Have been on a bit of a fare roller-coaster over the last few days. (Long post but some insights that might be helpful to some)
Needed to get flights back from England as very happily now able to attend my god-daughters wedding in December
Had already booked a Y+/J redemption with CX for outbound.
Mrs andye needs to return to work on the floor in Emergency on the Wednesday and would prefer to be back Tuesday a.m. Keen to leave her as fresh as possible post-flight
No redemption availability SIN-SYD was released until 22 Oct
Initially booked
Revenue Standard Economy SQ LHR-SIN-SYD via Amex Online Travel (wanted to use travel credit) getting back late Tues
Then found out the LHR-SYD leg was for a Vaccinated Travel Lane flight which we couldn't take as would have transmitted HKG on the outbound
Longish phone calls to Amex and eventually changed to SQ LHR-SIN-SYD in Flexi Y/Y with earlier departure
Spotted a Saver J leg ZRH-SIN for upgrade but couldn't get a response from Amex before it was gone
Then found an Advantage J leg MAN-SIN. Eventually got Amex to change flights to flexi Y SQ MAN-SIN-SYD
Long waits for SQ service but after going through 3 different agents told that cannot upgrade the leg (not sure if due to UK APD tax issues, travel agent booking issues or redemption v upgrade inventory) Also told unable to have 2 PNRs transiting SIN currently
Then found a CX J leg CDG-SIN and booked CX CDG--HKG-SYD in Y+ and upgrading the first leg to J. Relatively easy process with CX call-centre
Woke up in morning and found a J/J Advantage SQ redemption MAN-SIN-SYD online. Didn't have enough miles but made an Amex transfer-internet wisdom has it that these can take 12-48 hours but mine went through in less than 2. Still available and clicked through but wouldn't accept credit card. Assumed the second legs had gone-disappointing
A couple of hours went past with me trying various EU-Oz options and then found LHR-SIN-SYD in J/J. Even better arriving in SYD Tuesday morning
Clicked through and again didn't accept credit card. Disappointed again. Waitlisted MAN and FRA Advantage J/J (CPH, MUC and MXP also available for waitlist but I couldn't take as VTL flights)
Checked the upcoming bookings and the LHR-SIN-SYD had a PNR as reserved
Got on the phone to SQ. Waited 45 minutes before phone reception cut out in Bunnings basement carpark and had to start again. Another hour on the phone and, happy days, now have 2x J/J Advantage redemptions landing at best time with no worries about positioning flights (admittedly at the cost of hefty UK APD)
So, it's not the most economical redemption ever (Advantage, UK APD and USD400 of revenue fare cancellation fees) but I'm very happy with it given our lack of flexibility in dates, Covid issues and what must be a whole lot of competition for redemptions
I did waste a lot of time booking the original fare via Amex rather than direct
CX currently smashing SQ for callcentre responsiveness