Best way to us KF from US to Oz

[MrForgetful]

Hi all, long time lurker/reader.

My wife and I have finally booked our first Suites trip from Singapore to JFK in October next year. But we are wondering what the best use of miles would be on the return leg. We have approx. 100k miles to use and can purchase a little extra if needed. So far we've come up with using them to fly from LAX to Singapore on business which goes through Tokyo.

Off hand I think this needs about 130k miles. After realising this stops over in Tokyo, is there any way of extending the stopover when purchasing reward seats? Using the website there is an option for a 40hr stopover but we could use an extra day in Japan just to make it worthwhile.

So my questions are a) Is there any other better ways to use my miles for the trip home, and b) if we did the LA-Japan-Sing leg, is it possible to extend the stopover?

 

[cove]

Call Kris Flyer desk as they can get you the stopover (subject to availability). I am heading that way shortly but going home I am happy it is 2 hours in Narita.

 

[Jack_OC]

Hi all, long time lurker/reader.

My wife and I have finally booked our first Suites trip from Singapore to JFK in October next year. But we are wondering what the best use of miles would be on the return leg. We have approx. 100k miles to use and can purchase a little extra if needed. So far we've come up with using them to fly from LAX to Singapore on business which goes through Tokyo.

Off hand I think this needs about 130k miles. After realising this stops over in Tokyo, is there any way of extending the stopover when purchasing reward seats? Using the website there is an option for a 40hr stopover but we could use an extra day in Japan just to make it worthwhile.

So my questions are a) Is there any other better ways to use my miles for the trip home, and b) if we did the LA-Japan-Sing leg, is it possible to extend the stopover?

There is a recent discussion on ways to get between Aus and US with KF miles here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....airlines-krisflyer/kf-vs-va-points-64150.html

If you actually want to visit Tokyo and/or Singapore then the way you suggest might be a good option. However, I believe it will cost you 136,000 KF miles for 2 x J saver returns. It would cost you close to USD$1,440 to get the extra KF miles you need using the "top-up" option via the SQ website (not sure if that's what you had in mind when you said you could purchase some extra?), plus approx USD$700 in taxes. And then of course you still have to pay for flights from SIN to Aus, so it will end up costing you a bit. I can't think of a better suggestion with the limited number of miles you have left though.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

MrF - don't know your specific dates but here is what a quick search for Oct 2015 reveals:



This is not a Stopover - it is just sector pairing - if you want longer stopover find available flts first and then call KF call ctr in SIN and you can add stopover for USD100 - hope that helps.

 

[MrForgetful]

There is a recent discussion on ways to get between Aus and US with KF miles here:

If you actually want to visit Tokyo and/or Singapore then the way you suggest might be a good option. However, I believe it will cost you 136,000 KF miles for 2 x J saver returns. It would cost you close to USD$1,440 to get the extra KF miles you need using the "top-up" option via the SQ website (not sure if that's what you had in mind when you said you could purchase some extra?), plus approx USD$700 in taxes. And then of course you still have to pay for flights from SIN to Aus, so it will end up costing you a bit. I can't think of a better suggestion with the limited number of miles you have left though.

Thanks Jack, will check out that thread now. We don't necessarily need to go through Japan, just need to get back from the US with the best use of miles possible. Since we are only going on First from SIN-JFK, we will probably just get an economy seat return Bris-SIN and use the return leg on the way home. So basically need to get from west coast USA back to Singapore the smartest way possible.

Also; after reading some people's opinions on Business A380 vs 77W, maybe we should look to go on the 77W instead of A380?

 

[MrForgetful]

MrF - don't know your specific dates but here is what a quick search for Oct 2015 reveals:

This is not a Stopover - it is just sector pairing - if you want longer stopover find available flts first and then call KF call ctr in SIN and you can add stopover for USD100 - hope that helps.

Thanks Cruiser! Dates aren't set in stone yet, but anything late October we will look into. I found an available reward seat on that route with a 40hr layover, so might just do that and spend a day in Tokyo and not pay the $200 for a proper stopover

 

[VAG newbie]

Thanks Cruiser! Dates aren't set in stone yet, but anything late October we will look into. I found an available reward seat on that route with a 40hr layover, so might just do that and spend a day in Tokyo and not pay the $200 for a proper stopover

If you really enjoy the suite, one option to consider (especially sounds like you live in Bris!), is to just fly LAX-NRT on suite for 74000 miles pp. Not bad for 11hr on suite. Stopover in Japan as long as you like, then purchase a one way Jetstar star class to OOL (I think they are doing 2 for 1 sale at the moment?). I know it's not a proper business class, but to me it was at least better than SQ economy, which you are planning to buy from SIN-BNE.

Other option is F class SFO to HKG for about 71000 KF miles, and some how get a paid ticket from HKG to BNE.

You can do all of the above with J with a bit less miles. But sometimes you'll find that F has better saver availability than J.

 

[MrForgetful]

Interesting options VAG, I guess it all depends on how we get back to Brisbane. Since we are getting F from Singapore we have to get there, then find a way back. Thought just getting a return there would be most financially sound.

We've decided it must be from LAX now, SFO is out of the picture, won't have the time to go there. Will have to have a think about your ideas and see which suits!

 

[VAG newbie]

Interesting options VAG, I guess it all depends on how we get back to Brisbane. Since we are getting F from Singapore we have to get there, then find a way back. Thought just getting a return there would be most financially sound.

We've decided it must be from LAX now, SFO is out of the picture, won't have the time to go there. Will have to have a think about your ideas and see which suits!

Hah! Looks like you are stuck like me (and every other Brisbaner) that we can't fly First class out of Brisbane!

Well, I guess stop over in Tokyo for only 40 hr might be the best option. Although I always keep my mind open and visit every options, eg. fly to Syd/Mel which is super easy to get cheap one way fare, and fly first class ex-Syd/Mel, then you don't have to worry about getting return ticket to SIN in economy. It only costs an extra 20-30k miles, which is quite good deal for another 7+ hours in suite, and you get another Givenchy pyjama! (and there is always the option of being cheap and fly Scoot to SIN from OOL). Also you can always request a mixed cabin award by calling Krisflyer and still get the 15% online discount, although they will still charge you the same miles needed for F even though you are only flying business BNE-SIN leg.

Warning: My parents did the same thing in Aug, got award J tickets SIN-CDG on SQ, and bought SQ economy BNE-SIN (we had no choice as we used Lifemiles, no seats SIN-BNE until T-14). After enjoying the luxury of SQ J class, they could not stand the ordeal of coach from SIN-BNE on the return leg . In your case, it will be worse as you will be flying suites!

BTW, in case if you don't already know, if you need to top up KF miles, don't buy it directly with SQ as they will charge US$0.04/mile. Given that SPG is running a sale now until end of Dec, you can buy SPG points and convert to KF points, which works out to be $0.021/mile. Half what SQ is charging.

 

[MrForgetful]

Cheers VAG, good to see another Brisbanite here!

I just looked and had the option of doing LAX-NRT economy, NRT-SIN Suites, and doing the return Economy thing which would work out to be a few hundred $ cheaper than those other options.

Getting NRT-OOL cheap currently isn't really available. Have to wait on a sale, the 2 for 1 isn't on?

 

[VAG newbie]

Cheers VAG, good to see another Brisbanite here!

I just looked and had the option of doing LAX-NRT economy, NRT-SIN Suites, and doing the return Economy thing which would work out to be a few hundred $ cheaper than those other options.

Getting NRT-OOL cheap currently isn't really available. Have to wait on a sale, the 2 for 1 isn't on?

I wouldn't recommend LAX-NRT on economy as that is the longer leg. I think it will probably makes more sense LAX-NRT in F and NRT-SIN in Y. Of course at the end of the day it all depends on your budget and how much KF points you have. Personally I would fork out a bit more extra to buy SPG points to ensure I get to travel F all the way.

I just checked the Jetstar promotional email, the 2 for 1 sale just ended on Mon Depends on when your trip is, I'm sure Jetstar will have another sale in the next 6 months. They always do. But it mightn't work out for you as you need to get to SIN for the outbound.

 

[MrForgetful]

I wouldn't recommend LAX-NRT on economy as that is the longer leg. I think it will probably makes more sense LAX-NRT in F and NRT-SIN in Y. Of course at the end of the day it all depends on your budget and how much KF points you have. Personally I would fork out a bit more extra to buy SPG points to ensure I get to travel F all the way. .

Yeah I get your point about doing the longer leg in Y. Price you pay to go into Suites I guess...

Do you know if you can buy more than 20,000 SPG points? Because it only lets you do it 20,000 max, not sure if you can do it over and over again, or just once.

 

[VAG newbie]

Yeah I get your point about doing the longer leg in Y. Price you pay to go into Suites I guess...

Do you know if you can buy more than 20,000 SPG points? Because it only lets you do it 20,000 max, not sure if you can do it over and over again, or just once.

You can't buy more than 20000 miles per year, but there is a way around it. Register as many family member as possible with SPG, as long as they have the same address (even if they don't live with you, who cares? SPG won't know your parents doesn't live with you!), you can do free family transfer into one account. So if you have 4 people in your family, you can buy up to 80000 SPG points = 100000 KF!

Here is a guide to buy SPG:
Starwood Points purchases guide for airline transfers & hotels

 

[MrForgetful]

Thanks VAG!

 

[cove]

Just deplaned off SQ Suites and if you are prepared to buy points at 2.1 cents US then a Suites Saver would be my suggestion.

 

[MrForgetful]

Just deplaned off SQ Suites and if you are prepared to buy points at 2.1 cents US then a Suites Saver would be my suggestion.

Well dilemma is, do I give go through 11hours of Y, to get 7.5hrs of F? Versus 18hours of J.... I'm not going to have enough points to do a big F trip...

 

[Ben6]

Well dilemma is, do I give go through 11hours of Y, to get 7.5hrs of F? Versus 18hours of J.... I'm not going to have enough points to do a big F trip...

Take this with a grain of salt as I've not experienced F yet (roll on Jan!!!) but I have walked through the F cabin and experienced J a few times. I would always take 18hrs of J rather than 11hrs of Y and 7.5hrs of F. The step up from Y to J is massive but from J to F is more about better champagne, better food, better comfort, etc off an already high base. The thought of 11hrs of Y gives me shivers (in a bad way), particularly if I had just travelled F. I might be able to stomach it if the Y was first but only barely.

 

[MrForgetful]

Take this with a grain of salt as I've not experienced F yet (roll on Jan!!!) but I have walked through the F cabin and experienced J a few times. I would always take 18hrs of J rather than 11hrs of Y and 7.5hrs of F. The step up from Y to J is massive but from J to F is more about better champagne, better food, better comfort, etc off an already high base. The thought of 11hrs of Y gives me shivers (in a bad way), particularly if I had just travelled F. I might be able to stomach it if the Y was first but only barely.

Yeah fair call Ben6.

Is J on the A330-300 any good?

 

[VAG newbie]

I agree. Cove's comment is if you are ready to fork out 2.1cents/mile, and go all the way in F, rather than 11hr in Y and 7.5hr in F.

I think the difference in miles is about 23000 miles pp. So you are looking at an extra USD$483. To me the extra Givenchy pyjama probably is enough to offset that price difference, but then you would have 2 sets already from your SIN - JFK.

My biggest complaint about SQ A380 J seat is the cubby hole for the foot is quite narrow, so you have to sleep in an angle with legs tightly closed together. If you are like me who likes to spread the legs, you mightn't get as good sleep as F. However, if you can score a bulkhead seat, then you won't have that problem, and the J seat is as good as many F seats.

So, my suggestion, if you think it is worth the extra ~$500, buy SPG and top up to go F all the way. But if you are on a tight budget and would like to save the extra $1000 for some shopping or nicer hotel, go for J and snatch the bulkhead seat ASAP!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is J on the A330-300 any good?

It must be - VAG loves it!