FF Points predicament to get the family to LHR

[Scr77]

Our family (2A & 1C) had similar ambitions as the OP for Europe in Sept this year. I planned and watched for 1 year before our dates became available. We planned on CX in J from Melbourne. Although we had no problems with getting days either side of Sept school holidays, there was about 3 months over summer where not 1 single J seat became available each day. It looks like you have some good options as others have suggested, but I wouldn't be counting on CX rewards at that time of year.

 

[Moindardt]

Another option is flying out of PER. Use points to get to PER and then Fly out via Asia. You can do cheap LCC to BKK or SIN from PER. Look at using either OSL or DUB as your end point. It's a short flight from there to any were and real cheap. Check the Finnair website as there is a lot of flights that come up there that don't come up on google or ITA or OTAs.

 

[wattch]

Our family (2A & 1C) had similar ambitions as the OP for Europe in Sept this year. I planned and watched for 1 year before our dates became available. We planned on CX in J from Melbourne. Although we had no problems with getting days either side of Sept school holidays, there was about 3 months over summer where not 1 single J seat became available each day. It looks like you have some good options as others have suggested, but I wouldn't be counting on CX rewards at that time of year.

Thanks Scr77, good feedback. I had resigned myself to Qatar airways which from all accounts seems to be a good airline and boosting services in to SYD.

Last year I found and booked a J ticket in CX from SYD to Manchester (UK) for my mum. She was thrilled, then from HKG, they bumped her to F. Completely wasted on her as one glass of Champs and she's out cold and only stands 5 foot tall.

 

[travelislife]

Why 'resigned' to Qatar? They are the best airline I have flown in J long haul and I have flown (QF, CX, IB, TG, UA, EK, SQ). Their soft product is as close to first class as you will get flying business (though I haven't flown EY) So I wouldn't be 'resigned'!

 

[grussellt]

A bit out of left field - Book paid tickets to NAN. Use QFF points for NAN-LAX-JFK (or alternatives)-CDG (or alternatives) which will get J tickets for 120,000 points each and quite low extra charges. It's a few stops but it does the job!

 

[morfergus]

Some of the best advice I have had from AFF is to ring the call Centre and ask about alternatives (have Google maps open and know your airports). Not everything appears on the web site and I have found the call centre staff (for QFF and AA) very helpful in finding something to suit you. I managed to get 2 J fares from BNE to FCO at fairly short notice (within 3 months) for travel in November last year. This included a change a few weeks after the initial booking when a better routing became available. I have just booked 2A and 1C to LHR and beyond for this December with AA points after several months of trying. What I have learned is to plan ahead, have alternatives, be patient and keep trying. Although, as you will note from the dates, I have also tried to observe the rule of avoiding peak periods where possible. This Christmas travel has proved particularly challenging!

 

[wattch]

Hi again,

Quick update: I booked my tickets from SYD to CDG on Qatar Airways in J using QFF points. After travelislife's comments, I did some more research on Qatar Airways, their J product looks awesome and I'm glad I chose them. We're booked on their A380 all the way which should be fun sitting in the top deck lounge for a drink.

Got a bit of a problem now, trying to find the return seats home. There was plenty of availability during June but now it seems to have all dried up. Is this a status problem? I dropped to silver this year.

Does any know how many days out do they release tickets for Europe to Aus? I can only see economy seats for 17th July 2017 which is 353 days out. For Aus to Europe they seem to have seats available 360 days out.

Looking for return tickets mid August, from anywhere in the UK or the western side of Europe.

Any more tips for me? I will try call Qantas when the dates roll around.

Thanks
Chris

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There was plenty of availability during June but now it seems to have all dried up. Is this a status problem? I dropped to silver this year.

Partner airline awards shouldn't be a status issue.

 

[blackcat20]

Hi again,

Quick update: I booked my tickets from SYD to CDG on Qatar Airways in J using QFF points. After travelislife's comments, I did some more research on Qatar Airways, their J product looks awesome and I'm glad I chose them. We're booked on their A380 all the way which should be fun sitting in the top deck lounge for a drink.

Got a bit of a problem now, trying to find the return seats home. There was plenty of availability during June but now it seems to have all dried up. Is this a status problem? I dropped to silver this year.

Does any know how many days out do they release tickets for Europe to Aus? I can only see economy seats for 17th July 2017 which is 353 days out. For Aus to Europe they seem to have seats available 360 days out.

Looking for return tickets mid August, from anywhere in the UK or the western side of Europe.

Any more tips for me? I will try call Qantas when the dates roll around.

Thanks
Chris

We've also been looking for QR seats (different route) and there haven't been any released at all for the last few weeks. Thought it might coincide with Australia school holidays...

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Hi again,

Quick update: I booked my tickets from SYD to CDG on Qatar Airways in J using QFF points. After travelislife's comments, I did some more research on Qatar Airways, their J product looks awesome and I'm glad I chose them. We're booked on their A380 all the way which should be fun sitting in the top deck lounge for a drink.

Got a bit of a problem now, trying to find the return seats home. There was plenty of availability during June but now it seems to have all dried up. Is this a status problem? I dropped to silver this year.

Does any know how many days out do they release tickets for Europe to Aus? I can only see economy seats for 17th July 2017 which is 353 days out. For Aus to Europe they seem to have seats available 360 days out.

Looking for return tickets mid August, from anywhere in the UK or the western side of Europe.

Any more tips for me? I will try call Qantas when the dates roll around.

Thanks
Chris

I loved that sky lounge, trouble was I spent way too long in it between DOH and CDG drinking copious amounts of Krug with 2 new best mates. I was not to well getting off the plane that day

 

[wattch]

We've also been looking for QR seats (different route) and there haven't been any released at all for the last few weeks. Thought it might coincide with Australia school holidays...

Hi Blackcat20, did you have any luck with finding QR reward seats?

I've had no luck. I called Q this morning and she was no help at all. She did think it was odd that QR hadn't released any seats, not even economy.

Anyhow I'll probably give it till a few more days before cancelling my SYD - CDG leg and switch to Plan B.

 

[BD1959]

Hi wwatch,

Going back to your original post, there appears to be lots of availability on your option 1 (points J HKG-UK and back from the beginning of June through to the beginning of August.

First example I picked HKG-MAN-HKG 2xAdults, 1xChild. 5JUN out 7 AUG back 552,000 points. Can't get the $Fines as I don't have that requisite number of points to proceed!!

Just wonderng if you've gone back lately and looked at CX??

Regards,

BD

 

[wattch]

Thanks heaps BD, yeah thats going to be my next move.
Found a few options tonight HKG to CDG and leave out of LHR to HKG using BA and CX. EK had some availability as well via Dubai. Could be fun to try as many OW carriers in one trip.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks heaps BD, yeah thats going to be my next move.
Found a few options tonight HKG to CDG and leave out of LHR to HKG using BA and CX. EK had some availability as well via Dubai. Could be fun to try as many OW carriers in one trip.

If you leave ex Europe eg ZRH not LHR you'll have a lot on GB taxes which are much more for travelling J.

 

[blackcat20]

Hi Blackcat20, did you have any luck with finding QR reward seats?

I've had no luck. I called Q this morning and she was no help at all. She did think it was odd that QR hadn't released any seats, not even economy.

Anyhow I'll probably give it till a few more days before cancelling my SYD - CDG leg and switch to Plan B.

Not at all; there have been no seats released for weeks. I can see one economy seat in July and that's it. Really disappointing as we'd been planning and looking forward to trying the A350.