Getting to RAR : SQ KF miles

[albatross710]

It's been a couple of years since I've tried to do it, now Mrs Albatross tells me she has some spare time in late February, so I want to get us to see the Cook Islands.

What are my options of getting BNE-RAR-BNE using my KF miles.


BNE - RAR via AKL
Initial searches one the ANATool don't give any availability on the AKL-RAR sectors in Y or J awards.
I tried getting SQ to offer the ANZ codeshare via Norfolk but no can do.


SYD-RAR-SYD
Initial ANATool searches do show J availability on the direct flights Dept Sydney on a Friday, return on a Saturday. Upon calling SQ with these exact available dates, they cannot see any J availability but do offer Y seats for 25,000 miles + S$190 taxes per person.

For this latter option, we would use QF points BNE-SYD. My only drawback is starting a lovely romantic week away with an overnight flight in Y SYD-RAR.


VA Redemption - BNE-AKL-RAR-AKL-RAR
Would need to transfer points. The return RAR-AKL gets into AKL about 1am without lounge access until 0430am for a 7am flight to BNE. Will need to think about how to handle that one.


Can anyone share any alternative ideas on how to get BNE-RAR with KF miles? I'm open to creative routings and a few paid sectors if we need to.

Alby

 

[Mark3000]

Great question. I searched recently for BNE-RAR using velocity points and couldn't find any availability on the dates we needed inSeptember. I'm very keen to go there one day. The other thing that really interests me is the option of flying from RAR to Papeete which can be done one or two days a week.

 

[albatross710]

Great question. I searched recently for BNE-RAR using velocity points and couldn't find any availability on the dates we needed inSeptember. I'm very keen to go there one day. The other thing that really interests me is the option of flying from RAR to Papeete which can be done one or two days a week.

Seems we can get to RAR on VA J with a four hour lay over in AKL which I'll do as a one way redemption. The return VA connection doesn't excite me.

Just trying now to get some availability on the NZ61 to Sydney and plan to camp there overnight.

Papeete sounds interesting.

Alby

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What are my options of getting BNE-RAR-BNE using my KF miles.

VA Redemption - BNE-AKL-RAR-AKL-RAR
Would need to transfer points. The return RAR-AKL gets into AKL about 1am without lounge access until 0430am for a 7am flight to BNE. Will need to think about how to handle that one.


Can anyone share any alternative ideas

You can also book VA as a SQ Partner Award using your KF miles (as opposed to transferring points to VA and then seekinga VA redemption). It would be return 40K in Y and 80K in J.
To book you just call up KF as you would for a *A Award. I am not sure what availability buckets it comes out of, but at least domestically availability was excellent.



When I booked MEL-CNS it was cheaper (It is all within Australia 1 Zone making it good value) than VA direct plus their were no fees which made it cheaper again.

 

[albatross710]

You can also book VA as a SQ Partner Award using your KF miles (as opposed to transferring points to VA and then seekinga VA redemption). It would be return 40K in Y and 80K in J.

That's exactly the course I am on. Going to stick with doing it as a one redemption way to get there. The way back I seem to be able to juggle a few options as to whether to stop over in AKL or CHC or SYD.

Australia is so far from everywhere that there always seems to be an overnight/early connection in one of the directions. I'd love to avoid that 6:30/7am departure out of AKL.

Alby

 

[albatross710]

Thoughts about Sydney Int - DOm

Well I opted to return via the once a week direct RAR-SYD NZ service which departs RAR on their Friday, arriving into Sydney on Saturday night a 8pm. Looking at the last three months of flights it is usually early and at most ten minutes late.

I'm thinking of then getting the 21:05 QF service to BNE.

The 65 minutes is below the recommended times that airlines offer. There is no protection as the two tix are different bookings. My previous transits on QF services I've easily made that time and had time to get to the QP for a quick shower.

Planning to not make it will cost an overnight accom, plus a day of MrsAlbatross shopping in Sydney CBD.

My gut feel is that I will make it.

Anyone got any words of wisdom?

Alby

 

[hummel]

The shopping day could be an expensive exercise!

If it was me, id run the risk...