Combining trip WLG with run for 160 SC's... help me plan!

[newformula]

Hi Folks,

I'm planning on heading to Wellington in Feb - dep Wed 16th, rtn Sat 19th. Without this trip I'll 160 SC's shy of requalifying for gold, and figure I might as well work in some quirky routing or JASA options in order to push me over the edge and lock SG in for 2011/12. I am Sydney based.

I'm thinking I'd prefer to leave after lunch on the Wed in order to maximise time in the office. I have 40k points to play with to pull off a one way JASA. Otherwise, the main requirement is pure $$ focused - cheapest option possible hitting 160 SC's there and back.

I will have most of Saturday 19th free for the return - could also depart WLG on the eve of 18th if needs be.

Thoughts!?

Thanks as always.

 

[samh004]

Have you considered a LAN run to AKL, with onward flights to WLG instead. The J price should be about $700 for 160SC's.

 

[newformula]

I have... but that involves two extra JQ flights at another ~$200 and morning departure from Sydney on the Wed. So doesn't quite fit, unfortunately.

 

[serfty]

Maybe fly up to AKL evening of Sat 19th on JQ for NZD61, overnight there and take the LA801 back to SYD for USD285 ... there's another 80 SC's right there.

You should arrive back in SYD at 7:30am.

Check it out on LAN.com

 

[samh004]

Well you could take a JASA to WLG on the 16th for 45k but it’s not really good value there. And would likely only get you halfway to your goal.

Maybe fly up to AKL evening of Sat 19th on JQ for NZD61, overnight there and take the LA801 back to SYD for USD285 ... there's another 80 SC's right there.

You'd arrive back in SYD at 7:30am.

Check it out on LAN.com

I thought of that too, could be cheaper booking from NZ too, and then leave the ticket open to come back another time and finish it off along with the extra SC’s.

And if you’re frequently in NZ get into the habit of booking from AKL as it’ll always be cheaper than from SYD.

 

[markis10]

If you dont mind a long trip home its pretty doable for 36K of points, NZD$111 + $149 positioning back:

Should be 200 SC in total with 7000 or so points back if you include the positioning flights. Also gives you 2 hours to dump the luggage in the car in SYD and then do the rest of the trip with carryon.

 

[newformula]

If you dont mind a long trip home its pretty doable for 36K of points, NZD$111 + $149 positioning back

Wow, heading up to TSV would be epic! Looks like an 18 hour travel day by the time you arrive back to SYD. Could be in LAX instead

I have looked at some WLG-CBR options which can be done WLG-SYD-MEL-CBR for the same points and tax cost, a a fair bit less time and 80+40+40 = 160 SC's. Also a bit cheaper on the final CBR-SYD leg as well instead of coming back from TSV. With the 90 hour sale on at the minute, brings the total quite low - approx $425 all in for 180 SC's inc. SYD-WLG.

Other option might be to keep it simple and do the SYD-AKL as a JASA, AKL-WLG rtn on JQ and AKL-SYD ow on LAN.

OR

I could just stump up the $$ for the LAN flights as this is heading to a conference, and so will be tax deductible anyway - and therefore maybe not the best use of points. Decisions, decisions.

 

[serfty]

FWIW, I value QFF points at 2¢ each; this is due to 95% being used for upgrades.

So 36K points to me is worth something over $700.

With the JQxLA option you do need to note that check-in for LA AKL-SYD should be planned for no later than 4:30am, so it's an early day.

 

[newformula]

My value on points is also somewhere between 1 and 2.5c - even at the lower end of that scale, I think I am better off on LA.

Thanks for the reminder serfty - I have travelled on LA801 before - the wake up time killed me but the flight itself was amazing - reminded me why I love travel/flying:
Video on Flickr



AKL - SYD LA801 Business by newformula, on Flickr


AKL - SYD LA801 Business by newformula, on Flickr


AKL - SYD LA801 Business by newformula, on Flickr