Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!

[oz_mark]

Happy New Year from sunny Jamaica. It's 4.11pm on New Years Day over here and seems really strange to be "behind" in celebrating it. Didn't see any television coverage of the celebrations elsewhere in the world, we were too busy celebrating... yeah mon, no problems.

Now why did the definition

pokemon: A jamaican proctologist

just pop into my head?

 

[JohnK]

Methinks it was Finnair (AY098). You can get SIN-BKK-SIN for about AUD250 on MD11's. As well you get Full Economy SC's (30) and FF points (min 1,000) each way.

Here's a seat map for the aircraft: FINNAIR - MD-11, you can see where the fabled 21C is!

Quite right serfty it is Finnair AY098.

My first return flight in June cost SGD279, this last flight cost SGD259 and the one in April is costing me SGD229. All considerably less than the AUD250 you mention but unfortunately they are discount economy and only earn 15 SC's each way and because I fly on the AY code it is only 897 qff points each way as I lose the status bonus.

Not sure what would happen on the QF codeshare, I think more expensive, but I can't book the QF codeshare through the AY website.

The fabled 21C seems to be a beauty but I have not had this yet. On yesterday's flight the shortest adult on the plane was sitting in this seat. :? That is luck for you. Although I can't complain as I had all 4 seats in row 24 centre to myself.

 

[serfty]

All considerably less than the AUD250 you mention but ...

It actually came out at AUD244 when I did my calculations. I gave some leeway on the side of pessimism. However, the Oz dollar has improved in the last week and that would now be ~AUD235.

unfortunately they are discount economy and only earn 15 SC's each way and because I fly on the AY code it is only 897 qff points each way as I lose the status bonus. ...

Ok, I checked and concur on the 897 points only. With regard to SC's, it seems the QF website is contradictory. As per the Airline Earning Table, you could be getting 30 SC's each way:

Airline      Eligible Booking Class      Cabin Class Base  Cabin  
                                                     Rate  Class 
                                                           Bonus
_________________________________________________________________
Finnair (AY) ABGHKLMNOQSTVWY             Economy     1     -
             CDIJ                        Business    1     25%
             ____________________________________________________
             Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.
             Excluded: Points and Status Credits are not earned on 
             Codeshare Flights operated by airlines other than oneworld
             Alliance Airlines and on flights designated ... 
_________________________________________________________________

This is implicit by what it omits. For example in the same table with BA and AA, there are specific "Dicount Economy" Classes.

However, elsewhere is the following:

+ For domestic flights within Australia, Discount Economy includes Super Saver (classes L, M, R, S, V) Red e-Deal (class N, O) and fares booked in G, or Q. For international flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand, Discount Economy includes classes B, G, H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, S, V, W.

so I guess that would overide the abouve earning table. :?

 

[JohnK]

All considerably less than the AUD250 you mention but ...

It actually came out at AUD244 when I did my calculations. I gave some leeway on the side of pessimism. However, the Oz dollar has improved in the last week and that would now be ~AUD235.

When I purchased SGD279 airfare in March/April 2005 the exchange rate was ~1.27 which converted to ~AUD227. I don't have the Amex statement to get the exact AUD amount I was charged. I know it is not "considerably less" than AUD250 but still a good saving.

The latest airfare at SGD229 converted to ~AUD188 which is not bad for 30SC's at AUD6.3/SC.

 

[oz_mark]

All considerably less than the AUD250 you mention but ...

It actually came out at AUD244 when I did my calculations. I gave some leeway on the side of pessimism. However, the Oz dollar has improved in the last week and that would now be ~AUD235.

unfortunately they are discount economy and only earn 15 SC's each way and because I fly on the AY code it is only 897 qff points each way as I lose the status bonus. ...

Ok, I checked and concur on the 897 points only. With regard to SC's, it seems the QF website is contradictory. As per the Airline Earning Table, you could be getting 30 SC's each way:

Airline      Eligible Booking Class      Cabin Class Base  Cabin  
                                                     Rate  Class 
                                                           Bonus
_________________________________________________________________
Finnair (AY) ABGHKLMNOQSTVWY             Economy     1     -
             CDIJ                        Business    1     25%
             ____________________________________________________
             Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.
             Excluded: Points and Status Credits are not earned on 
             Codeshare Flights operated by airlines other than oneworld
             Alliance Airlines and on flights designated ... 
_________________________________________________________________

This is implicit by what it omits. For example in the same table with BA and AA, there are specific "Dicount Economy" Classes.

However, elsewhere is the following:

+ For domestic flights within Australia, Discount Economy includes Super Saver (classes L, M, R, S, V) Red e-Deal (class N, O) and fares booked in G, or Q. For international flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand, Discount Economy includes classes B, G, H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, S, V, W.

so I guess that would overide the abouve earning table. :?

I think this last bit refers specifically to flights on QF (although it doesn't say that).

 

[NM]

I'd like to thank Qantas Yield Management who obviously considered that Mrs LW and I were worthy of sitting in the pointy end on our BNE/LAX sector tomorrow...and a great CSA John on the phone tonight.

It's currently showing Y oversold (-2) and J3, so at 3.13pm this afternoon (John was able to tell me the exact time) YM kindly traded 144K of my FF points for a better seat. Being oversold in Y helped....

Only seats available in J were 25JK, so at the back of J we'll be.

Congratulations Lindsay. I was going to call you on 26th to see how you got on with your upgrade, but got sidetracked and by the time I thought of it again you would have been well into your flight. Sounds like the trip is going well for you.

 

[QF WP]

Even better, they considered us worthy on the way back as well...great way to drain 288K in points from my account.

 

[straitman]

Even better, they considered us worthy on the way back as well...great way to drain 288K in points from my account.

Congratulations Lindsay and welcome back.

 

[JohnK]

Even better, they considered us worthy on the way back as well...great way to drain 288K in points from my account.

Welcome back Lindsay.

Hope you and Mrs LW enjoyed the holiday.

 

[Mal]

Even better, they considered us worthy on the way back as well...great way to drain 288K in points from my account.

Being WP does have it's benefits!!!

Welcome back.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Even better, they considered us worthy on the way back as well...great way to drain 288K in points from my account.

Excellent - it couldnt have happened to a nicer couple.