Looking for ideas for J class USDM award booking from SYD to Europe

[65ravenblack]

I've just been looking at all the options for flying into Europe on J class USDM in Sep 2013 and trying to work out what the best options are limiting the taxes that we will pay.

So the itinerary will be: Visiting son No.1 in Cheltenham UK for 2 weeks and then visit son no. 2 in Perpingnan (France) for 2 weeks. Or the other way around if need be.

The problem is that there isn't an easy way to get to Perpingnan other that either transit to Orly in Paris (which would need to be an Air France flight) or Ryan Air from Stanstead. Trains to Perpingnan aren't an option as the connections on TGV are either terrible or non-existent.

Would be really grateful if someone can recommend an itinerary departing SYD to save on taxes. Not looking for anything overly complex.

Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Aaron

 

[smit0847]

I've just been looking at all the options for flying into Europe on J class USDM in Sep 2013 and trying to work out what the best options are limiting the taxes that we will pay.

So the itinerary will be: Visiting son No.1 in Cheltenham UK for 2 weeks and then visit son no. 2 in Perpingnan (France) for 2 weeks. Or the other way around if need be.

The problem is that there isn't an easy way to get to Perpingnan other that either transit to Orly in Paris (which would need to be an Air France flight) or Ryan Air from Stanstead. Trains to Perpingnan aren't an option as the connections on TGV are either terrible or non-existent.

Would be really grateful if someone can recommend an itinerary departing SYD to save on taxes. Not looking for anything overly complex.

Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Aaron

Simple.

Avoid LHR.

Fly SYD-BKK-CDG on TG, have a few days in Paris, then get a train/LCC flight to your other destinations.

I've just come back from France - CDG is a horrible airport, ORY is great.

 

[alieninperth]

look through the award redemption thread. 100s of routes mentioned there.

 

[Alanslegal]

Fly into London, make own way to France, fly out of Paris back home. Anyway, the US threads will reveal more.

 

[burmans]

Fly into London, make own way to France, fly out of Paris back home. Anyway, the US threads will reveal more.

Ah Cheltenham, lovely area. We visted friend there a couple of years back, flew Ryan Air from Marseille to Birmingham (less than an hour from Cheltenham), then back to London by train. I'd suggest London on the way in and Toulouse on the way back.

 

[casanovawa]

I'd suggest London on the way in and Toulouse on the way back.

Yep definitely do it this way (into LHR if you do want to fly into the UK and out of an airport in some other country especially if its the long leg back to OZ) to avoid the UK APD which will keep your taxes down (if your not up with this charge...)

 

[arraitch]

All will require journeys using ground transport, but *A options for access to Perpignan also include BCN, TLS, MPL, MRS and NCE; even BOD and LYS at a stretch!

 

[65ravenblack]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions, we really appreciate it.

We've decided to fly into LHR and fly out of CDG. Given that getting out of Perignan to an airport for *A flights is the hardest for a number of reasons (the biggest being that Mrs RavenBlack is not a very good transferer). Also, we lived in Edinburgh for 3 years so have done the Europe thing and seen most of what we want and are just looking at spending time with our sons and their families. So our itinerary will be as follows:

CBR-SYD-BKK-FRA-LHR | RyanAir STN-PGF | TGV Perpignan-CDG-BKK-SYD-CBR

Looking at Qantas for the domestic legs and Thai J to Europe.

No just have to find the flights and book them. Not in any rush at the moment as we won't be going till Sep 2013 so I don't think that the return flights are open yet.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Cheers,
Aaron