Newbie J-traveller friend needs advice on MEL/LHR award availability.

[dsotm]

I have a friend who needs to go to a memorial service in London in three weeks time. She has enough points for a J return, but when I went to do a dummy booking, the pickings are slim. I've just returned from London on EY and the biz deck was full and probably all the carriers are similar.

1. She could do an economy classic rewards flight for 120K and try for a J-upgrade, but I think this is too risky.
2. Book via QF on Emirates in J for 256,000 points as they have limited availability. (plus $1489 fees)
3. Any other options?

 

[craven morehead]

Go with the Emirates flights if points are no issue.

 

[offshore171]

2. Travel midweek for best availability.

 

[Pierre_a]

If there is EK availability I wouldn't hesitate.

When you're sitting in the seat with a glass of bubbly there will be no regrets regarding what you might of had.

 

[dsotm]

If there is EK availability I wouldn't hesitate.

When you're sitting in the seat with a glass of bubbly there will be no regrets regarding what you might of had.

Absolutely right.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to book Emirates for her.

 

[blu]

Was Cathay available (it may be chepaer).

 

[dsotm]

Was Cathay available (it may be chepaer).

Not sure. Haven't looked at them before. Will Cathay flights show up on the QF booking engine?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure. Haven't looked at them before. Will Cathay flights show up on the QF booking engine?

Yes, but you might find more availability using the multi-city tool and breaking the search AU-HKG and then HKG-Europe.

 

[mannej]

Yes, but you might find more availability using the multi-city tool and breaking the search AU-HKG and then HKG-Europe.

That wouldn't take married segments into account, something that CX is notorious for.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That wouldn't take married segments into account, something that CX is notorious for.

If you can find the availability sector by sector it can most likely be booked as a single ticket. You'd do this in addition to a straight out search AU-Europe which would take in to account married segments.

 

[VPS]

Check out JAL as well

 

[rock86]

I just did a quick dummy search for you around those dates (and I have absolutely no status so you may find more if you do).

Seems to be some CX availability and I put an EK flight back to AUS - $1,110 in taxes so adding CX doesn't really reduce the taxes much at all (I'm guessing because you're flying into London????)

 

[Pierre_a]

I just did a quick dummy search for you around those dates (and I have absolutely no status so you may find more if you do).

Seems to be some CX availability and I put an EK flight back to AUS - $1,110 in taxes so adding CX doesn't really reduce the taxes much at all (I'm guessing because you're flying into London????)

View attachment 108568

Trouble is Cathay increases the points cost significantly - hard to justify without a corresponding reduction in taxes (for me).
That said if you've got buckets of points this is probably a more entertaining itinerary

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Trouble is Cathay increases the points cost significantly - hard to justify without a corresponding reduction in taxes (for me).
That said if you've got buckets of points this is probably a more entertaining itinerary

it's the departure from London that will attract the taxes and fuel surcharges. Cathay's surcharges via hong Kong are reasonable these days.