Send us somewhere for New Years

[Solid]

Ok AFFers, here is our challenge if you want to take it.

The better half and I want to get away for New Years this year overseas and apart from the below "rules" the destination itself is open for any suggestions. The rules are:

1. Two award seats in a minimum J. Can't be a LCC J product.
2. Departing Sydney on the 29/12 or later, returning on 2/1 or 3/1. Need to be there for the 31st obviously, and considering time don't want to spend all the time in the air.
3. Cannot be to NZ, Hong Kong, Thailand or Indonesia (nothing against those countries, just been enough to them and prefer something else.)
4. No carriers "off limits".
5. In terms of points, have 257k QFF, 315k USDM, 494k Altitude points.
6. FWIW am QF and VA platinum.

I'm considering this a "lucky dip", so don't worry about throwing up somewhere obscure if it fits the above.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

408k altitude pts will get you 204k enrich points which will get you 2 J return tix to Europe, or anywhere short of there that MH fly to. You said that no carriers were off limits, but are you happy to fly MH?

If so, there are too many options to list and plenty of award availability. That will be by far the easiest to get tix.

 

[Solid]

I specifically asked my better half before posting and they will fly MH.

 

[Hvr]

Have you considered having a winter welcome to the new year in Japan?

 

[BillytheFIsh]

MH is the go then. Transfer from Altitude to Enrich is quick as well - I did one a week ago and it arrived same day.

What's your accommodation budget?

Kota Kinabalu has good connection times in KUL for all three flights to/from MEL (most about 2 hours - one is 4 hours), so you can take your pick of day or night flights. MEL-KUL-MEL is on a 330. KUL-BKI-KUL is on a 737. About 12 hours each way including connections.

As Hvr said, NRT might be a good option. The connections aren't as good, which combined with longer flight times stretch out your travel time to 18/19+ hours which might not be appealing given the short break. ICN might be another option along the same lines. Only 1 option KUL-ICN-KUL, but the connection times are pretty good.

MLE would be amazing and seats are available, but connections aren't great and travel time is too long.

... or you could just go to KUL or SIN I suppose.

Personally I'd go to BKI if I could find good accommodation for a decent price, KUL as a second big city option.

 

[Solid]

Thanks for the suggestions BillytheFIsh i've sent you a PM.

Unfortunately my better half has done a backflip and now has decided they won't fly MH.

Any other suggestions out there?

 

[BillytheFIsh]

I took a quick look at SQ, but you won't get 2x saver awards return. You can manage it one way with those dates and one way standard award, but it is more expensive in points of course. SIN or KUL are still options, but I didn't come up with anything else with a quick search.

MEL-SIN 29/12/2014 SIN-MEL 03/01/2015 246,500 KF pts = 493K Altitude pts + $998.14:

http://i.imgur.com/AYAdtYU.jpg

Can get you to KL dep 30/12 ret 3/1 for the same points price + $1,312.94 :

http://i.imgur.com/FI13p7F.jpg

 

[support]

As per the rules for threads in this forum, this thread is now closed.