LHR-SYD
Jan 28, 2001 | 4:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: LONDON, UK
Posts: 132
LHR-SYD
I have to fly London - Sydney in February. I'm a UA Premier member and AA Platinum member (though soon to be downgraded to Gold I think -- not enough flying in 2000. Might be able to do the Platinum challenge later in the year).
Can anyone tell me if the following is a good way of doing this trip? I thought I'd buy a cheap AA ticket (about 200 published fare available via AA's website) and get my base miles, Platinum bonus and EUR 5,000 mile bonus. Then I'd use a QF business class award JFK-LAX-SYD for 105,000 miles. As I'd need 140,000 miles to fly QF business from LHR to SYD, I figure it's better to spend 200 on an economy ticket (which is fine for a London-East Coast sector) to NY, and thereby save 35,000 miles.
The alternative is to do the same kind of thing on UA, i.e. fly on a cheap ticket from LHR to NY (though only get the 25% Premier bonus), then spend 90,000 UA miles JFK-LAX-SYD return. Doing the same trip using mileage from London is 170,000 miles in business!
I've flown Qantas J class long-haul before and found them excellent (can't compare them with SQ because I've never flown them, but QF compare well with CX and are better, I think than BA). UA business I've only flown transatlantic (B777) a couple of times, but I've found them pretty ordinary. So I figure it's better to spend 105,000 QF miles than 90,000 UA miles. Or am I missing something? Can someone advise me if the above plan makes sense? Thanks very much.
Can anyone tell me if the following is a good way of doing this trip? I thought I'd buy a cheap AA ticket (about 200 published fare available via AA's website) and get my base miles, Platinum bonus and EUR 5,000 mile bonus. Then I'd use a QF business class award JFK-LAX-SYD for 105,000 miles. As I'd need 140,000 miles to fly QF business from LHR to SYD, I figure it's better to spend 200 on an economy ticket (which is fine for a London-East Coast sector) to NY, and thereby save 35,000 miles.
The alternative is to do the same kind of thing on UA, i.e. fly on a cheap ticket from LHR to NY (though only get the 25% Premier bonus), then spend 90,000 UA miles JFK-LAX-SYD return. Doing the same trip using mileage from London is 170,000 miles in business!
I've flown Qantas J class long-haul before and found them excellent (can't compare them with SQ because I've never flown them, but QF compare well with CX and are better, I think than BA). UA business I've only flown transatlantic (B777) a couple of times, but I've found them pretty ordinary. So I figure it's better to spend 105,000 QF miles than 90,000 UA miles. Or am I missing something? Can someone advise me if the above plan makes sense? Thanks very much.
Jan 28, 2001 | 5:49 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Welcome to your first post! 
This question is probably better placed in "General Travel Talk", but here is my spin -
UA from here sells SYD-LHR for about the same price as SYD-NYC desite the large number of flown miles difference. See what they offer in reverse from UK.
Check it out. About 30,000 paid status miles that way. That's more than Premier status for all of 2001 and all of 2002 and up to Feb 2003 on just one flight. Try ebookers.com as they are far cheaper than UA for such tix ex UK.
You can use ONE UA SWU upgrade cert to confirmed upgrade entire trip each way as well. Check the Coupon Connection as lots of March 31, 2001 expiring SWU are about for trade as they have short lives now.
Far better idea IMHO than buying ticket half way and using miles (LOTS of them!) for balance!
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~ Glen ~
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 01-30-2001).]
This question is probably better placed in "General Travel Talk", but here is my spin -
UA from here sells SYD-LHR for about the same price as SYD-NYC desite the large number of flown miles difference. See what they offer in reverse from UK.
Check it out. About 30,000 paid status miles that way. That's more than Premier status for all of 2001 and all of 2002 and up to Feb 2003 on just one flight. Try ebookers.com as they are far cheaper than UA for such tix ex UK.
You can use ONE UA SWU upgrade cert to confirmed upgrade entire trip each way as well. Check the Coupon Connection as lots of March 31, 2001 expiring SWU are about for trade as they have short lives now.
Far better idea IMHO than buying ticket half way and using miles (LOTS of them!) for balance!
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~ Glen ~
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 01-30-2001).]
Jan 28, 2001 | 5:51 am
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
You could (personal decision always) but I would never pass up a good opportunity to earn miles if I had not made it to the top tier status.
For this routing you can probably get a 700 GBP fare (LHR-LAX-SYD) on NZ in econo and earn a whack of miles. Do 4 (change noted below) of these and you could be UA 1K with 6 system wide upgrades. Then you could upgrade this kind of itinerary LHR-LAX-SYD with one upgrade certificate. Maybe not as cushy as QF but something to think about. Don't know what the upgrade deals are with AA/QF but QF has even cheaper fares. Consolidators might do even better.
If you have a burning desire to use rather than earn points, then it is always best (IMHO) to use them on business or first. You will probably be happier spending the extra 15K on QF than flying UA but lots of people fly UA in business and find the service acceptable (not a ringing endorsement I know).
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
For this routing you can probably get a 700 GBP fare (LHR-LAX-SYD) on NZ in econo and earn a whack of miles. Do 4 (change noted below) of these and you could be UA 1K with 6 system wide upgrades. Then you could upgrade this kind of itinerary LHR-LAX-SYD with one upgrade certificate. Maybe not as cushy as QF but something to think about. Don't know what the upgrade deals are with AA/QF but QF has even cheaper fares. Consolidators might do even better.
If you have a burning desire to use rather than earn points, then it is always best (IMHO) to use them on business or first. You will probably be happier spending the extra 15K on QF than flying UA but lots of people fly UA in business and find the service acceptable (not a ringing endorsement I know).
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
Jan 28, 2001 | 5:58 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
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I actually am surprised how CHEAP the UA flight is to SYD via USA from LHR. I'd grab that now - these are for a sample Feb date on ebookers.
488 GBP Korean Air Sydney [SYD]
508 GBP Gulf Air Sydney [SYD]
510 GBP Klm Royal Dutch Airlines Sydney [SYD]
530 GBP Olympic Airways Sydney [SYD]
535 GBP Japan Airlines Co Ltd Sydney [SYD]
562 GBP Malaysian Airlines Sydney [SYD]
570 GBP Sri Lankan Airlines Sydney [SYD]
583 GBP United Airlines Sydney [SYD]
583 GBP Singapore Airlines Sydney [SYD]
599 GBP Garuda Indonesia Sydney [SYD]
620 GBP Emirates Airlines Sydney [SYD]
636 GBP Virgin Atlantic Sydney [SYD]
657 GBP Lauda Air Sydney [SYD]
689 GBP Cathay Pacific Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP Qantas Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP British Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP Air New Zealand Sydney [SYD]
764 GBP Swissair Sydney [SYD]
and lots more, a LOT higher.
Remember most if not all the others here are via the "Short" (!!!) route across Asia, hence less flown status miles. The UA flight will also offer you a USA stopover if you want/need that.
As Blondebomber says, two of these and you are an instant Star * Gold on UA, and get then double points on EVERY flight you ever take for 2 years on UA. Using points gets you no such benefit. United transpac in exit row #15 upstairs on a 747 is brilliant, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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~ Glen ~
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 01-28-2001).]
488 GBP Korean Air Sydney [SYD]
508 GBP Gulf Air Sydney [SYD]
510 GBP Klm Royal Dutch Airlines Sydney [SYD]
530 GBP Olympic Airways Sydney [SYD]
535 GBP Japan Airlines Co Ltd Sydney [SYD]
562 GBP Malaysian Airlines Sydney [SYD]
570 GBP Sri Lankan Airlines Sydney [SYD]
583 GBP United Airlines Sydney [SYD]
583 GBP Singapore Airlines Sydney [SYD]
599 GBP Garuda Indonesia Sydney [SYD]
620 GBP Emirates Airlines Sydney [SYD]
636 GBP Virgin Atlantic Sydney [SYD]
657 GBP Lauda Air Sydney [SYD]
689 GBP Cathay Pacific Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP Qantas Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP British Airways Sydney [SYD]
700 GBP Air New Zealand Sydney [SYD]
764 GBP Swissair Sydney [SYD]
and lots more, a LOT higher.
Remember most if not all the others here are via the "Short" (!!!) route across Asia, hence less flown status miles. The UA flight will also offer you a USA stopover if you want/need that.
As Blondebomber says, two of these and you are an instant Star * Gold on UA, and get then double points on EVERY flight you ever take for 2 years on UA. Using points gets you no such benefit. United transpac in exit row #15 upstairs on a 747 is brilliant, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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~ Glen ~
[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 01-28-2001).]
Jan 28, 2001 | 7:45 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
Welocome aboard Compton SID!
I might as well add some good stuff from AA/OneWorld.
AA has some wonderful deals from North America to Europe at the moment. About $270 including taxes to LHR. From there your best bet would be to take BA (biz) to HKG since they have beds there and a connecting BA codeshare without beds to Sydney. I have flown QF a zillion times and I always prefer BA due to their service and comfort. Chances are you'll get a QF codeshare from HKG anyway but at least from LHR-HKG you'll get a decent sleep. Besides, BA awards are lower than QF's.
Happy OneWorld flying!
I might as well add some good stuff from AA/OneWorld.
AA has some wonderful deals from North America to Europe at the moment. About $270 including taxes to LHR. From there your best bet would be to take BA (biz) to HKG since they have beds there and a connecting BA codeshare without beds to Sydney. I have flown QF a zillion times and I always prefer BA due to their service and comfort. Chances are you'll get a QF codeshare from HKG anyway but at least from LHR-HKG you'll get a decent sleep. Besides, BA awards are lower than QF's.
Happy OneWorld flying!
Jan 28, 2001 | 9:23 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC -- UA 1K; SPG Platinum; HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,250
Originally posted by BlondeBomber:
For this routing you can probably get a 700 GBP fare (LHR-LAX-SYD) on NZ in econo and earn a whack of miles. Do 2 and half of these and you could be UA 1K with 6 system wide upgrades.
For this routing you can probably get a 700 GBP fare (LHR-LAX-SYD) on NZ in econo and earn a whack of miles. Do 2 and half of these and you could be UA 1K with 6 system wide upgrades.
Jan 28, 2001 | 9:41 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
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But remember as I posted only TWO such trips to get to 1P, i.e. Star Gold, i.e. DOUBLE UA miles, Free lounge access on a dozen carriers, 3 checked bags, etc, etc, and for TWO YEARS it is good for all this if you qualify early year like this person could.
------------------
~ Glen ~
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~ Glen ~
Jan 28, 2001 | 10:54 am
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
Yes I have corrected above (must have been km not miles). And if you had done those in 2000, only 3 and a bit would have got you 1K with the reduced qualifying levels.
You can earn about 26600 by going via Auckland or more if you are allowed to backtrack on an NZ codeshare LHR-FRA and then on to LAX-Auckland-SYD
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
You can earn about 26600 by going via Auckland or more if you are allowed to backtrack on an NZ codeshare LHR-FRA and then on to LAX-Auckland-SYD
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-28-2001).]
Jan 29, 2001 | 2:27 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Country, UK
Programs: BA gold UA MM
Posts: 486
Compton Sid, have you looked at expedia.co.uk? They have biz class fare specials LHR - SYD for less than 2000gbp on emirates air, (until 2 weeks ago they had Air NZ too)so you get UA status miles too
Jan 29, 2001 | 5:38 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: LONDON, UK
Posts: 132
Thanks to all. The thing is, on this trip I need to use miles rather than accrue, so it's really a case of doing it in the most efficient way. Plus I want to do as much of it as possible in business class. I get the impression that QF at 105,000 is a better business class product than UA at 90,000.
BTW until reading the replies I'd never heard of SWU (System Wide Upgrades?) etc. Is this because I'm only Premier on UA? How do you get them? And can I use AA or QF miles to upgrade from a Y ticket?
BTW until reading the replies I'd never heard of SWU (System Wide Upgrades?) etc. Is this because I'm only Premier on UA? How do you get them? And can I use AA or QF miles to upgrade from a Y ticket?
Jan 29, 2001 | 6:13 pm
#11
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
. . . out of the mouths of babes
Can't help you on the upgrading with miles but I am sure a oneworld member can.
I guess that is our point though. It is important to investigate what a higher tier might do for you. If you are a casual traveller then you are probably doing the right thing. If you plan on travelling lots, the benefits of becoming a top tier member are worth finding out about. Those system wide upgrades are some of the perqs of top tier membership.
On UA you get 6 system wides for flying 100k status miles in the previous year.
On AC you get 8 for 100k status miles plus you get 2 more for each 10k status miles flown. Plus you get free access to all Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide.
Want to cut the high cost of business class travel? That's one way to do so. But you really have to fly a significant amount to make it worth your time and money.
My mom always told me to join a frequent flyer program but I didn't listen. The only thing I regret now is not joining sooner and not concentrating all my miles in one plan sooner. I have been top tier for 4 years now and it has meant 100% upgrade success on all flights on my carrier of choice (AC), free lounge access, free weekend car rentals, free arrivals lounge access, almost instant access to the airlines reservations and reward program people, no blackout dates on rewards, mandatory provision of reward seats in all classes even when no reward seats exist (provided flights are not oversold) and the list goes on . . .
Can't help you on the upgrading with miles but I am sure a oneworld member can.
I guess that is our point though. It is important to investigate what a higher tier might do for you. If you are a casual traveller then you are probably doing the right thing. If you plan on travelling lots, the benefits of becoming a top tier member are worth finding out about. Those system wide upgrades are some of the perqs of top tier membership.
On UA you get 6 system wides for flying 100k status miles in the previous year.
On AC you get 8 for 100k status miles plus you get 2 more for each 10k status miles flown. Plus you get free access to all Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide.
Want to cut the high cost of business class travel? That's one way to do so. But you really have to fly a significant amount to make it worth your time and money.
My mom always told me to join a frequent flyer program but I didn't listen. The only thing I regret now is not joining sooner and not concentrating all my miles in one plan sooner. I have been top tier for 4 years now and it has meant 100% upgrade success on all flights on my carrier of choice (AC), free lounge access, free weekend car rentals, free arrivals lounge access, almost instant access to the airlines reservations and reward program people, no blackout dates on rewards, mandatory provision of reward seats in all classes even when no reward seats exist (provided flights are not oversold) and the list goes on . . .
Jan 29, 2001 | 6:15 pm
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
A good place to start are the comparison charts:
for word processor versions
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum82/HTML/000236.html
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html
BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart 2000: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html
Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel recommendations: http://www.flyersplaces.com
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-29-2001).]
for word processor versions
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum82/HTML/000236.html
------------------
------------------
html
BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart 2000: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html
Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel recommendations: http://www.flyersplaces.com
[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 01-29-2001).]
Jan 29, 2001 | 6:16 pm
#13
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
Jan 30, 2001 | 7:49 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
Originally posted by COMPTON SID:
I want to do as much of it as possible in business class.
I want to do as much of it as possible in business class.
The best bet IMO for you is flying Cathay Pacific. They have some great award deals and they allow AA class upgrades.
Their award from Europe to Australia is 120k AA miles in biz. Award from North America and Australia is 100k. Upgrade between North America and Australia from biz to 1st is a mere 40k miles or from full economy to biz 25k. This means that for just 140k miles you can sleep in the best 1st class airline beds in the world!!! This definitley beats 105k Qantas 14,5 hour biz award which is just a lousy seat.
I'll try to find out more about the specials later.
Hope this helps.
Jan 30, 2001 | 10:06 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
Thanks to our friends on Cathay forum I have learned that there are some real AA award bargains for travel to Australia from Canada!! For a mere 37k miles you'll get an economy award ticket from Canada to Australia!! Now, that's virtually a free giveaway!! Theoretically, you can claim a further award of 25k and upgrade to biz and another 40k to 1st but that's just my theory. Better, keep an eye on the thread I started for you in Cathay forum www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum85/HTML/000204.html or alternatively learn from http://www.cathay-usa.com/offers/millennium.asp
Happy flying!
Happy flying!