BNE - Katowice with VA Earn

[flying_duck]

Hey All,

Sorry, Europe is a bit of a black hole in my knowledge. This may be super obvious.

Is it possible to get from BNE to Katowice and earn VA Points the whole way? I'm imagining I have to book something direct with Singapore, but will it earn if I end up on another carrier's metal?

Thanks

 

[Lord_Lenny]

For VA earn you'd be out of luck. The options in Europe were always limited, and now with Air Berlin gone they're non existent really.

If you book on SQ you'll only earn Velocity points/status on SQ operated flights, not codeshares. So for example SQ BNE-SIN-FRA with a codeshare on Lufthansa FRA-KTW would only net you points/status on the BNE-SIN-FRA legs.

Actually that's probably easiest option out of Brisbane, the closest Etihad could get you would be Warsaw via Rome on Alitalia.

No matter who you go with it's going to involve at least one change somewhere in Europe in addition to the usual Gulf/Asia stop. But even leaving loyalty to one side the SQ/LH option looks the smoothest, pretty much all other options involved changing airline alliances or at minimum changing in Warsaw in addition to somewhere else in Europe.

 

[flying_duck]

Thanks Lord Lenny. I don't mind stopovers or transits, just want to maximise earn. So I suppose BNE - FRA then onto KTW is best on Singapore. *sigh* that's a long way in Y.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I'd definitely do the SQ/LH then, at least you'll earn right into Frankfurt.

Yeh Europe is a bit hard on the ol' seat bones, but I find SQ to be not as bad as others when it comes to Y

 

[flying_duck]

Thanks heaps for your help I'll buy an F ticket somewhere on points, that'll cheer me up

 

[docjames]

Essentially unless you want a LCC it's LOT or LH into Katowice.

Agree SQ to FRA then LH seems simplest.

Into AMS then Transavia would be another reasonable option but more flying.

This map helpful: Katowice Airport

 

[Must...Fly!]

The whole way you would be out of luck.

But you could fly to any number of destinations with Etihad as well. Athens, Milan, Amsterdam, Dublin etc all have onward options to Katowice.

It's almost exclusively an LCC destination outside the options already mentioned, unless you fly in to Krakow and double back by rail or road.

 

[Must...Fly!]

If you want to earn a bit more, or of bonus FB points, which can transfer into VFF points, book as close as you can to your destination with Flybuys Travel.
Can I just add, HOPEFULLY, you aim of going to Poland is NOT to meet a certain girl you with a love you found online.

Flybuys can be a good tip. But some OTAs will often get you better value, searching via momondo etc. Only really worth it if you absolutely won't be making any changes, otherwise you will incur agent fees on top of (now exorbitant) airline fees.

(slightly OT) As for your second point. I recall sitting with one other person waiting for a visa to enter Ukraine at KBP. Funnily enough they were also from Australia. I presumed they were there for work. But nope. First time leaving Australia, to meet someone they had met online and chatted/webcammed with for a few months. There for a grand total of three days I think. I always wondered how it went.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry, just took my FBT reference off, as it will put you onto EK flights, not VA related, if you book with them.
Thought that FBT would bring up some SQ flights, but nope, its all EK with starting prices of $3100 (Y), upwards.
But the OP wanted VA or SQ earn.

 

[flying_duck]

Flybuys can be a good tip. But some OTAs will often get you better value, searching via momondo etc. Only really worth it if you absolutely won't be making any changes, otherwise you will incur agent fees on top of (now exorbitant) airline fees.

(slightly OT) As for your second point. I recall sitting with one other person waiting for a visa to enter Ukraine at KBP. Funnily enough they were also from Australia. I presumed they were there for work. But nope. First time leaving Australia, to meet someone they had met online and chatted/webcammed with for a few months. There for a grand total of three days I think. I always wondered how it went.

I can assure you it is most definitely NOT to meet someone I met online. I actually have friends in Poznan, I want to go do the dream jump in Wroclaw (can't link from work), and i'll be visiting the FlySpot (wind tunnel) in Katowice for 2 weeks for training.

I was actually just in Poland a few months ago, and it really stole my heart. But I got there via Turkish into Budapest then buses.

Back On Topic, I'll most likely just book via whatever website comes up with the cheapest fare, as the training is already taking the bulk of my $$ (over 10K). Just wanted the right routing.

 

[flying_duck]

The whole way you would be out of luck.

But you could fly to any number of destinations with Etihad as well. Athens, Milan, Amsterdam, Dublin etc all have onward options to Katowice.

It's almost exclusively an LCC destination outside the options already mentioned, unless you fly in to Krakow and double back by rail or road.

I would not be fussed about a rail or road option, have taken quite a few Polskibuses this year and they do the job. Is there a better option into Krakow?

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Is there a better option into Krakow?

Not so much 'better' in terms of VA earn, it's a better connected airport but it would still be the inevitable Velocity issue of SQ/EY getting you in to Europe but then having to tack on a non-earning connecting flight.

Krakow will connect with most European capitals though, so you may be able to come up with a cheaper option than SYD-SIN-FRA-KTW by connecting somewhere cheaper than Frankfurt and then ground transport to Katowice. I'll leave the ground transport discussions to the people that know about them though

 

[Must...Fly!]

Athens (Ryanair), Rome (Wizzair from FCO), Milan (Ryanair from MXP) or Barcelona (Wizzair) might be a good cheaper connecting option

Dublin might be worth a look too (Ryanair).

When are you looking to travel? SQ have a great sale in to Paris from Australia at the moment, less than $900 return - although no direct air service in to KTW. Alternatively Etihad should be priced around the $1050-$1250 mark in to any of the ports above where you can pick up an LCC.

And FIFIOsuit - no problem - I love Poland as well. I was there this time last year. Krakow was amazing, but lord above something about Wroclaw just stole my heart. Poznan though I left after 3 hours, lol

 

[flying_duck]

Athens (Ryanair), Rome (Wizzair from FCO), Milan (Ryanair from MXP) or Barcelona (Wizzair) might be a good cheaper connecting option

Dublin might be worth a look too (Ryanair).

When are you looking to travel? SQ have a great sale in to Paris from Australia at the moment, less than $900 return - although no direct air service in to KTW. Alternatively Etihad should be priced around the $1050-$1250 mark in to any of the ports above where you can pick up an LCC.

And FIFIOsuit - no problem - I love Poland as well. I was there this time last year. Krakow was amazing, but lord above something about Wroclaw just stole my heart. Poznan though I left after 3 hours, lol

Unfortunately not quite ready to purchase, still lining up plans but I will definitely look for sales. Travelling in June with any luck. Thanks for the options.

Interesting, Poznan was my favourite but I did "live local" so that helped. Wroclaw most definitely was the best party city IMO.