Ideas needed on getting my parents to Malaysia

[MissBurrill]

Mum has decided that she and Dad require a holiday before their first grandchild is born in December (not me, I'll be an Aunty ). Mum collected Fiji brochures thinking that would be a nice relaxing holiday. She suggested to Dad that they take a holiday. Dad suggested camping in some random coastal town :shock:. We live in a random coastal town and Mum wants to fly somewhere. Dad then suggested Penang which made Mum do this :shock: however now she looks like this . Dad chose Penang as he went there in the 80's with work.

The plan is KL and Penang and the lowest they will fly is Y+. I suggested Y+ to Singapore on Qantas but Mum and Dad said KL. After explaining to them their options they eventually decided that Singaopre is an idea.

But now there's a Star Class sale and they are thinking of flying to Bali or coughet then to Malaysia. I then suggested a Circle Asia fare but Dad just got grumpier.....

What I am asking for is one world ideas to get them near KL/Penang (and connections if people have ideas). They are QP Silver and the easiest airport is Sydney for them to fly out of. In Asia they will be ok with Y but the long flights must be Y+ or higher. They are retired so the dates are flexible.

Thank you in advance everyone. My work in Canberra is done and now to road trip home.

 

[samh004]

What's hard to sell about Fiji in J?

 

[MissBurrill]

What's hard to sell about Fiji in J?

Mum is all for a status run out of Brisbane but Dad is blah blah Penang blah blah something something. They have gone to Koh Samui and Hawaii in the last 10 months so maybe he is fed up with tropical islands?

 

[dajop]

The plan is KL and Penang and the lowest they will fly is Y+. I suggested Y+ to Singapore on Qantas but Mum and Dad said KL. After explaining to them their options they eventually decided that Singaopre is an idea.

But now there's a Star Class sale and they are thinking of flying to Bali or coughet then to Malaysia. I then suggested a Circle Asia fare but Dad just got grumpier.....

Bali-Penang is still a decent length of flying, however coughet is quite close. Have you considered either Y+ or J on V Australia to coughet (via BNE or MEL?) that may be an option that's worth thinking about. Of course there is Air Asia's version of Y+ (which is actually angled lie flat) that can be taken out of OOL & MEL to KUL as an alternative as well. Then EK sometimes have cheap J fares to SIN or KUL, but unfortunately only from MEL or BNE not SYD.

Oh, lastly your Dad probably has a right to get grumpy about Circle Asia fares, unless wanting to visit a few destinations they are very costly and add a lot of time to what should be a simple short trip. Simple return fares are probably cheaper and quicker.

 

[MissBurrill]

Bali-Penang is still a decent length of flying, however coughet is quite close. Have you considered either Y+ or J on V Australia to coughet (via BNE or MEL?) that may be an option that's worth thinking about. Of course there is Air Asia's version of Y+ (which is actually angled lie flat) that can be taken out of OOL & MEL to KUL as an alternative as well. Then EK sometimes have cheap J fares to SIN or KUL, but unfortunately only from MEL or BNE not SYD.

Oh, lastly your Dad probably has a right to get grumpy about Circle Asia fares, unless wanting to visit a few destinations they are very costly and add a lot of time to what should be a simple short trip. Simple return fares are probably cheaper and quicker.

Thanks, will tell Mum to cross Bali off the list then.

My parents are very much fans of Qantas and Starclass. Our travel agent priced 12 nights plus flights on Malaysia for a little over $2000 each but it's the wrong airline and wrong class. I should suggest they see what it would cost in J.

They would be willing to fly out of Melbourne or Brisbane, I'll show Mum your ideas when I get home. Hey, look it's noon already! I better get driving.

 

[docjames]

I would have thought Y+ to SIN is the easiest ex-SIN.

BA Y+ to BKK would be another, but cant help with the connections to Penang - prob have to go to KL first which adds complexity although may work with plans for time in KL. I'd have thought you could possibly go direct SIN-Penang. There's a million connections SIN-KUL.

They could always have a stopover in SIN too (shopping if you're mum is into that, plus there's heaps there your dad can do if he doesnt want to shop!).

So

Return Y+ to SIN, with side return to KL / Penang.

 

[MissBurrill]

Return Y+ to SIN, with side return to KL / Penang.

That's what I was thinking. They have been to Singapore before but it would make for a simple trip. I just looked at the Qantas site and they can go in J for a little under $5000 each so I should start suggesting that too. Mum and Dad are enjoying taking ski trips :shock:

I was surprised when Mum suggested Bali as Dad once refused to go on a business trip to Bali.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Mum is all for a status run out of Brisbane ?

Unless your mum:

a/ flies a lot

and
b/ it will push her to at least Gold

I would not worry about status runs.

 

[samh004]

Mum is all for a status run out of Brisbane

I know comparatively just flying from SYD seems like a waste of money, though that’s all I was suggesting. But if your dad is sick of tropical islands, say no more

 

[ric_melb]

Jetstar currently have Starclass on sale from Melbourne to Singapore at $499 one way. But better be quick, sale ends very soon.

 

[oz_mark]

Jetstar currently have Starclass on sale from Melbourne to Singapore at $499 one way. But better be quick, sale ends very soon.

But not before the baby is born in December.

 

[MissBurrill]

Unless your mum:

a/ flies a lot

and
b/ it will push her to at least Gold

I would not worry about status runs.

My parents are retired and Mum thinks the sensation of zooming down the runway and taking off is awesome so being able to do that a few times in one day would rock. But yes, she could do that alot cheaper than a business class status run.

Jetstar currently have Starclass on sale from Melbourne to Singapore at $499 one way. But better be quick, sale ends very soon.

Mum said 'thank you Rick from Melbourne'.

But not before the baby is born in December.

That won't stop Mum from booking a holiday next year. Dad is away for a couple of days at the moment and Mum is seriously considering booking a bunch of sale fares as holidays next year. Then telling Dad.

 

[docjames]

My parents are retired and Mum thinks the sensation of zooming down the runway and taking off is awesome so being able to do that a few times in one day would rock.

.

Just find a pilot with a light plane and do some circuits, get plenty of t/o and landings into one day. Cheaper too.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

That won't stop Mum from booking a holiday next year. Dad is away for a couple of days at the moment and Mum is seriously considering booking a bunch of sale fares as holidays next year. Then telling Dad.

Easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission, hey Kaz!

 

[MissBurrill]

After much discussion my parents have booked their flights

It got to the point of Mum threatening to fly in business while Dad flys in economy (he kept on saying economy will be ok :shock. When Dad realised Mum was serious he started backing down but was not interested in paying a business class fare.

Me, the airline nerd (savvy ) daughter jumped online and priced starclass to coughet then Malaysian to KL. I then presented them with the choice - Y+ to Singapore on Qantas or starclass to coughet. Dad realised the women in the house were ganging up on him so he agreed to starclass.

Through a local travel agent (the good one with the harbour views not the idiots who quote completely different things to what you want because they are cheaper who also get cranky when you ask questions about hotels while they are looking at airfares) Mum and Dad booked it all. Flights, most transfers and accom. All with breakfast included. Dad was ready to get shouty at the price till Mum reminded him it seems dearer than their trip to Hawaii because each part of Hawaii was paid for seperately whereas this is one big charge to Mum's CC.

Anyway thank you for the ideas. Mum is happy she gets to visit coughet again, will requal silver and is in starclass while Dad is happy about, well I guess about revisiting Penang.