Advice Required: Travel in J for less to Australia
Jul 6, 2017, 4:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
Advice Required: Travel in J for less to Australia
Re: advise required
Dear all,
I am about to complete my studies and want to do travel in style to Australia. Currently have OW Gold status
Objectives:
- To tick Australia Continent
- Travel in Premium cabin if possible
- Cover new airports and experience new luxury airport lounges (F Lounges)
Proposed Itinerary
1. Lisbon via London to Dubai by BA for £380 in WTP
2. Abu Dhabi to Colombo by Etihad in J for 57,000 Etihad guest points plus 990AED
3. Colombo to Sydney by MA via KL in J for £953
4. Sydney to Brisbane by Qantas -18.000 Avios +£25
Summary
total spent in cash:£1565
points used: 17,000 existing Etihad points plus 40000 MR, plus 18000Avios
lounges: London Galleries First, Abu Dhabi Etihad Business lounge, Dubai - BA F Lounge, Colombo - have not explored options yet, Kuala Lumpur - BA and Qantas First Lounges, Sydney - BA Lounge, Brisbane - BA Lounge
Advise Required:
I would appreciate any input you guys might have to enhance this trip or if possible to travel even cheaper(cash wise). I am intending to take this trip beginning of September for 2-3 weeks. Very flexible from mid of August till 20th of September.
I have 100,000 Avios plus 47000MR points towards this trip
Thank you all in advance
Dear all,
I am about to complete my studies and want to do travel in style to Australia. Currently have OW Gold status
Objectives:
- To tick Australia Continent
- Travel in Premium cabin if possible
- Cover new airports and experience new luxury airport lounges (F Lounges)
Proposed Itinerary
1. Lisbon via London to Dubai by BA for £380 in WTP
2. Abu Dhabi to Colombo by Etihad in J for 57,000 Etihad guest points plus 990AED
3. Colombo to Sydney by MA via KL in J for £953
4. Sydney to Brisbane by Qantas -18.000 Avios +£25
Summary
total spent in cash:£1565
points used: 17,000 existing Etihad points plus 40000 MR, plus 18000Avios
lounges: London Galleries First, Abu Dhabi Etihad Business lounge, Dubai - BA F Lounge, Colombo - have not explored options yet, Kuala Lumpur - BA and Qantas First Lounges, Sydney - BA Lounge, Brisbane - BA Lounge
Advise Required:
I would appreciate any input you guys might have to enhance this trip or if possible to travel even cheaper(cash wise). I am intending to take this trip beginning of September for 2-3 weeks. Very flexible from mid of August till 20th of September.
I have 100,000 Avios plus 47000MR points towards this trip
Thank you all in advance
Jul 10, 2017, 2:39 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
My immediate thought is looking for QR J fares that are often around what you have as your current cash outlay.
For September I see OSL - DOH - AKL - DOH - OSL available for £1664 - so for 100 pounds you would save all those miles and earn a nice chunk of miles towards furthering your OW status.
You could then use Avios for the LHR - OSL flights on BA and the AKL - SYD flights on QF (and because of your OW Gold, you'd still get QF F lounge access on the SYD - AKL QF flight).
If I'm reading the BA charts correctly you'd be looking at 300 tier points in each direction plus 15141 Avios in each direction.
For September I see OSL - DOH - AKL - DOH - OSL available for £1664 - so for 100 pounds you would save all those miles and earn a nice chunk of miles towards furthering your OW status.
You could then use Avios for the LHR - OSL flights on BA and the AKL - SYD flights on QF (and because of your OW Gold, you'd still get QF F lounge access on the SYD - AKL QF flight).
If I'm reading the BA charts correctly you'd be looking at 300 tier points in each direction plus 15141 Avios in each direction.
Jul 10, 2017, 3:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Is this proposed itinerary just to get to the BNE or are you stopping anywhere along the way?
Proposed Itinerary
1. Lisbon via London to Dubai by BA for £380 in WTP
2. Abu Dhabi to Colombo by Etihad in J for 57,000 Etihad guest points plus 990AED
3. Colombo to Sydney by MA via KL in J for £953
4. Sydney to Brisbane by Qantas -18.000 Avios +£25
Summary
total spent in cash:£1565
points used: 17,000 existing Etihad points plus 40000 MR, plus 18000Avios
lounges: London Galleries First, Abu Dhabi Etihad Business lounge, Dubai - BA F Lounge, Colombo - have not explored options yet, Kuala Lumpur - BA and Qantas First Lounges, Sydney - BA Lounge, Brisbane - BA Lounge
1. Lisbon via London to Dubai by BA for £380 in WTP
2. Abu Dhabi to Colombo by Etihad in J for 57,000 Etihad guest points plus 990AED
3. Colombo to Sydney by MA via KL in J for £953
4. Sydney to Brisbane by Qantas -18.000 Avios +£25
Summary
total spent in cash:£1565
points used: 17,000 existing Etihad points plus 40000 MR, plus 18000Avios
lounges: London Galleries First, Abu Dhabi Etihad Business lounge, Dubai - BA F Lounge, Colombo - have not explored options yet, Kuala Lumpur - BA and Qantas First Lounges, Sydney - BA Lounge, Brisbane - BA Lounge
Jul 10, 2017, 6:18 pm
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
There is no such status as "oneworld Gold", so we can't advise about any Lounge access beyond that provided by your class of service unless you provide your airline frequent flyer scheme and status so we can "translate" - (oneworld status tiers begin at Ruby, and proceed upwards to Sapphire and Emerald. Emerald status would open many - not all - First Lounges to you.
Award travel to Australia is aspirational and difficult to get, but it sounds like you're finding the space you need. MH can often offer decent availability (I think you mean MH, because MA / Malev has ceased business).
Award travel to Australia is aspirational and difficult to get, but it sounds like you're finding the space you need. MH can often offer decent availability (I think you mean MH, because MA / Malev has ceased business).
Jul 11, 2017, 5:59 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
Jul 11, 2017, 6:01 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
There is no such status as "oneworld Gold", so we can't advise about any Lounge access beyond that provided by your class of service unless you provide your airline frequent flyer scheme and status so we can "translate" - (oneworld status tiers begin at Ruby, and proceed upwards to Sapphire and Emerald. Emerald status would open many - not all - First Lounges to you.
Award travel to Australia is aspirational and difficult to get, but it sounds like you're finding the space you need. MH can often offer decent availability (I think you mean MH, because MA / Malev has ceased business).
Award travel to Australia is aspirational and difficult to get, but it sounds like you're finding the space you need. MH can often offer decent availability (I think you mean MH, because MA / Malev has ceased business).
Jul 11, 2017, 6:25 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
My immediate thought is looking for QR J fares that are often around what you have as your current cash outlay.
For September I see OSL - DOH - AKL - DOH - OSL available for £1664 - so for 100 pounds you would save all those miles and earn a nice chunk of miles towards furthering your OW status.
You could then use Avios for the LHR - OSL flights on BA and the AKL - SYD flights on QF (and because of your OW Gold, you'd still get QF F lounge access on the SYD - AKL QF flight).
If I'm reading the BA charts correctly you'd be looking at 300 tier points in each direction plus 15141 Avios in each direction.
For September I see OSL - DOH - AKL - DOH - OSL available for £1664 - so for 100 pounds you would save all those miles and earn a nice chunk of miles towards furthering your OW status.
You could then use Avios for the LHR - OSL flights on BA and the AKL - SYD flights on QF (and because of your OW Gold, you'd still get QF F lounge access on the SYD - AKL QF flight).
If I'm reading the BA charts correctly you'd be looking at 300 tier points in each direction plus 15141 Avios in each direction.
I am currently Lisbon based for 6 months, and idea was to see some of my family in Dubai for a family reunion for 3-4 days and then head to Brisbane.
ME for some reason is very expensive for Australia and NZ and the only cheap route I can find is from CMB.
Jul 11, 2017, 7:34 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Lisbon is a great city I hope you're enjoying it and the region.
For ~£2100 you can do J on EK OSL-DXB, DXB-BNE using some points for your feeder flight. You'd fly on their 77W and A380. You can also be routed via SIN on the DXB-BNE segment. If you went this routing I'd suggest a few days also in SIN if you've never been or even if you have.
Going AUH-CMB-KUL-SYD-BNE is an interesting routing, even for a FlyerTalker. I personally would want some time in Colombo and Sydney unless you've done both before.
For ~£2100 you can do J on EK OSL-DXB, DXB-BNE using some points for your feeder flight. You'd fly on their 77W and A380. You can also be routed via SIN on the DXB-BNE segment. If you went this routing I'd suggest a few days also in SIN if you've never been or even if you have.
Going AUH-CMB-KUL-SYD-BNE is an interesting routing, even for a FlyerTalker. I personally would want some time in Colombo and Sydney unless you've done both before.
Jul 11, 2017, 8:22 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
Lisbon is a great city I hope you're enjoying it and the region.
For ~£2100 you can do J on EK OSL-DXB, DXB-BNE using some points for your feeder flight. You'd fly on their 77W and A380. You can also be routed via SIN on the DXB-BNE segment. If you went this routing I'd suggest a few days also in SIN if you've never been or even if you have.
Going AUH-CMB-KUL-SYD-BNE is an interesting routing, even for a FlyerTalker. I personally would want some time in Colombo and Sydney unless you've done both before.
For ~£2100 you can do J on EK OSL-DXB, DXB-BNE using some points for your feeder flight. You'd fly on their 77W and A380. You can also be routed via SIN on the DXB-BNE segment. If you went this routing I'd suggest a few days also in SIN if you've never been or even if you have.
Going AUH-CMB-KUL-SYD-BNE is an interesting routing, even for a FlyerTalker. I personally would want some time in Colombo and Sydney unless you've done both before.
I am currently completing my studies and don't want go back to my employment with huge credit card bill - I would love to complete this journey under £1500 if possible, thats my target.
Colombo and Singapore and Sydney and Brisbane would be my first ever destinations.
Jul 11, 2017, 3:19 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Or just transits?MEL SYD can be cheap to buy with cash. Flight is about 60 minutes wheels up / wheels down.
Jul 14, 2017, 6:53 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 100
Spent too much time in Colombo airport in April of this year and it was quite possibly the worst airport experience I have ever had. The airport was under construction (closed 12 hours a day) and the scene was total chaos. So whatever else you do, don't plan a long layover there unless you know the construction is finished.
Jul 15, 2017, 6:37 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: LONDON
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond; Hyatt - Platinum, Accor - Platinum, Marriott - GOLD; SPG - Gold;
Posts: 62
Thank you
Spent too much time in Colombo airport in April of this year and it was quite possibly the worst airport experience I have ever had. The airport was under construction (closed 12 hours a day) and the scene was total chaos. So whatever else you do, don't plan a long layover there unless you know the construction is finished.