Orlando Return (Creative)

[Stevo.1702]

Hi Experts.

Late October next year my +1 and I are going to Orlando for a cruise. We then have 6 days post cruise to be back at work.

I intend to book my +1 with points and myself with $$. I understand the value for money of Y international redemptions is poor compared to J, however, I don't have the points balance to do this (nor the $ for the purchase of my ticket). We are young and malleable enough to make the haul in Y.

Intending to track reasonably direct to Orlando, however, have flexibility on the return. It's subjective but I'd like to optimise spend ($ and points) against interesting routing/stops.

I see that I have three options.

1. Book Orlando return (any OW airline and have some extra time to explore a stopover city or elsewhere US east coast)
2. Book an RTW fare and enjoy a few days in a stopover city.
3. One World Circle Pacific. However, I've read there is better value to be had booking this with a Hong Kong start point - keen to do if possible.

I'm always excited to add new dots to my flight map and go via obscure routing but I'm unsure of the best value between 2 or 3. I also don't have much understanding of the best mechanisms to book them, seeing as one will be with points the other will be with $$.

Any tips, tricks, recommendations or experiences would be awesome!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Try to fly as much as you can on QF to maximise SC earn, (AA with a QF code would/could do too). Au direct (SYD - DFW with QF, then DFW - MCO with AA, try to chase with a QF code if you can).
If SC earn is not important, maybe I would come back via US to HKG with CX then back to Au. If SC earn is important, then back via DFW again.
Not 100% sure but is it CX that has the Airbus350s, US - HKG if they use it on that route, ((if they have it)), would be a good chance to try the 350, then 330 from HKG back to Au.
If you had more days on the way back, I would have said to go US - HKG - SIN - Au.
Would probably need a TA to get you direct Au to as close to Orlando as you can, probably with QF SYD - DFW, then MCO and then to be on the same PNR US - HKG with CX - then QF HKG - Au.
Edit: You probably will need a TA, as maybe you know already, the QF brings up the orange error bar, or the ERROR message that the website is down, if you try to put in a booking TSV - MCO, or even SYD - MCO.
If you want, you can try TSV - BNE - LAX - DFW with 2 pax, and use P+P thus giving the same PNR from the start, this one you can do yourself. DFW - MCO you could try and book on the AA website.
But if you try to go Au - MCO, it won't allow.
Sorry for the waffle.

 

[Stevo.1702]

I was getting a little confused and frustrated at the Error message but thank you for the explanation. I guess the multi-city tool will be the best method. I'm comfortable to book a return trip there but I'm intrigued about your Hong Kong - Singapore route - is that best down as a Circle Pacific? (or is it cheaper to book direct with the individual airlines to build the timeline I might want?)

 

[justinbrett]

It’s really not cost effective to get the RTW fares unless you really want to go to more than one continent.

If it’s just a matter of routing to/from MCO, just book a return flight. It will be half the price.

 

[grussellt]

You could try a return using Fiji Airways and have a few days there on the return. You would probably need to book paid fare through FJ and award as SYD-MCO (65,000 pts+$239.51) on QF/AS and MCO-NAN (55,000pts) +NAN-SYD (18,000pts and total $28.58). The paid fare should be about $2200 but maybe around $1500 on QF (more direct route SYD-DFW-MCO).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As a lot of you know I go OT too fast and too regular.
Its just an option if you do have more days to come back via Asia.
In the end, your trip is a complicated one, as its one paid Y, and the other all reward points, and sometimes airlines might have seats for sale in Y, but no award seats on that flight.
Best of luck.
Edit: go to a ta at least first to get a quote.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Thanks for the tips so far. I like the Fiji stop on the return, I've never flown FJ and it might be a nice way to break up the leg home.

RTW doesn't seem to optimise much other than the opportunity to say I've done it. Thanks for the help there justinbrett.

I know I'm making it complicated for myself having one ticket as a reward and the other paid. We're in a situation where I travel domestically far more often than my partner and typically we travel together internationally. So we've decided that economically it's better for one of us to keep retaining status and the other takes the reward flights when suitable.

 

[UP4014]

I did Orlando return in 1995 after receiving a NASA invite to see the Shuttle Columbia launch in I think it was October.

I did - Sydney, LAX, Denver then drove to Boise in a Buick Century; what a machine with a lovely bright red velour interior including dash. then Boise Chicago Orlando.
for the return
Drove Orlando to NYC, then flew Newark, Denver, Las Vegas, then drove to LAX then flew home to Sydney.

It was good to break it up with some ground sections.

Matt