Get me on a First Class long haul flight before I turn 25!!!

[brown891]

The goal (for me) is to travel a long haul flight - be it to London/LAX/NYC etc. in first class before I turn 25. I am currently 21 so I have four years which I don't know if that's a lot of time to accomplish it or not, to me it sounds really fast considering I have only ever travelled economy. Seeing a lot of people post on here like first class travel is standard for them, just motivates me to be able to get to their level so this is why I would like to experience it!

Obviously I could just pay for it straight up (if I had the funds which I don't) but I would rather be able to do it through the use of earning points to then upgrade towards first class travel or something along those lines.

The questions:
- Can anyone recommend a logical order to gaining points within four years or less to be able to do this?
- Can you recommend the best ways you have found to earn points to upgrade to first class?
- What should I be on the look out for in particular to be able to reach this goal?

I don't want to take up everyones time so I'm not expecting paragraphs from everyone who are probably thinking 'oh look another rookie' but any crucial tips/tricks would be much appreciated. I understand a CC is a good way but can anyone recommend other tricks as well? Bearing in mind I do already read 'Point Hacks' so I may have some clue about what you may be talking about haha.

Details:
- I have currently 21000 QF points already available
- Qantas would be first preference as I already have points with them, but if you know of other airlines who are quicker/easier then I'm up for suggestions
- Goal is four years down the track so I'm looking for advice that I could start on 'today' that would lead to achieving first class travel
- I would like to pay minimum 'cash' possible
- I travel international maybe once every six months in the holidays with domestic flights in between to Hamilton Island and Sydney mainly.

Thank you in advance.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Credit cards are the easiest way to do it cheaply because you can earn points on things you are already buying.
So there is no extra expenditure involved.
Apart from that all you can do is maximise your earn on every spend.
Car hire, hotels, restaurants, and mobile phones are earning opportunities.
I understand woolworths is returning to the QFF fold as well.
The problem is these all involve sepnding money, often on an option which isn't the best value.
You will need about 192,000 for BNE-LHR one way in first on EK.
So that means earning about 42,500 points per year for four years.
That's a hard ask! Especially without a credit card.
I suppose BNE-AKL isn't long enough.

 

[brown891]

Credit cards are the easiest way to do it cheaply because you can earn points on things you are already buying.
So there is no extra expenditure involved.
Apart from that all you can do is maximise your earn on every spend.
Car hire, hotels, restaurants, and mobile phones are earning opportunities.
I understand woolworths is returning to the QFF fold as well.
The problem is these all involve sepnding money, often on an option which isn't the best value.
You will need about 192,000 for BNE-LHR one way in first on EK.
So that means earning about 42,500 points per year for four years.
That's a hard ask! Especially without a credit card.
I suppose BNE-AKL isn't long enough.

Yep I know its a huge ask of myself but mainly want to see what people reckon and will try my best to earn as many points as I can. If 25 is making it real tight, what do you think would be more reasonable if you had an idea..?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Easiest way? Buy some miles through AA or Avianca lifemiles. Lifemiles will get you business/first mix (via Tokyo) for around $4618 plus a few dollars in taxes.

If you want to fly qantas you'll need a healthy bank balance, and a healthy credit rating if you want to apply for credit cards to churn (plus meet any minimum spend in the first months of those cards).

If you are prepared to fly SYD-BKK-HKG on Thai Airways first that can be yours for just $2000 buying miles directly from United when they have a 100% bonus promo.

Long haul? Nothing happens between meals - there's no continuous live theatre or entertainment (and you have to sleep some time on a 24 hour flight). Fly to Bangkok and back and you get 9 hours of play time.

 

[brown891]

If you are prepared to fly SYD-BKK-HKG on Thai Airways first that can be yours for just $2000 buying miles directly from United when they have a 100% bonus promo.

Long haul? Nothing happens between meals - there's no continuous live theatre or entertainment (and you have to sleep some time on a 24 hour flight). Fly to Bangkok and back and you get 9 hours of play time.

I used to Live in Thailand so would be more than willing to fly Thai airways! That sounds like an unreal way to do it through United. Do you happen to know the last time they ran such a promo? I would say that they wouldn't do it very often??

Handy to know about long haul flights - sleeping etc. I suppose that shoulda crossed my mind, but yep doing it to BKK and on from there - even to NRT direct would be a serious option.

Brisbane have direct flights also to BKK.

 

[samh004]

Not that I do it, but as below, my advice would be to buy the points from the carriers that are selling them and simply redeem a ticket. The AA miles would allow you to fly Qantas to London for example.... although I'd aim for Etihad First if there was a way

Easiest way? Buy some miles through AA or Avianca lifemiles. Lifemiles will get you business/first mix (via Tokyo) for around $4618 plus a few dollars in taxes.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Your goal is very achievable within the time period specified. Credit card sign on bonuses are the way to go. Try for at least 5 cards a year. That will net your north of 250,000 point. Do that for 4 years and you'll have 1 million points +.

 

[junbugging]

I agree with MEL_Traveller's suggestions about buying points, with the caveat that it's hard to know how the landscape might have changed by 2020.

Having QFF or other points can still be handy, though, for example if you need to do a BNE-SYD or BNE-MEL leg to pick up a better option. Most of my bigger trips end up using cash plus miles from AA, QFF, LM, SQ, and VA in one way or another.

I've also found the enjoyment factor increases to some degree when you know you're exploiting a loophole or at least pushing things to the limit. So it's good to stay au fait with what's possible, which means reading various sites and, in my case, having smart friends.

The upgrade path is not always as good as it might sound, particularly with Qantas when you're basically just entering a lottery.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I used to Live in Thailand so would be more than willing to fly Thai airways! That sounds like an unreal way to do it through United. Do you happen to know the last time they ran such a promo? I would say that they wouldn't do it very often??

Handy to know about long haul flights - sleeping etc. I suppose that shoulda crossed my mind, but yep doing it to BKK and on from there - even to NRT direct would be a serious option.

Brisbane have direct flights also to BKK.

the last one just finished. they have fairly regular bonus offers! like 30% off the purchase price. but the 100% extra miles is not as common... but it's at least once (maybe twice?) a year.

nrt has has no non-stop first class on star alliance. oneworld you can fly Japan airlines, that's 60k miles each way on AA miles. again, wait for a really good bonus offer and it's not that expensive.

 

[junbugging]

to NRT direct would be a serious option.

SYD-NRT on JL F is about as good as it gets, a daytime flight so you can make the most of it, a decent duration, and use of the QF F lounge on the way out. Various ways of swinging that, including QFF, buying American miles, getting a credit card that converts to Asia Miles... basically it's all about being as familiar with the various options as possible.

That particular option (SYD-NRT on JL F) didn't exist a couple of years ago and might not exist a couple of years from now, and other airlines are also changing things all the time. One site I would suggest monitoring is Airlineroute :: Routesonline, you can get some really useful information from there. I'm flying to Seoul and back in F a few months from now on flights that will basically only exist that month, based on information I got there.

 

[travelislife]

Yep SYD-BKK or SYD-NRT are great options. Maybe even SQ R SYD-SIN through getting some VA points on credit card sign up. Shorter flight though.

 

[boomy]

I used to Live in Thailand so would be more than willing to fly Thai airways! That sounds like an unreal way to do it through United. Do you happen to know the last time they ran such a promo? I would say that they wouldn't do it very often??

Handy to know about long haul flights - sleeping etc. I suppose that shoulda crossed my mind, but yep doing it to BKK and on from there - even to NRT direct would be a serious option.

Brisbane have direct flights also to BKK.

In this case you should aim for SYD-BKK-NRT/HND/KIX all on TG F. At 50K LM it's unbeatable value and you may get to sample two slightly different products on A380 & B747, depends on the route.

 

[njba]

Your goal is very achievable within the time period specified. Credit card sign on bonuses are the way to go. Try for at least 5 cards a year. That will net your north of 250,000 point. Do that for 4 years and you'll have 1 million points +.

One wonders if a 21 year old will have a sufficient income to support the cards that usually offer >50K bonus points. And I wonder if the credit score will survive 4 years of 5 new products PA?

The problem with the approach of saving over a number of years is that you rather risk being victim of a devaluation or other change to a FF program (hence the earn and burn attitude of many).

 

[travelislife]

In this case you should aim for SYD-BKK-NRT/HND/KIX all on TG F. At 50K LM it's unbeatable value and you may get to sample two slightly different products on A380 & B747, depends on the route.

I 100% agree with this. Getting the 10am SYD-BKK flight in the nose of the 747 before it disappears gives a great 9 hour sector to enjoy First and a long lunch with all the trimmings. Can then stay overnight in BKK and get the A380 07:35am flight BKK-NRT. This will let you experience the great ground service Thai offers in BKK for it's first passengers. Will need to book this by screenshot method.

Should be able to do this for ~$1500.

Even if it is a couple of years away it is worth signing up to UA, AA and LM frequent flyer programs to get an understanding of how they work. You also generally need to be signed up already to have access to the promotions. LM should have one around October I reckon.

 

[clifford]

Or, if the budget is an issue, you could do SYD-BKK-HKG (TG 1st), HKG-SIN (SQ bus) for 40,000 UA miles + approx $100 in taxes. Cost of these miles in a UA Mileage Plus 100% bonus sale could be as low as $1,000. But this may change after 6 October when UA will revise its Mileage Plus award policies. They haven't yet released full details of the changes, so watch out for some possible surprises on the downside.

 

[brown891]

In this case you should aim for SYD-BKK-NRT/HND/KIX all on TG F. At 50K LM it's unbeatable value and you may get to sample two slightly different products on A380 & B747, depends on the route.

I 100% agree with this. Getting the 10am SYD-BKK flight in the nose of the 747 before it disappears gives a great 9 hour sector to enjoy First and a long lunch with all the trimmings. Can then stay overnight in BKK and get the A380 07:35am flight BKK-NRT. This will let you experience the great ground service Thai offers in BKK for it's first passengers. Will need to book this by screenshot method.

Should be able to do this for ~$1500.

Even if it is a couple of years away it is worth signing up to UA, AA and LM frequent flyer programs to get an understanding of how they work. You also generally need to be signed up already to have access to the promotions. LM should have one around October I reckon.

This sounds like it could be the goods for me! so just to be clear from both of you, you are suggesting first class Thai airways SYD-BKK-NRT; one way = $1500?? And this would be through points on either UA, AA or LM?? I am signed up to UA and AA but not LM currently.
What is the screenshot method you speak of? Sounds like a price matching method????

Lastly, can I view required points for these trips on LM/UA/AA websites so that I can see for myself?
Thanks so much to both of you for your help so far!

Or, if the budget is an issue, you could do SYD-BKK-HKG (TG 1st), HKG-SIN (SQ bus) for 40,000 UA miles + approx $100 in taxes. Cost of these miles in a UA Mileage Plus 100% bonus sale could be as low as $1,000. But this may change after 6 October when UA will revise its Mileage Plus award policies. They haven't yet released full details of the changes, so watch out for some possible surprises on the downside.

Because it is first class I am not too sure how to budget it compared to Economy, I'm generally pretty good at 'finding' fares on companies I like to travel with for what I consider 'cheap' but First class I'm not so sure so budget is probably max $4000 return or so. Would this seem fair??

 

[travelislife]

This sounds like it could be the goods for me! so just to be clear from both of you, you are suggesting first class Thai airways SYD-BKK-NRT; one way = $1500?? And this would be through points on either UA, AA or LM?? I am signed up to UA and AA but not LM currently.
What is the screenshot method you speak of? Sounds like a price matching method????

Lastly, can I view required points for these trips on LM/UA/AA websites so that I can see for myself?
Thanks so much to both of you for your help so far!

Yes once you are signed up (or not even with UA) you can look at different routing options and pricing.

If you have got time on your hands have a read of these threads!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ca-life-miles-questions-discussion-40866.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....grams/avianca-life-miles-post-your-53003.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ge-plus/bonus-united-miles-back-up-71306.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....couple-questions-aadvantage-newbie-59133.html

Because it is first class I am not too sure how to budget it compared to Economy, I'm generally pretty good at 'finding' fares on companies I like to travel with for what I consider 'cheap' but First class I'm not so sure so budget is probably max $4000 return or so. Would this seem fair??

Well you could do First one way to NRT and then Jetstar back (that would be a big come down!) so you could do it all for $2k.

 

[boomy]

This sounds like it could be the goods for me! so just to be clear from both of you, you are suggesting first class Thai airways SYD-BKK-NRT; one way = $1500?? And this would be through points on either UA, AA or LM?? I am signed up to UA and AA but not LM currently.
What is the screenshot method you speak of? Sounds like a price matching method????

Lastly, can I view required points for these trips on LM/UA/AA websites so that I can see for myself?
Thanks so much to both of you for your help so far!

AA belongs to OW so you can't book TG with them.
I use LM for these kind of bookings but UA miles can work as well, not sure if it will be as cheap tho.

Screenshot method is used when trying to book multi-city via LM that can't be done on their website.
You get screenshot showing availability on leg A-B then B-C then another screenshot showing no availability A-C and send an email to Avianca. They will create your booking and call you back to get payment for taxes. Off course you must make sure the route you ask for is legit according to the T&Cs (maximum 8 hours connection time etc).

From my experience it's easier to find F availability to KIX but you prefer NRT it's possible, just a bit harder.

 

[Mattg]

I don't think there is any need to wait until you're 25 - I honestly think it would be realistic to set a goal of flying First class to Asia within the next 12 months!

As others have said, I would be seriously looking at buying United miles. Join the United Mileage Club program now, then wait for a 100% bonus miles promotion. These promos are actually pretty regular - every few months or so another one comes around.

At a 100% bonus, you could buy enough United miles for a return First class ticket from Australia to Asia on Thai Airways for just USD1400. Then you'd be looking at just a little extra to cover the taxes when redeeming the miles. Doing this, you could realistically fly to Bangkok or Hong Kong for $2,000 return, or just $1,000 one-way. IMHO that's a very achievable goal for the next 12 months.

If you have the income to support multiple credit cards, then credit card sign-ups are another cheap way to accumulate enough points for a First class ticket to anywhere.

Also, if you want a taste of the First class lifestyle, there's always the Emirates tag flights between New Zealand and Australia. AKL-BNE, for example, is regularly on sale for less than $900.

 

[brown891]

Yes once you are signed up (or not even with UA) you can look at different routing options and pricing.

If you have got time on your hands have a read of these threads!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ca-life-miles-questions-discussion-40866.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....grams/avianca-life-miles-post-your-53003.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ge-plus/bonus-united-miles-back-up-71306.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....couple-questions-aadvantage-newbie-59133.html

Yep saw some of these already! Handy to know Will have more of a read of the LM related ones. Do you recommend subscribing to emails from UA/LM etc or better off keeping a close eye on AFF forum for deals on points?