Sydney to Tel Aviv detour

[acampbel]

As Phil would say :-

A detour is a choice between two options - each with its pros and cons.

In detour #1 you can take QF1 at 17:00 Saturday, arriving in LHR at 07:00 Sunday. After wasting the day in the lounge, you then need to take LY316 at 15:35 to Tel Aviv, arrving at 22:10 Sunday.

In detour #2 you take QF127 at 10:45 on Sunday, arriving in Hong Kong at 17:45. After spending 3 hours doing security checks, board the 20:55 LY76 which arrives in Tel Aviv at 03:45 Monday!


So I gain points/SCs and a better arrival time with option #1, or an extra night at home and shorter flights with option #2. Bizarrely, going via London is $150 cheaper, but as I'm not paying that is a moot point.


What would you do and is there an alternative?

 

[JohnK]

If you need to be at work 9:00am Monday morning then definitely take detour #1 with the extra SC's/FF points and the Sunday night sleep in a real bed.

Otherwise detour #2.

 

[Dave Noble]

No brainer; take option 2; it is a much shorter journey time and doesn't have 8 hours sitting around Heathrow Airport. Going via london is almost 37% further (3563 miles).


There ia another option that I can think of

QF1 SYD-LHR arrives at 07:00. Connect to BA165 at 08:50 arriving into TLV at 15:35. BA165 is a T4 departure

Dave

 

[acampbel]

Yeah - I did the BA flights to and from Tel Aviv last time, and the connections at LHR were pretty good (plus a nice hot shower in transit), but that pushes up the airfare to around $4K which might kill the whole trip.

I am trying to get on a training course that starts Monday so option #2 will make it a tough day if I don't get some kip on the flight from HGK. El Al doesn't have the most modern fleet going around!

I should find out if the trip is on today then I might have a quiet word with the travel agent to see what we can wangle .....

 

[acampbel]

Result!

The TA can get me on BA165 for the same price, so I get to the hotel in time to watch the sun sinking into the Med whilst I sink a few beers.

The return is El Al via Bangkok (LY81 at 00:25) which connects nicely with QF2.

Now if only BA wouldn't screw me over the air miles I would be in points heaven.

 

[Dave Noble]

That's definately an improvement over sitting in LHR all day; glad you got some decent flights

Dave