Using Classic rewards to get from Sydney to Copenhagen via Frankfurt

[Dougo]

Is it possible to use my QFF points to "buy" a seat from Sydney to Copenhagen via Frankfurt using the classic rewards?

I know I can book and pay $$ for a flight from Sydney Copenhagen via Frankfurt, changing to Scandinavian Air in Frankfurt, with a short stop in Singapore but this routing doesn't come up at all under the Classic Rewards.

I'm looking to fly on 20th May 2013 and want to minimise my time in the air with the least amount of stops and hopefully avoid Heathrow.

My alternative would be to fly to Frankfurt and book a flight with SAS ...and I don't think I can use points to pay for SAS if not booked through the Qantas site ... is this correct?

Thanks

 

[BD1959]

Have you looked at AY via HEL? Helsinki's a doddle to connect compared with LHR (or even FRA for that matter), fairly good connections onto the AY flights at SIN, HKG - though I haven't looked lately at HKG - maybe even BKK from SYD.

Regards,

BD

 

[here2go]

Have you looked at AY via HEL? Helsinki's a doddle to connect compared with LHR (or even FRA for that matter), fairly good connections onto the AY flights at SIN, HKG - though I haven't looked lately at HKG - maybe even BKK from SYD.

Regards,

BD

AY is the quickest way into Northern Europe with the curvature of the earth. AY is certainly the most direct with OW. You may be able to get QF codeshare as well to HEL with AY.

 

[Dougo]

Thanks for that ... I never thought about going via Helsinki. And yes it is a little quicker and the points are a little kinder but the shortest time is with BA to SIN and then AY to Helsinki.

I've heard of some really bad service on BA .. anyone know if that is still the case?

Also, if I go via Helsinki or any European country for that matter, would I have to go through Customs and Immigration as technically I'll be in transit? I'm asking as I'm wondering how much time to allow when booking my final flight to Copenhagen.

 

[here2go]

Also, if I go via Helsinki or any European country for that matter, would I have to go through Customs and Immigration as technically I'll be in transit? I'm asking as I'm wondering how much time to allow when booking my final flight to Copenhagen.

You clear customs at the final destination in the Schengen zone, so that will be in CPH.

 

[BD1959]

Thanks for that ... I never thought about going via Helsinki. And yes it is a little quicker and the points are a little kinder but the shortest time is with BA to SIN and then AY to Helsinki.

I've heard of some really bad service on BA .. anyone know if that is still the case?

Also, if I go via Helsinki or any European country for that matter, would I have to go through Customs and Immigration as technically I'll be in transit? I'm asking as I'm wondering how much time to allow when booking my final flight to Copenhagen.

Connection times of 55mins are not uncommon at HEL. You will enter through the non-Schengen area into the Schengen area which is where your onward flight would depart. This is, in effect, clearing immigration. Technically you'd clear customs at Copenhagen as this is where you'd retrieve your checked luggage.

The only downside to flying AY would be their Y service ... I believe some of it is BOB - however if you're flying J, then I can thoroughly recommend their inflight service.

BA can - like QF - be inconsistent. Certainly I'm not a fan of their (lack of) seating pre-allocation for non-status pax.


Regards,

BD

 

[Dougo]

... I believe some of it is BOB - however if you're flying J, then I can thoroughly recommend their inflight service.

BA can - like QF - be inconsistent. Certainly I'm not a fan of their (lack of) seating pre-allocation for non-status pax.


Regards,

BD

.. some of it is BOB ??? not sure what you mean but it doesn't sound good !!

And BA - no seat selection when you purchase from Qantas ? Wow !

Thanks for the info about Customs and Immi at Helsinki and CPH

 

[BD1959]

.. some of it is BOB ??? not sure what you mean but it doesn't sound good !!

And BA - no seat selection when you purchase from Qantas ? Wow !

Thanks for the info about Customs and Immi at Helsinki and CPH

Have a look at this detail for AY Intercontinental Economy inclusions/exclusions.

BA allows selection of seats at T-24 for non-status passengers - even in J. Personally, I like to pick my seat earlier than that.

Regards,

BD

 

[Robert Qld]

I will add the chorus of people recommending FinnAir.

Having just done a couple of trips less then two months ago with them, I'd highly recommend them.

Use the the multi-city tool on the Qantas website to book (ie SYD-SIN-HEL-CPH et cetera) - this is the best way of avoiding Qantas defaulting everything via LHR.

Prices also remain pretty consistantly priced ($1800-1900 range) when compared to direct flights with QF (LHR & FRA) which increased and flucuated on a daily basis ($1900-$2700). So if you need to hold off booking your tickets for a little while, you have a bit of a buffer.

Plus with the way the international to intra-European connections work, the HEL-CPH legs will basically be barely a few dollars more then the flight terminating in HEL (compared to spending 100+ Euro for booking another flight).

I myself had HEL-MAN on my booking after a four day layover in Helsinki and I don't recall the price being any different from a the costs for flights terminating in HEL - and the HEL-MAN on AY is one of the most expensive economy flights in Europe! So think of it as the last leg basically being a freebie!

Economy seating can be a little hard (though service and food where pretty good), on the other hand J is rather nice and the bed was one of the flatter ones I've had. Be warned the IFE selection however is pretty limited and a large percentage of what is on offer is Chinese language movies. Though having Angry Birds merchandise being sold in the OnBoard Duty Free was pretty cool.

Customs - 5-10 minutes tops if terminating at Helsinki with the line consisted of basically nobody but Australians and a few Asians. Custom guards are the same old type with bored expressions, but as long as you can show them your return journey booking, they couldn't care less. Not sure of the deal with any connecting flights though.

Also since AY flies to SIN, BKK, HKG & NRT you can arguably connect between QF & AY at any of these airports (however I'd only did SIN & BKK - so I cannot comment how well HKG & NRT work)

Helsinki is also a wonderful city to spend a few days as well. Heck if you have the time, you could easily get an overnight ferry to Copenhagen.

I would highly recommend flying AY and unless this QF/EK/QR/whatever thing ever happens to present me another option, a QF/AY codeshare will be my default method of choice of going to Europe.

 

[BD1959]

.. some of it is BOB ??? not sure what you mean but it doesn't sound good !!

Sorry, should have been explicit ... BOB = Buy On Board. The link I posted in my previous post provides better detail of what's provided free in Y and what's available for purchase.

Regards,

BD

 

[Dougo]

Thanks for all that info - sounds good to me and I'll investigate the overnight ferry too.

 

[Robert Qld]

Sorry, should have been explicit ... BOB = Buy On Board. The link I posted in my previous post provides better detail of what's provided free in Y and what's available for purchase.

Regards,

BD

Whats happening there? I thought the BOB was still being 'trialed' only on the HEL-MAN flight (though I managed to sneak in a few weeks before that it went into effect). Though last I heard any short-haul resulting from an Asian connection (like the OP would be doing) would still get a snack pack.

 

[BD1959]

Whats happening there? I thought the BOB was still being 'trialed' only on the HEL-MAN flight (though I managed to sneak in a few weeks before that it went into effect). Though last I heard any short-haul resulting from an Asian connection (like the OP would be doing) would still get a snack pack.

AFAIK, Long Haul BOB (at least for spirits) has been around on AY Y for a few years now. Must admit, was surprised when I read that page on the link to see it also includes non-scheduled snacks. Seems to be the "AY way" ... you should have seen the uproar when AY started charging for non-standard drinks in some of their Lounges (though that might have been subsequently relaxed).

Despite all the negative, personally I think AY offer a good product.

Regards,

BD

 

[fairbasa]

I'm another AY fan. I've flown Melbourne to Tallinn (via Helsinki) in about 20hrs, just under! This was including a 50min connection in Helsinki. I've found Finnair to be comfortable and the service good. I personally would even choose AY over QF when it comes down to it. They also seem to value my OW status more than QF even though I'm a QFF!

 

[V1213]

Count me as another AY supporter.
If you don't feel the need for cup noodles and spirits in addition to the regular catering, which I always find sufficient, then you won't even know about the BOB extras.
I've done a 45 minute timetabled connection at HEL with no problems, though I have seen some passengers getting express transit security treatment when a flight I arrived on was a bit late. The quick transfer is a big selling point so they're conscious of making it work.

I've done AY-ticketed trips many times but am looking to change to QF-ticketed on the QF codeshares to increase my points haul.