Europe - Oz, after some thoughts

[drsmithy]

Howdy folks, I'm after any ideas the gurus might have here about some travel I have coming up.


My wife and I are flying back to the UK on the return leg of a previous ticket in a few weeks, however, we haven't yet booked anything to get us home to Australia. We need to be back by April 28. We'll also be wanting to return to Europe again just before Christmas to see a friend for a few weeks over New Year (and, obviously, come back to Australia again in the first week of 2014).


I am currently tossing up between a DONE4 ex-AMM, via the USA (we have friends in the USA to spend a week with on the way through), or just flying straight back (in Y+) from Europe to Australia.


According to the OW online planner, the DONE4 prices out around USD$16,500 (=AUD $16,100 *sigh*, if only I'd gotten my act together a month ago). I also have a side trip to NZ in it during August for some skiing.
AMM-YUL-[DFW]-PHX-[DFW-LAX]-BNE-[SYD]-ZQN-[SYD]-BNE-[HKG]-FRA-AMM
([xx_] indicates via cities.)




The alternative direct flights are LHR-[SIN]-BNE with BA @ GBP4,236 = AUD $6,240;
or LHR-[HKG]-BNE with CX @ GBP 3,702 = AUD $5,454.


The only thing that gives me a brief pause with CX is that I've never flown them before. My primary interest with Y+ is greater legroom and in-seat power.


I have 222,000 Avios points and a Chase 2-4-1 voucher (expiring in July) from when we were living in the US a couple of years ago. Unfortunately the stupid Chase voucher is only good for BA flights ex-USA, but we're not adverse to going from Europe to the US, then back to Australia via London to use the voucher if it's a good deal, but I've been unable to find award flights that fit our dates, so I've pretty much given up on that.


I also have about 400,000 QF points.


I'm not looking to make the DONE4 a big SC earner, but I would like to maintain Gold this year, for which I'll need 340 by June (after accounting for the SCs I'll earn flying to London). The DONE4 would obviously do that easily, or I can do it with JASAs in May and June once we get back.


Ultimately the DONE4 vs return flights is a personal choice. However, what I'm after is any ideas that could make the direct option more attractive other - ie: are there any good deals on to get J fares out of Europe to Australia, or weird situations where it's cheaper to buy points and book awards (eg: I've read somewhere else recently that AA have a great deal on at the moment for buying points). We're not particularly fussed on where we leave Europe from, it doesn't have to be the UK.

Basically, is it possible to get a return from Europe to Australia and back in J for under around AUD$8,000 (for two) with Oneworld in late April ?

 

[Ansett]

Yes it is

Curently looking at dates late April then return back to UK around 23rd to 26th December for around AUS $6063.00 each using QF. Simpley go to the QF website and change your location to United Kingdom and play with the dates you are looking for.

Or if you want to spoil and experience something different you could QF Flight numbers and fly London to Dubai on Emirates in First class then onto Australia on QF again. the return trip via the same routing in J for around $8450.00 each

You would earn 700 Status credit due to selecting two different flight numbers and change in Dubai on the out and return legs.

Hope that helps you

 

[drsmithy]

Thanks.

Sorry I was a bit unclear in that last sentence. I meant under AUD $8k for both of us (ie: AUD $4k pp)

Unfortunately the dates that are workable for me with QF all give cost of about GBP3000 pp.

 

[BD1959]

Basically, is it possible to get a return from Europe to Australia and back in J for under around AUD$8,000 (for two) with Oneworld in late April ?

Almost .... Have a look at MH.

They currently have Business Promos running, typically midweek flights at STG2924 return - equivalent of around $4,300 each.

Regards,

BD

 

[drsmithy]

Almost .... Have a look at MH.

They currently have Business Promos running, typically midweek flights at STG2924 return - equivalent of around $4,300 each.

Regards,

BD

Ta muchly, just the knowledge I was hoping to tap.

Now to convince the Minister of Finance.

 

[docjames]

Ta muchly, just the knowledge I was hoping to tap.

Now to convince the Minister of Finance.

The minister usually relents when it's their backside feeling the extra few hundred $$$.

Have you looked at DONEs originating elsewhere? There may be cheaper options than ex-AMM.

 

[drsmithy]

The minister usually relents when it's their backside feeling the extra few hundred $$$.

Trouble is with that option it's not just a few hundred $, it's ca. $5500 (with CX Y+) vs ca. $8500 (MH J).

Proportionally it's a relatively bargain, but we're satisfied enough travelling Y+, and the $3k probably pays for a decent chunk of the rest of our holiday.

Have you looked at DONEs originating elsewhere? There may be cheaper options than ex-AMM.

I found a page linked from either AFF or Flyertalk (can't remember which) that listed all the prices for xONEx tickets (amongst many others). Unfortunately while I have it bookmarked at home I can't find it again now. Cheapest European-ish origin points for a DONE4 are Egypt and Jordan. The wife isn't particularly keen on Jordan, but outright refused to go anywhere near Egypt, so Jordan it is. I wouldn't be adverse to kicking one off in Asia, either, if any knows somewhere there a DONE4 comes in at ~USD$8000pp or less.

I might reprice a DONE4 ex-FRA, or one of the other Euro countries, using the OW site and see if that's more attractive. Might be time to revive an Expertflyer subscription as well.

 

[Skyring]

The minister usually relents when it's their backside feeling the extra few hundred $$$.

Have you looked at DONEs originating elsewhere? There may be cheaper options than ex-AMM.

The DONE4 pricelist is here. My ex-JNB DONE4 next month is a $6K base price.

 

[drsmithy]

The DONE4 pricelist is here. My ex-JNB DONE4 next month is a $6K base price.

Ta, that's the one.

I thought about JNB, but by the time I take into account positioning fares and additional time, it's problematic. Plus I'm planning on taking my mum for a holiday in Africa (her lifetime dream) late next year, which should hopefully present an opportunity to start an ex-JNB DONE4.

 

[drsmithy]

So we've ended up deciding to go with a DONE4 ex-AMM, and now my problem has changed to finding a decent way to get into AMM from any of the other countries in Europe we're interested in visiting that doesn't require bouncing back off London (thus losing an entire day to travel), or paying EUR500pp+.

Frustrating.

Anyway, the DONE4 routing is:

AMM-YUL-DFW-PHX-DFW-RAP-DFW-LAX-BNE-AKL-ZQN-SYD-BNE-HKG-CDG-AMM

Unfortunately a few Y segments in there, but overall will keep both of us in SG for another 2-3 years, and maybe even WP if I blow some points on a JASA or two.

Thanks for the assistance.