Family holiday advice re: award flights and hotels

[tinky]

Hi all. I'm hoping all the freq flyer experts here would be able to make some suggestions for a family holiday we are planning for 2014 to Singapore and Penang from Perth. Hubby is platinum status with Qantas and we have quite a few points up our sleeves. Thanks VERY much in advance for any advice on the following questions:

1) We are thinking of splurging and getting business class award seats for the Per-sin (and return leg) around June/july or August (we have a bit of flexibility with dates). would you suggest flying with Qantas or Malaysia airlines in terms of best plane/chance of getting 3 business class award seats (one with a bassinet if possible for our younger son who will be almost 1)?

2) I am thinking of going to Singapore first for 5-7nights and understand we can then fly directly to Penang from there. Should we come home Penang-sin-Perth or Penang-kl-Perth bearing in mind considerations from question 1.

3) We haven't been to Singapore since 2005 and I have heard that lots had changed (especially on Sentosa island). Hubby is reluctant to stay for more than 3/4 nights but I'm thinking we could easily fill up a week with activities for our 2 boys (who will be 4 and almost one when we fly). Any thoughts on activities to do there other than Legoland (which i understand is close via taxi) and universal studios?

4) hubby is diamond with Hyatt hotels (but might lose this status by the time we travel) and Gold with SPG. Any thought on best hotels in Singapore? He has some points to use with both programs bug we will probably need to pay for extra nights with our own $$$.

 

[tinky]

Does anyone have any advice for me please?

 

[serfty]

If looking to book award flights you need to start looking ASAP - the inital award allocations for flights in June/July?august may have been snaffled, especially in business.

(June would almost be certainly out by now.)

Aside from that, looking for Business seating ex PER may require travel via SYD/MEL/BNE - it's getting a tall order, especially with a 1YO.

 

[markis10]

Hi all. I'm hoping all the freq flyer experts here would be able to make some suggestions for a family holiday we are planning for 2014 to Singapore and Penang from Perth. Hubby is platinum status with Qantas and we have quite a few points up our sleeves. Thanks VERY much in advance for any advice on the following questions:

1) We are thinking of splurging and getting business class award seats for the Per-sin (and return leg) around June/july or August (we have a bit of flexibility with dates). would you suggest flying with Qantas or Malaysia airlines in terms of best plane/chance of getting 3 business class award seats (one with a bassinet if possible for our younger son who will be almost 1)?

2) I am thinking of going to Singapore first for 5-7nights and understand we can then fly directly to Penang from there. Should we come home Penang-sin-Perth or Penang-kl-Perth bearing in mind considerations from question 1.

3) We haven't been to Singapore since 2005 and I have heard that lots had changed (especially on Sentosa island). Hubby is reluctant to stay for more than 3/4 nights but I'm thinking we could easily fill up a week with activities for our 2 boys (who will be 4 and almost one when we fly). Any thoughts on activities to do there other than Legoland (which i understand is close via taxi) and universal studios?

4) hubby is diamond with Hyatt hotels (but might lose this status by the time we travel) and Gold with SPG. Any thought on best hotels in Singapore? He has some points to use with both programs bug we will probably need to pay for extra nights with our own $$$.

A couple of thoughts:

1. Singapore in June is very busy with convention traffic including CommunicAsia, book your rooms now, the new Westin is worth looking at with point plus cash.
2. Legoland is in Malaysia at JB, recommend you bus it to woodlands then taxi.
3. Fly direct to Penang, not really cheaper via KUL and 3K have a nice direct service each afternoon.
4. Why Penang, Langkawi has better hotel options (especially SPG where they only have four points which is poorly located in Penang, staying there next month while I get some tailoring done so will do a report to confirm), Langkawi also has more attractions, just as good food and some great duty free shopping including the cheapest alcohol in the world)

I would not do more than three nights in Singapore as the accommodation costs are high, KL might be a good filler here for a few days with hotels around the $100 mark for five star.

 

[tinky]

Thanks for the responses. Any other input from anyone else is also appreciated if you have time. Thanks

 

[stusxr5]

Might be worth checking on the Malaysia airlines website about J rewards bookings, because i'm almost certain you can't make them for children under 2 (its in the terms and conditions somewhere). That might be a case where you have to call up?

 

[tinky]

Might be worth checking on the Malaysia airlines website about J rewards bookings, because i'm almost certain you can't make them for children under 2 (its in the terms and conditions somewhere). That might be a case where you have to call up?

Thanks for that I didn't realise that might be the case. Is QF metal in J better than Malaysia airlines in J if I were lucky enough to get a choice?

 

[sergeyvzn]

Thanks for that I didn't realise that might be the case. Is QF metal in J better than Malaysia airlines in J if I were lucky enough to get a choice?

it depends on how you route on QF. If it's a direct QF 77/78 Perth- Singapore, than it's A330-300 with angled lie-flat skybed Mk1 seats, pretty much the same thing that MH have in J (I'd say MH's probably slightly better) but if you route via SYD/MEL/BNE as serfty noted, then out of the East Coast ports it may be a full lie flat Skybed MK2 on QF refurbished B747-400 which is much better