Scarlett
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- Joined
- Jun 27, 2011
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I’m heading over Europe-ish way in September, using a cheaper TK J fare from CGK to ZRH. On the return to CGK, heading home, I figured I’d jump on GA domestic across to DPS and then get a VA Y day-flight back to Aus.
This trip allows me to requal TK Elite (*G), visit some new places and then VA WP requal as well from Aus-Bali legs at the start and end of the trip.
I’ve used VA WP complimentary upgrades to J on both legs of a booked Flex fare CBR-OOL-DPS for the way up, but on the way back award seats were only available for overnight flight options. J recliner on a 737 overnight? Done it once before and no thanks. I figured I’d just take the Choice fare back in EconX for one of the day flights (depart in the day time, but land in the evening - VA has this option from DPS to MEL, BNE and OOL), night in a real bed in a hotel and then back to CBR then next day.
There was also a thread here last year about how the value isn’t really there for paid J on VA for their short haul international, especially from DPS. I concur with the sentiment, so am content with EconX.
But.
Then I decided to look at how much a one way J fare would be from DPS heading back to CBR and the major east coast alternatives. $1400-1600 is the answer, but that’s not the mistake. Oh no, that would barely be a controversial option to take.
Instead, coming in for a grand total of $790, at the top of my J search, was this devilish temptation: PR J DPS-MNL-MEL.
It’s all wrong for so many reasons:
- the first leg is a 0050 departure on an A321 recliner seat
- there’s a 17 hour layover in MNL
- it’s PR, so MNL T2 and T1 involved, rather than the more palatable T3
But, on the upside, the MNL-MEL leg is overnight on an A330 lie flat. And it’s not that much more than the Y fare I really should buy.
Damn you PR, why do you tempt me so.
My brain is trying to wish away the issues by saying that:
- my body clock will still be on Europe time and I’ll probably have slept well into the day after arrival at CGK, so an early AM flight DPS-MNL will be fine as I’ll probably be awake enough anyway.
- I could just take a taxi to a MNL area hotel for the long layover (initial though was just walk over ‘Runway Manila’ to the Belmont Hotel and stay there)
- Lie flat J back to Aus!
- I could then book VA J CBR-MEL for the SC haul needed.
So, tell me, it’s a mistake right?
This trip allows me to requal TK Elite (*G), visit some new places and then VA WP requal as well from Aus-Bali legs at the start and end of the trip.
I’ve used VA WP complimentary upgrades to J on both legs of a booked Flex fare CBR-OOL-DPS for the way up, but on the way back award seats were only available for overnight flight options. J recliner on a 737 overnight? Done it once before and no thanks. I figured I’d just take the Choice fare back in EconX for one of the day flights (depart in the day time, but land in the evening - VA has this option from DPS to MEL, BNE and OOL), night in a real bed in a hotel and then back to CBR then next day.
There was also a thread here last year about how the value isn’t really there for paid J on VA for their short haul international, especially from DPS. I concur with the sentiment, so am content with EconX.
But.
Then I decided to look at how much a one way J fare would be from DPS heading back to CBR and the major east coast alternatives. $1400-1600 is the answer, but that’s not the mistake. Oh no, that would barely be a controversial option to take.
Instead, coming in for a grand total of $790, at the top of my J search, was this devilish temptation: PR J DPS-MNL-MEL.
It’s all wrong for so many reasons:
- the first leg is a 0050 departure on an A321 recliner seat
- there’s a 17 hour layover in MNL
- it’s PR, so MNL T2 and T1 involved, rather than the more palatable T3
But, on the upside, the MNL-MEL leg is overnight on an A330 lie flat. And it’s not that much more than the Y fare I really should buy.
Damn you PR, why do you tempt me so.
My brain is trying to wish away the issues by saying that:
- my body clock will still be on Europe time and I’ll probably have slept well into the day after arrival at CGK, so an early AM flight DPS-MNL will be fine as I’ll probably be awake enough anyway.
- I could just take a taxi to a MNL area hotel for the long layover (initial though was just walk over ‘Runway Manila’ to the Belmont Hotel and stay there)
- Lie flat J back to Aus!
- I could then book VA J CBR-MEL for the SC haul needed.
So, tell me, it’s a mistake right?
.
