EK one-way redemption

[penegal]

In a few months I’m going to be in Singapore (SIN) without a way home (to MEL). So after weighing in all the usual options (QF/SQ/etc) I suddenly realised I have a bunch of EK (Emirates Skywards) miles which are going to expire shortly...

I figure I should use them. So, I logged onto their website and I can’t seem to book a one way redemption. It seems easy to book a return redemption, which is lovely, except that I don’t want a return flight.

1.) Do Emirates offer one-way redemptions?
2.) How much does a J/C one way redemption SIN-MEL cost (in miles)
3.) How does one book one of these illusive monsters?
4.) Do I need to schedule some time for a massive call centre adventure?

Thanks

 

[futaris]

Emirates don't offer one-way redemptions. One-way upgrades are available though.

Most of the Middle Eastern (Western Asia) based airlines offer fairly cheap one-way trips, often at around 60% of the cost of a return trip.

SIN-MEL oneway is around 730 SGD on Emirates. Most of the other airlines are around the same cost, with QF being the cheapest at around 600 SGD.

www.airfares.com.sg will help you search.

 

[penegal]

Emirates don't offer one-way redemptions. One-way upgrades are available though.

Most of the Middle Eastern (Western Asia) based airlines offer fairly cheap one-way trips, often at around 60% of the cost of a return trip.

SIN-MEL oneway is around 730 SGD on Emirates. Most of the other airlines are around the same cost, with QF being the cheapest at around 600 SGD.

www.airfares.com.sg will help you search.

Thanks, yeah I had a feeling that EK would be lame like that...

730SGD + 30,000 miles seems a little steep for that sector, especially seeing I'm only trying to get home.

I could comfortably use these pesky EK miles for MEL-AKL return in J sometime around April... Which would still leave me with this problem. I could burn some *A points and fly SQ, but fuel fines make that a bit of a waste. QF isn't a whole lot better in that department.

Any suggestions? I could just go with the UG on EK, but it does seem like it's not the best deal.

 

[jbc]

Penegal

Redemptions to Auckland are simply not available for a year out

 

[dajop]

.. Which would still leave me with this problem. I could burn some *A points and fly SQ, but fuel fines make that a bit of a waste. QF isn't a whole lot better in that department.

If you book QF over the phone, and willing to pay extra 2500 pts, fuel fines are a lot less than they would be if you booked online, as they will ticket you in Australia, not Singapore.


MH also offer one way fares via KUL that are usually less $$$ than EK, SQ or QF. Failing all of that, if you are willing to suffer LCC's there are a few other options - but all involving connections. The best of these is probably Jetstar via DRW:!: (and believe it or not is often cheaper to purchase this as separate tix SIN-DRW and DRW-MEL on the same flight). Air Asia via KUL. Air Asia/Tiger/Jetstar to Bali then Virgin Blue or Jetstar from there to MEL. Tiger or Jetstar to Perth and domestic on QF/DJ/JQ/TT from PER. I'm sure there are others.

Oh and EK don't have any sales on at the moment, but they have dropped return fares to as low as $420 SGD at points during the year. If this happened, I guess you could buy a return and just not turn up for the MEL-SIN sector.

 

[futaris]

I don't think that there will be much difference (in taxes) booking online vs on the phone.

NB, looking online:
MEL-SIN 119.69 AUD + 30k QF
SIN-MEL 163 SGD + 30k QF

NB, I haven't booked MEL-SIN on AA, but I recently booked BNE-SYD-CGK & CGK-SYD-BNE using AA miles:

116.53 AUD (taxes) + 60 AUD (booking fee) + 50k AA (Economy Return)

Oh and EK don't have any sales on at the moment, but they have dropped return fares to as low as $420 SGD at points during the year. If this happened, I guess you could buy a return and just not turn up for the MEL-SIN sector.

Don't forget about Global Bonus Miles till 15 Sept 09.

 

[dajop]

I don't think that there will be much difference (in taxes) booking online vs on the phone.

In my experience, the easiest way to find out what they charge over the phone, without actually calling up and asking, is the difference between MEL-SIN and MEL-SIN-MEL.

MEL-SIN 119.69 AUD + 30k QF
MEL-SIN-MEL 212.01 AUD + 60K QF

This would mean:
SIN-MEL 92.32 AUD + 32.5K pts on the phone
SIN-MEL 139.90 AUD* + 30K pts booked online

* ER of 1.2, assuming paying with Australian CC, with a 3% currency fee.

 

[penegal]

Redemptions to Auckland are simply not available for a year out

Thanks for the heads up, I had a look and it's a mess.

 

[browski]

FWIW, Etihad have one-way fares from SIN-BNE for AUD $462 (SGD$555). (I looked at Nov 11). That's pretty good. Maybe you can redeem or secure a cheap BNE-MEL fare to connect.

 

[penegal]

Thanks all for your suggestions, there were some interesting ideas here.

After spending much time playing with the EK booking engine and some looking into other options I have decided to do a return redemption SIN-MEL-SIN in J on EK... so the trip is SIN-MEL in J the day after the day I wanted... And then MEL-SIN in J on a Friday towards the middle of next year.

I needed to top-up miles a bit, so all up the cost will be around $350-400 AUD, which is okay, but not great... But it does get rid of all my pesky EK miles which would have gone to waste otherwise.

I’m not sure if I will use the MEL-SIN leg next year. But given that it’s such a long way out, I have flexibility to look at sales and other options as they come to hand over the coming months.

In the first instance SIN-MEL one-way in J for $350 (plus miles which would have otherwise been lost) is still a reasonable deal and if I can work out how to use the other sector as part of a future itinerary then it’s a bonus.