Trip planning ADL-SIN, March 2011

[medhead]

Hi all

At the end of next march I'm off to Munich for my 40th (or 20th 21st birthday ) I have already booked into J SIN-FRA on QF 5 and 6. My time away is about 12 days total, or 2 weeks off work. But I need to get the to SIN. This is also my first time to experience Qantas international travel as a platinum flyer.

Given the short timeframe away it would be good to try to get into business. (I can handle economy to/from SIN). The thing is I can't pay for business and I don't expect to have enough points. My one experience of Starclass was fine. These will also be separate bookings so connection time is important. I'm be carry on only.

I have thought of a few options for doing this journey which are below.

1. Take QF5 from SYD, this puts me on the same aircraft and the SIN-FRA leg. I get to use the SYD F lounge. Return using QF10. Domestic connecting flights are not important but probably QF 82 ADL-SYD to give me a good number of hours in the F lounge and to cross the border in ADL instead of SYD. Op-up would be about the only chance to sit in J.

2. Use JQ 7 and 8 from MEL. F lounge might be less crowded. More chance of Starclass, either outright or purchased departure upgrade. The flights have a longer time to connect in SIN, (although connecting using QF5 is no problem). Cheaper or more expensive than 1, depending on using Starclass or not.

3. Use SQ from ADL direct to SIN. Direct flight. Seems a bit pricey, I'm not sure of how to get SQ bargains. No australian F lounge.

That is about all I can think of. I would really appreciate people's opinions about these options. Or if they can offer any alternatives.


I guess it will be best to wait a few more months before booking due to a possible post christmas drop off in loads.

 

[tuapekastar]

Hi all

At the end of next march I'm off to Munich for my 40th (or 20th 21st birthday ) I have already booked into J SIN-FRA on QF 5 and 6. My time away is about 12 days total, or 2 weeks off work. But I need to get the to SIN. This is also my first time to experience Qantas international travel as a platinum flyer.

Given the short timeframe away it would be good to try to get into business. (I can handle economy to/from SIN). The thing is I can't pay for business and I don't expect to have enough points. My one experience of Starclass was fine. These will also be separate bookings so connection time is important. I'm be carry on only.

I have thought of a few options for doing this journey which are below.

1. Take QF5 from SYD, this puts me on the same aircraft and the SIN-FRA leg. I get to use the SYD F lounge. Return using QF10. Domestic connecting flights are not important but probably QF 82 ADL-SYD to give me a good number of hours in the F lounge and to cross the border in ADL instead of SYD. Op-up would be about the only chance to sit in J.

2. Use JQ 7 and 8 from MEL. F lounge might be less crowded. More chance of Starclass, either outright or purchased departure upgrade. The flights have a longer time to connect in SIN, (although connecting using QF5 is no problem). Cheaper or more expensive than 1, depending on using Starclass or not.

3. Use SQ from ADL direct to SIN. Direct flight. Seems a bit pricey, I'm not sure of how to get SQ bargains. No australian F lounge.

That is about all I can think of. I would really appreciate people's opinions about these options. Or if they can offer any alternatives.


I guess it will be best to wait a few more months before booking due to a possible post christmas drop off in loads.

Bit of a juggling act I suppose. I did note some starclass specials late March SIN-MEL on JQ8 for ~AUD433 which seems quite good (but not on JQ7, at least not the dates I looked at, but you may be able to pay at the counter for an upgrade). And you earn J SCs for them, and have a shorter connection from ADL. But you're left with the connection issue.

They're fairly generous connections you have left (rightly so), but do consider what Plan B will be if you choose option 2 and miss one.

Would you have enough points for, say PE on QF5 from SYD-SIN (or QF6 back) - would alleviate any connection concerns and get you I would imagine at least *class quality (I've never flown QF PE or JQ *class so only surmising), even without J SCs.

Combine PE award SYD-SIN with JQ8 *class special on the way back? (subject of course to availablility on the days you wanted to travel, and your points availability)

Happy planning!

 

[medhead]

Thanks for the ideas.

I didn't really consider PE. I've done a quick check for availability on the dates in question and there seem to be anything that is suitable. I should have mentioned as well that I'm looking at late March adn return in early April, so the starclass return isn't available in April, but is there for my departure in March.

It really is a juggling act and I maybe had the hope someone else would decide for me. I would really like to do the Starclass thing but SWMBO isn't convinced. But then I'm also having trouble convincing her that purchasing an upgradeable Y ticket on economy would only be about $100 less than using Starclass.

Now that you mention the long transit time in SYD, perhaps 5 hours is too long and I would be better off leaving ADL later. With a midday departure time JQ7 would also fit into the to early bucket.

I also see that QF9 on my departure date is an A380. :idea: :?: Maybe, but I'm nervous about the connection in SIN.

More thinking required.

Thanks for your thoughts they were very helpful to clarify the process.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have already booked into J SIN-FRA on QF 5 and 6.

Given the short timeframe away it would be good to try to get into business. (I can handle economy to/from SIN). The thing is I can't pay for business and I don't expect to have enough points. My one experience of Starclass was fine. These will also be separate bookings so connection time is important. I'm be carry on only.

When you say you've already booked into J SIN/FRA, is this just a reservation or have you paid for it already?

Not sure how many points you have available but is it possible to purchase a JQ special MEL/SIN/MEL then use your points for a JASA or Classic redemption SIN/FRA/SIN?

Remember a JASA ticket can be a combination of points and dollars if you are shy on points.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just had a quick look for JASA availability & you can get:

Tue 22 Mar SIN/FRA QF005 2305/0515+1 for 104,747 points

Thu 07 Apr FRA/SIN QF006 2355/1800+1 for 114,173 points


Total points needed 218,920 paying no money or minimum points needed 168,000 and pay SGD774.92

The SWMBO factor! You need to bring her along to some kind of AFF 'do' so we can all convince her that there is absolutely nothing wrong with paying $100 more to be confirmed into Star Class. Why not stopover in SIN for a night & have a nice dinner somewhere then you don't have to stress about missed connections etc.

 

[albatross710]

Any connection via Sydney is going to add 5 hours to your journey, flight time to SYD + transit time + extra distance to SIN. ADL-SIN direct is only 7:40.

In 2005 I went BNE-SYD-SIN-LHR-MXP so that I could have the 'pleasure' of BA PE & use my QP membership along the way. I found all of the sectors added to my tiredness of the journey. These days I try and do it with minimal hops (1) into Europe.

Alby

 

[medhead]

Just had a quick look for JASA availability & you can get:

Tue 22 Mar SIN/FRA QF005 2305/0515+1 for 104,747 points

Thu 07 Apr FRA/SIN QF006 2355/1800+1 for 114,173 points


Total points needed 218,920 paying no money or minimum points needed 168,000 and pay SGD774.92

The SWMBO factor! You need to bring her along to some kind of AFF 'do' so we can all convince her that there is absolutely nothing wrong with paying $100 more to be confirmed into Star Class. Why not stopover in SIN for a night & have a nice dinner somewhere then you don't have to stress about missed connections etc.

This is almost exactly what I have a JASA SIN-FRA-SIN, just slightly different dates. I did the points and pay option for 168k and about SGD660. From memory the full JASA points cost was 104k and 98k when I booked, something like that. I've spend about 250K points this year, so I'm pretty much cleaned out.

I'm trying to convince SWMBO to join me in SIN for the weekend to experience starclass for herself. Just she things it is a waste as she wants to do more in SIN than just a weekend.

I'll check the day before for A380 options, excellent suggestion thanks.

 

[medhead]

Any connection via Sydney is going to add 5 hours to your journey, flight time to SYD + transit time + extra distance to SIN. ADL-SIN direct is only 7:40.

In 2005 I went BNE-SYD-SIN-LHR-MXP so that I could have the 'pleasure' of BA PE & use my QP membership along the way. I found all of the sectors added to my tiredness of the journey. These days I try and do it with minimal hops (1) into Europe.

Alby

Thanks.
I'm flying on Monday 28th march and returning on Wednesday 6th April or Thursday from SIN. That kinds of rules out the direct QF options, and I do want to do an Australian F lounge on the way out. I'll check the SQ and other options properly for the return.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm trying to convince SWMBO to join me in SIN for the weekend to experience starclass for herself. Just she things it is a waste as she wants to do more in SIN than just a weekend.

The lady has spoken Medhead, only one answer to that "excellent idea darling/yes dear etc..."

Happy wife, happy life!

Once she gets a taste of J or Star Class she might not every want to travel Y again - not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing. :shock:

I'm sure there's some blokes on here that wonder how you got away without taking SWMBO to Europe.

 

[medhead]

The lady has spoken Medhead, only one answer to that "excellent idea darling/yes dear etc..."

Happy wife, happy life!

Once she gets a taste of J or Star Class she might not every want to travel Y again - not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing. :shock:

I'm sure there's some blokes on here that wonder how you got away without taking SWMBO to Europe.

Certainly she always has great ideas to which I agree

I managed to get the leave pass because it is for my 40th and I'm going to the Stark Bierfest or starkbierzeit (sorry there aren't any good links).

I was going to do Octoberfest, but my brother suggested this instead and it works as my birthday is in March. My brother lives in Munich, hence the suggest of this lesser known beerfest. The hard bit was planning dates as it is held during Lent, which I'm sure everyone knows moves with Easter. I may still miss the event as they haven't sent dates yet.

Not onlydue to the beer fest, I got away free as it is only for about 12 days all up and my wife would rather spend 12 days in Paris than Munich.