Perth to Dublin on QFF points

[Tranga]

Hi everyone,

Kinda new to this... I'm saving up the QFF points to hopefully take myself and the missus from Perth to Dublin in 2015. I'd love to be able to treat her in a first ever Business class flight if at all possible.

I've applied for a couple of cards recently and we should amass 350k points shortly, and hopefully by late this year be able to hit our target to be able to afford the trip...

So, I was wondering if there is a right way of doing this?

To reduce taxes and charges? To have the best chance of securing some award seats? Best airline to hopefully book with... ie Qatar/Cathay?, Should we look for awards to a different destination in Europe, and then buy a cheap flight to Dublin instead?

Sorry for the newbie question, and hope it hasn't been answered elsewhere before. I have tried to trawl through this and other forums but just get more confused.

Cheers

 

[OzEire]

Hi Tranga. I am in a similar situation with fairly regular travel Aus to Ireland to visit family, and I have enough QFF points to consider using them in the mix of options. I posted a question here on AFF about 2 months ago asking how to avoid the excessive additional cost of having Australia as the start point of the trip.

Some have suggested 'starting' the journey in DUB by booking cheaper return trips from Ireland to Aus. Fine if you book flex tickets or have precise dates, and can fly at least every 12 months.

My research suggests that it might be worth keeping an eye on deals originating in Asia not far from home, eg. KUL or SIN, perhaps BKK or HKG. Book the trip from this port and link it up with a rtn to PER. Works best if you are happy to stop there (or else lining up unlinked flights can be a pain). I looked for over 6 months for a compelling deal using this method but didn't find one that was much cheaper when the extra link flight is added.

As there are two of you flying, you could try to find a companion fare, they are not always the best deal but worth pricing.

For the record, we booked Etihad (EY) for Nov 2014, mostly because we have a small child and wanted to go direct as possible with no stop in Asia - before child we loved stopping enroute and will do again when he is older. But i love the one stop option into Dublin and avoiding Heathrow with the puddle jump final leg. Plus, like you this option makes use of VA status for lounge access and earns VA SCs.

Good luck. Share what you find.

OzEire

 

[The Rok]

If your booking with QF points your options will be very limited. I keep an eye on these award fares and the most common two are PER-DXB-DUB on EK, or via HKG on CX with an EI flight from LHR to DUB.

You will preferably need to be able to book 12 months out..

 

[Mwenenzi]

You need to be very flexible with date & routes. At time goes on less airlines are offering First class. On many airlines business class today is better than First was 10~15 years ago.

Having DUB as the destination will severely restrict options you are offered. Don’t do it. Consider other airport in UK or Eu with a short flight to DUB. In UK look at LHR LGW MAN & EDI.. AMS, CDG and many others in Europe. Look the route maps in OneWorld in Eu from DXB, DOH, HKG, KUL for Qantas, Cathay, Qatar & Malaysian. And Emirates as one of QF’s partner airlines.

There is a high UK ADP when departing UK, unless in transit .For First & business class his a lot of $. There people living in UK who start long haul first/bus trips in Europe to avoid this.

The main airport you arrive at does not need to be the same airport as you leave from Example. PER-xx_-EDI-DUB-AMS-xx_-PER

 

[ashleyn]

I recently got some Per-Europe return business awards going via Doha on QR. You have to look every day, book early and be flexible and something will come up.

 

[alieninperth]

Having DUB as the destination will severely restrict options you are offered. Don’t do it.

I'm not sure that this is right (unless you are talking about a single stop journey, in which case OK). Into LHR or MAN there are EI connections to DUB, from LHR in addition to the EI option to DUB there is also BA to both BHD and DUB. BHD also has a reduced APD to help with tourism. For the time that you are looking to take the trip the APD from ENG/SCO/WAL will be reduced in any event. (GBP 250-GBP300 if my memory is right). If you are talking about jumping on a cheapo flight then anywhere apart from LHR would be good. Just watch out for the baggage, and of course, no lounge.