Using points for J UK? [Short Notice - Family Death]

[SOPOOR]

A friend has had a death of a family member and needs to go to the UK in the next two weeks.
I want to shout them a return j flight as it's a sad time plus it's a long flight

Is there any realistic chance of getting this. I have access to amex, emirates, kris, qff, velocity points

 

[pauly7]

A friend has had a death of a family member and needs to go to the UK in the next two weeks.
I want to shout them a return j flight as it's a sad time plus it's a long flight

Is there any realistic chance of getting this. I have access to amex, emirates, kris, qff, velocity points

Creative routings there is always a possibility...

Krisflyer might be your best bet. Velocity forget it.

Cathay also open up avails close in via QFF so worth searching that too.

 

[equus]

Cathay also open up avails close in via QFF so worth searching that too.

Don't use QFF points for CX if you have access to Amex - redeem directly via AsiaMiles (transferred from Amex). Two reasons - better redemption value, and you can nominate a redemption group for Asia Miles. Same applies for Krisflyer, which is the other good option.

QFF and the "friend" should be a family member - no such restriction on the other two.

Depending on your departure city, CX had multiple flights via HKG, and many for that period are still "waitlist" available for awards - suggesting a good chance of them opening up a few days before departure, if they don't clear the waitlist award earlier. Depends how close you are willing to call it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you have flexibility, CX can be a good option. But note that you may have as little as 48 hours' notice.

 

[SOPOOR]

thanks everyone, I think my friend would be quite flexible as long as they managed to secure a flight,

ive just looked up Kris flyer rewards, and for J melb to LHR its 210k pts with $500 in taxes,
but every thing is waitlisted,

is it wise to book a few of them and pray that one comes through?

can anyone advise on the odds of getting one?

 

[kpc]

Try Mh with Qf pts. Need to phone

 

[pauly7]

Try Mh with Qf pts. Need to phone

MH are online with QFF now....

Sometimes better to phone if time poor if you land a good agent they can be much faster.

China Eastern (or is it Southern....?) can be redeemed by ringing up, keep in mind will need a visa for transit.

 

[Pushka]

MH are online with QFF now....

Sometimes better to phone if time poor if you land a good agent they can be much faster.

China Eastern (or is it Southern....?) can be redeemed by ringing up, keep in mind will need a visa for transit.

Agree. We had an imminent death in family and had to get daughter back from Perth during the 1989 Pilot strike before her mother died that day. Qantas were exceptional over the phone at 4 am from memory.

 

[Denali]

t...ive just looked up Kris flyer rewards, and for J melb to LHR its 210k pts with $500 in taxes,but every thing is waitlisted,....

What about another arrival point and then train it to UK like Edinburgh or France?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

China Eastern (or is it Southern....?) can be redeemed by ringing up, keep in mind will need a visa for transit.

china eastern. NO visa required for transit in china.

 

[pauly7]

china eastern. NO visa required for transit in china.

That’s great - not what my work TA told us! Will have to correct her.

 

[moa999]

Vast majority of China ports have 24 and 72/144-hr Transit Without Visa available.

 

[Mattg]

+1 for China Eastern. There are 2 Business seats available on pretty much every MU flight out of Australia. (You just wouldn't know by checking the QF website..)

 

[SOPOOR]

+1 for China Eastern. There are 2 Business seats available on pretty much every MU flight out of Australia. (You just wouldn't know by checking the QF website..)

im fairly inexperienced at booking flights using QFF,

I thought QFF wesbite shows choice and to get the best range is to use the BA website (minus JAL)

do I need to look at each airline too?

 

[Mattg]

im fairly inexperienced at booking flights using QFF,

I thought QFF wesbite shows choice and to get the best range is to use the BA website (minus JAL)

do I need to look at each airline too?

The Qantas website does not show MU availability at all (and neither will the BA website as MU is not in Oneworld).

To search for MU availability, check the Delta website. If you find a seat, call Qantas to book it. Have them waive the fee as you can't book online.

 

[SOPOOR]

The Qantas website does not show MU availability at all (and neither will the BA website as MU is not in Oneworld).

To search for MU availability, check the Delta website. If you find a seat, call Qantas to book it. Have them waive the fee as you can't book online.

thanks, so is there website that shows all/majority of QFF rewards avaiailbity

 

[Mattg]

thanks, so is there website that shows all/majority of QFF rewards avaiailbity

No... but the Qantas website is the best overall as it shows all but 3 partner airlines.

 

[SOPOOR]

No... but the Qantas website is the best overall as it shows all but 3 partner airlines.

Are you sure? I thought BA was the best

I did one booking where Qantas showed nothing but the ba site had a few options .

 

[serfty]

Are you sure? I thought BA was the best

Maybe you should reread this part of @Mattg 's post:*

The Qantas website does not show MU availability at all (and neither will the BA website as MU is not in Oneworld).
...

* FWIW I wouldn't second guess anything @Mattg posts regarding making a booking.

 

[SOPOOR]

Maybe you should reread this part of @Mattg 's post:*
* FWIW I wouldn't second guess anything @Mattg posts regarding making a booking.

I did read it.
I'm not second guessing at all.

I've read that ba site is far better than Qantas on multiple occasions.

So I'm asking