MEL-ATHENS-TOKYO-MEL in F, best way?

[SOPOOR]

Apologies if this is the wrong section.

I'm planning a Mel-athens-X-tokyo (olympics)-Mel in approx Jul 2020 in F

X represents another or multiple other cities in Europe if possible

I have enough points in kris, velocity qff, emirates miles

My order of preference of flights is
Emirates, Etihad, Singapore, anything else
Can be mixed

I know its a very vague question , but what is the lowest points + tax combination to book/secure seats?

Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Quickstatus]

F limits your options somewhat and will require you to backtrack to a major hub and add additional sectors to your itinerary.

MEL-SIN-ATH can be done with SQ and TR712 (Scoot - which does not have F)

But if you want F for MEL-ATH you will need to do EK MEL-DXB-ATH

(EY does an A320 into ATH)

ATH-EU will not have F unless you backtrack into DXB and then fly an EK A380 into the EU.

There are no F between Tokyo and MEL unless you fly SQ

So as you want to use points and you want to fly F in EK, SQ, EY plus othersyou itinerary needs to be:

EK:
MEL-DXB-ATH
ATH-DXB-EU
EU-DXB-NRT (or EU-SIN-NRT with SQ)

SQ:NRT-SIN-MEL

More direct flights would see the intraEU flights go direct and avoid DXB but will not have F.
There are no non stop F flights between Tokyo and MEL

 

[SOPOOR]

F limits your options somewhat and will require you to backtrack to a major hub and add additional sectors to your itinerary.

MEL-SIN-ATH can be done with SQ and TR712 (Scoot - which does not have F)

But if you want F for MEL-ATH you will need to do EK MEL-DXB-ATH

(EY does an A320 into ATH)

ATH-EU will not have F unless you backtrack into DXB and then fly an EK A380 into the EU.

There are no F between Tokyo and MEL unless you fly SQ

So as you want to use points and you want to fly F in EK, SQ, EY plus othersyou itinerary needs to be:

EK:
MEL-DXB-ATH
ATH-DXB-EU
EU-DXB-NRT (or EU-SIN-NRT with SQ)

SQ:NRT-SIN-MEL

More direct flights would see the intraEU flights go direct and avoid DXB but will not have F.
There are no non stop F flights between Tokyo and MEL

thanks a million! awesome reply, youve helped me heaps, thanks! I reckon you just saved me a full 24 hours of researching,

brainstorming, going MEL to DXB to ATH and EU-DXB-NRT via EY (F) is very little backtracking so im happy with that,
obvious EU to EU going back to DXB each is just silly unless im trying to burn expiring points or i just want to sit in a nice plane

and going from NRT -SIN-MEL via SQ is fine as well since no direct flights in F, plus it has low taxes and very little back tracking,

as for the intra EU flights, since they are short, I am happy to book LCC, unless there is a decent points redemption option via star alliance but from what I gather its not really worth the 2 -3 hr flight

to book, is the best way to simply process of just booking one ways for each leg on EK and SQ + the intra flights?

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes build the award flights as one ways.

Ideally build the award flights with the stopover in mind.

So if stopping in DXB get award to DXB. But if only transiting in DXB on way to IST, then get awards in one booking AU-DXB-IST.

SQ often cheaper to book NRT-AU rather than NRT-SIN // SIN-AU. The booking will route you via SIN obviously as all SQ flights go through SIN (unless a 5th freedom flight)

However the likelihood of getting what you want cabin wise sometimes goes up if you book sector by sector
For example AU-DXB might have F available but not DXB-IST causing AU-IST to perhaps show as unavailable

 

[SOPOOR]

SQ often cheaper to book NRT-AU rather than NRT-SIN // SIN-AU. The booking will route you via SIN obviously as all SQ flights go through SIN (unless a 5th freedom flight)

great, definitely was planning to book a NRT to AU rather then 2 flights, cant imagine 2x single flights being cheaper than a stop over flight for SQ from JP to AUS

Yes build the award flights as one ways.
So if stopping in DXB get award to DXB. But if only transiting in DXB on way to IST, then get awards in one booking AU-DXB-IST.

yep got it, not intending at this stage to stop in dubai, transit is fine, so as per SQ flight, better to book AU to ATH instead of looking for 2 flights of AU to DXB, DXB to ATH?

thanks!

 

[Quickstatus]

great, definitely was planning to book a NRT to AU rather then 2 flights, cant imagine 2x single flights being cheaper than a stop over flight for SQ from JP to AUS



yep got it, not intending at this stage to stop in dubai, transit is fine, so as per SQ flight, better to book AU to ATH instead of looking for 2 flights of AU to DXB, DXB to ATH?

thanks!

Try both ways, and see which gives you the better combo and connection times in DXB is important. It’s can be time consuming to get from A to B in DXB

 

[SOPOOR]

Try both ways, and see which gives you the better combo and connection times in DXB is important. It’s can be time consuming to get from A to B in DXB

thanks for your help so far, ill definitely be asking more questions as I research more,

first time to do anything premium for myself, has always been for relatives, now its my turn