state is kind that day.
Reminder to load the Tourist Card.

 

[Lockyer Man]

Hi Matt,

I have visited St Helena twice over the past 2 years, both on cruise ships. There are a few that include St Helena in their itinerary nowadays so the island is not as cut off as it used to be. Also, as a former RAF officer, I have travelled to Ascension Island as that is a major airhead for the RAF when they fly to the Falklands.

That said, I agree with you that the island and its history and beauty are truly amazing and something to behold. If anybody has an opportunity to visit, I would thoroughly encourage them to do so as they would definitely not be disappointed.

 

[Mrmrbagley]

Thank you so much for sharing this trip report!
I've always been fascinated by Saint Helena Island as my family was originally from there and somehow managed to show up in Australia in the late 1890s!?!? I'm not sure in that day and age which island was more isolated.
I had no idea that these flights existed. Certainly makes the possibility of a trip more plausible.

I watched the documentary on St Helena airport a few years ago and it was facinating. It is such a shame that a fully loaded standard 737 (let alone XLR!) cannot land there due to the wind sheer problems. It would have made such a difference in tourism there if it can:

The last ship to St. Helena Island documentary is really good. I have watched it previously. Thanks for sharing the airport one. I will definitely get on to watching that one

 

[ramboflyer]

Thanks Matt, that's very interesting.

 

[VPS]

Fascinating. You do get around. Well done