Early planning big family trip

[ceellen]

Hi all, long time signup new to post. We are a family of 4 (2 adlts and 2 kids, 4 and 6). We are looking to book a trip from SYD to LHR (or MAN) May 2018. We have enough QF points for 3 tix using QFFF (Economy) (No status as expired! due to no flight activity) . We will thus need then to buy 1 tix. On our way to England we wish to have a stopover in Dubai for a few days (probably using a stopover pkg).To break up the trip as it will be the kids first big trip.
Need you expert help on the best way to book all of this.
Thank you.

 

[Steady]

Hi ceellen, welcome to active membership. I'm not one of the experts but some additional info you could add would be class of travel- do you want to go whY or J, and do either of you have any QF status?

 

[Mattg]

Welcome. You should have no trouble finding award availabiilty on Qantas and/or Emirates flights if you book about a year in advance. Just be aware that you'll need to spend more points to stopover for more than 24 hours in Dubai, so you may consider just spending ~23 hours in Dubai before continuing on to London?

As an example, you could fly into Dubai on EK415 which arrives from Sydney at 13:15. Then depart on EK31 for London at 12:10 the next day.

Once you've redeemed points for 3 passengers, I would look out for a sale fare to book the forth passenger on the same flights. Qantas generally has early bird sales (for travel the following year) around September/October. I would book the other passenger then.

To add the extended stop in Dubai, just use the multi-city booking tool on the Qantas website.

 

[clazman]

Welcome aboard

Would also ring QF and have the tickets linked

 

[Imw]

Welcome
Agree definitely link with QF
However be aware that not all flights are available on the award flights. QF were fantastic when we did this ourselves. Just for one couple travelling to South Africa. We had enough for one PE ticket and wanted to pay one PE for husband so he got the SC. But couldnt see same flights for internal to CPT. So I phoned Qantas. I didnt want to book through them re the service fee for doing this, just asked best way to do it. The very helpful guy told me to go online and I be the one selecting the award flight. So he told me the flights to select. When it got down to the JNB CPT return the flight he suggested wasnt there, so he told me to select one but not to press submit til he told me. he could see what i selected, he went in and changed that flight to my husbands flight, then said press submit. He then linked all the flights and it all worked perfectly, and there was no charge! Gotta love Qantas!!! Now that call centre off shore I HOPE the service remains as helpful. Enjoy your trip.

Welcome aboard

Would also ring QF and have the tickets linked

 

[BettyB]

Welcome

 

[albatross710]

If it did cost more to stay in Dubai for more that 24 hours it could be worth it. Spend a day on the tourist buses, spend some time getting the kids out of their Australian comfort zone, all those robes will get them interested. Mall of Asia will take a few hours. Plus a dessert 4 wheel driving and camel trip you can easily fill-in 2-3 days.