One way Tokyo to SYD - any ideas on the best way to do this via VA or partners ?

[ja1]

I'm going to be in Tokyo in the week of 21st october. I've already booked a one way to get there. I'm now trying to figure out options back.

I can book on QF26 (HND -> SYD) for about $1K in economy. Sadly I have no status with QAN at all so.. blah

I can use points (and only points) to book a return from NRT -> HKG -> SYD - which is 5h in economy and then another 9h in economy back to SYD. Despite being VA WP I'm sure that wont help me too much other than perhaps lounges in NRT and HKG ? This worked out to about 50k points and $160 in fees.

There's a business fare for only 2x as many points but it's only available on the Wednesday and I don't want to just spend one day in Tokyo when I could do two (I'm travelling with a friend - he is booked onto QF26 leaving at 10pm on the 24th Oct already)

I looked at a one ay from VA on its about A$600 from HK to SYD and I'd still have to get from Tokyo to HKG as well.

I've looked at the other usual suspects - SQ wants $1700 one way from HND to SYD.


Anyone got any creative ideas on:

- How to get back from Tokyo to Syd
- Ideally earning SC if possible
- But using VA points would be ok

I have time I can use.. but I'd prefer to leave on the Thursday sometime (24th) rather than an extra night in Tokyo..

cheers

-jason

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think you have to come to a deciding point, do you want cheap?
Maybe JQ, (JQ16) where you get zilch of anything, in Y but its probably cheap, to get from KIX Osaka to CNS, and then get JQ again from CNS to SYD.
Forget earning anything, if you want cheap, that is the cheapest I can think of.
Edit:
66910 JPY to get from KIX to SYD, on 21/10/19, equates to $915.73.
OR D7 AAX from KIX to SYD via KUL for Aud615 in Y, on certain days of the week.

 

[ja1]

I think you have to come to a deciding point, do you want cheap?
Maybe JQ, (JQ16) where you get zilch of anything, in Y but its probably cheap, to get from KIX Osaka to CNS, and then get JQ again from CNS to SYD.
Forget earning anything, if you want cheap, that is the cheapest I can think of.

Thanks. I'd considered it as its a 26k QFF points fare.. but but.. it's JQ.. and I can't bring myself to do JQ again.. sorry

There's a JAL in PE direct for about 71k points flying out.. or a HKG-VA 5h+9h for about 50k points plus $160.

I'm tempted by the latter. Are VA likely to do anything for a WP given the flight looks pretty empty ? Not expecting they would but gee it would be nice. I figure I can't use any more points to upgrade since the flight back would be reward seat anyway..

It's kind of ludicrous that it's a 50k point return from NRT but a one way from HKG to SYD is A$600 by itself.. blah.

 

[kezzakawasaki]

This is where a balance of Avianca Lifemiles (has) come in extremely handy. There's an award seat available on All Nippon Airways flight NH879 on 24 Oct 2019 for the direct flight from Haneda to Sydney for 20,000 Lifemiles + USD$54.79 in fees / taxes. It's highly likely that there will be NH/VA tie up announced this month so expanded options for flying to Japan (and onwards to Europe and North America) moving forward.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am not sure what will happen re the "uprising" in Hong Kong, so I am avoiding considering visiting or using HKG as a transit point, on my bucket list Japan trip in 2020/2021/2022/2023
I think too that ANA and VA tie in, would not take full effect till 2020 at the earliest, the OP does not say if s/he is planning the trip in 2019 or 2020.
If 2020, then indeed there is the scope of ANA and VA tie in complete by then, so using VFF points might be a goer.
For elcheapo, if you want that no frills, Air Asia is the cheapest.
If you want to use VFF points and go via HKG, that is up to you, VA might cancel flights again, if the whole country or territory of Hong Kong blows up, so to speak, or if China takes a major step and brings in "martial law" in Hong Kong, but who knows...
You mention QFF points, so you have some with them, but no status?
If so, then might as well use JL to get back to Aust.
Have transitted KUL Sepang, not bad, but I am avoiding Malaysia too, as a transit point, the way they treat Chinese, (ugh).
Anyway, your choice.

 

[jase05]

Doesn’t help with SC’s but a cheap option back could be with Philippine Airlines via Manila for $675. Much better than JQ or Air Asia.
Could possibly use QF points on CI if you can find a cheap flight to TPE

 

[ja1]

To summarize (as I'm going to make a decision and book later today):

- Tokyo to Sydney (and likely Mel?) one way options

- cheapest is JQ which offers a 26k points redemption (plus charges to be paid in Yen!) either to CNS or OOL - in economy of course

- QAN redemptions one way are really expensive (100K+ points)

- VA have no direction options but there's a 50k points option in economy for HKG from HND to HKG and then HKG to SYD on VA. Unclear if that gets you lounge in HND but there is a lounge in HK. It's a 5h and then a 9h trip

- JAL have a PE one way direct (9h) for 70k points and about $150 in charges (also in Yen..) which gets you lounge access in NRT - tempting!

- other options people suggested include Philippine airlines via Manila, Air Asia and ANA


Next year (e.g. say mid 2020) this may become a lot easier as VA are looking at an alliance with ANA and perhaps flying direct from BNE to HND (if they get a slot pair awarded). I wish this existed now as it would have made my life much easier. I'd prefer to give VA actual dollars and accruse the SC but I've literally not found any value options to do that (VA's one way from HK is A$600 just by itself.. blah)


Thanks for chipping in.. always an interesting exercise trying to book a one way as a return or multi trip almost always seems easier!