Looking for advice/assistance

[Simsy85]

Okay, bear with me - its been *QUITE* a while since i've been overseas and i'm out of practise on booking fares.

My wife and I need to be in New York around 1-9 April 2023. We are on leave around 20 March and will be on the Gold Coast (but can honestly depart anywhere in Aus). Need to be back in Aus around 14-15 April.

Wanting to fly at least J and *REALLY* flexible as to where we go - I want the Wife to have an absolute blast and enjoy J class.

Anyone got any ideas? We'd love to stop in London, but 100% open to ideas. Want to keep costs around 15-20k total.

Cheers

Simsy

 

[Quickstatus]

14-15 March.

Might want to correct.

Is your 15-20k total all expenditure - airfares + accom ?
I don’t think that’s enough.

You might be better off getting a One World Explorer round the world ticket, or similar with Star Alliance (with SQ)
Something like BNE-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-BNE. Or SYD-HND-JFK-LHR-HEL-BNE

However , initial pricing from OneWorld RTW around the dates you want for 2 pax suggest a price circa $30K. 2nd one slightly cheaper but you will need to add a BNE-SYD flight due to fare rules. Star Alliance with SQ is a bit pricier

The above in Y will cost around $9k total. Add another $9k for accom/food/fun and you got your budget

No doubt it can be tweaked but I don’t think you can get it down to $15-20k or less if that’s your total budget for J cabin

Finnair (AY) have in the past had RTW sales on but there has not been recent marketing advertising sales.

@RooFlyer , @JohnM

 

[Simsy85]

Might want to correct.

Is your 15-20k total all expenditure - airfares + accom ?
I don’t think that’s enough.

You might be better off getting a One World Explorer round the world ticket, or similar with Star Alliance (with SQ)
Something like BNE-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-BNE. Or SYD-HND-JFK-LHR-HEL-BNE

However , initial pricing from OneWorld RTW around the dates you want for 2 pax suggest a price circa $30K. 2nd one slightly cheaper but you will need to add a BNE-SYD flight due to fare rules. Star Alliance with SQ is a bit pricier

The above in Y will cost around $9k total. Add another $9k for accom/food/fun and you got your budget

No doubt it can be tweaked but I don’t think you can get it down to $15-20k or less if that’s your total budget for J cabin

Finnair (AY) have in the past had RTW sales on but there has not been recent marketing advertising sales.

@RooFlyer , @JohnM

Appreciate the quick reply Quickstatus!! no that's the budget for the airfare
I have to be honest, I am having a hell of a time getting the *A or the 1w rtw planners to work...

And yes good pick up! 14-15 Apr!!

 

[SYD]

Try Finnair RTW, but you‘re probably too late to get sub $10k that close out.

If you’re up for it, there are ~A$4k Biz fare from Jakarta to JFK (can also mix and match Philly and DC, maybe Boston) flying Qatar Q Suites to Doha and again to/from US. Book direct through AA (US website).

AA codeshare QR J [QSuites] Jakarta to New York (and PHL?) from US$2,636

Saw this earlier. If it was QR codes, it should earn 520 QF SCs return (plus anything to/from CGK). I believe AA codes will earn the same since operating carrier is still OW? https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/11/05/airfare-of-the-day-qsuites-qatar-airways-jakarta-to-new-york-from-2636/ Last time I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Obviously you need to get to Jakarta and back and London probably doesn’t work.

There might be some similar deals out of Denpasar if Bali was in the mix - although time is probably against you.

 

[jase05]

Personally I’d break it up into a couple of trips and try to cobble something together.
AA for example have BNE-LAX-LHR return for around $8k on a combination of QF and BA metal so on the return leg add a stopover in LA Then you just book your US Dom flights.
There are various options of SYD-LHR return starting at $5k with UL and other combos at around $6k then book London to New York seperately.
You even have cheap flights ex Australia to Asia and then look at options from there. You sound very flexible so should be able to cobble together something under $20k in J all the way

 

[Simsy85]

Playing with a couple of these now - I do like the Q Suite. Also looking at the Turkish Airlines

 

[SYD]

Personally I’d break it up into a couple of trips and try to cobble something together.
AA for example have BNE-LAX-LHR return for around $8k on a combination of QF and BA metal so on the return leg add a stopover in LA Then you just book your US Dom flights.
There are various options of SYD-LHR return starting at $5k with UL and other combos at around $6k then book London to New York seperately.
You even have cheap flights ex Australia to Asia and then look at options from there. You sound very flexible so should be able to cobble together something under $20k in J all the way

Playing with a couple of these now - I do like the Q Suite. Also looking at the Turkish Airlines

I was looking at the Sri Lankan (UL) option the other day ~$5k in Biz ex-SYD to LHR. Which is very good at the best of times. It has a long layover in CMB heading over but I understand it comes with free accommodation if prebooked.

 

[Simsy85]

I was looking at the Sri Lankan (UL) option the other day ~$5k in Biz ex-SYD to LHR. Which is very good at the best of times. It has a long layover in CMB heading over but I understand it comes with free accommodation if prebooked.

Any experience flying UL?

 

[SYD]

Any experience flying UL?

No, but obviously not the same as QR Q Suites…! There are some comments/reviews here however. Also threads on overnight transits in CMB.

 

[Simsy85]

No, but obviously not the same as QR Q Suites…! There are some comments/reviews here however. Also threads on overnight transits in CMB.

Also looking at MEL-BKK-MUS-LHR - comes in at about 6k pp - then i'll get a flight across the ditch,

Oman air look very nice.

 

[jase05]

Also looking at MEL-BKK-MUS-LHR - comes in at about 6k pp - then i'll get a flight across the ditch,

Oman air look very nice.

Yep, WY would be my preference.
Seen them for around $5.5k SYD-BKK-MCT-FRA and then a cheap flight FRA-LHR return in J should be under $500 so for $6k you have a pretty decent trip.
Make sure you at least do a stop over in MCT though if time permits. WY’s product is right up there with my favourites

 

[Simsy85]

Yep, WY would be my preference.
Seen them for around $5.5k SYD-BKK-MCT-FRA and then a cheap flight FRA-LHR return in J should be under $500 so for $6k you have a pretty decent trip.
Make sure you at least do a stop over in MCT though if time permits. WY’s product is right up there with my favourites

having an issue getting across the pond - any suggestions? probably want to head around 31 march and get back 7 april

 

[jase05]

having an issue getting across the pond - any suggestions? probably want to head around 31 march and get back 7 april

Don’t fly out of London
I’d seriously try and pick up a cheap flight to somewhere like Dublin. Paris or Amsterdam for example and then grab Air France or KLM for $2-3k return to the US

 

[Quickstatus]

getting across the pond

Yes WY is a good suggestion.

Something like BNE-KUL-MCT- CDG/FRA/MUC (EU)

Avoiding flying into/out of LHR makes fares cheaper.
Consider EU into MAN

For the transatlantic sector:

Maybe try MAN-JFK with VS (Virgin Atlantic)

Or MAN-AMS (?stopover) - JFK with VS/KLM

 

[SYD]

Don’t fly out of London

Any port in the UK will sting you with hefty dep tax….

I’d seriously try and pick up a cheap flight to somewhere like Dublin. Paris or Amsterdam for example and then grab Air France or KLM for $2-3k return to the US

Even BA from Europe via LHR will be cheaper than starting in LHR….

 

[wandering_fred]

Depending on how you plan it, a business class (D) One World Explorer ticket ex CMB would only end up slightly over your budget (including getting to CMB). This would also allow a "free" trip within Asia on your way back to Australia via the Pacific since the tickets are valid for one year. Using a 3 continent (ie cheaper) ticket would require a bit of ingenuity because of the 2 stopover limit in Asia.
If you could arrange travel to Oslo, the 4 continent ticket would be evrn less expensive and offer future flexibility.

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[Melburnian1]

Have you thought of PR Philippine Airlines BNE-MNL-JFK and return (coming back it usually stops in YVR to refuel).

A321 ex BNE with 12 lie flat J seats, 2-2 configuration.

If you prefer a widebody it flies from SYD and MEL with Airbus A333s, 1-2-1 config, 18 J seats.

A359 MNL-JFK nonstop, IIRC 40 J seats 1-2-1 config, lie flat. No mattress toppers but other than that, very good.

Good service and meals. Lots of Filipinos in USA so that explains its comprehensive frequencies to LAX and lesser extent SFO, plus the JFK "express" that is three times a week.