35k mile ROUTING CHALLENGE in F - Experts only please

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I had a look this week and actually once you are out of Australia, the availability is pretty good. Only need 1 seat.... the challenges are only on the legs in and out of OZ.

In that case, another way of skinning the cat would be to buy a LCC return ticket to SE Asia and then start your award itinerary from there. That would also free up some miles for you.
As an example, fly Air Asia into KUL, and then start of with QR into DOH.

 

[Guvner]

Good point - I missed that.

Flying out of HND shouldn't push you over the 35,000 mile mark though. By my calculations, NRT-HKG is 1,842 miles. HND-HKG is 1,805 miles, and the distance between NRT and HND (which would count towards the mileage) is 37 miles. So NRT-HND-HKG is also 1,842 miles - exactly the same amount.

Do they include the surface sector mileage if it's the same city? Seriously?

They'll start to add the walking distance between gates on a stopover soon.

 

[Mattg]

Do they include the surface sector mileage if it's the same city? Seriously?

They'll start to add the walking distance between gates on a stopover soon.

Yes, they do. I believe it's also counted as a sector, but not a stopover.

 

[yld200]

Interesting Challenge...

I think the main problem will be F availability out of MEL or SYD...

Doing a quick search in August shows me the closest to F out of MEL is MEL-HKG(J)-LAX(F) CX on the 10th and same out of SYD on the 14th & 20th.

Otherwise QR to and from DOH generally has good availability

 

[Nizar]

So, I want to burn 420k QFF points and do a 35k mileage redemption in First. Aug/Sep this year...

I'm trying to create an experience whereby I will try F on the best OW carriers as well as their signature lounges.
e.g. CX F + lounge in HKG, QF F + lounge MEL/SYD, BA F + Concorde lounge from LHR, JL, etc.

I have tried QF F, so not essential, but I think that's the only way of getting out of MEL on F on a OW carrier? (I don't believe I can do EK for this redemption).

The only must go cities on the itinerary are: PMI (for a wedding), HAM and SAN (to visit Relos).

I feel I'm getting close, but not quite right yet.... any suggestions would be welcome. I love flying, so maximum flights and routes for the 35k miles would be brilliant.

I'm keen to try F on: CX, JAL, Qatar, if possible. BA F on the 787 would be good too I reckon.

Sample 1:
MEL-LAX (QF)
LAX-SAN - stop 1(AA)
SAN-LAX
LAX-JFK (AA) transcon F
JFK - HND (JL)
HND - HKG (CX) - I think they still do F on this route?
HKG - DUS (CX) -stop 2
DUS - PMI (J - Niki or AB) - stop 3
PMI - HAM (J - Niki or AB) - stop 4
HAM - LHR (J - BA)
LHR - AUH (F - BA)
AUH - DOH (F- QR)
DOH -MEL (do they fly F to MEL yet, or do I need to go via SYD?)

Anyway, I think this is too many miles but you get the idea of what I'm trying to do...

Anyone have any sample routings they want to share to demonstrate their brilliance??

Sample 2::idea:
MEL-syd-hnd-hkg-dus-pmi-dus-lhr-auh-doh-lax-san-lax-mel
is 34,867 miles, but no JAL F and Syd-HND is QF J

I'm gonna have a try.

Here is what I think is a routing that maximises F starting in MEL, with the lounge in brackets.

MEL-SYD-NRT QF J then JL 77W F (QF SYD F),
HND-HKG CX 774 F, HKG-LAX CX 77W F (CX Pier),
LAX-LHR BA 388 F (QF LAX F),
LHR-DOH-DXB QR 388 F then QR A321 F, (QR LHR lounge then Al-Safwa lounge)
DXB-MEL QF 388 F (EK DXB F)

7 F legs and 1 J leg.
With stops in Japan, LA, London, Dubai, and Bangkok.
Comes in at just under 32k miles.
Five of the best OW F products (JL, CX, BA, QR and QF)
Probably four of the best OW lounges (Al-safwa, QF SYD & LAX F, CX Pier) + the EK DXB lounge and highly regarded QR lounge at LHR.

Flying out of LAX to HKG may be tough so could always do SFO for example or even JFK and you could get to JFK from LAX using AAs super sleek A321 F product.
QR out of LHR you might also struggle but the alternative is CDG which always has plenty of QR F award availability and QR has just opened a new lounge there.

 

[timmy-t]

MEL-SYD-NRT QF J then JL 77W F (QF SYD F),

I don't think JL will fly the 77W and have F from SYD anymore...
otherwise, all looks pretty good!

 

[Croupier]

I don't think JL will fly the 77W and have F from SYD anymore...
otherwise, all looks pretty good!

Your correct they don't fly it any more the only option out of AU in F is QF or BA

https://www.ausbt.com.au/japan-airlines-moves-sydney-tokyo-to-boeing-787-9

 

[williamsf1]

Getting award availability on all of these flights will be a whole different challenge. It should be possible on most flights IF you book a year in advance - probably not if you're booking 4 months out though. Also, I've never seen any AB/HG J award space on Euro short-haul, so you might have to fly Y to/from PMI.

HG do not offer Business ( aka a Y seat in front row with no one next to you) and AB no longer operate that route to PMI with the recent changes announced for summer 17

And agree with trying to find reward seats so close to departure

 

[Kangol]

Yes, they do. I believe it's also counted as a sector, but not a stopover.

I was under the impression that co-terminals in the same city are considered the same "location", where a surface segment between terminals is not counted as a segment - can only be a transit if 24 hours or less or a stopover if >24 hours. Across the industry, not limited to QF, that is...

Have you booked an award where this has occurred? (eg. HND/NRT, JFK/LGA/EWR, LHR/LCY/LGW etc)
If so, the details would be helpful.
Very interested if that is the case.

 

[Kangol]

I'm gonna have a try.

Here is what I think is a routing that maximises F starting in MEL, with the lounge in brackets.

MEL-SYD-NRT QF J then JL 77W F (QF SYD F),
HND-HKG CX 774 F, HKG-LAX CX 77W F (CX Pier),
LAX-LHR BA 388 F (QF LAX F),
LHR-DOH-DXB QR 388 F then QR A321 F, (QR LHR lounge then Al-Safwa lounge)
DXB-MEL QF 388 F (EK DXB F)

7 F legs and 1 J leg.
With stops in Japan, LA, London, Dubai, and Bangkok.
Comes in at just under 32k miles.
Five of the best OW F products (JL, CX, BA, QR and QF)
Probably four of the best OW lounges (Al-safwa, QF SYD & LAX F, CX Pier) + the EK DXB lounge and highly regarded QR lounge at LHR.

Flying out of LAX to HKG may be tough so could always do SFO for example or even JFK and you could get to JFK from LAX using AAs super sleek A321 F product.
QR out of LHR you might also struggle but the alternative is CDG which always has plenty of QR F award availability and QR has just opened a new lounge there.

As mentioned, JL do not fly the 77W to SYD anymore so no more F.
Good luck in finding LAX-LHR BA A380 F award seats unfortunately.
QR do not release A380 F seats on LHR-DOH to anyone at all so there goes that option.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just to add, not to forget QFF often have availability in F on EK out of Italy, Spain and LGW, GLA. Bugger all out of LHR.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Just to add, not to forget QFF often have availability in F on EK out of Italy, Spain and LGW, GLA. Bugger all out of LHR.

Not a lot of use for this purpose, though.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Not a lot of use for this purpose, though.

I thought the point was to use 450K QFF points? We've used QFF points a couple of times for F out of MXP and MAD. It maybe a way to complete the final legs.

 

[Croupier]

I thought the point was to use 450K QFF points? We've used QFF points a couple of times for F out of MXP and MAD. It maybe a way to complete the final legs.

But it must fall inside the rules of a OW RTW F booking hence the 450K QFF points and 35K miles.

 

[Kangol]

I thought the point was to use 450K QFF points? We've used QFF points a couple of times for F out of MXP and MAD. It maybe a way to complete the final legs.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

If anything, all posts in this thread should be moved to that one.