Options: Family Trip LON - SYD in J
 

Hi gang

I'm looking for some thoughts on how to get the the family to SYD next summer. Previously I have been lucky to have an abundance of Avios and multiple vouchers but not this time, too many F redemptions, so I look to you for some thoughts.

Here are the parameters:

1. Family of 4, 2 adults, 2 children
2. 150K avios, 1 Companion Voucher
3. I'm Gold, none the family have significant status
4. Can spend about 10k / 12K on revenue tickets
5. Outbound from July 23rd '18 - returning 4-6 weeks depending on availability

Preference in sectors in order

1. LHR - HKG - SYD (with stop over for a couple of days)
2. LHR - SIN - SYD (no stop over)
3. LHR - DXB - SYD (with stop over for a couple of days)

Open to flying some sectors on other carriers but keen to stay in J.

Open to exotic routing too

edit:Prefer no EX EU as flying with family

A quick look at google flights shows BA flights ex-OSL to SYD in J for around £2600 return next summer. Worth keeping an eye out for other offers, e.g. Qatar

Do you mean LHR-HKG-SYD? :confused:

There's a nice Garuda fare at the moment but doesn't cover your dates (their product looks good)

If paying cash - which you will as those Avios won't go far... I would hold out for a decent sale maybe 4/6 months before. £2K is often achievable or less, if you would consider starting further in Europe?

ex eu worries me when it's the whole family

It shouldn't worry you if you treat it as an opportunity to spend a leisurely day or two at your starting point. That way it adds a nice extra dimension to your holiday.

I can see why B2B isn't great for families but ex-EU needn't be done that way.

I remember reading somewhere that PEK might be a good place to stop.

Avios and Cash for LHR-PEK then PEK-SYD on QF which was relatively cheap in J?

EDIT: here is the thread I was talking about

You'll obviously only be able to use the companion voucher for the BA legs of the journey, so need to factor that into your costs. Therefore only your option 2 fits that and trying to get returns to SYD in J via SIN is well documented as difficult. The DXB option might prove expensive as by the time you travel, all DXB-Syd flights will be on EK metal only as QF are moving back to via SIN, and thus you will probably not be able to get a through fare.
For your budget I would go to a high volume TA like Flight Centre and see if they can help. They recently got me 2xF class returns to Oz in January for 40% below what was being offered on the EK and QF websites.
Good luck

CX seems to have WAW-SYD/MEL/AKL in J for € 2.599 up until 30.06.18 atm.

It's drama if your flight from EU destination back to London is delayed. Would happily fly from EU direct though.

Thankyou.

Previously we have used companion vouchers to get to HKG on BA in F/J and then revenue tickets to SYD

nice!

Yes the best offers to SYD, usually on the likes of QR, EY or sometimes CX or SQ, are generally direct from the EU start point to the carrier hub, so no different to flying from London.

Have you thought about going via KUL? We did that and then Air Asia X from there to SYD. £300 for a flat bed (no service, but it's an 8 hour overnight flight).

T

Good option, plus LUX-LHR-KUL is usually pretty cheap in WTP with decent GUF/avios availability to business class, and should allow a stopover for the final flight back to London (so minimal family drama).

Edit: for the easiest life, CX has a good fare out of OSL. Rather than doing a back-to-back, I'd do an evening flight out to Oslo followed by an early morning departure, then changing to CX.

It offers free stopovers in London and supports a stopover in LHR on the return, all for £2660 (the LHR stopover is £150-odd, but probably worth it), plus you get CX's 777 1-2-1 product and the CX lounge in LHR for all. Wide open availability throughout summer 18 and while you may get a slightly better price if BA has a sale, the stopover convenience and the CX product make this a good deal regardless.

You can get one-stop LHR-ICN-SYD on Asiana or LHR-Saigon-LHR on Vietnam for around EUR 2600, look at kayak.de
I think that's easier with family, and both these are interesing stopovers.

Does Garuda fly to London?

LHR-CGK 5 times/week. Looks like 3x weekly now

S

Thanks. Have heard a lot of good things about Garuda and will give them a go to Europe in the future.

Only ever done them Domestically and HKG-CGK and have no qualms using them. Saw a vast improvement over the years and once had a CGK-SUB flight in J on an A330 (lie flat seat). If the domestic J service was anything to go by, I would imagine the service to be excellent and very comfortable on long haul.

​​​​​​​S

I've done MEL-CGK-LHR with Garuda a few months back. The J hard product is up there with the other Asian carriers (i.e. vastly superior to BA). The service is a bit unpolished, but still very good. Inflight entertainment somewhat limited if you do multiple long hauls straight after each other.

The big downside was the airport experience in CGK - it's not a place to spend a lot of time. At the same time, I am told Garuda have recently moved into a new terminal, so this might no longer be a problem.

Also, should be aware the CGK-LHR stops in SIN to refuel (LHR-CGK is non-stop).

1) if you want J from London, your best bet is VN which has nice J fares and a good product or hope for renewed Garuda offer (excellent product)

2) if you insist on oneworld, you'll have to either change your starting point (which also means adding more flights) or change your class of travel (premium eco might work on coz or ba).

Did exactly the same trip on CX J at Easter, managed £2600 x 4 ex LHR (back to LGW) for 2+2 in J, including a night in HKG (ex accommodation). Went March-April, booked the previous October.

Just as general personal advice, I obsessed about getting the best price for months, and in that time missed an incredible Malaysian offer (c£1800 pp) but was hanging out for a Cathay deal. The price fluctuated daily, but the one thing I learnt is that even when I thought I had missed the best price, a better one came along (often with the same carrier).

Google Flights/IA Matrix is your friend, but sometimes best prices were on eDreams or Expedia for some reason. And remember to clear your cookies!

Good luck...

how fo you search using Goggle flights/I A Matrix?

There must be a guide on here somewhere but I can't find it. However there's a useful one here:

http://www.headforpoints.com/2017/03...s-from-europe/

Google Flights is very simple - go to the website and play around, but you can search for a destination in a specific month or range of dates, limit airlines (eg OW). I find the prices at the bottom - when you clock through - vary rather materially.

Thanks very much. Appreciate it. :)

Thanks Jay

// apologies for bumping my old thread

I have managed to find a reasonable ex eu deal ~ 9k

OSL - LHR - SIN - SYD

How does one handle not having to return to OSL on return? Can we get our baggage in LHR and escape somehow?

Try to get the return LHR-OSL segment to leave the day after you arrive LHR but less than 24 hours apart to not raise the UK APD. Overnight should force BA to give you the bags as you can claim you need clothes inside it.

Then, once arriving in London, go home and cancel the remainder of segment so they don't need to look for you. You will get your unused taxes and fees back.

Please don't book with a travel agent

ARN-DOH-SYD with QR £7992 for 2 adults and 2 children, out 23/07, return 26/08
or
ARN-DOH-SYD SYD-DOH-LHR £10718 same dates.

Results from google flights.

I'm sure this isn't guaranteed, but it seems to me that problems shortchecking bags to London rather than the final destination seem to come from the US. I don't recall ever readng about the problem happening on flights from Asia. So I'd say there's a very good chance you'd be able to do it just by asking.

Or just accept the stopover fee (€100 or so) and the short-haul APD and use the final leg as the first leg of a weekend in Oslo weeks or months later. Just book a one-way redemption to come back.