Morning,

I'm thinking of booking AMS-SYD on CX in PE for late March into early April...they're coming in at at £2.5k vs £3.7 ex-LHR. I'll use redemption flights for LHR-AMS return.

The only CX flight out of AMS is at 12.30 so i'll get there the night before to avoid problems. On the return the CX flight lands at 6.40am...After which I'd presumably have to clear immigration, collect my bags, change terminals and re-check in. The 7.45am AMS-LHR is clearly too risky a proposition...so the next one is 10.55am.

I've never done longhaul ex-EU with positioning flights like this. Any tips for doing so out of Schipol? Any chance of getting my luggage checked through from SYD-LHR, or does it depend on the check in agent at SYD?

The only other negative aspect I can think of of this plan is the lack of lounge & showers at AMS, and I won't be able to use the arrival lounge in LHR...but I'll suck it up for the sake of £1000! Also, should the inbound flight be delayed from HKG how likely are BA to take pitty on me and let me on the next flight? Or is that just the risk I take?

Any advice appreciated,

Tom