I am trying to plan my honeymoon to Australia and am trying to use WP FF miles to fly there.

We looked into flying into Sydney via Malaysia Airlines, but that just takes too long, so we were gonna fly Continental into Cairns.

Problem is, for the whole month of August, no availability in business class (or for coach for that matter).

August is generally not the time to travel down under, so I would think that seats would be easier to come by. Has anyone had any luck flying CO into CNS using WP FF miles?

I am trying to fly EWR-IAH-GUM-CNS, as that is the only route I can find that would not require a stayover somewhere along the way.

-dave

Are you gold or platinum elite? I only ask because the agents there tend to be more knowledgeable about international award travel. I suspect that's the really problem here.

I went to Continental.com and was right away able to identify standard FF seat availability for Y and J on the GUM --> CNS route for departure of 8/12 and return of 8/20. I am going to Melbourne in 2 weeks and originally had checked into the Cairns routing and there was plenty of availability.

I'm not sure where you are departing from, but I did a thorough analysis and even though you fly more miles on MH, it's quicker than on CO because inevitably the routings I found had me spending an overnight in Guam.

I would try calling again, or going to Continental.com and using their award search engine to find dates that are available. And of course I would actually add up in the inflight and onground transit time for both CO and MH, just to make sure CO is quicker. For me the routing was going to be MSN-->DTW-->NRT-->GUM-->CNS-->MEL with an overnight in GUM and the MSN-->EWR-->KUL-->MEL route had 2 less airports and about 10 less hours of transit time, even though I did indeed spend more time in the air , but I still got their sooner.

I am also finding availability in August from EWR-CNS, albeit at the EasyPass level of 120,000 for BF. The flight between GUM and CNS only operates Sun/Thu to CNS and Mon/Fri from CNS, which is a pain.

The above availability may open up more with elite status. Call the elite line if you have not already done so.

This is the fastest routing. Other routings with MH or NW will take at least 10 additional hours (although F on MH from EWR-DXB-KUL-SYD might be worth the extra time).


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Randy
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HH Gold; SPG Gold; NW Gold; UA PremEx

I am neither, my father (who has the miles) is Platinum Elite. Everytime we call, the agents don't tend to have any idea how to get to Australia, they always try routing through Tokyo (which requires an overnight). Malaysia Airlines, while taking longer, also requires stops in places which aren't great for people of my religion, and as such, would like to stay away from Dubai.

The CO1 to CO902, does not require the overnight, and is definately what I want. I may have to just accept the fact that I won't be able to get those flights.

I did a GUM-CNS search for 8/12 returning 8/20 on continental and the only award seats that were available are easypass (which are 120k miles EACH way).

I did a search on ITN and found that on the flights I want, there are still 10 or so BF seats in non-award classes. What are the chances these seats are converted to award fare classes anytime soon?

-dave

[This message has been edited by planetmn (edited Jan 04, 2004).]

At about 71 hours prior to flight time... just late enuff you can't get them but just in time for the non-rev's...

It appears on those dates there is 1 standard award available, but not 2, so you may have to get a rulebust seat for the 2nd ticket.

You are only in Dubai for 90 minutes and you shouldn't even leave the secured area of the airport. Kuala Lumpur is a welcoming to all visitors.

Good luck on this challenging itinerary! Let us know if you get anything.

[This message has been edited by bergamini (edited Jan 04, 2004).]

A related question: Is there a way to get NW EQM's on a paid flight to Australia and/or New Zealand?

Have we already covered the fact that CO can get you to Cairns?

I'm thinking that was probably assumed and he was referring to any other, more direct ways. As near as I can tell there is no way to get anywhere other than CNS while earning EQM's. I sure wish there was! KLM and NW both used to fly to Sydney. I still wish one of them would.

This sounds like the kind of assistance Randy Peterson's awardplanner service might be able to help you save some time with.

While I share your sentiment, I would not share your concern relative to a transit stop in Dubai. There's also a hotel in the transit area, so should a delay arise, you still don't need to leave the transit area.

That said, I've always found it annoying that one cannot fly KLM to AMS, then MH to KUL and onward to SYD.

Steve

not true, I got KLM from YYZ to AMS and then MH on to KUL and AKL.

Since you are leaving from EWR, Malaysia seems like the logical choice, transferring only once in KUL.

Dubai you never have to leave the airport or go through customs, and you are only there for a short bit to stretch your legs