Booking to Europe - several people, not enough points

[AdamR]

I am looking to fly to Europe in late August 12 for a holiday and to attend a grand prix or two. I have quite a lot of QFF points, but not enough for three adults plus a child return.

As it stands, the current cheapest sale fare on QF is $8500 for 4 people economy ADL-SIN-LHR return. I am trying to work out the most economical way to get those tickets. While I can afford the cash, I would rather reduce the price with judicious use of points. By way of comparison, CX price is $8,200 (a cheaper child fare is the difference).

At the moment I have 123,000 QFF points. I have a JASA booking for this weekend that I booked for the recent competition. If I cancel that (which I am inclined to do), that is nearly 50,000 points back. I expect to get another 65,000 points from my credit cards this week. That is a total of about 235,000 points give or take. From what I can see, that is nearly enough for a return economy ASA (plus pay) or classic award with QF for 2 people.

My current inclination is to buy two award tickets with points, then buy one adult and one child with real money - doing my best ensure the same flights etc - and try to get the PNRs linked.

Is that the best way to go? Is there any better arrangement I could get through a travel agent? Am I better off trying to use my points on partner airlines (like CX)?

Please help. This is by far the most complicated booking arrangement I have contemplated.

 

[casanovawa]

Do you have to fly OW carriers or can you fly others as there must be cheaper options than just CX or QF and do you not mind award fares or are you interested in accruing points/SCs??? I guess you want CX or QF to keep your travelling party together do you???

Where abouts might these GPs be and are you basing yourself in only one city as if you spend 140k points you can get one or more OW 140k RTW fares that gives you 16 segments and 5 stops so you might be able to use a few of these to fly to some European cities for the GPs instead of using more of your hard earned to fly around once in Europe???

There is always the possibility of purchasing AA Miles or US Airways miles awards as for $2100 or so your not far off J class return fares using US... Of course if half your party were to fly *A and the other half QF that means split up travelling parties so AA may be better...

 

[Must...Fly!]

How keen are you to save the cash?

You could do 4 x Classic awards ADL-SIN-ADL (200k pts + tax) and then purchase fares ex-SIN from QR/EK/EY etc, they tend to go for about $700-1000 AUD per pax if you are patient and book at the right time.

 

[AdamR]

My main interest in OW airlines is that I will have the option of lounge access for a couple of us (showers etc) using my SG status. In addition, I thought it would be good to use the points I have, and get a few points/status credits too (If I bought flights, I would use one of them for me).

I can't split the passengers across flights, so I need to be able to get four seats on any flight.

The idea of buying flights to SIN on points then changing to another airline for discount flights to Europe is interesting. How hard is it to buy onward flights originating in SIN? Are there any restrictions?

I am planning to go to Spa and/or Monza. I am thinking of driving there rather than flying from London.

Thanks
Adam

 

[sinophile888]

I agree with Must…Fly!

Last Christmas, I flew from PER to SIN on QF for $1200, and then SIN to FCO and LHR to SIN for $1200 with Emirates. I tried to get award flights to SIN but I left my run too late due to a problem with QF and AMEX not speaking to each other.

Perhaps you could use your QFF points to get to SIN, KUL or even CGT. And then get another carrier for the rest of your journey.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The idea of buying flights to SIN on points then changing to another airline for discount flights to Europe is interesting. How hard is it to buy onward flights originating in SIN? Are there any restrictions?

Thanks
Adam

Easy as, just search on their websites and book, or search somewhere such as expedia for best fare/suitable timings then go to the airlines website and book.

Of course it does add another stop over in the Middle East perhaps but when we went as a family in 2009 (4 adults, myself and my brother >11) we saved about $4,000 doing this (enough extra money to go to Nurburgring for the F1 )

Haven't been to Monza or Spa so I can't advise, but driving to Spa is the better option from what I understand.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

in fact... one of the best connecting flights these days (I know it's not one world) is Turkish airlines and their comfort class.

had several friends who have flown on it... 777 with 7 abreast seating and 46' seat pitch. now that's better than Cathay pacific regional business class!! the price people were paying was about aud1000 ex Bangkok or china to Europe (note it's economy onwards from Istanbul).

but in terms of comfort and value... tk seems to be high up there these days.

 

[Deewhy]

Another option if you want to use qantas is to book economy returns to say HKG (or other asian port) using points (maybe 240K return plus taxes on a YASA?); and goto the HKG qantas site and book ecomony returns to say LHR for about 3400? HKD plus tax

 

[rothesaylass]

Hi there,

If you are going to Monza, suggest you use points (check if you can jag anyseat awards if points are reasonable as you'll get SC) to get from ADL-SIN
or Hong Kong.
Then I think that Qatar (or if you want to stay with OW) then Finnair offer the best full service airline deals
(Qatar, via Doha is about $922pp return for SIN-Milan or $1016 HK-Milan)
Finnair a bit more expensive at $1145, but you can access lounges etc and earn points/SC

 

[AdamR]

Hi there,

If you are going to Monza, suggest you use points (check if you can jag anyseat awards if points are reasonable as you'll get SC) to get from ADL-SIN
or Hong Kong.
Then I think that Qatar (or if you want to stay with OW) then Finnair offer the best full service airline deals
(Qatar, via Doha is about $922pp return for SIN-Milan or $1016 HK-Milan)
Finnair a bit more expensive at $1145, but you can access lounges etc and earn points/SC

Thanks, I will check out Finnair.