A gap in my education here. How do I do this?

[Pushka]

I've worked the AA system, the credit card points on SQ, and obviously Qantas FF. Im a member of Alaska Air, and I think Asiamiles But there is a huge gap for me in how to fully work the flights when I read reports of say TomKat, JT, Amaroo and the like.

Our cruise ends in Amsterdam mid July. I've got us there with points on Q, EK and Qatar mostly in J. Currently just about 150,000 points in Q. I expect we will travel 'somewhere' in Europe for a few days then head off in paid flights to a hub - HK? DXB? But am open to thoughts. Award flights look a bit grim on Q from either of these but am I not seeing the whole picture here? I feel like there is another way I am overlooking. Someone mentioned Finnair? How does that work.

If all else fails we will stump for the money So please - thoughts, ideas and everything else. We would need to be back by end of July. I know. Peak times.

 

[TomVexille]

So we're looking for a QF award from Europe to Aus?

And do you have a budget?

 

[Pushka]

So we're looking for a QF award from Europe to Aus?

And do you have a budget?

Possibly from Europe but thought it might be cheaper to pay for flight to get to 'somewhere' where we can pick up an award. Open to 'the world'. E.g. Via US, Outer Mongolia, Uzbekistan etc etc. Our main thought is a good sleep on the way back home for the longer leg overnight. Old age = awful jet lag on way home.

 

[TomVexille]

Possibly from Europe but thought it might be cheaper to pay for flight to get to 'somewhere' where we can pick up an award. Open to 'the world'. E.g. Via US, Outer Mongolia, Uzbekistan etc etc. Our main thought is a good sleep on the way back home for the longer leg overnight. Old age = awful jet lag on way home.

QR/UL J from FRA-SIN is coming up at around $3200 for two pax for me and then you can pick up a QF J award home via BNE

 

[Pushka]

QR/UL J from FRA-SIN is coming up at around $3200 for two pax for me and then you can pick up a QF J award home via BNE

Ah. That's what I'm talking about! Thanks.

 

[TomVexille]

There's probably better value out there, but that might get you a starting point.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ex Cai - EK, QF or EY business class currently AUD1780 one way back to Australia. Use you Qantas points to fly there on BA.

 

[TomVexille]

Ex Cai - EK, QF or EY business class currently AUD1780 one way back to Australia. Use you Qantas points to fly there on BA.

And F was a little over $3k IIRC?

 

[love_the_life]

Ex Cai - EK, QF or EY business class currently AUD1780 one way back to Australia. Use you Qantas points to fly there on BA.

Is that Cairo? No thanks. Call me a wuss if you will.
On the other hand I may be totally off the mark.

 

[TomVexille]

Is that Cairo? No thanks. Call me a wuss if you will.
On the other hand I may be totally off the mark.

Yes, Cairo. It certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.

 

[Pushka]

Cairo. A little worrying! A few years ago I would be all over that. Maybe one day.

I was also thinking through US. AMS to NY to Hon then a very fancy J* ticket into Adelaide.

 

[Mattg]

How about redeeming QF points from somewhere in Europe to CMB (e.g. on QR)? From Colombo, you can fly CMB-SIN-MEL in UL/QF in paid J for around $1,000 each (and earn J SCs, etc. too).

In terms of getting to Colombo, AMS-DOH-CMB on QR would cost 78,000 QF points + relatively minimal taxes in J. Or you could fly (for example) VIE-DOH-CMB for 65,000 points each.

 

[RB]

Nothing specific but I have been seeing random flights on secretflying.com that may turn up something to suit

 

[Pushka]

How about redeeming QF points from somewhere in Europe to CMB (e.g. on QR)? From Colombo, you can fly CMB-SIN-MEL in UL/QF in paid J for around $1,000 each (and earn J SCs, etc. too).

In terms of getting to Colombo, AMS-DOH-CMB on QR would cost 78,000 QF points + relatively minimal taxes in J. Or you could fly (for example) VIE-DOH-CMB for 65,000 points each.

Colombo! Yes. Our (adopted) son was born there and we have always planted to return as a couple (MrP did when son turned 21 and I am doing a QM2 that stops there in April) so this sounds good! Thanks.

 

[Joshua]

I feel like I've done the Kangaroo route about 50 times in the past few years and nearly a different way each time. Did the CAI option recently. It's from around $1500 in J and $2500 in F to MEL. You can get QF or EK codes and can free stop in SIN/BKK if you like. There are plenty of cheap award or cash SPG/HH/IHG for a stay. Getting there from Europe... I know everyone here trends to *O and hence BA, but its truly awful option IMO. This is *the* sweet spot in the entire SQ KF program. Plenty of options from wherever you end up in Europe. Probably not to everyone's liking but personally I'd enjoy flying indirect so would book a last minute LH F redemption. If you're worried about Jetlag and have the time then F to the Middle East, F to Asia and F to Australia, moving few timezones at a time can work pretty well particularly with stopovers.

Security in CAI is what it is and very much subjective. Some people see one bombing on TV and entirely black-list a country, others wouldn't think anything of it and no doubt I'm the latter. So that's entirely a personal decision but you could always transit (just be careful with connecting time) and be looking at <$2k in J / 3k in F the whole way home. There are certainly points only options too but it's a bit more difficult doing single one-ways these days, no more 50k MH awards or 60k + $30 AA awards! What points do you have left? There are also options to and from CMB, rather than using it as a transit point.

 

[Pushka]

Only around 160,000 currently but we seem to accumulate fairly quickly. Can also do a points top up with $ if needed.

We would likely stay in Colombo for a few days. Go to Kandy. Nuwara Eliya. There's also a community hut in son's name in Sigariya.

 

[love_the_life]

I was looking at UL back from Dubai after our QM2 - it was mega cheap for J to SIN (around $800). In the end I cashed in some LM points and have TG all the way - just a bit easier, but that sounds a real plan!

 

[Pushka]

How about redeeming QF points from somewhere in Europe to CMB (e.g. on QR)? From Colombo, you can fly CMB-SIN-MEL in UL/QF in paid J for around $1,000 each (and earn J SCs, etc. too).

In terms of getting to Colombo, AMS-DOH-CMB on QR would cost 78,000 QF points + relatively minimal taxes in J. Or you could fly (for example) VIE-DOH-CMB for 65,000 points each.

How do you see these flights?

Royal Jordanian via Amman anyone? . But can see flights on QR to Colombo.

 

[TomVexille]

If you want to spend a couple days in CMB, there's also the possibility of paying J. FRA-CMB ~$1400 and CMB-MEL ~$1100

 

[Pushka]

If you want to spend a couple days in CMB, there's also the possibility of paying J. FRA-CMB ~$1400 and CMB-MEL ~$1100

That sounds good. SL air? I've been doing some playing around with points too. Details please?