Redemption Help: The DC redemption "Is this Route Allowed ?" Master Thread
Dec 21, 2010, 5:08 am
#751
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,732
Dec 23, 2010, 3:54 pm
#752
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BD Diamond Club
Posts: 13
Lhr-ist-jnb-dur
Hey guys,
First of all I just want to say how great this forum is! I've been reading it for what seems like years and never needed to post however I just wanted to get some clarification on something.
I checked staralliance.com for *A routes from LHR-DUR and the routing via IST seemed pretty interesting. Does DC consider IST as Europe ie no stopover. as it would be great if possible to route this way and stopover rather than fly SA (LHR-JNB-DUR).
Also, any advice on service / seat quality on airlines flying the Europe-JNB routes (LX, LH, SA, TK, TP)?
Thanks in advance for your help!
First of all I just want to say how great this forum is! I've been reading it for what seems like years and never needed to post however I just wanted to get some clarification on something.
I checked staralliance.com for *A routes from LHR-DUR and the routing via IST seemed pretty interesting. Does DC consider IST as Europe ie no stopover. as it would be great if possible to route this way and stopover rather than fly SA (LHR-JNB-DUR).
Also, any advice on service / seat quality on airlines flying the Europe-JNB routes (LX, LH, SA, TK, TP)?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Dec 23, 2010, 4:07 pm
#753
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,903
IST is classed as Europe so technically no stopovers.
However, if you pick your flights carefully, and there are no married segment issues, you can have up to a 23 hour 59 minute connection in IST.
If you are travelling in business then out of the airlines you list, SA, LX would be my first choices then probably TK.
Welcome to FT .jack ^
However, if you pick your flights carefully, and there are no married segment issues, you can have up to a 23 hour 59 minute connection in IST.
If you are travelling in business then out of the airlines you list, SA, LX would be my first choices then probably TK.
Welcome to FT .jack ^
Dec 23, 2010, 5:30 pm
#754
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BD Diamond Club
Posts: 13
Thanks Tiger_lily.
Also would it be worth flying out of ZRH (saving approx. Ł100 in taxes and fees) on LX? At the moment it's Ł57 one-way LHR-ZRH on BA so in reality I'm only saving Ł43.
How would you rate SA C-class vs LX? Any creative routings to DUR ie somewhere interesting I could have a stopover other than JNB?
Thanks again :-)
Also would it be worth flying out of ZRH (saving approx. Ł100 in taxes and fees) on LX? At the moment it's Ł57 one-way LHR-ZRH on BA so in reality I'm only saving Ł43.
How would you rate SA C-class vs LX? Any creative routings to DUR ie somewhere interesting I could have a stopover other than JNB?
Thanks again :-)
Dec 24, 2010, 3:43 am
#755
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NHT
Programs: BD-G(RIP); BA-bronze
Posts: 356
Have a look at NBO, DAR, CAI or even LOS depending on what appeals to you.
CAI has the advantage it is ex LHR on either BD or MS.
One final point about positioning flights to begin your trip in Europe - you are running the risk (as happened this last week ex LHR) of your first flight being cancelled causing you to miss the main part of your trip. Make sure your insurance would cover this.
Dec 24, 2010, 4:11 am
#756
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Not worth it IMHO. The cost savings are not that much to warrant a ride in Economy to ZRH and risk missing a connection due to delays.
Dec 24, 2010, 5:22 am
#757
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: BMI Gold, BA Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz President
Posts: 24
Last month I managed to book 4 people into PEK-HKG-NRT. I needed to buy tickets for two more people and over the last two days have spoken to 5 people who all say this route is not valid and can't be booked as one way miles plus cash z8-z8. Is there a crackdown happening?
Dec 24, 2010, 7:04 am
#758
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BD Diamond Club
Posts: 13
I think I agree... for Ł43 and risk being stuck isn't really worth it . So I wanted to get your opinion on this routing.
LHR-CAI(stopover)-JNB-DUR
DUR-JNB-CPT(stopover)-LHR
Would this work on a Z1-6 return?
Thank you.
Jack
LHR-CAI(stopover)-JNB-DUR
DUR-JNB-CPT(stopover)-LHR
Would this work on a Z1-6 return?
Thank you.
Jack
Dec 24, 2010, 9:55 am
#759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Its not a valid routing. They won't allow it.
Dec 24, 2010, 10:10 am
#760
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NHT
Programs: BD-G(RIP); BA-bronze
Posts: 356
Only 7.9% further via CAI and JNB than point to point which is well within limits. Coming back it's 19.9% over shortest route which should still be ok. If it isn't, are there direct flights DUR-CPT (maybe a leg in economy if there's no business cabin) or you could always redeem CPT-LHR and pay cash in between the two.
Good luck and let us know what you manage to book.
Dec 24, 2010, 12:38 pm
#761
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BD Diamond Club
Posts: 13
Thanks rareair. I'll try calling the ICC on 27th and get it booked.
So regarding routings, what makes it valid or not? Obviously you can't go LHR-MAN via NRT or anything ridiculous like that but what about something like LHR-ZRH-DXB(stopover)-BKK?
So regarding routings, what makes it valid or not? Obviously you can't go LHR-MAN via NRT or anything ridiculous like that but what about something like LHR-ZRH-DXB(stopover)-BKK?
Dec 24, 2010, 12:58 pm
#762
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: DUB - Ireland
Programs: EI-GCE, BD-G, BA-G, A3*G, TK*G, FB-G, HH-G, Hyatt-Dia
Posts: 8,527
That routing looks fine to me. There are shorter, more direct ones, but I reckon you'll be fine. If they say no, then HUACA*.
The rule of thumb is that you must go in the same general direction, or no back-tracking, as we say round here. Short connecting flights in the wrong direction are fine e.g. LHR-FRA-EWR is perfectly ok, but LHR-SFO-EWR is not.
*Hang up and call again.
The rule of thumb is that you must go in the same general direction, or no back-tracking, as we say round here. Short connecting flights in the wrong direction are fine e.g. LHR-FRA-EWR is perfectly ok, but LHR-SFO-EWR is not.
*Hang up and call again.
