Family trek to homeland | Am I on track?

[laelene]

Hi all,
Appreciate any feedback as I'm not 100%.

Trip: Family trip (6pax) to Crete September 2017 (4 wks)
Goal: Parents fly business (good daughter here) & my clan (4pax) go premium econ, if not business
Points: 770k QFF
Membership level: Silver QFF

Strategy
1. Fly into London seems best to get J seat all the way.
2. Buy Qantas lounge access (to increase upgrade chance)
3. Buy business reward flights for parents = 512k pts
4. Purchase 4 x Flex Econ seats and request premium econ & business upgrade = 240k pts. Is this likely for 4 pax?

Question
Any other suggestion w better chance of upgrade?

Thanks so much!
L

 

[docjames]

One option would be to book flights to eg. DXB / DOH and have a stopover there - you may also have enough points, then go the "shorter" legs on EK in Y, saving $$ and points and no need for lounge access. I wouldnt be spending the $$ on lounges - it wont notably increase your upgrade chances, nor be "good value" especially if you have a stopover. You may find you then have enough points to redeem J for parents, and Y+ for 4 (or 2) and Y for 2 then purchase fares DXB-Crete vv.

Buying 4 flex economy tickets and hoping to upgrade is also an expensive way to travel Y, personally i'd go discount Y and suck it up, or pay for Y+ (and bid for J upgrades). It may take some $$ off if buying to DXB or DOh rather than LHR (although probably not as much as you'd think).

But in any event, i'd be looking at options into DXB/DOH then onward separate tickets and see if anything there works for you.

The other option would be award seats on CX which dont always show online (you need to call).

If it's september next year, i'd be starting to keep an eye on award seats.

 

[laelene]

Good thinking - thank you for the suggestions @docjames. Much appreciated!

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd support what docjames said (go to the Gulf then onwards to destination, rather than via LHR), but would also re-iterate that whatever aware flight you chase, you need to start looking now - J seats go quickly. Qatar Airways (QR) as well as QF and EK.

Remember that as a Silver QFF, you are somewhat down the totem pole for upgrades, so don't rely on them (and as docjames said, having Qantas Club doesn't help you).

Probably the only thing to increase your chance of upgrade is to apply ASAP - but remember you won't know the result until shortly before the flight.

 

[laelene]

Thanks so much @RooFlyer - appreciate you taking the time to give feedback! Thanks!

 

[Lemon_Party]

There are also some pretty crazy paid business class air fares available at the moment from Asia, departing CMB, BKK and more. Would add an extra stop and time to your trip, but reward tickets to Asia on points and paid J onwards may be an option for not much more than the economy fares you are considering.

Check the international airfares section on this forum plus the usual AusBT/pointhacks/travelingformiles etc sites...

 

[laelene]

good thinking @Lemon_Party - thanks for your response!