Family trip to Dublin this year

[OzEire]

Let me set the scene: Family 2 adults and 1 infant planning to travel from CBR to DUB (Dublin not DXB) on any date but preference for later in the year, although happy to go before the high season or shoulder dates kick-in. Happy to exit Aus from any international port (grrrr, CBR International Airport my ar$e). Happy to transit anywhere but would prefer a minimum of stops due to the infant bit! Research shows that a stop in UAE (DXB or AUH) is likely and happy to do this in one direction as we know people there and would like to visit, but this is not essential. Not wedded to any particular FF program, however, we have a stock of QF points and would be happy to use them for this trip if it helps.

Now, am I missing something in the fare structure? regardless of any combination of airlines, booking on the AU or foreign site with currency conversion, direct with the airline or aggregation sites, etc. the cost seems to be almost the same. Where is the competition ? Are the airlines actually fare matching each other ?

I have tried the "get out of Aus then book from an Asian port" trick... no dice. I have tried the "book part of the fare on $ and nest a points booking" ... slightly lower cost but burns a lot of points for minimal saving.

The best option seems to be "booking one adult pax on points and the other on $" but its tricky to get the exact same flights - doable but I haven't pulled the trigger yet since I don't know whether to have the infant with the paying pax or points pax (suggestions ?) or if its better to have the higher status pax on $ or pts (suggestions ?).

What has driven me up the wall has been trying to use one way tickets as part of the mix... this just about doubles the cost ! And as for transits in the UAE, what the actual heck is the story with a ticket CBRxMEL-DXB being more expensive than a ticket to CBRxMELxDXB-DUB when the first two sectors are on the exact same aircraft !!!!

Any help, advice, suggestions, tips, tricks or witty remarks on my situation are most welcome.

OzEire

 

[JohnK]

If you going the route of one booking on $ and another on points then it would make sense to have the higher status passenger on the paid booking as that is likely to earn more points.

Have you tried airfares ex-SIN or ex-KUL? These generally bring the cost down.

 

[cove]

We went SQ thru Singapore to LHR. Then Aer Lingus to Dublin. All good.

 

[OzEire]

If you going the route of one booking on $ and another on points then it would make sense to have the higher status passenger on the paid booking as that is likely to earn more points.

Have you tried airfares ex-SIN or ex-KUL? These generally bring the cost down.

Thanks JK, good suggestions. I can't find how to get cheaper flights ex-Asia. Tried nested flights, they seem cheaper but the linking flights to Australia make the option equivalent cost to the more direct flights, also separate PNRs on nested flights can cause luggage interline issues.

 

[Sprucegoose]

If you going the route of one booking on $ and another on points then it would make sense to have the higher status passenger on the paid booking as that is likely to earn more points.

Have you tried airfares ex-SIN or ex-KUL? These generally bring the cost down.

I find TPE very accommodating as well.go to CX website change site to Taiwan. Or get a local travel agent

 

[Sprucegoose]

Will you return again in a years time?

budget class FF programs?

 

[JohnK]

Thanks JK, good suggestions. I can't find how to get cheaper flights ex-Asia. Tried nested flights, they seem cheaper but the linking flights to Australia make the option equivalent cost to the more direct flights, also separate PNRs on nested flights can cause luggage interline issues.

Your best option could be combination QF/BA via HKG/SIN. Skyscanner has return airfare ~$1683 for travel in November. You should also be able to get award seats as a Platinum.

Trying to book flights to Asia and then separate flights to DUB from there does not shave that much off the cost.