Requesting suggestions / advice for our SYD-SIN-HEL-(AMS)-HKG-SYD trip next year

[kevinkhchan]

My SO and I are about to finalise and pay for our trip next year for a conference and a quick down time on the side.

At this stage the flights appear as follows (all in I):

SYD - SIN : QF (with a stopover)
SIN - HEL : AY (where we have a week inc. conference)
HEL - AMS : AY (a side trip for a visit)
AMS - HEL - HKG : AY (to try out the new A350)
HKG - SYD : CX (to try out CX)

The first question I have is with regard to FF program. The original plan is to credit to QFF as we were planning inbound via SIN instead of HKG. Should we consider an alternative FF program or is it much of a muchness. We don't have any status on QFF and I only have about 20K points at the moment.

The second question is if I should stick to CX for the HKG - SYD to try out the J product - though my SO isn't quite taken by the "impersonal" (some argue more private nature) of the J product. Or should we fly QF which I am assuming is on the 747 and the lie flat Skybed.

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions - even for places to visit in HEL or AMS

 

[Mattg]

Are you planning to buy this ticket with Finnair? Would the QF/CX flights have an AY or QF/CX flight number? (It makes a difference when calculating QFF earn.)

The question of "where to credit" is a common one, and there isn't one easy answer to that. If you want to earn status with Qantas, then crediting there is a bit of a no-brainer. But if you primarily want to maximise the points you earn, then AA might be a better option. Generally, I would suggest crediting to QF (and in turn accumulating QF points and status) if you don't fly overseas often, and/or mainly travel on Qantas. But if you are likely to go to the USA and fly AA at least four times per year, then AA becomes a very viable option. (To earn status with AA, you need to fly them at least 4 times per membership year - same with QF).

If you don't fly enough to make use of/maintain airline status at all, then AA's program is perhaps a good idea for the superior point burn rates in Australia.

Regarding CX vs QF products, you are pretty much guaranteed a 747 with newer style J seats on QF128, but CX is also pretty good. No easy answer there. If you've never flown CX, then maybe it would be worthwhile trying them out.

 

[bsb]

As per Mattg, it all depends on which carrier and code you are flying. I suspect you're on AY, so status will be lower than QF if allocating to QF - not enough to get WP. If you're focus is points, AA if you can rack up a few AA flights. But for ease of use and future proofing, I'd put mine in QF even with the low status crediting.

Re QF v CX - CX anyday over QF simply for the seats. The only QF seats that are worth talking about are on the 330's, so the old jumbo is just a poor second. Now if you can come back via BKK or SIN on QF, you'll get the new biz and it's seriously good.

 

[Mattg]

Now if you can come back via BKK or SIN on QF, you'll get the new biz and it's seriously good.

Further to this, I would try to make sure you're on one of the QF A330s with the new J suites on your first sector to SIN. (If you let me know which date/s you're looking at, I can let you know what config is scheduled.)

 

[exceladdict]

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions - even for places to visit in HEL or AMS

I loved the AY lounges in HEL

 

[kevinkhchan]

Thanks for the information.

We are looking at QF81 (A330-300) on 25th February 2016 - it'll be a day flight. The original option had us coming back on QF6 (A330-200) on 12th March 2016 - an overnight flight. The concern was the the AY flights would be on the older planes (A340-300) in the Finnair fleet. The flight to HKG will be AY69 which should get us onto the new A350.

We're not sure how much we will be travelling - ideally we will get the opportunity for more travel. I have enough SCs for SG on Velocity - just one sector short which should be sorted when we head to Bali later this month. Admittedly I may have made a few false starts at this stage but we'll see how things go.

[Edit:] The difference between flying the last leg is a total of 460SCs with CX and and 520SCs with QF.

 

[bsb]

[Edit:] The difference between flying the last leg is a total of 460SCs with CX and and 520SCs with QF.[/QUOTE]

well that nearly gets you gold, so worth doing if you're 100% sure you've calculated your SCs on the correct carrier(s)

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the information.

We are looking at QF81 (A330-300) on 25th February 2016 - it'll be a day flight. The original option had us coming back on QF6 (A330-200) on 12th March 2016 - an overnight flight. The concern was the the AY flights would be on the older planes (A340-300) in the Finnair fleet. The flight to HKG will be AY69 which should get us onto the new A350.

We're not sure how much we will be travelling - ideally we will get the opportunity for more travel. I have enough SCs for SG on Velocity - just one sector short which should be sorted when we head to Bali later this month. Admittedly I may have made a few false starts at this stage but we'll see how things go.

[Edit:] The difference between flying the last leg is a total of 460SCs with CX and and 520SCs with QF.

QF81 on 25 Feb is showing as having the new J suites.

If the HEL-HKG flight would be an A350, then why not try it? Sounds like a good plan to me.

Just make sure that your QF sectors would be booked on QF flight numbers - if they are booked on AY numbers (which I suspect might be the case), you will earn fewer SCs - same level as CX IIRC.

 

[kevinkhchan]

Thanks for the info and heads up.

i will double check when we pay for our trip tomorrow. AFAIK the outbound flight has a QF code (QF81) and the inbound has a CX code (to be finalised as we are still considering flying back on the QF 747). The rest of the journey is on AY codes. The flight numbers appear on my Qantas portal and the itinerary. Then again I have learnt a valuable lesson from our SYD-LAX-SFO trip earlier this year and will double check.

 

[Kaiser]

Not sure if it's a weighing factor for you, but apparently CX J catering has taken a nose dive and is probably the weakest link of the product. Best seat, worst food. Not an issue if you just want to get some sleep. They do have some pretty competitive pricing though.

 

[thommo9]

Helsinki is a lovely city, the trams make it easy to get around. Where are you staying in Helsinki?

As a sports buff, I found the Olympic Stadium and Sports Museum fascinating. A lot of history within that area.

 

[kevinkhchan]

Helsinki is a lovely city, the trams make it easy to get around. Where are you staying in Helsinki?

That is next on the list. We are attending a conference at Finlandia Hall. Had been looking at Solo Sokos Torni or the Radisson Blu. We may end up settling in to the Holiday Inn based on location and cost. We should have about 2 days before and 2 days after the conference then we head to AMS for 4 nights.

 

[RooFlyer]

There are a number of us on AFF who are fans of AY J class . You'll do well.

in Helsinki, please look at Hotel Fabian. I's a 'boutique' job so not cheapest, but a long way from the dearest and well located. Great place to stay!!

There are a number of Trip Reports involving Helsinki. Have a look round, here's a link to mine.

The city of Helsinki has free wi-fi on the streets (or did, 2 years ago).

 

[thommo9]

That is next on the list. We are attending a conference at Finlandia Hall. Had been looking at Solo Sokos Torni or the Radisson Blu. We may end up settling in to the Holiday Inn based on location and cost. We should have about 2 days before and 2 days after the conference then we head to AMS for 4 nights.

The beauty of Finlandia Hall is that it's very close to the hub of the city, close to restaurants, shops, it's also on the tram line in and out of the city which is handy.

IIRC, the Crowne Plaza (although away from the city in proximity to the Hall) is very close and may be worth a look. But your recommendations are equally as good, closer in the hub of the city as opposed to the Crowne Plaza.

Finlandia Hall is lovely, I had a brief look myself, stunning building and area. Enjoy Helsinki, wonderful city.

 

[kevinkhchan]

...IIRC, the Crowne Plaza (although away from the city in proximity to the Hall) is very close and may be worth a look. But your recommendations are equally as good, closer in the hub of the city as opposed to the Crowne Plaza.

Finlandia Hall is lovely, I had a brief look myself, stunning building and area. Enjoy Helsinki, wonderful city.

Thanks thommo9, we were seriously considering the Crowne Plaza as one of the final choices. It looks quite good. Looking forward to Finlandia Hall as well.

There are a number of us on AFF who are fans of AY J class . You'll do well.

in Helsinki, please look at Hotel Fabian. I's a 'boutique' job so not cheapest, but a long way from the dearest and well located. Great place to stay!!

There are a number of Trip Reports involving Helsinki. Have a look round, here's a link to mine...

Thanks RooFlyer, your trip report had me daydreaming for a while. We had a look at Hotel Fabian and the location was great for exploring the area.

In the end we managed to get the conference discount code to work for Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel and we decided to go with it based on location and the discounted price.

We paid for our flights today as well and have confirmed that the outbound SYD - SIN is on a QF code. Now we (actually just me) are looking at accommodation options for SIN, AMS and HKG. The SO is busy with planning options for our upcoming trip to DPS (volcano permitting).