Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco min

[sebloader]

Hey Guys,

I am trying to figure out the best way to get to Oktobafest in Munich for these dates for 2 ppl. I am QFF silver with balance of 400K.

I have found a Cathay prem economy into AMS for $3100 pp... Do you think with points i'll be able to get a better deal somewhere?

Thanks for any help in advance

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

Have you looked at using Jetstar to Singapore or Bangkok, then using points from there? There does seem to be some availability, and you could use Starclass (premium economy really) on Jetstar, then fly first or business on Emirates into Germany (seems to be availability around your dates into MUC and FRA).

How set in stone are your dates - can you shift by a day or two in either direction? Do you want to stop over at all (you really need to when doing split bookings in case of delays)?

 

[sebloader]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

dont really have heaps of flexibility for departure... Needs to either be after 7pm on the 17th or anytime 18th. I can shift a day either side for return and as long as i arrive somehwere near Germany i can depart from another city also...

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

Happy to overnight somewhere on the way to / from Europe?

Do you want to reduce cost (perhaps using points) or try to squeeze in some business class sectors?

 

[sebloader]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

would prefer not to have an overnight if possible and happy to reduce cost and or squeeze in a business sector... Best i have found is $2999 pp for return PE with Cathay into Amsterdam.

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

OK, to take advantage of some of the business class deals / burning some points, it is best if you can break the journey up as it takes the risk away.

Looking at the CX PE flights, if you fly into ZRH instead of AMS, the fare will drop to AUD2553 each. You end up with a long stop in HKG on the way home, but that it is true coming back from AMS too.

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

And my final thoughts, there is availability on CX ex HKG in business and first class to Zurich and Dusseldorf on or about your dates.

You'd burn all your points up and it would cost you at least the same as you're paying now, but you'd end up with PE to HKG (cash fare, probably on QF) with maybe first class to ZRH and then back from DUS in Business.

 

[sebloader]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

thanks Greenfish... I couldn't find the CX flight to ZRH that was cheaper than the $3k return i currently have Melb To AMS.

I'll have a look at your last recommendation and see if i can make something work but im clearly nowhere near as good as you at finding any of these options...

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

I'm not doing anything clever to find the CX flights, just using the CX website. It is still showing AUD2553 return, pretty much wide open around your dates (18/9 - 1/10)

You can also do an open-jaw booking which won't be quite as cheap, but will be close, perhaps into ZRH and out of AMS or similar.

I can give you exact dates / routes etc for the last option if you want to burn all your points. Again, I'm not using any special tools, just the BA and QF websites and some lateral thinking around routes

 

[sebloader]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

If you can give me the exact dates / routes and im more than happy to look at it... I just dont know where or how i use the points for these flights apart from "classic awards"

 

[greenfish]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

If you can give me the exact dates / routes and im more than happy to look at it... I just dont know where or how i use the points for these flights apart from "classic awards"

There's a lot of choice.

Using points, on the 18th of Sep, you can go in Y to HKG, then J via DXB to FRA. This will cost 228000 points and AUD964. The economy flight is a day flight - so not too bad.
Home, you can fly around the 1st of Oct DUS->HKG in J (156000 points, 221 Euro), then premium economy home (AUD3000 approx)

Or you could fly Premium Economy return to HKG as a paid for flight on Qantas (about $4000 for 2), then use the J flights with points from above. But there is pretty good availability to / from HKG to lots of European locations.

All flights can be found searching for classic awards on the QF site; just search for one way flights to / from HKG.

Availability in and out of Australia is bad as your dates coincide with school holidays for some states.

 

[Limewood]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

No doubt about it, HKG is an excellent gateway with so many OW airline choices in J, if you have to overnight the Regal Airport hotel is attached to the International terminal.
Look at going via Tokyo too say JQ star class then Jl or Ba to your destination.

 

[support]

Re: Melb to Continental Europe with QFF points return 18/9/2015-01/10/2015 Pre Eco mi

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