Suggested stopover between Singapore and Rome? Which FF program?

[Brissy2]

Hi all! Next year hubby & I are looking at flying to Europe using his FF points (currently have 460K dispersed between Westpac 'Altitude', Qantas, Amex & Diners which I believe can be transferred to either OneWorld or Star Alliance. We are in the QF & AirNZ FF programs. We lost over 300K Ansett points 5 years ago and have been accumulating points the slow way .. using our cr cards since then .. so would like to utilise the points the best way we can!) Any suggestions who we should use?

We're looking at flying BNE-SIN (2 day stopover) and then SIN to Rome, however as I need to avoid flying more than 4 hours at a time, we will need to arrange another stopover between SIN-Rome, but where is the question.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Cheers

 

[serfty]

As a start I would suggest Mumbai (BOM) & Dubai (DXB); not sure about carriers however.

 

[NM]

We're looking at flying BNE-SIN (2 day stopover) and then SIN to Rome, however as I need to avoid flying more than 4 hours at a time, we will need to arrange another stopover between SIN-Rome, but where is the question.

How do you plan on getting from BNE to SIN without exceeding your 4 hour flying time limit? The only option I can think that will get you to SIN without exceeding 4 hours on any one sector is to use JQ/QF via DRW.

Then consider that SIN-FCO is over 6000 miles non-stop. At an average speed of 500mph you are looking at 12 hours. So you cannot make a 6000+ mile journey with one stop and keep each sector to under 4 hours. You will need a minimum of two stops between SIN and FCO and there is no single carrier that I am aware of that will meet that criteria. And you won't do it with OneWorld either. I am not familiar with the Star Alliance routes in that area, but again doubt there are going to be many options that will meet your criteria for maximum 4 hour sectors.

How important is the max 4 hour flight time? What is the reason for this restriction?

 

[Brissy2]

How do you plan on getting from BNE to SIN without exceeding your 4 hour flying time limit? ...

How important is the max 4 hour flight time? What is the reason for this restriction?

Hi there! Re your questions .. Importance: Low. Have only been advised "to avoid" flying more than 4 hours, not that I am "not allowed". Reason: Medical.

If it takes 7.5 hours to fly direct BNE to SIN, then I guess I have no choice.

I was thinking of maybe New Delhi or Dubai as stopovers (between SIN & Rome), but on saying that I have to say that I haven't checked any airline routes as yet. Thought someone might be able to give me some recommendations beforehand.

Thanks for your feedback. Cheers

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Unless you fly Emirates (EK) or Gulf Air, then adding extra flights between asia and europe will cost more $.

As it happens, EK does fly BNE-SIN-DXB and you could connect to DXB-FCO. Won't meet your 4 hour constraint but probably the best you can do without adding a lot to cost of award.

If cost isn't an issue you could do something like BNE-SIN-DXB-IST-FRA-FCO on *A. Again some flights more than 4 hours, and total flight time will be much longer.

 

[stryker]

Here's an interesting one for you.

BNE-DRW-BNE on Virgin Blue (DJ) AUD 129 each way.

DRW-DPS-DRW on Qantas (QF), using your points (24,000 return, or if you hurry, there is a promo on at the moment for a 20% discount).

DPS-SIN-DPS on Qantas, USD 300 return, incl taxes.

SIN-DXB-ATH-DXB-SIN on Emirates (EK), for a relatively nominal sum (ex-SIN).

ATH-LON-ATH on Easyjet, cost next to nothing.

Then the world's your oyster.

(Why don't I do that?).

 

[serfty]

BNE-DRW-BNE ... DRW-DPS-DRW ... DPS-SIN-DPS ... SIN-DXB-ATH-DXB-SIN ... ATH-LON-ATH

Aside from the possibility of EasyJet probably being worse for Noni than 6 hours on any of the other flight's; quite creative :shock:

Hmmm... it may have more sectors than the old kangaroo route flying boats.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Here's an interesting one for you.

BNE-DRW-BNE on Virgin Blue (DJ) AUD 129 each way.

DRW-DPS-DRW on Qantas (QF), using your points (24,000 return, or if you hurry, there is a promo on at the moment for a 20% discount).

DPS-SIN-DPS on Qantas, USD 300 return, incl taxes.

SIN-DXB-ATH-DXB-SIN on Emirates (EK), for a relatively nominal sum (ex-SIN).

ATH-LON-ATH on Easyjet, cost next to nothing.

Then the world's your oyster.

(Why don't I do that?).

All those separate tickets is asking for trouble, especially as several of those flights are once a day or less frequent than that. Most people couldn't afford to take several days plus allow some extra days to cover the risk of misconnecting.

 

[NM]

Hmmm... it may have more sectors than the old kangaroo route flying boats.

And take just as long :shock: .

 

[browski]

Qantas partners

Brisbane - Darwin Qantas 3hr 55min
Darwin-Singapore Jetstar (QF Codeshare) 4hrs 25min
Singapore-Bangkok Finnair 2hrs 20min
Bangkok-Bombay Cathay Pacific - 4 hrs 15min
Bombay-Dubai Cathay Pacific 3hrs
Dubai - Bahrain Gulf Air (QF Codeshare) 1 hr 10min
Bahrain - Beirut Gulf Air (QF Codeshare) 3hrs 5min
Beirut - Milan Alitalia 4hr 10min
Milan - Rome Alitalia 1hr 15min

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I didn't think you could you take the QF codeshare on GF when connecting on CX (thought you needed to be flying on GF from Australia).

 

[browski]

I didn't think you could you take the QF codeshare on GF when connecting on CX (thought you needed to be flying on GF from Australia).

The Gulf Air code shares remain a mystery to me as well. BAH-BEY, ATH, DXB, SIN
They are listed on the Qantas site Flight Schedules but only BAH-SIN is on the Route Maps.

You cannot book the code shares on-line?

I tried to book the codeshares myself a few months back to get BAH but it was all too hard and ended up on CX.

Has anyone out their flown the Gulf Air code share and could they relate their experiences with ticketing?

 

[stryker]

Qantas partners

Brisbane - Darwin Qantas 3hr 55min
Darwin-Singapore Jetstar (QF Codeshare) 4hrs 25min
Singapore-Bangkok Finnair 2hrs 20min
Bangkok-Bombay Cathay Pacific - 4 hrs 15min
Bombay-Dubai Cathay Pacific 3hrs
Dubai - Bahrain Gulf Air (QF Codeshare) 1 hr 10min
Bahrain - Beirut Gulf Air (QF Codeshare) 3hrs 5min
Beirut - Milan Alitalia 4hr 10min
Milan - Rome Alitalia 1hr 15min

Not a bad suggestion, but...

My suggestion was better (and cheaper), what's this QF codeshare business?
Why go anywhere near BKK? It's a zoo.

Only thing I'd like to change with my itin is the ATH-LON sector.

U2 actually fly ATH-Milan direct, so you're almost in Rome.

Of course, no one will do it (except me).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

My suggestion was better (and cheaper), what's this QF codeshare business?

Although I have done similar, having one trip involving many flights spread over 5 tickets is not good for most people. Carries a reasonably high risk of misconnect (unless you spread the travel over many days, taking far longer than any single ticket would require).

 

[Brissy2]

Thanks guys for all your feedback. It's given me some food for thought.

Happy travels ..
Cheers