One way Eur - Oz in J

[Kaiser]

Was very tempted to try out the 787 business studio - however return leg connection times in AUH were either 16hrs or 2.5 hrs which were either too long or too close for comfort given they will be seperate tickets. Probably being over cautious, but I'd hate to miss that long haul J flight and have no leg to stand on so to speak.

 

[Nizar]

Cross posting my response just to let you know of the eventual outcome. Thanks very much all for the advice.

Going: J redemption via Velocity points converted to Krisflyer on SQ: SYD-SIN-ZUR $475 in YQ/taxes.
Returning: Positioning flight to DOH - Y class QR: MUC-DOH - QFF Points
AAdvantage J redemption on CX: DOH-HKG-BNE = $1285 (45,000 miles + taxes)

So a total of $1935p.p Return Australia to Europe in Business on SQ and CX (with a small 5 hr Y flight on QR).

I could have got this down even lower to about $1550 by using my Velocity points to go from BNE-IST on EY for only 110,000 Velocity and $85 taxes.

There were other AAdvantage options for the return leg such as QR/QF: DOH-PER-BNE or QF: DXB-MEL or EY: AUH - BNE.

- the sweet spot for these AAdvantage redemptions is the Middle East/India to Australia zone which is 45000 points for J. Note you are allowed to go via SE Asian hub (SIN,HKG,BKK etc)

Great result, thanks for updating us.

Let me let you in on another AA sweet spot (IMO even sweeter than the one you posted). Africa to South Pacific redemptions (on QR only, via DOH) are only 50k miles in J. Last week I helped two friends of mine book CMN-DOH-MEL on QR J for 50k miles per person and A$110 taxes/fees/carrier-charges. Not a bad deal

 

[scaredeycat]

Interesting calculations. What value do you use for points? I usually assume each point costs 1.5c and add that into the equation.

 

[Kaiser]

Interesting calculations. What value do you use for points? I usually assume each point costs 1.5c and add that into the equation.

Do you mean the QFF points or the Velocity/Krisflyer miles? Either way they were sign on bonuses and not directly earned through purchases - thus in my calculations I assigned them no value as they didn't cost me anything. You could argue the Velocity annual card fee is the cost - but for me it is already offset by the free return domestic flight, lounge passes etc. That's how I see it anyway.