New to points hobby, advice for an infrequent flyer
Nov 21, 2017, 1:35 am
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: AY/Gold, SK/Basic
Posts: 14
Back to the original topic, I now have a couple of fligts ahead, though long distance they are campaign-class tickets so they won't accumulate too many tier points..
Finnair HEL-NRT , Q-class = 4600 pnts (4000 points +15% Gold)
Finnair KIX-HEL, Q-class = 4600 pnts (4000 points +15% Gold)
Qatar HEL-DOH-MLE, V-class = 50% FInnair Plus miles ~ 2400 points
Qatar MLE-DOH-HEL, V-class = 50% Finnair Plus miles ~2400 points
Total 14000 tier points - 66000 more to earn if I wish to remain Gold next year...
Finnair HEL-NRT , Q-class = 4600 pnts (4000 points +15% Gold)
Finnair KIX-HEL, Q-class = 4600 pnts (4000 points +15% Gold)
Qatar HEL-DOH-MLE, V-class = 50% FInnair Plus miles ~ 2400 points
Qatar MLE-DOH-HEL, V-class = 50% Finnair Plus miles ~2400 points
Total 14000 tier points - 66000 more to earn if I wish to remain Gold next year...
Nov 21, 2017, 3:30 am
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: AY/Gold, SK/Basic
Posts: 14
.Anyway, I'll get to benefit from my Gold-status on both these trips, there are Finnair or Oneworld Sapphire Lounges on every airport on the itineraries!
Nov 21, 2017, 3:54 am
#49
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
Although the Sapphire lounge at DOH is rather bad, I hear.
Nov 21, 2017, 4:22 am
#51
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Gold (OWS)
Posts: 528
It is apparently bad in comparison to the flagship J lounge as well. Only business class / first class ticket holders have access to the Al Mourjan and Al Safwa lounges, respectively. For Oneworld tier members, they have a separate business class (and maybe a first class?) lounge, which is reportedly very poor.
Nov 21, 2017, 5:09 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
It is apparently bad in comparison to the flagship J lounge as well. Only business class / first class ticket holders have access to the Al Mourjan and Al Safwa lounges, respectively. For Oneworld tier members, they have a separate business class (and maybe a first class?) lounge, which is reportedly very poor.
Nov 21, 2017, 10:04 am
#54
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I am not familiar with QR, but I doubt that they would have better than 50% earnings to AY+ in any reasonable priced economy fare. The best options from Europe to Oceania would be either Finnair Value, or Cathay (via Europe then HKG) or Qantas (via SIN or LHR) Value-like semi-flexible fares - although I am not sure if the latter still even exist.
Nov 21, 2017, 7:34 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: TLL
Programs: AY+ Plat, TK Elite
Posts: 233
CX can have pretty competitively priced 100% earning fares. I managed to earn ~22k tier points for ~650Eur spend recenlty (flew MEL-HKG-KTM and back). Booked months ahead though.
Managed to sample the Wing (good, comparable to QF F lounges) and the Pier (excellent, probably the best lounge I've ever been) at HKG too, as a side bonus (and partial motivation to flying CX). Oh and got op-upped on KTM-HKG segment too.
Managed to sample the Wing (good, comparable to QF F lounges) and the Pier (excellent, probably the best lounge I've ever been) at HKG too, as a side bonus (and partial motivation to flying CX). Oh and got op-upped on KTM-HKG segment too.
Nov 22, 2017, 7:47 am
#56
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
Yes, but AFAIR, CX used to offer those fare separately as semi-flexible under whatever branding. Their new booking engine does not, so it is hit or miss what booking code you get, and if it will earn 100% or less.
Nov 22, 2017, 8:25 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat and several other cards
Posts: 645
Looks like now Economy Save earns only 50% and Economy Standard 100%, but costing several hundreds of euros more. Fortunately it is not hit or miss, as before buying you can see the booking class to avoid a major mistake!
Jan 14, 2018, 3:30 am
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: AY/Gold, SK/Basic
Posts: 14
Just came back from my trip to Japan. Although we caught the flu mid trip, the flights were great since we got to visit Finnair Premium Lounge in HEL and got a free bump to Business - BOTH WAYS . The Asuka lounge at KIX was hardly worth a visit but the Finnair Premium lounge really delivered food and drink wise!
. The Asuka lounge at KIX was hardly worth a visit but the Finnair Premium lounge really delivered food and drink wise!