Trip to Australia via ICN - How to fly only Skyteam?
Sep 16, 2018, 5:02 pm
#1
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Trip to Australia via ICN - How to fly only Skyteam?
We are going to Perth, Australia for my niece's wedding in March, 2019. On the way there, we want to stop in ICN as that is where my husband and I met when he was in the Army and I was teaching English in Seoul. I am having difficulty finding Skyteam flights MSP to Perth. I'm really not crazy about flying KE or the Chinese airlines, I will if I have to. IIUC, VA has limited routes that qualify for MQMs. Taking a trip like that, we want the most miles possible.
I thought about doing a round the world ticket that we would go westbound going to Australia and continue home east bound via Europe so to get on KLM or AF on the way back to use the JV benefit aka my GM status. Does Skyteam offer such a ticket and is it cheaper than doing return the same route. To throw a monkey wrench in, my husband has to fly home before me.
Can anyone suggest a way to use as much Skyteam as possible for this trip? We don't have to stop in Seoul on the way back.
I thought about doing a round the world ticket that we would go westbound going to Australia and continue home east bound via Europe so to get on KLM or AF on the way back to use the JV benefit aka my GM status. Does Skyteam offer such a ticket and is it cheaper than doing return the same route. To throw a monkey wrench in, my husband has to fly home before me.
Can anyone suggest a way to use as much Skyteam as possible for this trip? We don't have to stop in Seoul on the way back.
Sep 16, 2018, 5:57 pm
#3
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You might look for MSP-xxx-ICN; ICN-CAN-PER on China Southern, and home PER-SYD-LAX-MSP on Virgin Australia+Delta.
Yes, SkyTeam has round the word tickets. MSP-ICN-PER-AMS (or CDG) - MSP could be a good value. Getting SkyTeam out of PER to Europe might take a segment (maybe PER-SIN operated by Qantas?) that isn't allowable on a SkyTeam RTW fare.
Sep 16, 2018, 7:20 pm
#5
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There's a new MSP-ICN flight operated by DL that's been announced. Have you checked whether it will operate when you need to travel? Otherwise, if you want to avoid KE TPAC flights to ICN, the obvious choices are to connect through hubs where DL has a nonstop to ICN, such as DTW, ATL, or IIRC SEA. You might also be able to take the MSP-HND nonstop and then do Tokyo-hub/hub-ICN on a suitable SkyTeam member, but doing this will waste a lot of time.
Once you're in ICN, the SkyTeam operated flights to PER that don't include at least one KE or Chinese partner are much more limited, but you might have more choices if you call DL to book (versus what's on delta.dumb) or use a real live human travel agent who can construct itineraries segment by segment, assuming that the carriers interline.
Note that the Virgins aren't SkyTeam members, just DL (and AF/KLM bilateral partners), so your choices will be very limited. Try looking at schedules for desirable (not KE and not a Chinese carrier) SkyTeam members that fly from ICN to somewhere in Asia and simultaneously such partners that serve PER.
Once you're in ICN, the SkyTeam operated flights to PER that don't include at least one KE or Chinese partner are much more limited, but you might have more choices if you call DL to book (versus what's on delta.dumb) or use a real live human travel agent who can construct itineraries segment by segment, assuming that the carriers interline.
Note that the Virgins aren't SkyTeam members, just DL (and AF/KLM bilateral partners), so your choices will be very limited. Try looking at schedules for desirable (not KE and not a Chinese carrier) SkyTeam members that fly from ICN to somewhere in Asia and simultaneously such partners that serve PER.
Sep 16, 2018, 7:36 pm
#6
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Delta partner (not a SkyTeam carrier) Virgin Australia doesn't fly to ICN, so, yes, you're going to need to fly a Chinese carrier.
You might look for MSP-xxx-ICN; ICN-CAN-PER on China Southern, and home PER-SYD-LAX-MSP on Virgin Australia+Delta.
Yes, SkyTeam has round the word tickets. MSP-ICN-PER-AMS (or CDG) - MSP could be a good value. Getting SkyTeam out of PER to Europe might take a segment (maybe PER-SIN operated by Qantas?) that isn't allowable on a SkyTeam RTW fare.
You might look for MSP-xxx-ICN; ICN-CAN-PER on China Southern, and home PER-SYD-LAX-MSP on Virgin Australia+Delta.
Yes, SkyTeam has round the word tickets. MSP-ICN-PER-AMS (or CDG) - MSP could be a good value. Getting SkyTeam out of PER to Europe might take a segment (maybe PER-SIN operated by Qantas?) that isn't allowable on a SkyTeam RTW fare.
Sep 16, 2018, 7:38 pm
#8
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We are going to Perth, Australia for my niece's wedding in March, 2019. On the way there, we want to stop in ICN as that is where my husband and I met when he was in the Army and I was teaching English in Seoul. I am having difficulty finding Skyteam flights MSP to Perth. I'm really not crazy about flying KE or the Chinese airlines, I will if I have to. IIUC, VA has limited routes that qualify for MQMs. Taking a trip like that, we want the most miles possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Airport
Perth Airport - Passengers
Separate cash paid tickets SIN-PER or PER-SIN may open up more opportunities
And DL fly SYD-LAX
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=MSP-ICN...X&MS=wls&DU=mi
Seems like a good route for a RTW or round the pacific (which Oneworld has)
Sep 16, 2018, 7:39 pm
#9
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Posts: 375
There's a new MSP-ICN flight operated by DL that's been announced. Have you checked whether it will operate when you need to travel? Otherwise, if you want to avoid KE TPAC flights to ICN, the obvious choices are to connect through hubs where DL has a nonstop to ICN, such as DTW, ATL, or IIRC SEA. You might also be able to take the MSP-HND nonstop and then do Tokyo-hub/hub-ICN on a suitable SkyTeam member, but doing this will waste a lot of time.
Once you're in ICN, the SkyTeam operated flights to PER that don't include at least one KE or Chinese partner are much more limited, but you might have more choices if you call DL to book (versus what's on delta.dumb) or use a real live human travel agent who can construct itineraries segment by segment, assuming that the carriers interline.
Note that the Virgins aren't SkyTeam members, just DL (and AF/KLM bilateral partners), so your choices will be very limited. Try looking at schedules for desirable (not KE and not a Chinese carrier) SkyTeam members that fly from ICN to somewhere in Asia and simultaneously such partners that serve PER.
Once you're in ICN, the SkyTeam operated flights to PER that don't include at least one KE or Chinese partner are much more limited, but you might have more choices if you call DL to book (versus what's on delta.dumb) or use a real live human travel agent who can construct itineraries segment by segment, assuming that the carriers interline.
Note that the Virgins aren't SkyTeam members, just DL (and AF/KLM bilateral partners), so your choices will be very limited. Try looking at schedules for desirable (not KE and not a Chinese carrier) SkyTeam members that fly from ICN to somewhere in Asia and simultaneously such partners that serve PER.
The nonstop from MSP to ICN doesn't start til Summer 2019. We can go via DTW or even ATL on the new flagship plane which is really desirable for us to check out!
Sep 16, 2018, 7:41 pm
#10
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Sep 16, 2018, 7:44 pm
#11
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Perth Airport info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Airport
Perth Airport - Passengers
Separate cash paid tickets SIN-PER or PER-SIN may open up more opportunities
And DL fly SYD-LAX
Great Circle Mapper
Seems like a good route for a RTW or round the pacific (which Oneworld has)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Airport
Perth Airport - Passengers
Separate cash paid tickets SIN-PER or PER-SIN may open up more opportunities
And DL fly SYD-LAX
Great Circle Mapper
Seems like a good route for a RTW or round the pacific (which Oneworld has)
Sep 16, 2018, 7:47 pm
#12
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Sep 16, 2018, 7:52 pm
#13
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To soothe your fears, the GA of today is totally different and separately owned company of GA of past. The GA of past had awful safety record. The new GA is truly a world class airline. However some people post as if GA of 20 years ago was the GA of today.
Sep 16, 2018, 8:18 pm
#14
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GA is probably the best airline in SkyTeam.
VN is also strong and has excellent in flight product and service (on the ground, not so much).
I would go with GA, VN, CI, MF, KE, CZ, MU - in that order.
SkyTeam has by far the strongest coverage of any alliance in Asia, so there are options galore to go from ICN to PER. And many interesting extra stops are possible, like going ICN-DPS on GA, stop a few days there, then take one of the many LCC flights DPS-PER. That way also (US-DPS / DPS-US) it's a through-fare on an award flight. That's really the best way to go to Australia, esp. Western Australia, IMO, on a SkyTeam award.
Sep 16, 2018, 9:12 pm
#15
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+1
GA is probably the best airline in SkyTeam.
VN is also strong and has excellent in flight product and service (on the ground, not so much).
I would go with GA, VN, CI, MF, KE, CZ, MU - in that order.
SkyTeam has by far the strongest coverage of any alliance in Asia, so there are options galore to go from ICN to PER. And many interesting extra stops are possible, like going ICN-DPS on GA, stop a few days there, then take one of the many LCC flights DPS-PER. That way also (US-DPS / DPS-US) it's a through-fare on an award flight. That's really the best way to go to Australia, esp. Western Australia, IMO, on a SkyTeam award.
GA is probably the best airline in SkyTeam.
VN is also strong and has excellent in flight product and service (on the ground, not so much).
I would go with GA, VN, CI, MF, KE, CZ, MU - in that order.
SkyTeam has by far the strongest coverage of any alliance in Asia, so there are options galore to go from ICN to PER. And many interesting extra stops are possible, like going ICN-DPS on GA, stop a few days there, then take one of the many LCC flights DPS-PER. That way also (US-DPS / DPS-US) it's a through-fare on an award flight. That's really the best way to go to Australia, esp. Western Australia, IMO, on a SkyTeam award.
