Planning a One World Award Flight in Business 2012

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi All
I am just in the beginning stages of planning our award flight and pretty flexible with dates for 2012. Proposed trip is for 2 people in Bus Class and for about 8 weeks. I would really appreciate any advice prior to booking understanding that flights can only be booked 364 days in advance, just hoping to get in early and have the right info. I am not sure of all the codes or right terminology so please bare with me.. OK at this stage looks like this and I will bold the places we really want to be or need to be in

Mel - Paris ( Via Hong Kong? ) no need to stop over there as have been before but we are/were contemplating a side trip to Shanghai but not essential.
We plan to spend 3-4 weeks using the train system going down to the South of France from Paris and then up to Cinque Terra, Lake Como, if possible may take in Lucerne before returning to Paris. Any other must see places?

Paris - London (LHR) or Manchesterwhich is closer to where we will spend most time visiting relatives.

We would then like to fly to Washington / or Boston / NYC - plan is to also use the trains and spend a few days each in these areas (have been to NYC a few times but never to the others. Also does anyone know how easy it would be to maybe go to Niagra Falls from NYC

LAX for a few days before flying home via Hawaii for a few days

I think that makes our 5 stops if we leave out the side trip to Shanghai.

I'm thinking this will be our last opportunity to have a "big trip" or earn this many points again so want to make the most of it but at the same time not overly complicate things. Any advice on what airlines to use, places we plan to visit, trains etc would be gret and much appreciated.
Just one other question do we have to do Paris first or should we do the UK and then over to Paris and fly out of Paris to USA.

Thanks in advance Noreen

 

[samiam]

Hi All


Mel - Paris ( Via Hong Kong? ) no need to stop over there as have been before but we are/were contemplating a side trip to Shanghai but not essential.
We plan to spend 3-4 weeks using the train system going down to the South of France from Paris and then up to Cinque Terra, Lake Como, if possible may take in Lucerne before returning to Paris. Any other must see places?

Paris - London (LHR) or Manchesterwhich is closer to where we will spend most time visiting relatives.

We would then like to fly to Washington / or Boston / NYC - plan is to also use the trains and spend a few days each in these areas (have been to NYC a few times but never to the others. Also does anyone know how easy it would be to maybe go to Niagra Falls from NYC


Thanks in advance Noreen

Not sure how much time you have in the UK/Paris, however we did the following for this leg of our trip in September:

QF029 MEL - LHR (this goes via HK) - is a B-747

Hire Car at LHR - drove to Manchester (but spent a few nights in the Cotswolds, Midlands, Chester, etc). It was actually nice to meander up to Manchester avoiding the motorways.

Flew from Manchester to Paris (CDG) with Flybe (it was a propellor plane).

Lounged around Paris eating bread and sightseeing - didn't get to the provinces so can't help there.

Caught the Eurostar from Paris back to London.

You could then fly from London onto the next part of your trip.

Food for thought - good luck!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We plan to spend 3-4 weeks using the train system going down to the South of France from Paris and then up to Cinque Terra, Lake Como, if possible may take in Lucerne before returning to Paris. Any other must see places?

For all you need to know about trains in Europe and England...include the best and cheapest way to book read The Man in Seat Sixty-One...
I used it last year to plan traiins in England, France and onto Amsterdam............and am just using it now to plan fora northen Italy Trip this April.

The Italian train system has some bargains on it if you can get their just introduced Mini fares...ie Milan to Cinque Terre for 8 Euro!!!!!!!! Venice to Rome for 27 Euro!!!

Paris - London (LHR) or Manchesterwhich is closer to where we will spend most time visiting relatives.

Trains between all three are easy and economical. We flew in last July to Manchester and then travelled to London by Train. Weekend rates area bargain....and then later onto Paris by Eurostar. Booked in advance is quite cheap.

If you are going to fly in or out of just Paris..or London?Manchester...then Paris may save you some $$$ as england now has a hefty extra greenhouse tax for departures.

We would then like to fly to Washington / or Boston / NYC - plan is to also use the trains

Amtrak...Trains are excellent and easily booked on-line. If done in advance there are good discounts. Yu AA membership can get discounts too..but the adavnce discounts are normally better.


We flew in and out of NYC two November back and caught trains to Philadephia and Washington DC. Was pleasant to travel on and going from city centre to city centre reduces the cost and hassles.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Thanks for the responses, very helpful, just one other question with the rules of OW Award flights flying from Melbourne to Europe does it matter whether the UK or Paris is the first stop over. I think the Uk is our preference but not sure sure because of the direction that Paris has to be the first stop then onwards to the UK and USA.
Thanks

Hi All
I am just in the beginning stages of planning our award flight and pretty flexible with dates for 2012. Proposed trip is for 2 people in Bus Class and for about 8 weeks. I would really appreciate any advice prior to booking understanding that flights can only be booked 364 days in advance, just hoping to get in early and have the right info. I am not sure of all the codes or right terminology so please bare with me.. OK at this stage looks like this and I will bold the places we really want to be or need to be in

Mel - Paris ( Via Hong Kong? ) no need to stop over there as have been before but we are/were contemplating a side trip to Shanghai but not essential.
We plan to spend 3-4 weeks using the train system going down to the South of France from Paris and then up to Cinque Terra, Lake Como, if possible may take in Lucerne before returning to Paris. Any other must see places?

Paris - London (LHR) or Manchesterwhich is closer to where we will spend most time visiting relatives.

We would then like to fly to Washington / or Boston / NYC - plan is to also use the trains and spend a few days each in these areas (have been to NYC a few times but never to the others. Also does anyone know how easy it would be to maybe go to Niagra Falls from NYC

LAX for a few days before flying home via Hawaii for a few days

I think that makes our 5 stops if we leave out the side trip to Shanghai.

I'm thinking this will be our last opportunity to have a "big trip" or earn this many points again so want to make the most of it but at the same time not overly complicate things. Any advice on what airlines to use, places we plan to visit, trains etc would be gret and much appreciated.
Just one other question do we have to do Paris first or should we do the UK and then over to Paris and fly out of Paris to USA.

Thanks in advance Noreen

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for the responses, very helpful, just one other question with the rules of OW Award flights flying from Melbourne to Europe does it matter whether the UK or Paris is the first stop over. I think the Uk is our preference but not sure sure because of the direction that Paris has to be the first stop then onwards to the UK and USA.
Thanks

No issues. You are allowed to backtrack on a Oneworld award as it is not a RTW as such but rather a series of one-way flights back to origin. So you can easily do a return with 2-5 stopovers if you like.

Only thing to be wary is the rule about 1 stopover and 2 transits only in any city on the itinerary. Makes it difficult if one wants to visit a few cities in Europe and keep going through LHR. It happened to me in 2007 when I had to go through LHR 3 times and I was forced to make one of them a stopover.

 

[serfty]

Just be aware that a UK departure after a stopover attracts APD tax. Depending upon your destination this can can add up to £170 (~$280) per passenger to your booking cost.

HM Revenue & Customs

 

[lovetravellingoz]

...........and am just using it now to plan for a northen Italy Trip this April.

The Italian train system has some bargains on it if you can get their just introduced Mini fares...ie Milan to Cinque Terre for 8 Euro!!!!!!!! Venice to Rome for 27 Euro!!!

.

Hi did my train bookings for Italy yesterday..and it was a breeze.

You can book Italian Trains via:
Trenitalia - HomePage (Note: you need to use the Italian spelling for stations)

Looks for the Mini fares. Note that public trains in Italy have only just adopted a new way of offering discounts (ie as of Jan 24!!!!!) a new set of fares, and classifications to be had.

In the past many people reported that it was hard to book tickets on-line with non_Italian CC. I think in Dec that they have improved things.

According to Seat 61 prior to then with Australian Credit Cards only about 30% were accepted.

Amex's from outside Italy are still not accepted.

Anyway my Westpac Krisflyer VISA worked (so also earning 1.5 SQKF points per $ spent!!!)and so I have now booked a number of Very Fast Trains, in Second Class at bargain MINI fares.

Basically over 16 days:

• Milan to Venice
• Venice to Florence
• Florence to Rome
• Rome to Pisa
• Cinque Terre to Milan.

Pisa to the Cinque Terre I have left open as I do not want to commit to times on the day as I am unsure how long I will like spending there. So will decide when I am there. May go onto Lucca...or may just head to CT direct.
No trip has cost me more than 20 Euro person and often are less. ie Milan to Venice = 9 Euro per person!!!! Cinque Terre back to Milano Centrale is only 9 Euro as well

To obtain the cheapest MINI fares, it pays to look at trains at different times, and even from different stations as MINI fares vary, or might become available when not showing on your first look.

For example, Firenze S. M. Novella to Roma had a MINI of 35 Euro, but looked at Firenze Campo Di Marte (these two stations are both in Florence) departing at the same time and it was then only 17 Euro

I booked at 2nd Class fares as there does not seem to be a big difference to first class from second class though and also the MINI fares on first class are not as heavily discounted as 2nd class is., and also my trips are all only about 3 hours or less.

I have located suitable accommodation within walking distance of each station eliminating the need completely for taxis and so certainly my travel costs for Italy are now only a fraction of what I was anticipating when I first decided to visit Italy. So I am most pleased.


Note that from Milan Airport to Milan it takes about 30/60 minutes.

One can use an express train from the airport or fast regional trains (though longer route but can keep going if not stopping in Milan), but you need a 20 minute bus ride first to train station)...or bus, 50 minutes. Taxis are very expensive.