DONE4 or Point-to-Point on EK?

[Homer]

I don't really know why I'm posting this because I'm not sure how anyone can help me make this decision. But I know some AFF members can be very insightful and maybe I just need to explain this to someone anyway. So please consider this something like free therapy.

Somewhat unexpectedly we are planning a trip to the UK and Europe for July and August (and possibly September). I was all set to book a DONE4 for Marge, Maggie and myself with a routing like SYD-SIN-LHR-FRA-(land)-LHR-JFK-LAX-SYD. I know it's not optimised, but I will be dragging the girls along so I don't want too many sectors and this routing would get me enough SCs to retain WP.

But...

My AMEX TA just told me about a J companion fare from EK which is about half the price of the DONE4 for two of us. For approximately $5,500 per person (plus taxes) we can travel EK in J from SYD-DXB-FRA-LHR-DXB-SYD. Maggie will have to be ticketed separately as she has no companion so her fare will be closer to $8,500 (plus taxes).

So as I see it the pros of doing the DONE4 are retaining WP and possible upgrades to F (A) on the outbound or return sectors. The cons are spending at least $10K more, plus QF's fuel fines and additional taxes and the longer routing.

The pros of going with the EK companion fare are saving at least $10K and a more direct routing. The cons are that I will likely fail to retain WP. Of course if I really miss my WP status I could do a separate DONE4 with the $10K saving and attend a conference in Boston in October...

I really like the EK hard and soft products in J (never flown them in F or whY). I think it's as good, or better, than QF on a good day. So it really just gets down to status and dollars. Status and dollars... Status. Dollars. Hmmm.....

 

[futaris]

Another pro for Emirates, is Chauffeur Drive.

 

[markis10]

10K is a lot of money, status is easily bought for that!

 

[simongr]

No brainer for me EK it should be. Would an alternative be to see if they have a f fare on ek for the same price as the done4?

 

[v8Statesman]

...waiting for Dave Noble to chime in

He will tell you, EK I know that for a fact. But I always enjoy his reasons. Dave is a "Best Airline on Day" type guy as you may well know. No allegiance to any carrier. But he does like EK F

 

[NM]

...waiting for Dave Noble to chime in

He will tell you, EK I know that for a fact. But I always enjoy his reasons. Dave is a "Best Airline on Day" type guy as you may well know. No allegiance to any carrier. But he does like EK F

Might need to wait for him to finish his EK F trip

 

[Homer]

No brainer for me EK it should be. Would an alternative be to see if they have a f fare on ek for the same price as the done4?

I think the F fare on EK will take me above the DONE4 price because AMEX doesn't have a companion deal for F. It's a bit incongruous with the supposed drop in demand for premium travel but perhaps EK doesn't have any trouble selling F at full price...

 

[markis10]

You may get a cash upgrade offer call !!!!

 

[Dave Noble]

EK F is verrrrrrry nice indeed and a no brainer choice for 1st class travel imo. Excellent product, chauffeur drive services, free hotel in Dubai ( current offer in J or F ) and a good price

EK J is a v nice business product and would take either the A380 or 777 busisness over Qantas business and at $5500 vs $11000 for a ATW ticket , well, easy choice. Just avoid the handful of A345 services that operate

Status is not worth that much... anyway, a trip in business to UK will easily get silver status on EK and probably a decent wad of EK FF miles . As an example, my next F r/t ticket has a mileage earning ( excluding status bonus ) of 60,000 . An economy-business or business-1st upgrade from UK-Oz on a flex fare costs 62,500 points... plus upgrades are confirmable at time of booking if inventory is available

As a comparison, if I had downgraded my travel to QF, my earning r/t without status would be approx 31500 and as a platinum member 42,000 points . The cost of an upgrade from economy to business on QF to UK is 92,000 points assuming that you can win in the QF lottery

Better airline, better prices and a more rewarding FF scheme

Plus the business lounges of EK are far better than the QF ones . If travelling F, the DXB EK F lounge is imo better than QF's F lounge in SYD/MEL

Don't let silly plastic cards keep you from choosing on quality/price

As an added bonus, EK will provide car transfers to and from the airport at origin,destination and any stopover points ( with a few exceptions where service isnt offered )

Dave

 

[Homer]

OK I'm sold. Thanks to Dave Noble and everyone else for your helpful advice. EK it is. Now I just need to decide whether to stick with J or shell out for F. I will post back with the verdict.

 

[NM]

... and a god price

I have read about being treated like royalty, but that may be taking it a little too far

 

[v8Statesman]

I have read about being treated like royalty, but that may be taking it a little too far

From another thread

Indeed, and to explain the reason for issuing the tickets they way they have. There may well be a valid reason (i.e. it was cheaper per your first point) or it may have just been laziness or incompetence.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

 

[futaris]

Now I just need to decide whether to stick with J or shell out for F. I will post back with the verdict.

Buy the discounted J ticket, and upgrade. If you don't have any status and miles, you'll earn 15750 skywards miles Oz->Europe for a Flex Ticket (oneway).

Buy 20k SPG points at 20% off (560 USD) before May 31. This will convert to 25k EK Skywards miles. Repeat for everyone you want to upgrade. NB, this assumes you already have SPG accounts. Otherwise, you're purchase may not go through.

NB, don't join the Skywards Family program as this is useless. Have everyone credit to their own program.

Giving you a total of 40,750, which is almost enough to upgrade the return DXB-SYD leg (45k). NB, I haven't taken into account any First Flight Bonuses (3.5k), or Skywards Accelerator Bonuses. At the very least you can upgrade the DXB-Europe (or Vice Versa) to F for 25k...

 

[NM]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Then there would not be any stone flying - how boring! Most regulars here (esp Mr Noble) know I am the cause of a great number of type-gaffs

I did edit another typo in his post ("rpice") but that one was not as funny as the very special fare basis

 

[v8Statesman]

Then there would not be any stone flying - how boring! Most regulars here (esp Mr Noble) know I am the cause of a great number of type-gaffs

I did edit another typo in his post ("rpice") but that one was not as funny as the very special fare basis

I saw "rpice" when I read it as well

I think we all make "mistrakes"


Mistake intended

 

[Dave Noble]

OK I'm sold. Thanks to Dave Noble and everyone else for your helpful advice. EK it is. Now I just need to decide whether to stick with J or shell out for F. I will post back with the verdict.

If you can get 1st at a decent rate, then it is well worth it; they have a very high quality product ; from looking at videos it looks like it is similar to the SQ suites ( but I have not seen them 1st hand ). If you can get on the A380 , then even can have a shower before you arrive at the destination

if travelling in the appropriate time frame, you may like to look at the free hotel stay offer in Dubai which is currently offered if you want a stopover

Oh, also, you can if you wish for london, avoid the hell hole of LHR and travel into and out of LGW. Looking at the fares being offered ex AU, I would suggest that business class will be the far better value option since A class seems to be over double the promo I (business) fare.

If you book directly online and are a Skywards member, it will automatically enrol you for any mileage accelerator bonuses ; if you book with AMEX make sure to sign up. If you check the online booking on EK , it will inform you of what bonuses are available and total mileage which will be earned

Dave

 

[simongr]

Oh, also, you can if you wish for london, avoid the hell hole of LHR and travel into and out of LGW. Looking at the fares being offered ex AU, I would suggest that business class will be the far better value option since A class seems to be over double the promo I (business) fare.

My dislike for LHR is rapidly waning. I flew in last week, grabbed a shower at the T3 arrivals lounge, walkde for 5 mins to the tube and then took a 35 min tube ride to be 5 mins walk from my office. Flying out on Saturday I took a black cab which took 30 mins (I had been on a train for 3 hours so couldnt be bothered with another train ride) had a two minute check in queue (if that) and as in the lounge 10 mins later. Free and fast wifi with decent reds (whites were too warm but I blame the Poms rather than LHR for that). Departed on time.

Overall no better or worse than HKG, JFK, SYD, NRT or any other major airport.

S

 

[Homer]

If you can get 1st at a decent rate, then it is well worth it; they have a very high quality product

AMEX can do First (A class) as an upgrade from their discounted Business (I class) for ~$10,500 plus taxes. That's pretty compelling - a great First product for the price of Business.

The discounted Business is the best value, no doubt, but we all got a taste of F in the QF 380 last year courtesy of points upgrades so I've been spoilt now...

 

[NM]

... but we all got a taste of F in the QF 380 last year courtesy of points upgrades so I've been spoilt now...

And now there's no turning back :shock:

 

[Dave Noble]

AMEX can do First (A class) as an upgrade from their discounted Business (I class) for ~$10,500 plus taxes. That's pretty compelling - a great First product for the price of Business.

The discounted Business is the best value, no doubt, but we all got a taste of F in the QF 380 last year courtesy of points upgrades so I've been spoilt now...

Well, if you do EK F on their 380 and then go on QF again, you will be disappointed at the QF offering once spoilt by their product

Dave