Introduction
Here we are. For my second trip report here on FT, I chose a First Class trip to Oceania. Based in Oslo, I can tell you that in the middle of December, when it's cold, dark and the skiing season has not quite started yet, there is nothing better than a trip to the south (as people say over here)... And this time I meant very very far south, all the way around the globe indeed!
So after having packed up some Dividend Miles and Avios, over the last year, we booked this rather complicated plan:
With the following rather complicated details:
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
OSL-MUC: LH / A319 / M (No C was available at time of booking)
MUC-BKK: TG / 74R / F
BKK-SYD: TG / 74R / F
Stopover
Qantas reservation (Cash):
SYD-MEL: QF / 763 / M
British Airways reservation (Avios):
MEL-SYD:.QF / 763 / C
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
SYD-AKL: NZ / 763 / C
Destination 1
Air New Zealand reservation (Cash):
AKL-ZQN: NZ / A320 / M
Air Fiorland Scenic Flight (Cash):
ZQN-MFN-ZQN: Air Fiordland / BN-2 / M
US Airways reservation 2 (Dividend Miles):
ZQN-CHC-AKL: NZ / 737 / M
Layover
AKL-NAN: NZ / 773 / C
Destination 2
NAN-AKL: NZ / 763 / C
Layover
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
AKL-SYD: NZ / A320 / M
SYD-BKK: TG / 74R / F
BKK-FRA: TG / 77J / F
FRA-OSL: LH / A320 / C
Yeah... Quite a trip right?!
The most familiar people with DM on this forum will have recognized a routing that is not 100% according to the book, as in reservation 1, SYD was our lucky stopover and AKL our destination. Reservation 2 was booked as an "Open Jaw" since Stopovers are not allowed within the same zone.
The total cost was 180000 DM, 9000 Avios, approximately 250USD of airfares (excluding Milford Sound Flight) and approximately 350USD of taxes and fees. Per person that is.
However because of poor weather conditions in MUC we missed our connection to BKK and were rebooked directly to MEL. Long story short, we ended up with a better product than our actual reservation, thanks to Lufthansa. Details are to follow below.
In the end our trip looked like this, and this is what will be reported over here. I have made specific installment for some lounges, but for the most common ones, they will be documented with the actual flight. I have also made specific installments for the some of the hotels we stayed at:
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
OSL-MUC: LH / A321 / M (No C was available at time of booking)
Unforeseen layover in Mövenpick Hotel MUC Airport
MUC-DXB: LH / 343 / F
DXB-MEL: EK / A388 / F
Stopover and open jaw
Radisson Flagstaff Gardens.Melbourne
British Airways reservation (Avios):
MEL-SYD:.QF / 763 / C
Radisson Hotel & Suites Sydney
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
SYD-AKL: NZ / 763 / C
Destination 1
Novotel Auckland Airport
Air New Zealand reservation (Cash):
AKL-ZQN: NZ / A320 / M
Sofitel Queenstown
Air Fiorland Scenic Flight (Cash):
ZQN-MFN-ZQN:.Air Fiordland / BN-2 / M
US Airways reservation 2 (Dividend Miles):
ZQN-CHC-AKL: NZ / 737 & A320 / M
Layover
AKL-NAN: NZ / 773 / C
Destination 2
Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island
Octopus Resort, Waya island
NAN-AKL: NZ / 763 / C
Layover
US Airways reservation 1 (Dividend Miles):
AKL-SYD: NZ / A320 / M
SYD-BKK: TG / 74P / F
BKK-FRA: TG / 773 / F
FRA-OSL: LH / A319 / C
Happy reading everyone! I hope you enjoy this, and please do not hesitate to comment.