Best option for Madrid, Milan trip May/June 2017

[Colin D]

My wife and I are planning a trip for May/June next year, it's sketchy but goes like this:

1/ See Madrid, look around, do a few other places in Spain,
2/ Visit Milan, meet a friend, do Lake Como and other sites in the region.


Length of time away is 3 weeks.

I have at present about 350K Westpac Altitude Rewards points, this will continue to increase as I try to use my credit card as much as I can, Amex and MC. We also have about 12,800 Emirates Skywards Rewards points each, which must be redeemed by October 2016.

Because my wife has a health condition (MS) that gives her chronic back and leg pain I am looking for the shortest flight/s possible both ways. Also, with my wife in mind any advice on the best way to get seat upgrades, or the best use of my $ and points to get it would be appreciated. We've been to Europe before so understand the time it takes.

I believe it is cheaper to arrive and depart from the same airport, is that a big enough factor for us to take into account or is the cost difference not significant enough to worry about and we arrive and depart from different airports to avoid the hassle and wasted time?

I'm happy to pay the fee for any great advice I use.


Colin

 

[greenfish]

It doesn't sound like you have enough points to get very far on points.

One option might be to transfer your points to Singapore Airlines, then use the points to upgrade the longest segments of an economy or premium economy paid fare. The advantage is that the upgrade is confirmed at the time of the request, unlike using QF, where it is a lottery and without status your odds aren't good.

Of course you have to buy a flexi economy or premium economy fare to be able to upgrade.

In terms of whether to fly into one / out of another airport, there isn't a consistent rule. When flying into Europe for example, I'll fly into London but out of Dublin or Amsterdam to avoid the very high taxes (APD) on flights out of London.

With Singapore Airlines, you could, for example, fly into Barcelona and out of Milan.

Are you happy to pay for a flexi economy or PE fare?

 

[Colin D]

It doesn't sound like you have enough points to get very far on points.

One option might be to transfer your points to Singapore Airlines, then use the points to upgrade the longest segments of an economy or premium economy paid fare. The advantage is that the upgrade is confirmed at the time of the request, unlike using QF, where it is a lottery and without status your odds aren't good.

Of course you have to buy a flexi economy or premium economy fare to be able to upgrade.

In terms of whether to fly into one / out of another airport, there isn't a consistent rule. When flying into Europe for example, I'll fly into London but out of Dublin or Amsterdam to avoid the very high taxes (APD) on flights out of London.

With Singapore Airlines, you could, for example, fly into Barcelona and out of Milan.

Are you happy to pay for a flexi economy or PE fare?

Thanks Greenfish,

I think I have enough Altitude points to buy economy fares, maybe I could buy flexi economy for one and pay extra for the other and do what you say. Usually we go Emirates but I'll look into Singapore as on option, that might be the answer.

 

[greenfish]

Hi Colin

What program would you convert your altitude points to? I think you may find you are tight for points for 2 return fares as your altitude points halve when you convert them.

Also have you looked at the required taxes? These can be so high that your points do not save that much money compared to a cash fare.

David

 

[Colin D]

Hi Colin

What program would you convert your altitude points to? I think you may find you are tight for points for 2 return fares as your altitude points halve when you convert them.

Also have you looked at the required taxes? These can be so high that your points do not save that much money compared to a cash fare.

David

I can book flights directly through Altitude points where there is a selection of airlines I can fly with. This eliminates the necessity to use double points, which I've encountered once before. I'll check this week but I don't think I'm far off having two return flights, however that is economy and not with Emirates/Qantas.

Those Emirates points do not give me much at all from what I've seen when I use Skywards to check flights, but I wondered if they might get me access to Emirates or Qantas lounge facilities. Good in theory but two return fares with them is out of reach with my current Altitude points, and that is with economy.

I need to check Singapore by the sound of it.

Colin

 

[greenfish]

Hi Colin

I haven't used Altitude points but had a quick play with the booking engine and found return flights to Milan as an example for 175000 points + taxes. I could't however see how much the taxes were as I couldn't log-in. Can you have a look?

You might also want to look at regular fares - Etihad for example are under $1,500 into Madrid and out of Milan for a date in early May, returning in early June. There are a number of meta-search engines where you can search all the airlines at once (I like Kayak, skyscanner is popular too).

The skyward points won't get you much at all; you can transfer them - at USD25 per 1000 points, but hardly worth it... maybe burn the points on something in the skywards mall?

For lounge access, if flying economy it gets complicated. You can look at priority pass. Also, some credit cards come with specific lounge access (and sometimes a complimentary priority pass membership). If you fly on Qantas, Qantas club membership may be worth considering.

If you provide some more definite dates, I can do a more indepth search for you.

David

 

[Colin D]

Hi Colin

I haven't used Altitude points but had a quick play with the booking engine and found return flights to Milan as an example for 175000 points + taxes. I could't however see how much the taxes were as I couldn't log-in. Can you have a look?

You might also want to look at regular fares - Etihad for example are under $1,500 into Madrid and out of Milan for a date in early May, returning in early June. There are a number of meta-search engines where you can search all the airlines at once (I like Kayak, skyscanner is popular too).

The skyward points won't get you much at all; you can transfer them - at USD25 per 1000 points, but hardly worth it... maybe burn the points on something in the skywards mall?

For lounge access, if flying economy it gets complicated. You can look at priority pass. Also, some credit cards come with specific lounge access (and sometimes a complimentary priority pass membership). If you fly on Qantas, Qantas club membership may be worth considering.

If you provide some more definite dates, I can do a more indepth search for you.

David

Hi David, I couldn't work out in Kayak where to do the search but was able to work skyscanner ok. At this stage the dates are still to be confirmed but at this point i'm working on departure on 24th May and return on 18th June. If dates change they shouldn't be far from this.



Colin

 

[greenfish]

Flying a day earlier gives a sub $1400 flight on Etihad into Madrid and out of Milan.

It'd be worth calling Westpac and seeing if they can book the same flight using your Altitude points - so you can get some idea of value.

In terms of upgrading to premium economy or business class, your options are Singapore Airlines or Cathay. In both cases, you'll need to buy more expensive economy fares - potentially substantially more expensive.

 

[greenfish]

Another option is to pay cash in one direction, and then use your points for business class in the other direction.

There are oneworld rewards available to Madrid on the 24th (mixed economy and business class) for example... you may be able to redeem through asia miles with a points transfer from Altitude.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Another option is to pay cash in one direction, and then use your points for business class in the other direction.

There are oneworld rewards available to Madrid on the 24th (mixed economy and business class) for example... you may be able to redeem through asia miles with a points transfer from Altitude.

+1.
MAD, also has very low taxes on award seats.
CX have also launched new direct HKG > MAD flights ( 4 x weekly) which offers more options.

 

[Colin D]

Another option is to pay cash in one direction, and then use your points for business class in the other direction.

There are oneworld rewards available to Madrid on the 24th (mixed economy and business class) for example... you may be able to redeem through asia miles with a points transfer from Altitude.

I rang Altitude today to clarify a few things and get them to look at options. The best was Qatar but it had a 9 hr stop over in Dohar. I could have paid for two flights over but would have to pay for the return flight which I'm ok with. I'm not familiar at all with oneworld, can I use my Altitude points with it? I've quickly looked at their website without getting into any detail, I'll have to look into it tonight.

 

[Colin D]

+1.
MAD, also has very low taxes on award seats.
CX have also launched new direct HKG > MAD flights ( 4 x weekly) which offers more options.

What's an award seat?

CX, ok I can check them out. The Altitude points person suggested I wait a few weeks to see if any special deals are listed, and keep looking regularly to try and find one.

I forgot to add that it looks like the most likely scenario is we will fly into Madrid and return from Milan.

 

[greenfish]

I rang Altitude today to clarify a few things and get them to look at options. The best was Qatar but it had a 9 hr stop over in Dohar. I could have paid for two flights over but would have to pay for the return flight which I'm ok with. I'm not familiar at all with oneworld, can I use my Altitude points with it? I've quickly looked at their website without getting into any detail, I'll have to look into it tonight.

Yes, you can use your points for Oneworld by transferring to Asia Miles (Cathay, who run Asia Miles, are oneworld members)

Are you actually getting any value from the Altitude points at all? Buying one way tickets home could be quite expensive.

Did you get the all up cost for this at all?

 

[greenfish]

An award / reward seat are the "free" seats that you purchase with our Altitude points when converted to Singapore, Cathay or Virgin.

Right now you have enough Altitude points for 2 free tickets (well you'll still have to pay taxes) in Business class from Melbourne to Europe, if you convert to Singapore Airlines.

the problem with award / reward tickets is that they are scarce and you will almost certainly have to be flexible with your dates.

Davud

 

[Colin D]

Yes, you can use your points for Oneworld by transferring to Asia Miles (Cathay, who run Asia Miles, are oneworld members)

Are you actually getting any value from the Altitude points at all? Buying one way tickets home could be quite expensive.

Did you get the all up cost for this at all?

I can get one return flight with the points, I'd have to pay for the other one.

Would I get full points if I transfer them or would they be halved?

 

[Colin D]

An award / reward seat are the "free" seats that you purchase with our Altitude points when converted to Singapore, Cathay or Virgin.

Right now you have enough Altitude points for 2 free tickets (well you'll still have to pay taxes) in Business class from Melbourne to Europe, if you convert to Singapore Airlines.

the problem with award / reward tickets is that they are scarce and you will almost certainly have to be flexible with your dates.

Davud

Right, this is something I wasn't aware of, I need to register with oneworld by the sound of it. For the sake of getting 2 x return flights in Business Class the dates can be reasonably flexible.

 

[greenfish]

I can get one return flight with the points, I'd have to pay for the other one.

Would I get full points if I transfer them or would they be halved?

So you have 350,000 altitude points = one return to europe in economy (is this including taxes?) if booked through Westpac Altitude

If you convert to Singapore Airlines (for example) you end up with 175000 Krisflyer points

A return to Europe in BUSINESS class is 161,500 Krisflyer points + taxes - assuming you can find seats.

You actually have enough points for 2 economy return flights to Europe - as an example, to Milan on the dates you mention, you will need 161500 points and $1684 taxes (ouch!)

 

[greenfish]

Just had a look at the flights on Qatar - if you go a day earlier or later (23rd or 25th of May) you can get there without the long layover.

One way from Melbourne is $1088 each layover is 1 hour 50 minutes.

Then fly home on Qatar in business class all the way from Milan to Adelaide (no space into Melbourne) - For 85000 asia miles+ AUD350 taxes each. You will then have to fly from Adelaide to Melbourne, but as you know, it isn't a long flight.

There's loads of other options too, but this is one that is definitely available.

 

[Colin D]

Just had a look at the flights on Qatar - if you go a day earlier or later (23rd or 25th of May) you can get there without the long layover.

One way from Melbourne is $1088 each layover is 1 hour 50 minutes.

Then fly home on Qatar in business class all the way from Milan to Adelaide (no space into Melbourne) - For 85000 asia miles+ AUD350 taxes each. You will then have to fly from Adelaide to Melbourne, but as you know, it isn't a long flight.

There's loads of other options too, but this is one that is definitely available.

Cheers Davud, that is great advice, I'll follow up this week.

Colin

 

[greenfish]

Great, well if you find the information useful, I would certainly appreciate a donation to a charity that I am fundraising for:

https://bigredridesydney.gofundraise.com.au/payments/donate/page/389370

Thanks

David