So I want to start planning my Holiday over next Christmas (2014) and into New year (2015). We want to go down to Oz - and by then I am assuming there may have been some changes in the schedule - or at least the 747 to SYD will have been upgraded with "new F" at very least??

I know that using a JOKER is probably the ONLY way (OK unless you are REALLY lucky!) to get any Avios availability on that trip - but luckily I have some of those spare!

We (4 of us) want to go there and back in F - and I will have a couple of companion vouchers to use.....and a couple of GUF2 ' as well - so it shouldn't hit the AVIOS bank too hard!

However - we want to break the outbound and/or return up with a stopover in HK .....

....and I'm thinking if they are going to be using the A380 on the HK route then that will be the way to go ...but of course I'm not sure if I can use my Joker unless its point to point - and I dont think BA either use HK as a stopover to Oz ....and nor do BA fly HK to Oz - so that means I will need to do the onward with a partner but on a BA ticket I'm guessing.

Am I wasting my time/being naive to think that I can sort something out here...with a nice stopover in HK or elsewhere? - or will I just have to bite the bullet and if I want to go to OZ - I will just have to use the true BA route (whatever it is) - and any stopovers could only be wherever BA stops off for refuelling - probably Singapore (which doesn't really hold any allure for us Im afraid)

Anyone been through this or have any thoughts??

Thanks!!!