bmi diamond club - Finding 3 seats in J to Australia

Dear all,

I am in the early stages of booking a family trip to Australia for Sept/Oct next year. I need 3 seats in J to ADL ideally (but it appears that SQ availability from SIN to ADL is virtually non existent) although SYD or MEL are fine.

I can find 2 seats on TG on a number of dates but not 3. Does anyone know if they release seats incrementally like SQ (ie booking 2 might free up a third) or whether it is unlikely to change and subject merely to the vagaries of revenue management?

(Incidentally, I can find 3 seats on OZ but (i) the flight time appears to be appreciably longer and (ii) requires an overnight stop on the way home.)

NZ is another option, via AKL.

NZ is another option, via AKL.

Having flown NZ J in the past, I would be delighted to fly with them again but I struggle to find a single seat, let alone 3!

I'm guessing it might probably be best to exhaust other options before booking TG. From what I've read about them (viz equipment changes) you could end up with a 'dated' seat which may not be entirely comfortable for a long journey.

I'm guessing it might probably be best to exhaust other options before booking TG. From what I've read about them (viz equipment changes) you could end up with a 'dated' seat which may not be entirely comfortable for a long journey.

TG rarely do equipment swaps on the LHR or FRA runs as they see them as their 2 top routes.

Asiana will be the best bet for 3 J seats. The timings aren't brilliant as you've said though. Sometimes TG do release more than 2 seats on a route, but it's entirely down to loads, and an extra one may not appear until a few days before travel if you get lucky.

My advice would be to book what you can now and then pay the change fee if something more suitable comes up later

TG rarely do equipment swaps on the LHR or FRA runs as they see them as their 2 top routes.

Asiana will be the best bet for 3 J seats. The timings aren't brilliant as you've said though. Sometimes TG do release more than 2 seats on a route, but it's entirely down to loads, and an extra one may not appear until a few days before travel if you get lucky.

My advice would be to book what you can now and then pay the change fee if something more suitable comes up later

Thanks. I usually book something and then spend the time before the trip looking for alternatives!

Mrs BiH has expressed an interest in coming home via the US, not a problem if I can find seats on NZ or AC - I am not however, flying UA's old C product.

From my own experience with TG they do increase numbers of redemption seats.

I have twice had a similar situation and after about 3 weeks an additional redemption seat was allocated

Naturally this will depend on how sales are proceeding on that particular flight, but in my opinion well worth the shot

Santa

TG rarely do equipment swaps on the LHR or FRA runs as they see them as their 2 top routes.

They frequently change on the Australia/NZ flights though, which is half the trip.

They frequently change on the Australia/NZ flights though, which is half the trip.

For that reason alone, I think I am going to book OZ and then keep an eye out for availability on NZ and AC.

a stopover in Seoul in one direction is not so bad, it is a good city for 1.5-2 day visit, as the drive in from the airport is a long way, so not ideal for a quick overnight.

a stopover in Seoul in one direction is not so bad, it is a good city for 1.5-2 day visit, as the drive in from the airport is a long way, so not ideal for a quick overnight.

There's a Hyatt @ ICN so you can stay on site rather than trek into the city itself.

It is true that equipment swaps / downgrades are endemic on Oz/NZ - Korea sectors by all the carriers available -- evidently Oceania is judged a lot less important than Europe or NA routes. My family and I had a SYD-ICN trip on KE in business class this summer that was extremely disappointing: obsolete tight-pitch seats, terrible IFE, etc. Probably the worst flight I've ever had on an allegedly top-tier Asian carrier.

That said ICN is indeed an interesting stopover -- Incheon Town Square, about 10 minutes from the airport, is full of layover hotels for transit pax, and very easy and inexpensive to stay at / see.

I don't usually think of KE as a top tier Asian carrier!:D