Sydney to Barcelona: Qantas and Emirates?.

[Magoo]

I want to fly Sydney to Barcelona using my Qantas points in J. (I have no status)

Qantas website will only route me via Heathrow (and Melbourne?). Is it possible to go on to BCN with Emirates, rather than going to LHR and back? How do I do this?

2nd question. Why is it so much easier to get award flights out of Melbourne than out of Sydney? All the options I've looked at for this trip have gone via MEL.

Thanks...

 

[kermatu]

Might be easiest to call Qantas and ask. A friend managed it but was all on Emirates and via KL and Dubai (so still 3 legs) - she overnighted in KL.

 

[wanderer_au]

2nd question. Why is it so much easier to get award flights out of Melbourne than out of Sydney? All the options I've looked at for this trip have gone via MEL.

I always assumed it was a combination of the following:
1. SYD bigger than MEL
2. BNE closer to SYD than MEL, so BNE FFs looking for a redemption more likely to want to depart from SYD than MEL. Not necessarily everyone on AFFs, just people generally.

 

[Boca68]

I flew BCN-DXB-MEL a few years ago (2013) , with the BCN-DXB on QF codeshare. So, it is possible for sure. Although it was not a reward ticket.

I'd do as kermatu suggests, call Qantas. But, I'm sure, I did it via the website.

 

[andye]

I flew SYD-BKK-DXB/DXB-BCN earlier this year on QF/EK/EK with classic awards. Two awards as wanted stopover in DXB but sure there was single award pricing available

 

[kermatu]

Now I recall, my friend did Madrid-Dubai-Sydney for the return as well. On QF points, EK first leg, Qantas the second. This was only 3 months ago. Her bookings were done over the phone.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Use the multi-city tool for two sectors SYD-DXB/DXB-BCN.

If the connection is less than 24 hours, it will price it as one way (128K points++), if the connection is greater than 24 hours, it will price as 2 awards (146K points ++).

 

[andye]

I think that is how I searched

 

[magnacartic]

1. It depends on your dates; some days you can find SYD-DXB-BCN from a SYD-BCN search. Other days, you will have to be creative. Try SYD-PER-DXB-BCN; should cost the same as SYD-DXB-BCN so long the transit time does not exceed 24hrs. Just watch out for the Emirates fuel surcharge!

2. Many people use EK to fly J from SYD to LHR since both cities are financial hubs. Think ASX and FTSE. Many public companies will take up first and business reservations.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I did a Classic award in May this BCN EK x/DXB QF x/SYD QF BNE in why which IIRC was 64K points plus taxes. If I searched DXB/BNE it only showed me the EK options BCN/DXB/BNE all on EK but I had a preference for QF2 via SYD. I did a multi city availability BCN/DXB then DXB/BNE so got the flights I wanted.

There were two BCN/DXB flights to choose from EK186 (A388) dep 1550 then a 2200 flight (B777). I chose the earlier flight so there would be less hanging around BCN without a hotel but as I had an 8 hour transit in DXB I booked the DXB Airport terminal hotel so I could have a sleep prior to QF2 the next day.

We ended up having a 3 and a half hour delay ex BCN as a couple of emergency exit doors were inoperative so will the Lufthansa Technik engineers attended to that, EK ground staff had to move people seated in rows near those doors elsewhere which resulted in a lot of op ups from Y to J (self included). I did manage to get some sleep on the BCN/DXB sector which made up for the shorter time I had at DXB.

 

[tania73]

If CX fly to BCN their taxes for award seats are about 400 cheaper than emirates/qantas options

 

[Magoo]

Thank for all the great advice.

Thanks for the CX tip - but sadly, they don't fly to BCN.

I'll review the option using different tactics.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I also booked a Classic award in whY on QR ex BKK via DOH to BCN for 50K points plus taxes.

QR833 BKK/DOH was an A380 and you can get upper deck seating where there's two seats on the side.

The only downside is when disembarking they made us go back down via the rear stairs and disembark via main deck so you have to wait until all the other pax have exited before you can get off.

On the QF2 A380 DXB/SYD you board and disembark via the upper deck whixh is way better.

QR use one of the TG lounges in BKK for WP's.