Just got asked to fly to MEL in 5 weeks - point me?
#46
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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@OP
I know this won't fit your provided budget as per your boss... But in the few times I flew AC33 to get to MEL, I always did a separate booking on VA ex-SYD. The VA product is top notch. Many FTers helped me see the VA light.
I know this won't fit your provided budget as per your boss... But in the few times I flew AC33 to get to MEL, I always did a separate booking on VA ex-SYD. The VA product is top notch. Many FTers helped me see the VA light.
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
In case you're terribly bored, my quest is in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...ds-search.html
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
As I noted upthread I go to MEL every 10-12 weeks for 3 days per trip thus only the shorts route & minimum connections.
United is the best option. LAX-MEL in Mel 9:45AM. March 8:45AM. NA Spring summer, in MEL by 7:45AM.
For OZ summer enough time to book Lunch on day of arrival. NA Spring & summer enough time to book 2 meetings by lunch time on day of arrival.
My route is YYZ-EWR-LAX PS(Lie Flat)-MEL 787( Lie flat).
If you have C$5000.00 budget + some AE miles it is very doable.
You can do YYZ-LAX AC-MEL UA.
Use AE miles to upgrade.
I am doing YYZ-MEL-YYZ mid FEB. In J. Total cost C3590.00 AI using upgrade & all flights upgraded.
PM me your dates. Happy to check upgrade space for you on UA.
United is the best option. LAX-MEL in Mel 9:45AM. March 8:45AM. NA Spring summer, in MEL by 7:45AM.
For OZ summer enough time to book Lunch on day of arrival. NA Spring & summer enough time to book 2 meetings by lunch time on day of arrival.
My route is YYZ-EWR-LAX PS(Lie Flat)-MEL 787( Lie flat).
If you have C$5000.00 budget + some AE miles it is very doable.
You can do YYZ-LAX AC-MEL UA.
Use AE miles to upgrade.
I am doing YYZ-MEL-YYZ mid FEB. In J. Total cost C3590.00 AI using upgrade & all flights upgraded.
PM me your dates. Happy to check upgrade space for you on UA.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
[off topic]
Its very difficult to get business class awards on Air NZ. For years they had close to zero availability. But that has changed a little in the last year. Last year I got a AKL SFO business class award on Air NZ with UA ff miles 5 weeks before the flight.
Not that many airlines fly to PPT. Its a popular, albeit expensive, destination. http://tahiti-airport.com/airlines-and-destinations/
[/off topic]
Different topic - sorry, I didn't mean for it to be distracting to this thread. Yes, I cannot get to PPT on aeroplan miles only. But, I can get to AKL, and then buy an AKL-PPT seat in economy. Getting to AKL is much easier - likely on UA, but possibly on NZ (all business lay flats).
Not that many airlines fly to PPT. Its a popular, albeit expensive, destination. http://tahiti-airport.com/airlines-and-destinations/
[/off topic]
#51
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#52
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
The same type of tool who appreciates the fact that the difference between $3500 and $8000 is substantial. Do you rubber stamp your own employees for the $8000 option?
#53
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Amazing seat sale from YVR-SYD.
Lets hope AC or at least UA matches.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...-687k-usd.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...-687k-usd.html
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
I suppose I live in a different world than some. Our multi-national manufacturing company normally doesn't even allow for business class travel anymore. We used to be able to fly business if the flight was >6 hours, but 2008 markets happened, and that was changed to economy, or PE now. Just flew to Frankfurt on PE, and it wasn't bad at all. Combine this with the fact that very few flights are needed to Australia in our business - so this is a "one off". Without me asking, the policy says PE - but I simply asked if there could be provisions made for a business class for such a long flight. Also, not sure if you noticed, but I also update the thread half way through where I updated him on the prices I was seeing, and he's lifted the limit - but I still need to be reasonable.
#55
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
YYZ-YVR-BNE-MEL (AC/AC/QF) Dept Feb 16th Arrival Feb 18th
MEL-CAN-YYZ (CZ/CZ) Dept Feb 25th Arrival Feb 26th
Return has an 8hr layover in CAN
5700$ All J...
You get your points going to mel, coupled with a great product, as well as an "ok" product on the return, all in J. Your flights are changing prices because fares are filed with advanced purchase requirements so
A P fare with a 30 day advanced purchase requirement is 5000, a 14 day is 7000, 7 day is 8500, etc. If those are the only fares filed, then as soon as the 30 day mark is passed, the price immediately jumps 2k. It can also be as easy as the P fares are now sold out on your date and your now into a Z fare which can be several hundred or thousands more expensive. There are few situations where waiting will result in cheaper flights.
MEL-CAN-YYZ (CZ/CZ) Dept Feb 25th Arrival Feb 26th
Return has an 8hr layover in CAN
5700$ All J...
You get your points going to mel, coupled with a great product, as well as an "ok" product on the return, all in J. Your flights are changing prices because fares are filed with advanced purchase requirements so
A P fare with a 30 day advanced purchase requirement is 5000, a 14 day is 7000, 7 day is 8500, etc. If those are the only fares filed, then as soon as the 30 day mark is passed, the price immediately jumps 2k. It can also be as easy as the P fares are now sold out on your date and your now into a Z fare which can be several hundred or thousands more expensive. There are few situations where waiting will result in cheaper flights.
Last edited by hearna; Jan 18, 2017 at 12:53 pm
#56
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[off topic]
Its very difficult to get business class awards on Air NZ. For years they had close to zero availability. But that has changed a little in the last year. Last year I got a AKL SFO business class award on Air NZ with UA ff miles 5 weeks before the flight.
Not that many airlines fly to PPT. Its a popular, albeit expensive, destination. http://tahiti-airport.com/airlines-and-destinations/
[/off topic]
Its very difficult to get business class awards on Air NZ. For years they had close to zero availability. But that has changed a little in the last year. Last year I got a AKL SFO business class award on Air NZ with UA ff miles 5 weeks before the flight.
Not that many airlines fly to PPT. Its a popular, albeit expensive, destination. http://tahiti-airport.com/airlines-and-destinations/
[/off topic]
NZ is a leisure market or there are not many locals willing to pay for J so the NZ plans its fleet with very few J seats.
#57
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 4,391
Not AKL-LAX/SFO.
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Hopefully this final(?) question gets some visibility. Dates are confirmed. For our dates, the following 3 options are all within +/- $700 of each other.
I'll look up which of these airlines are *Alliance - which is bonus to my AP account.
Recommendations?
(All seats are business class)
Option 1:
YYZ-LAX on AirCanada A321 (flight AC799)
9 hr layover in LAX
LAX-MEL on Qantas A380 (flight QF94)
Total journey time: ~30 hours
Option 2:
YYZ-Dubai on Emirates A380 (Flight EK242)
8 hr layover in Dubai
Dubai-MEL on Emirates 777-300er (Flight EK408)
Total Journey time: ~36 hours
Option 3:
YYZ-Abu Dhabi on Etihad 777-300er (Flight EY140)
10 hr layover in Abu Dhabi
AbuDabi - MEL on Etihad A380(flight EY460)
Total Journey time: ~37 hours
I'll look up which of these airlines are *Alliance - which is bonus to my AP account.
Recommendations?
(All seats are business class)
Option 1:
YYZ-LAX on AirCanada A321 (flight AC799)
9 hr layover in LAX
LAX-MEL on Qantas A380 (flight QF94)
Total journey time: ~30 hours
Option 2:
YYZ-Dubai on Emirates A380 (Flight EK242)
8 hr layover in Dubai
Dubai-MEL on Emirates 777-300er (Flight EK408)
Total Journey time: ~36 hours
Option 3:
YYZ-Abu Dhabi on Etihad 777-300er (Flight EY140)
10 hr layover in Abu Dhabi
AbuDabi - MEL on Etihad A380(flight EY460)
Total Journey time: ~37 hours
Last edited by Toddcan; Jan 27, 2017 at 11:38 am
#60
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
(a) the trip back. Transit time & total journey time will be different
(b) the actual departure & arrival times (both ways)
Frequent flyer programms
www.wheretocredit.com/ac
www.wheretocredit.com/QF is an AA & AS ff partner
www.wheretocredit.com/EK is an AS ff partner
www.wheretocredit.com/ey is an AA ff partner