Suggestions on a DONE4

[Febs]

Hi all,

No doubt the millionth such thread...but the trip is (potentially) 6 weeks ago so I'm starting to look into options.

Basically, I need fly J to India (not sure where yet, likely Chennai + somewhere else) in July, and I'd like to make it into some sort of DONEx.

(I realise Chennai is a fair way from BOM, so I'd look at taking a separate BOM-MAA-wherever-BOM flight, probably on Jet Airways, who are brilliant . Either that, or make the DONE4 SYD-SIN-BOM-DXB, and get a separate SIN-MAA-wherever-BOM on Jet.)

Looking at the Qantas website, the price of a SYD-BOM-SYD flight in J seems to be up there with a SYD-LAX-SYD fare, meaning a DONE4 could potentially be a cheaper option.*

I'll be taking a week (possibly two) off afterwards, and would like to use this time to see some of the world.

Dubai is an absolute must, and being so close to BOM (and on the right way around the world), that'll be my next stop after India. I plugged a SYD-BOM-DXB-LHR-ORD-SYD routing into the Oneworld calculator and it came up as valid routing...so at the moment I'm considering something of that nature. LHR because I've never been outside of Heathrow before (and would like to explore London for a few days), and ORD because I have some friends there.

It's been suggested though that I should take more advantage of the trip and visit some other, more interesting places - Egypt, Africa, etc..

So my question is - given SYD-BOM-DXB as a starting point (ex-NRT etc... not an option), what are some interesting destinations I could throw in (spending 1-3 days in each), and still include LHR and ORD?

Appreciate any advice.

Cheers,
- Febs.

* We get much better corporate rates through work, but I know my boss often makes his US trips RTW's as they work out cheaper, so I'm presuming (correctly?) that it could be a similar story for BOM.

 

[Febs]

Oh, and I should point out that SC earning won't be a huge priority for this trip. While I'd like to get to LTS/LTG as quickly as possible, I only need another 235 SC's to retain Plat (or 1,165 to retain PG) before Feb, which I'll hopefully comfortably get.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Do you want us to suggest some places to go and visit.

Can you fly BOM-DXB on oneworld. Maybe CX :?:

You can fly DXB-AMM-CAI on Royal Jordian.

How about LHR-HEL-JFK on Finnair. (Finnair MD11 on HEL-JFK)

Alaska could be good for the miles and SCs.

 

[Febs]

Do you want us to suggest some places to go and visit.

Yes please.

Can you fly BOM-DXB on oneworld. Maybe CX :?:

Yep, CX fly that route and the Oneworld RTW calculator validated SYD-BOM-DXB-LHR-ORD-SYD as a valid trip.

How about LHR-HEL-JFK on Finnair. (Finnair MD11 on HEL-JFK)

Hmm, now that's tempting actually, as I could make the short trip to Estonia (which I'll be doing next year with my dad anyway). Hmm, not sure that'd be fair on dad though - he speaks fluent Estonian and he's never been. I don't speak a word of it!

Cheers
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

LAX of course. But bet you know I'm going to say that.

You've got lots of of sectors to play with...

In Asia... TYO is always good, as is HKG. So you could start off with a QF flight to NRT and proceed to HKG and BOM with CX.

Europe... AMS is a super party town, whilst ZRH is good all round - just really fond of the place for some reason, great food too. Personally I feel LON, AMS and ZRH seem more upbeat than the rest of Europe. Then again I've not been to MUC or the Scandinavian cities which I'm told are rather edgy and modern as well.

Besides LA I quite liked NOLA - heaps of fun from dusk till dawn. MIA is also cool but can be a bit common in certain neighbourhoods. And NYC of course!!

Enjoy.

 

[Febs]

LAX of course. But bet you know I'm going to say that.

Oh yeah, 'cause I just looove LA.
(I'd have to fly ORD-LAX-SYD anyway, but probably wouldn't spend any longer than I had to there.)

HKG I like a lot...but probably have a preference for places I haven't been to before. Also I don't really have any time before the trip, so BOM would have to be the first destination (or SYD-SIN-BOM).

Europe... AMS is a super party town, whilst ZRH is good all round - just really fond of the place for some reason, great food too. Personally I feel LON, AMS and ZRH seem more upbeat than the rest of Europe. Then again I've not been to MUC or the Scandinavian cities which I'm told are rather edgy and modern as well.

Something to look into. If those places are anything like Stockholm (which I loved)...I'm in!

MIA...an option too, but I'm hoping to go there in October on a US trip.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

Oh yeah, 'cause I just looove LA.
(I'd have to fly ORD-LAX-SYD anyway, but probably wouldn't spend any longer than I had to there.)

Aww why not... all the beautiful people are there!

I know you're not into maximising SCs, but if you're not intending to visit LA - ORD-JFK-(LAX)-SYD gets more points and SCs (and also counts as 2 sectors). Just a thought, not too much of a detour anyway.

 

[Febs]

Aww why not... all the beautiful people are there!

I know you're not into maximising SCs, but if you're not intending to visit LA - ORD-JFK-(LAX)-SYD gets more points and SCs (and also counts as 2 sectors). Just a thought.

Nothing really against LA, I just find it to be a bit of a dump. Sure there's plenty to see and do, but when you've done it as recently (and as often!) as I have, it gets a bit old. Have been to LA 3 times in the last 14 months, and that doesn't include transits. Yes it has some good nightlife, but so do plenty of other places (and those places don't all feel like a US version of Surfers' ).

There are other parts of California I like though. Monterey Bay is nice, and San Fran is a great city.

If time permits though, that routing does sound like a good way to get a bit closer to lifetime status.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

There are other parts of California I like though. Monterey Bay is nice, and San Fran is a great city.

Seems like we have different tastes then as I really didn't like SF or its people. No offense to anyone who lives there.

I don't do the touristy things in LA, I love the place as it's so cutting edge in style, fashion and nightlife.

BTW looking at demolishing my bmi miles end of this year before they get absorbed into LH and get halved in value... might extend my trip to HKG to include Europe. HKG-Europe 2 which includes Scandinavia is only 50 000 return in F using cash and miles return. You were saying STO is nice? And CPH?

 

[Febs]

I don't do the touristy things in LA, I love the place as it's so cutting edge in style, fashion and nightlife.

See I like that too, but didn't find it so much in LA. Moreso in places like NYC. Went to all the supposed hottest clubs in LA and they were OK, but nothing spectacular. Much prefer the clubs and bars of MEPA, and even places like Argyle/Ivy in Sydney for that matter.

You were saying STO is nice? And CPH?

CPH I haven't been to, but Stockholm (ARN) was fantastic. Fantastic nightlife, very cutting edge style, and the women.... :shock:

Just a great vibe to the place. Good for the touristy thing too (I spent a weekend there).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

I guess i'm more partial to LA as I have friends there, and they have good connections so I get on to pretty good guest lists. Plus so many of my favourite fashion designers are based in LA.

CPH I haven't been to, but Stockholm (ARN) was fantastic. Fantastic nightlife, very cutting edge style, and the women.... :shock:

Must check out what's it like for this side of the fence then.

 

[serfty]

re posts #4 to #11 - You guys should hang out!

(Or at least do an MR together ... )

 

[JohnK]

Oops! I must have entered the wrong parallel universe. :shock: Time to see if I can find my way back to our reality.

 

[Febs]

Bit of an update...

I'm sending off for a quote tomorrow (has to be ticketed through QF), so hopefully it comes back cheaper than the direct flights I need.

Still all very up in the air at the moment, but I decided to focus on a few key places I'd like to visit (Dubai, London), throw in a few other interesting places for a day or two, and try to get some decent mileage out of it too (though that's not a priority).

I ended up with:
SYD-HKG-BOM-DXB-LHR-FRA-HEL-JFK-ORD-DFW-ANC-DFW-LAS-LAX-SYD

HKG - Transit
BOM - Work
DXB - 3 nights - it's been number one on my list of places to visit for over a year.
LHR - Never actually stopped there, so 4 nights.
FRA - 2 night trip to the Nürburgring.
HEL - Good little destination this one - one because it's a short/cheap ferry trip to Tallinn, where my grandmother comes from, and two because it allows me to fly to JFK without using up another European sector getting back to LHR etc...
JFK - 'cause I love NYC
ORD - Friends there
DFW - Transit
ANC - 'cause I think it'd be interesting (good SC earn too)
DFW - Transit
LAS - 'cause it's Vegas
LAX - Transit



Cheers for all the help and advice. Would like to have added some more European destinations, but just don't have the time, and would rather prioritise these.

(Now I just need to decide if I want to take advantage of that AMEX to SPG promo and convert all my AMEX rewards to SPG points...or suck it up and just pay for accommodation when my SPG/HHonors/Hyatt/MR points run out. Hmm...)

Cheers,
- Febs.

PS: Anything I should consider for the above, apart from an India Visa (sorted) and a Dubai Visa?

 

[serfty]

... (Now I just need to decide if I want to take advantage of that AMEX to SPG promo and convert all my AMEX rewards to SPG points...or suck it up and just pay for accommodation when my SPG/HHonors/Hyatt/MR points run out. Hmm...)

Cheers,
- Febs.

PS: Anything I should consider for the above, apart from an India Visa (sorted) and a Dubai Visa?

Note that until Sep 1:

• 33,400 AX MR => 20,040 SPG
• 20,040 SPG => 25,040 AA miles
• 25,040 AA miles => 50,000 HHonors point + 40 AA miles

This is far better than the standard 33,400 AX MR => 33,400 HHonors

 

[Febs]

Note that until Sep 1:

• 33,400 AX MR => 20,040 SPG
• 20,040 SPG => 25,040 AA miles
• 25,040 AA miles => 50,000 HHonors point + 40 AA miles

This is far better than the standard 33,400 AX MR => 33,400 HHonors

Something to think about...thanks! Is it a maximum of 33,400, or can you launder any amount of Amex MR points into HHonors points that way?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Febs]

Is it a maximum of 33,400, or can you launder any amount of Amex MR points into HHonors points that way?

Sorry one more question - does it take long to transfer through all those channels? Reasonably safe? (i.e. AA aren't likely to drop HHonors as a partner in the next few weeks? )

Just realised that if I converted my Amex MR points to HHonors points that way, and added the points I currently have....I'd have enough for the four nights I plan on spending in London in practically any Hilton. Hmm...very tempting.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I think what you have come up with sounds good.
Is Anchorage a turn around or are you going to stay for a day to have a look around.

Dubai you need a visa but I am sure you can get it there on arrival.

British Citizens

Residents of the UK, with the right to abide in the United Kingdom, may obtain a free visa on arrival, which is valid for 60 days and can be renewed for an additional 30 days for Dhs. 500 (US$ 137). Holders of the British Overseas Citizens Passport, who dont have the right to abide in the UK, will also obtain the free visa.
33 Privileged Countries
There are 33 countries that are given the same on arrival free UAE visa on arrival similar to UK citizens. These countries include citizens of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States (US), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. A new law was passed on March 31st 2003, where the citizens of these 33 countries can only obtain a one-month non-renewable visit visa on arrival, which costs Dhs. 100 (US$ 28). Though the government officially passed this law, it does not seem to be always implemented.

 

[serfty]

Hmmm ... That's poorly worded as it seems contradictory.

Residents of the UK ... may obtain a free visa on arrival ... can be renewed for an additional 30 days for Dhs. 500 (US$ 137). ...
33 Privileged Countries
There are 33 countries that are given the same on arrival free UAE visa on arrival similar to UK citizens. ... citizens of these 33 countries can only obtain a one-month non-renewable visit visa on arrival, which costs Dhs. 100 (US$ 28).

I did not need to pay to obtain a visa when visiting DXB in 2006.

 

[Febs]

I think what you have come up with sounds good.
Is Anchorage a turn around or are you going to stay for a day to have a look around.

Thanks.
Plan is to spend a night in Anchorage - get in 7:25pm on a Sunday, leave 8:55pm on Monday. Short trip I know, but it's more for the "Hey I've been to Alaska!" factor. (OK, and a little part of it is for the SC's ).

Also considering LAX-AKL-SYD...but the only place I'd really want to visit in NZ would be Queenstown, so I'd have to look into an AKL-ZQN-AKL flight separately...and I think by that stage I'll have no time left!

Edit: Thanks for the DXB advice guys. Have left the question with my TA, so we'll see what they say.

Cheers,
- Febs.