Originally Posted by spotwelder
Assuming that you are going Pacific first to get to the US and then Atlantic to Europe on the DONE 4, you could route from LHR to BAH and pick up the CX 732 or 730 to HKG. If it is the 732 then find out where it stops (Dubai or Riyadh because that might be worth a coupon split and stay on board. You get more status points going via BAH than direct LHR to SIN/BKK/HKG and home. Never book straight through to SYD as getting off and getting back on the same aircraft (even if you have to split to the BA codeshare half) will increase the status points. The flight from London would be BA Club flat bed, a day flight and connects reasonably well to the CX 732/0.
Price is more sensitive that outright SC's. As I mentioned, our corp discount is higher for QF coded flights than for BA and even less for CX. So my preference whereever I can is to use QF flight numbers, then BA/AA get the next level of discount.
I asked to be booked on QF10 LHR-SIN and QF10 SIN-MEL as two separate sectors. But the agent said she had to sell it as LHR-MEL is that was available to sell (and it is). So I said, book me LHR-SIN on QF10, then overnight in SIN and next day QF10 SIN-MEL. Then later I will change the date of SIN-MEL to the orevious day and have what I wanted. I also want to take QF10 to get the QF Skyeds for the return home.
I am not short of sectors, having only used 17 out of 20 (yes, I know, shame on me). But I do have a family to get home to. I prefer to do my runs in the middle of the trip, spending weekends on planes and in lounges rather than in hotel rooms
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I have LHR-HEL-LHR in the routing as a run on a weekend before hitting FRA on Monday. This has two advantages - it is over 1000 miles so worth 60 SC's each way, and it keeps me out of London just long enough that each passing through LHR is less than 24 hours so lower taxes. I suppose I could do LHR-DBX=LHR or LHR-BAH-LHR, but I know the HEL route fits into the same day so no red-eyes and its in the EU so no major immigration/passport/customs issues for the turnaround.
Remember that your coupons are valuable. I would consider buying a LON-FRA separately as you can pick them up cheaply. Remember that LGW to FRA is often cheaper than LHR to FRA. Should you *A as well, you could book on flybmi.com as they can be very competitive with 1W.
My time and money are more valuable than the sectors for this stage of the trip. I am happy to take 2 x 30SC for LHR-FRA-LHR and 2 x 1250 points since its on the QF codeshare. And as QF flight numbers, it add to my QF percentage and hence lowers the overall price. Unfortunately HEL-FRA is under 1000 miles, or I would have gone LHR-HEL-FRA-HEL-LHR.
If you are DONE4ing then I will have another think about the European sectors for you when you have decided if you are routing this way.
May the status points be with you...
I would love a QF codeshare in Europe that is over 1000 miles and can get a return from LHR on the same day. But I can't find one. Its a real shame QF don't codeshare on the LHR-HEL route like BA/AY/AA do.