Abysmal points earn on BA LHR-HKG

[ChrisFlyer]

I am looking at booking the following trip (in Y-):

BNE-SYD-SIN/SIN-FRA-LHR/LHR-HKG/HKG-MEL-BNE (indirect routings as it would be a leisure trip, so I don't mind a few connections for the extra SCs - and I figured I may as well use FRA while it's still in the network!)

As I'd like to spend a few days in HKG before heading home (mostly for the shopping!), I'm unable to use the QF codeshare on the BA LHR-HKG leg (HKG govt regulations specify that the QF codeshare can only be used when transiting HKG where you depart within 24 hours of arrival), so it means having to book on the BA code. I was surprised to discover that an exception hasn't been added for this flight for QFF earn, and that booking the BA code on this route earns a measly 0.25 points per mile, as opposed to 1 point per mile that is offered on QF (and on the BA exceptions).

For reference, these are the current BA exceptions:

Travel in Discount Economy in the eligible booking classes between these city pairs will earn a base rate of 1:
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore,
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and Bangkok or Singapore, and
- London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore.

No mention of HKG even after QF have deferred to BA on this route (and there are no QF/BA flights FRA-BKK)... a little disappointing really, and something that I feel should be addressed!

The only routing that I can think of to prevent the BA 0.25 earn would be:

BNE-SYD-SIN/SIN-FRA-LHR/LHR-BKK-HKG/HKG-BKK-MEL-BNE (with the BKK-HKG-BKK sectors booked with CX, as I can't seem to do that through QF multi-city)... I'm aware that the CX Y- flights will also attract the 0.25 earn, however the 1 earn on LHR-BKK would make up for it... problem is that the QF itinerary is pretty much the same price as what was first mentioned, and the CX flights are an extra ~$450AUD on top of that (not worth it for the extra points)... Alternately, there is:

(...) LHR-SIN-HKG/HKG-SIN-MEL-BNE (with SIN-HKG-SIN booked on CX for the reason above), though this adds roughly an extra $600AUD (for SC-earning CX fares and also the added price of the QF itinerary)

Is there a better way to include HKG in this trip, or should I just suck up the lost points on the BA flight? Being WP (with a 100% status bonus), it's a fair chunk of points to miss out on though! The other consideration is trying to depart HKG on QF metal (as my original itinerary features), as the 96kg WP allowance will definitely come in handy after some serious shopping... the CX limit is 20kg (even for OWE), which means we may also be up for excess on any added CX flights

 

[N860CR]

Hmm that's interesting. I thought the point of the 1 to 1 was to basically make BA and QF interchangeable on the Kangaroo Route. I wonder if this has actually been changed to include HKG and the website just hasn't been updated.

 

[ShanI]

It hasn't, I fly this route regularly and have switched to flying Cathay as it's the same points earn but I find it better than BA. 2,996 points is dreadful!

 

[kempvet]

maybe join AAdvantage just for this leg, I am not sure but I think that it is a 1;1 with BA, you may be able to get your BP for this leg changed to the AAdvantage number. Then purchase more points on the AA website and you could have a relatively cheap 10000 AA miles flight from anywhere in AUS to Anywhere to AUS or NZ

 

[ChrisFlyer]

It hasn't, I fly this route regularly and have switched to flying Cathay as it's the same points earn but I find it better than BA. 2,996 points is dreadful!

True, though as a QF SG, you'd earn 50% more points on the BA flights (status bonus)... however, if you find CX better, it wouldn't be worth the extra ~1500 points

maybe join AAdvantage just for this leg, I am not sure but I think that it is a 1;1 with BA, you may be able to get your BP for this leg changed to the AAdvantage number. Then purchase more points on the AA website and you could have a relatively cheap 10000 AA miles flight from anywhere in AUS to Anywhere to AUS or NZ

Thanks for the idea, but too much effort for just the one flight - might be worth it if I had no QF status, but I'd rather take the 40 QF SCs, and perhaps adjust the routing to keep everything in QFF and earn 1/1mile

 

[Timba-Jet]

The only routing that I can think of to prevent the BA 0.25 earn would be:

BNE-SYD-SIN/SIN-FRA-LHR/LHR-BKK-HKG/HKG-BKK-MEL-BNE (with the BKK-HKG-BKK sectors booked with CX, as I can't seem to do that through QF multi-city)... I'm aware that the CX Y- flights will also attract the 0.25 earn, however the 1 earn on LHR-BKK would make up for it... problem is that the QF itinerary is pretty much the same price as what was first mentioned, and the CX flights are an extra ~$450AUD on top of that (not worth it for the extra points)... Alternately, there is:

BKK-HKG-BKK on RJ would be approx $300 in Y or $600 in J possibly less. 4xweekly service an arrives just before midnight in BKK, meaning overnight connection to QF SYD flight.

 

[serfty]

Flights OZ/Europe to/from HKG were never part of the "Kangaroo Route" in relation to the QF/BA "Joint Services Agreement" (JSA).

The old MEL-(QF29)-LHR qualified¹, but MEL-(QF)-xHKG-(BA)-LHR did not².

[between these city pairs]
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and Bangkok or Singapore, and
- London or Frankfurt and Bangkok or Singapore.

There is no mention of 'via' in relation HKG:

[between these city pairs]
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and London or Frankfurt via Bangkok or Singapore,