14 Return Trips from Oz to LHR Per Year - Best Strategy

[k974]

Hi,

I'm looking at doing either 13 or 14 return trips from BNE to LHR (actually to Dublin but if options work best to LHR happy with that and can get separate flight to Dublin) in the next 12 months.

These trips are self funded so looking at best strategy to get status asap and best mileage scheme to upgrade as many as possible from economy fares to business, don't mind the occasional business purchase or purchase of a mixed class ticket.

The main requirements are as fast as possible transit times, so my first options are the EK flights leaving BNE at 9pm and arriving back into BNE at 6am, as this will maximise my time on the ground over there.

I am a Virgin Australia gold flyer, Qantas silver and frequent flyer with Emirates 200k miles but status has expired.

Thanks for any advice you may be able to give.

 

[scwappy]

That's a lot of flying!!! If prices are important then I would check return prices from DUB-BNE as it may be beneficial. If transit time is important getting a one stop trip may work in your favour.

 

[k974]

ya it is! thanks for the reply, someone already mentioned to me get a one way out of oz on the first flight so the returns are out of Ireland. I was kind of hoping there would be some double status points sales are similar that I could forward purchase a few of the trips and benefit from the offer or similar.

 

[docjames]

Definitely if there are that many trips locked in, buy a return ex-AUS which books the first and last outbound/inbound legs, then do a series of returns ex-DUB and it should be substantially cheaper.

You dont have to transit LHR (in fact it may well be cheaper NOT to....) eg. EK direct to DUB via DXB. Finnair often have good pricing via HEL (again avoids LHR).

You'll probably overall do better to pick one "alliance" and/or FF program and stick to that one too.

 

[k974]

Definitely if there are that many trips locked in, buy a return ex-AUS which books the first and last outbound/inbound legs, then do a series of returns ex-DUB and it should be substantially cheaper.

You dont have to transit LHR (in fact it may well be cheaper NOT to....) eg. EK direct to DUB via DXB. Finnair often have good pricing via HEL (again avoids LHR).

You'll probably overall do better to pick one "alliance" and/or FF program and stick to that one too.

Hi thanks for that, my plan would be to avoid LHR if possible and do a 1 stop flight on either EK or EY, Qatar now is also a one stop option but only to Sydney requiring another flight in this end. I will buy the tickets ex Ireland/LHR as it will be cheaper alright.

I suppose what I am most interested in, is which airline rewards are best i.e which one will I get the most benefit out of by sticking with them for each trip.

I'm happy to look at QF SQ etc from LHR if there was some benefit but obviously 1 stop out of Dub is attractive given the short turnaround times.

Reason for trip is wife has taken a 12month position over there (I will work FIFO 21:7 here) and spend the week off over there. We will then return to Australia and normality after 12months or so.

 

[BCons]

Wow, some flying.. For that volume I wonder if you shud talk to a good travel agent (yes, finding one is another question in itself) about them finding a discounted bulk deal ?

And with that amount of fwd booking I reckon a good T/A wud also be able to wrangle a status bump for you. Look for one of the specialist corporate rather than retail T/As ?

 

[whatmeworry]

Check out google.com/flights for options.

Remember credit card bonus point offers. Many referral offers in this thread. Referral Offers

Ask Qantas and Emirates for a Gold status match.

Remember to link your Flybuys account to your Velocity account for some extra status credits. Plus QF points at Woolworths.

 

[k974]

Wow, some flying.. For that volume I wonder if you shud talk to a good travel agent (yes, finding one is another question in itself) about them finding a discounted bulk deal ?

And with that amount of fwd booking I reckon a good T/A wud also be able to wrangle a status bump for you. Look for one of the specialist corporate rather than retail T/As ?

thanks I will have a look at that, I have a friend doing same from Perth but he saves 4/5hrs flying time and is only doing 6 trips in 6months and goes with cheapest price each time, I'm hoping I can get some value by doing some planning and working out best return on upgrade or fastest to status for lounges etc

thanks

 

[whatmeworry]

I suppose what I am most interested in, is which airline rewards are best i.e which one will I get the most benefit out of by sticking with them for each trip.

If you had to choose one, I would say QF because your SC haul would contribute to lifetime status.

 

[BCons]

Well, no harm in getting a good T/A to look at the options - at the same time as you do..

 

[docjames]

Hi thanks for that, my plan would be to avoid LHR if possible and do a 1 stop flight on either EK or EY, Qatar now is also a one stop option but only to Sydney requiring another flight in this end. I will buy the tickets ex Ireland/LHR as it will be cheaper alright.

I suppose what I am most interested in, is which airline rewards are best i.e which one will I get the most benefit out of by sticking with them for each trip.

I'm happy to look at QF SQ etc from LHR if there was some benefit but obviously 1 stop out of Dub is attractive given the short turnaround times.

Reason for trip is wife has taken a 12month position over there (I will work FIFO 21:7 here) and spend the week off over there. We will then return to Australia and normality after 12months or so.

The challenge with the two australian programs you are already a member of, is that you can only use points to upgrade on their own metal.

So that means QF to LHR basically.


If you are looking at points purchased trips you'll need to consider earn versus burn rates.

I do wonder if you are better off with a program that you can also use for upgrades (preumably EK/EY/QR)....

 

[cgichard]

For a good TA I would check out the Travel Associates in your area. I have in the past used Ackerfield & Goldberg in Melbourne for ordinary (not holiday package) flight bookings and found their service to be excellent: you pay low Flight Centre prices but receive personal Silver Service.

 

[ermen]

Have a look at joining BA.

It could be easier to get status on them (OW Sapphire / OW Emerald).

ex-DUB flights are cheaper too.

In that regard, you should see what TonyHancock did (albeit in J cabins)

 

[Bundy Bear]

As much as we all like flying I wouldn't be flying that much between Australia and Europe.

Its a 10 hour time shift and you will take a week to get over the jetlag and then have to come back.

The wear and tear on your body not be fun.

I would look at around 6 - 7 trips so one every every 2 months.

Flights are cheaper ex Dublin than Australia.

Remember you can only upgrade on the airline where you are using the points, so Virgin earning flying on SQ really wouldn't be worth while, nice for points but no upgrades unless you were flying business all the time.

I would lock in the important dates around Christmas/New Year and important anniversary events now.

I would be tempted to fly Emirates and fly business in the first trip ex Dublin as business to Australia would be decent price, once you have status then you could fly economy and enjoy the status benefits

 

[JessicaTam]

As much as we all like flying I wouldn't be flying that much between Australia and Europe.

Its a 10 hour time shift and you will take a week to get over the jetlag and then have to come back.

The wear and tear on your body not be fun.

I would look at around 6 - 7 trips so one every every 2 months.

Flights are cheaper ex Dublin than Australia.

Remember you can only upgrade on the airline where you are using the points, so Virgin earning flying on SQ really wouldn't be worth while, nice for points but no upgrades unless you were flying business all the time.

I would lock in the important dates around Christmas/New Year and important anniversary events now.

I would be tempted to fly Emirates and fly business in the first trip ex Dublin as business to Australia would be decent price, once you have status then you could fly economy and enjoy the status benefits

Yeah, but the OP wants to do 13-14 trips. I get that you don't, but that wasn't the question.

 

[k974]

Yeah, but the OP wants to do 13-14 trips. I get that you don't, but that wasn't the question.

Hi thanks for all the replies, yes 12-14 trips is a lot, I work 20 days on : 8 days off so that 13 rotations, I might stay in Australia for one of them. towards the end I will have annual leave accumulated to tag onto the 8 days to make it 10 days for the last 4 trips. Yes its not ideal but its only for 12months and then my wife will return to Australia. Its still far more lucrative including flight costs to do this than me join her full time and try find a job for 12months.

Anyway, I rang a few agents they all had a pretty bland response about join the FF and accumulating miles, I explained to them that I knew this, but was looking for advice and willing to pay for the service if someone could put together a proposal such as 12 trips in EK economy is worth xx_ status and mileage , whilst if I went with EY I'd have xx.

also I would be willingly to pay the next class of economy ticket (flex economy or similar) if there was a difference in the rewards but they hadn't a clue.

I like the idea of lifetime status with Qantas, most likely I will fly EK as it maximises time leaving BNE at 9pm and arriving back in at 6am, so must check if this flight is available as a Qantas ticket.

 

[k974]

hi

I started the develop a spreadsheet for each airline, and started with Emirates, but have already come unstuck. Their mileage calculator states than a BNE-DUB return ticket is the following tier miles
Saver 12,400
Flex 18,600

but when I actually go price up a ticket it provides the following at the booking stage
Saver 7,700
Flex 15,400

Can anyone advise? As I am trying to work out with each airline on what trip I hit Gold status and where I have enough for an upgrade etc.

Thanks

 

[docjames]

Beware booking EK metal with QF flight number (and crediting to QF) you wont be able to upgrade if that is an aim.

 

[k974]

Hi,

So I set up a spreadsheet and have come up with the following, noting I have a starting balance of 9,300 tier miles with Emirates vs 0 in Etihad, and used nominal date of 14/9/17 & 21/7/17 as basis of fare costs (I know they will change but haven't got as far as doing each trip costing yet)

On Emirates Saver
2 trips to achieve Silver
4 trips to achieve gold
9 trips to achieve Platinum
enough miles to upgrade 1.5 return trips economy to business
Cost $2,084 * 12 = $25,008

On Emirates Flex (not Flex Plus)
1 trip for silver
2 trips for gold
6 trips for platinum
2 return trips upgraded to business
12 * $2,895 = $34,740

On Etihad Saver
3 trips for Silver
4 trips for Gold
6 trips for Platinum (125k vs emirates 150k)
2 return trips upgrade from economy to business
$2139 * 12 = $25,668

On Etihad classic
2 trips for Silver
3 trips for Gold
6 trips for Platinum
2 return trips upgrade from economy to business
$2586 * 12 = $31,032

 

[ermen]

You have a conflicting problem and your goals are actually in conflict with each other (not that it is a bad thing).

e.g. less flying is not always conducive to more points, higher status (why fly direct when you can connect?)

So what are your priorities? Speed? Ability to use points to upgrade? Status benefits (luggage, lounge etc)? Price?

So to break this down logically, you will need to choose
(i) alliance
(ii) airline

Looks like you are quite advanced with EK - which is not bad. And seems like it is the best way for you to get status. And use points to upgrade from Y to J - you have an advantage here because they don't run PeY). And it is a one stop for you in DXB. And you can potentially use the EK status on QF flights in future. And the price is reasonable. May not be a bad choice for you if you run it all on EK codes.