Am I crazy? Route options.

[Stevo.1702]

Hi all.

I was having a play around regarding route options from Perth to Brisbane to maximise QF SC earn for $$. I'm hoping for a sane person to give me a feasibility check or point out if I am being an idiot.

I can depart no earlier than the red-eye Thursday night 07 Apr and must arrive BNE no later than midday Saturday 09 Apr. Return to Perth on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately I'm under training for work at the moment and my whole trip may be cancelled or have to change with min notice so I will be booking flex (been burnt in the past so sticking to FLEX).

Per - Bne return flex is approx $1300 and earns 80SC. Using that for comparison...

1. Thurs red-eye PER - SYD/MEL & connect to AKL. Same day AKL - BNE to arrive early Friday evening. Monday afternoon return BNE - PER.

• For FLEX this is approx $1900 and earns 140SC & 14,300pts
• Pros: Possible EK metal and First Lounges (have experienced each before)

2. Friday midday QF service PER - SIN. Several hours later SIN - BNE on QF to arrive early Saturday morning. Monday afternoon return BNE - PER

• For FLEX this is approx $1600 and earns 150SC & 20,200pts
• ​Pros: Better earn/$. More interesting route (737 aside). Never been in a SIN lounge.

Other info:

• Carry on baggage only.
• Young and have no issue with the crazy routes/duration/timings/Y class.
• I value SC earn/$ higher than convenience/time in the air (indifferent on points earn).
• Will likely attempt a points upgrade on legs that include the A330 suite.
• I am aware that J class may earn better SC/$$ however my earn target to retain WP is not that far off and harder to justify the cost.

My questions:

• Are these possible?
• Do I utilise International Transfers so no need to go through immigration in AKL or SIN?
• Is this likely to raise eyebrows at check-in or departing AUS?
• Worth it?
• Am I crazy?

I've tried to include all relevant information but if there is a consideration I've missed let me know. I've seen some of the wisdom on this site and hope that an expert can provide me some advice.

Thanks!!

 

[MarkD]

I'd o via SIN. Not a silly way to spend the weekend. Whenever I go to HKG I go via PER and SIN just because..

 

[Mattg]

If you don't mind the crazy routings (and I personally don't either) then go for the SIN option for best point/SC earn. The SIN lounge is also better than the AKL lounge.

My only real comment is that you're not as likely to get a points upgrade on the SIN flights as J is usually full. Flying BNE-PER, an upgrade would be more likely.

Have you checked the price/earn of a return PER-AKL ticket, combined with a return AKL-BNE ticket?

 

[trooper]

DO it.
Have Fun.
Write a Trip Report. lol

 

[LadyC]

DO it.
Have Fun.
Write a Trip Report. lol

I second that!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There is a very slight probability, only slight, that something might happen to that EK metal 380 you desire AKL - BNE, or the preceeding MEL/SYD - AKL.
That 380 has to come all the way from DXB, and if that one is late into MEL/SYD, then it will be late into AKL, and chance of you missing the EK flight from AKL - BNE.
If you really must be in BNE for a certain meeting, work or otherwise, or thing, I would not consider AKL at this stage.
For anything Au to NZ, I would only do it EK metal with a QF flight number in F.
Even if only SYD - CHC in F on the 777.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just a thought, no idea whether or not it's workable but does the cost per SC stack up if you look at getting to Asia (KL/SIN/BKK etc) and doing a return from there?

 

[cmon0005]

I would go via SIN even with PER-SIN as a 737 (the flight is not that long really). Beats domestic legs.

Have fun!

 

[Stevo.1702]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll go with the SIN option and let you know how it all pans out.

I unfortunately don't have the same flexibility returning to Perth as I do departing. In the future I'll look into a return Asia option. I never considered that possibility so thanks for the idea Princess Fiona.

Thanks again.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll go with the SIN option and let you know how it all pans out.

I unfortunately don't have the same flexibility returning to Perth as I do departing. In the future I'll look into a return Asia option. I never considered that possibility so thanks for the idea Princess Fiona.

Thanks again.

Is returning BNE-SYD-PER an option for an extra 20 SCs?

 

[infinity]

Would have thought so
Did the PER BNE SYD Friday and will get the extra SCs

 

[Stevo.1702]

Is returning BNE-SYD-PER an option for an extra 20 SCs?

I'm sure it can become an option. I'm clearly not against a cheeky detour.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For future reference, if you are interested.
PER - SIN QF
SIN - BKK 3K (some 3K flights carry a QF flight number it seems)
BKK - HKG CX
HKG - AKL CX
AKL - SYD QF Jetconnect or EK metal with QF flight number
SYD - ADL QF
ADL - PER QF
Would be a lot of SC in J if you can afford it, but in whY/flexY it will be squashed, but will earn some SC.
MH/CX (these 2 do not carry QF flight numbers) as a QFF will earn less SC than flying QF metal QF flight number or partner metal QF flight number.

 

[Stevo.1702]

All FLEX:

1. PER - BNE - PER = $1300 at 80 SC
2. PER - MEL - HHK - SYD - BNE - PER = $1900 at 220 SC. (there were cheaper options but this best fits my timeline)

Hard to see that a return Hong Kong leg is only $600 more. The sum of the parts is very much greater than the sum of the whole.
This puts me over my SC earn goal for the year and the opportunity to check out the new CX lounge has me sold.

 

[Himeno]

I've done 'worse'. HEL-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-NRT-SIN-PER-MEL a few years ago (when QF30 still did LHR-HKG) on a combined DONE3/DAS13. No stopovers over 3 days. Saved me money doing it as didn't have to pay for 3 days of hotels and food and the flights were use them or lose them under the ticket rules (DONE3, same price for 6 flights or 16).

 

[Stevo.1702]

I've done 'worse'. HEL-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-NRT-SIN-PER-MEL a few years ago (when QF30 still did LHR-HKG) on a combined DONE3/DAS13. No stopovers over 3 days. Saved me money doing it as didn't have to pay for 3 days of hotels and food and the flights were use them or lose them under the ticket rules (DONE3, same price for 6 flights or 16).

Wow. So using direct PER - BNE - PER as my left of arc and you as my right: I'm happy that this falls comfortably in the middle.

That must have been an experience though.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its HKG or if you must, do add the V in front of VHHK.

 

[kevrosmith]

I haven't checked the prices, but what about a domestic run...

PER-BNE-CNS - I think 70 SCs..? It's 30 BNE-CNS.
CNS-BNE-MEL - 60 SCs - you could even add a leg to HBA if you wanted to for another 20.
MEL-SYD-BNE - 40 SCs

Not as exciting as there's no International legs. Check prices in Business too and you'd get double the SCs again.

 

[TheAirman]

Interesting discussion - you are giving me ideas

 

[Justinf]

Nobody on this forum is going to think you're crazy.
Put it on facebook or twitter however and most people will think you're crazy.
You posted on the correct forum. Do it and enjoy.