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 ?
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 ?
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