Status Run options for Perth based AFF

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Durin's Bane

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Fellow AFF’s,

For the first time in almost nine years my work travel has decreased, and I have no DONE4s booked for this year.

I needed 400 SCs to retain platinum before 30 April. Any suggestions in Australia / NZ / Asia? I’d prefer not to have to go to the USA if possible, as I am based in Perth and was hoping for a maximum 3 day turnaround…

Normally I wouldn’t mind so much as I am LTG, however recent First Class lounge experiences with CX were great (as always), and with a few trips to NZ and Japan lined up in the next 12 months would be good to have access to a first class lounge or two (Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo)!

Happy to hear all options and costs. I have been following some of the other threads, however they have had a USA focus (understandably so!). Thanks in advance! :)

DB.
 
PER - SYD - J (40 SC)
SYD - AKL - F (120 SC)
AKL - MEL - F (120 SC)
MEL - PER - J (40 SC)
Need to book the tickets as separate ones, all up, this will give you 320 SC. And before you nag/scold me and ask why separate QF tickets, I live in ADL. Trying to get a F class ticket on EK with a QF code, to combine with an ADL QFd flight, to go with the F ticket, on some trips, the combo wont work. Separately, the QF ticketing system will allow me to go F SYD/MEL to AKL. Have only done dummy bookings only so far.
PER - KUL - JQ will be 60 SC if you go max bundle, one way, and 35 SC back, in the plus bundle. PER - SIN gives 25 one way in plus bundle. Probably 40 on the max bundle.
Need to book on the JQ website though.
Not cheap, all up, but this will get you close to or a bit over 400.
 
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I've been exploring some intra-Asia fares on MH which might work if you've got your four QF/JQ flights for the year. I'm based in DRW but flew out of PER on the below itinerary a couple of weeks ago:

PER-SIN - JQ (Y - 25 SCs with plus bundle/40 SCs with max bundle)
SIN-KUL-HKG - MH (J - 100 SCs)
HKG-KUL-SIN - MH (J - 100 SCs)
SIN-KUL-DRW - MH (J - 120 SCs)

I've been looking to do another similar run again in April. SIN-HKG-SIN return is A$770 for 200 SCs and SIN-DRW is about $1,000 for 120SCs (if you can fit BKK in there I believe BKK-KUL-HKG-KUL-BKK gives you 240SCs for about $400). The only problem is that J fares jump significantly ex-Australia (hence why I prefer flying to SIN on JQ first and returning on a one-way ticket). All up you might be able to get 345-360 SCs for about $2,000...
 
Thanks for the links Danger, I now have a few ideas on intra Asia trips I am planning.
 
AustraliaPoochie, I believe the PER - SYD legs are 80SC in J.

When I checked the QF website, each domestic J leg costs ~$500 more than the international F leg!

All up it will cost ~$6,800, which is more than I am prepared to spend.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
Chrizztofa

Thanks for your ideas, I have two itineraries developed:

*** Option 1 (405SC for $2,100) ***
PER-KUL-BKK on MH in discount Y (35SC for $500)
BKK-KUL-HKG-KUL-BKK on MH in J (240SC for $500)
BKK-KUL-PER on MH in J (140SC for $1,100)

*** Option 2 (345SC for $2,300) ***
PER-SIN on JQ in Y (Plus Bundle) (25SC for $300)
SIN-KUL-HKG-KUL-SIN on MH in J (200SC for $900)
SIN-KUL-PER on MH in J (120SC for $1,100)


Although Option 1 has the better $/SC rate, Option 2 has the advantage of taking less time and hence less time off work! I should be able to make the remaining 55SC with work flights and an AMEX interstate flight.

FYI I used the MH and Jetstar websites to obtain all fares, for a trip in March 2015. I used the Earning Points calculator on the QF website to double check the SCs.

You're right about the J fares being more expensive out of Oz! I did PER-KUL-BKK return in J on MH last year so know the hard product that will be used.

I was also looking at flights between ICN, HKG and TPE on CX however are a little more expensive, take longer, and need longer connecting flights in Y. But will have a detailed look shortly.
 
Take MH up, and pay cash to upgrade to J. You probably won't gets the SC for it, but you won't hate yourself for booking a JQ Y flight either! I absolutely detest A320s in Y for anything longer than 4 hours, I actually find them quite painful even in exit/bulkhead seats.
 
A possible option out of Perth for a total of 440 S/C at a cost of about $1230 and is doable within 3 days is:
PER-SIN-BKK Jetstar return (80SC)
BKK-KUL-PEK Malaysian J return (360SC)

You will arrive in PEK 00:20 and then leave the following morning at 01:30 a hotel is an option

As you are only one day in China I believe you fall under the 72hour transit rule and don't require a visa.

Good luck
 
Thanks Bogieman, that's a great run however it's hard getting the promo MH J fares on successive days, plus the 72 hour Visa Free transit won't apply if I am flying back to KUL (needs to be a different onward destination).

There are some good MH promo J fares to / from CMB but again Visa considerations come into play.
 
Tried BKK-KUL-HKG return instead of PEK?
 
An alternative option to get into Asia (relatively) cheaply might be to fly QF PER-SYD-SIN...which on 3 April currently is showing 60 SCs for $674 (90 SCs if you're lucky enough to get a 50% bonus offer). Not the best earn rate but you could apply any points you have to upgrade to J if you don't want to fly in Y. Of course this takes much longer (about 15 hours) which may not be feasible given your short turnaround time.

FYI, deep discount Y with MH will book you into N/O/Q class which I believe are ineligible for SC earn.
 
Folks, have decided to go with the attached itinerary…

*** 420SC for $2,600 ***

1. PER-SIN-BKK (03/04/14) on JQ in Y (Plus Bundle) (40SC for $700), this is the red eye flight

2. BKK-KUL-HKG (03/04/14) then return HKG-KUL-BKK (05/04/14) on MH in J (240SC for $500)

3. 2x nights in HKG for $200 (I am happy for anywhere cheap and clean, will see what I can find)

4. BKK-KUL (05/04/14) then KUL-PER (06/04/14) on MH in J (140SC for $1,100) with KUL needing an overnight stay for say $100.


Before I book, can anyone see any flaws with what I have proposed? I plan to do this over Easter as it can be achieved in 4 days… Thanks in advance.

Trust everyone had a great Australia Day! :)

DB.
 
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Folks, have decided to go with the attached itinerary…

*** 420SC for $2,600 ***

1. PER-SIN-BKK (03/04/14) on JQ in Y (Plus Bundle) (40SC for $700), this is the red eye flight

2. BKK-KUL-HKG (03/04/14) then return HKG-KUL-BKK (05/04/14) on MH in J (240SC for $500)

3. 2x nights in HKG for $200 (I am happy for anywhere cheap and clean, will see what I can find)

4. BKK-KUL (05/04/14) then KUL-PER (06/04/14) on MH in J (140SC for $1,100) with KUL needing an overnight stay for say $100.


Before I book, can anyone see any flaws with what I have proposed? I plan to do this over Easter as it can be achieved in 4 days… Thanks in advance.

Trust everyone had a great Australia Day! :)

DB.

Well I do hope you are traveling in 2015:mrgreen:

That's quite a stiff penalty for weekend travel on 3K. Don't see any way around it though unless you can leave a couple days earlier.

I'd be tempted on BKK-KUL-CMB rather than HKG. I think cheaper and two days at a economical hotel in Negombo would be a lot easier to find than in HKG. I'd say $AU120 for two nights there would be possible. But some people like cities rather than beaches.

I would be tempted to fly UL BKK-CMB, hoping for a cheap (but earning) upgrade followed by MH CMB-KUL-PER which I think is cheaper than exBKK. Enough to pay for the BKK-CMB in Y.

Happy wandering

Fred
 
Looks great, I am considering doing a very similar itinerary but flying QF PER-SYD-BKK return.
 
If you need to leave on the Friday red-eye all I can see as an alternative is MH (Y) for $700 (effectively same price) which nets you 35 SCs I believe (in V class). The only real advantages there are free checked baggage, IFE (although I imagine you might be sleeping anyway!) and bidding for a potential upgrade to J so it might not be worth it. I'm also not sure how the connections work if you are effectively intending to fly PER-KUL-BKK-KUL-HKG in a single day.

Otherwise it looks good! Regarding Fred's comments about CMB - do you need to apply for a Visa there?

Have fun!
 
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