Velocity Business awards availability to/from MXP?

[cagiva]

Business awards availability to/from MXP

Hi all. First post so be gentle.

Just wondering why Velocity availability to MXP does not include SQ daily flights. It only shows SQ378 (I think) and not SQ356 and for those days says "no flight scheduled".
I am looking at flying PER-MXP mid to end August preferably in J and, yes I know, have left it a little late. I prefer SQ as they get in early morning.
Also finding the QFF site hard to navigate. Wanting to return end September with QF reward but am only getting something through LHR. Can't seem to find any QR flights.

Thanks for any help offered.

 

[henrus]

Just wondering why Velocity availability to MXP does not include SQ daily flights. It only shows SQ378 (I think) and not SQ356 and for those days says "no flight scheduled".
I am looking at flying PER-MXP mid to end August preferably in J and, yes I know, have left it a little late. I prefer SQ as they get in early morning.

It looks like you're a bit late...

Often searching PER-MXP will display less results than PER-SIN and SIN-MXP searches separately but that's if availability even exists in the first place. It's worth noting that VA awards don't allow stopovers well at least when they do it'll cost more in points and taxes as it'll price the two legs separately.

I did a quick search from PER-SIN and found around 1-2 seats in Business on some days for 53000 VA points + $84.40 taxes (searches I did had dates from 15 Aug-23 Aug).

From SIN-MXP there is no Business availability in at all between 15-30 Aug however there is a scattering of Premium Economy seats for 75000 points and $51.90 taxes.

So you could purchase two separate tickets PER-SIN (in Business) then SIN-MXP (in Premium Economy) for 128,000 VA points and $136.3 taxes per person oneway.


Regarding the Qantas flights... I'm less experienced with complex QF awards but a quick search suggests that even economy is sold out on many flights. That being said there appears to be some QR availability which the website is only displaying when connecting through to Asia. So my suggestion is looking at multi stop tickets with "layovers" of less than 24 hours in Asia.

For example of the 27th of September I found MXP-DOH-KUL (QR) then KUL-PER (MH) for 145,000 QF points or even cheaper MXP-DXB-KUL (EK) then KUL-PER (MH) for 137,000 QF points (no idea what the taxes would be).

Hope this helps a bit and I'd honestly suggest you book something as soon as you find what you like (otherwise you'll miss out altogether).

 

[cagiva]

Thanks for your help and advice henrus.
Am contemplating flying to other Euro country then to MXP.
For the return may have to buy one this time .

 

[jbman]

Past experience MXP is tough one to get seats for other than on release

 

[cagiva]

Just an update.
Kicked around the idea to fly into ZRH in J for 121,000 points and about $93. It was a tough one but leaving very end August (almost too late). SQ gets into ZRH at 8.30am so longer layover in SIN and I was dreading the 6/7 train ride to northern Italy on the end of the flight. Flight connections ZRH-MXP not very good then still have 3 hour train ride .
So I have booked 20th Aug PER-Sin in J and SIN-MXP in premium economy as henrus suggested.

Still have to work out how I'm getting back.
Could suffer MXP-SIN in economy, 40,000 points and $50 or so, on SQ then pay $300 for a connecting flight SIN-PER.
If I can work out how to use QF points have that option or, at very worst, buy a one way J with Thai for about $2,900.

 

[Oxy]

So I have booked 20th Aug PER-Sin in J and SIN-MXP in premium economy as henrus suggested.

How did you go finding PE ex PER on SQ? I have looked at a similar itinerary to yourself, but being tight on points am considering PE ex PER as it's a lot less points via Krisflyer. However when trying to search PE it reverts back to economy saying no flights in PE available. I think there is only 1 flight per day with PE ex perth, but would have thought availability wouldn't be too big an issue.

 

[henrus]

How did you go finding PE ex PER on SQ?

When I did some searching I couldn't find any PE.

What cagiva has booked is two separate tickets PER-SIN (on SQ Business) then SIN-MXP (on SQ Premium Economy). It's odd because often you can get good Business availability from AU-SIN but then from Singapore to other destinations (even NZ) the best you can often find in Premium Economy.

 

[Oxy]

When I did some searching I couldn't find any PE.

What cagiva has booked is two separate tickets PER-SIN (on SQ Business) then SIN-MXP (on SQ Premium Economy). It's odd because often you can get good Business availability from AU-SIN but then from Singapore to other destinations (even NZ) the best you can often find in Premium Economy.

Yes I have had similar. They do a lot of controlled segments (I forget the technical term) but I can find au-sin-bkk in J but not the same flight au-sin for example.

 

[cagiva]

J availability PER-SIN is actually pretty good. Little PE though. I guess people can't justify the spend for a 5 hour flight.
Wish there was more J availability to MXP. That is really where it is worth it.
Guess I was extremely fortunate last year. Booked end January and snagged PER-MXP in J, but on return had to book 2 separate flights.
MXP-SIN in PE and SIN-PER in J.
In right place at right time!

 

[cagiva]

Another update guys.
While waiting for some points to hit my velocity account I watched all my options disappear. Been looking primarily at MXP returning to PER, but not fussed. Could do ZRH, FCO, CDG, MUC etc. The best availability though was out of ZRH or FRA. on split tickets ( PE to SIN then J from SIN to PER).
Considered an option of MXP-DOH-SIN in J with QR for $1.900, then anything from SIN to PER. I could not find these as award seats from QF website.
But last night found that SQ must have released more award seats. Managed to book CDG-PER, end September, in J for 121,000 velocity points and $170. Quite happy with that! Now just need to get from northern Italy to CDG. Might be an Easyjet!!
Will still monitor flights out of MXP. Would be stoked if I could swap this flight for a MXP-SIN-PER but am not holding my breath at this stage.
Should be looking at hotels near CDG. Any suggestions . The Sheraton looks good, just a short walk to the terminal, but pricey.
Meanwhile thanks for your help guys.