Award Flight - SYD - ATH

[Battymum]

So I am hoping to book an award flight SYD-ATH later this year. My preferred carrier is QR and i notice they have been releasing awards quite regularly but they are snapped up quickly.

My problem is the DOH - ATH sector would be on the next calendar day due to the overnight flight.
If SYD-DOH is released should i book that and add the DOH-ATH sector later?

Will I run into issues with my original flights being lost? Is there married segment rules?
I have noticed occasionally flights are still available the next day and i could book the entire trip in one go, but i dont want to risk waiting until the following day and then the long haul is no longer available.

Thanks

Lisa

 

[cjd600]

I wouldn't risk it (waiting and hoping the SYD-DOH doesnt disappear), I always lose playing the odds on flights....one in the hand etc.
I'd also plan for a +24hr stopover in Doha in case of married segments.
You could look say ADL-ATH, as ADL-DOH sometimes hang around a day or two longer, to capture the DOH-ATH released next day. So you can book in one go, then add SYD-ADL when they come out a week or so later.

 

[JohnM]

I agree with @cjd600. Rather than add SYD-ADL into the award itinerary, depending on how many extra points you would have to part with (flight plus change), maybe just position there on an el-cheapo.

Very likely to need to stop in DOH. As you may not get your checked bag delivered for such a stop, make sure to pack your hand luggage for that eventuality. I don't know how they work out that bit, but it happens.

When entering DOH after travelling in J, make sure to turn hard left as you enter the passport control hall and go through the J inbound lounge which has dedicated passport control with no queues.

 

[Battymum]

So how would I know if I need to make it a stopover ?
I am assuming I would need to call and book the DOH - ATH leg, will they be able to tell me then or am I still risking flights dropping off.
The connection time works I would really just rather make it a transit.

Going from Adelaide is my next option, or then Emirates out of Brisbane, but Sydney is my home airport so would rather leave from there.

 

[JohnM]

I can't answer the question about how you find out if you need the stopover. But the fact that most people would prefer, like you, to transit is I'm sure not unfamiliar to QR so I think they are more likely than not to enforce it. Maybe it's a government thing?

It's something that you need to be aware of - as is the possibility of not being able to collect your checked bag. I guess it's to do with being <24h - even if you enter Doha and take a hotel room overnight. Bizarre, but that's QR life!

All I know is that I've experienced it, but why it is that way is beyond my understanding.

 

[cjd600]

I’d book the first leg. Then call to add the second leg - I think only at that point you will know if QF can add the DOH-ATH leg or not. Or if you go the ADL-ATH in one go booking you’ll know as it either shows as available right through or it doesn’t.
Maybe do some test dummy bookings on ADL-ATH to see how likely it is to show up.
The SYD-DOH Qsuites flight goes pretty quickly, but the A380 is often available til next day...but not always up until release of the next Calendar day Euro connections. It’s a bit of a lottery!
Fair call from @JohnM re a cheap positioning flight to ADL......my thinking is always addled by permutations of 280k one world awards where the points spend is capped, aside for the change fee when adding a connection

 

[Battymum]

Actually would prefer the A380 from Sydney, rather than arriving in DOH at midnight and waiting 8hours for the connection.
Guess I will just have to cross fingers, book the long haul if it becomes available and hope that I can add on the Athens flight.
We could stopover for a night in DOH if need be.

 

[cjd600]

The mon-wed syd-doh departures are releasing 4J each day at the moment, so might get lucky.
Could monitor the release for the Monday, then see if its still around and spits out as a SYD-ATH after following day release of the Euro connections.
If not, then jump on the Tuesday SYD-DOH.
Then call next day to try add Weds DOH-ATH.
If no good then add Thurs DOH-ATH and cop the stopover.

Or go the ADL option which 'should' get you ADL-ATH straight up

 

[JohnM]

Fair call from @JohnM re a cheap positioning flight to ADL......my thinking is always addled by permutations of 280k one world awards where the points spend is capped, aside for the change fee when adding a connection

I guessed that you were thinking a OW Award .

 

[JohnM]

Actually would prefer the A380 from Sydney, rather than arriving in DOH at midnight and waiting 8hours for the connection.
Guess I will just have to cross fingers, book the long haul if it becomes available and hope that I can add on the Athens flight.
We could stopover for a night in DOH if need be.

But the A380 does not have Qsuites....

Doha is not too bad for a short stop. The Islamic Museum is well worth a visit and the 'genuine' Souk (and the Falcon souk) are interesting. The evenings are actually very nice to visit the two latter, while the museum is a cool haven in the middle of the day.

I can suggest what I think is a good value hotel of good standard not far from the airport, if you are interested.

 

[Battymum]

Does it cost more in points to have a stopover?

 

[JohnM]

Not as far as I know.