Thoughts on DONE4 routing
 

I have to travel from BNE to several US points next month. These are (in this order) SFO/SJC, DFW, ORD. I want to travel in J/D and will be personally paying the difference between the economy class fare my employer will pay and whatever J/D fare I decide upon.

Originally I was planning a DCIR22 going BNE-LAX-DFW-ORD-YVR-HKG-BNE. Then I found I also need to hit SFO or SJC and that won't fit into 22,000 miles and still allow me to to hit DFW and ORD and use CX over the north Pacific. I could go ORD-NRT-BNE, but that is less attractive to me.

So I am thinking that the difference in price from DCIR22 to DONE4 is not that great, and I can definately requalify QF WP status in this one trip.

An additional consideration is to include as many QF flight numbers as I can (codeshares ok), since our corporate discount on the OneWorld fares is greater when more miles are flown on QF flight numbers. I have to weigh this up with maximising QF Status Credits (more important to me than miles) and the fact the difference from a BNE-LAX-SJC-DFW-ORD-LAX-BNE economy fare (porbably B class) will be coming from me.

If I do go for a DONE4, then I will also spend a day in FRA (business). But I don't want to spend too many extra days getting home from ORD, so things like adding an extra LHR-DXB-LHR are not going to fly for this trip. I will have some weekends in the USA to spend flying if that helps the goal. But don't want to add to the travel days with touring over Europe and Asia.

I would also like to maximise my chances of flights with the new QF Skybeds (so BNE-LAX, FRA-SIN, SIN-SYD on QF6, SIN-BNE, HKG-BNE etc are out).

So far I am looking at this routing (1300 SC's, 85,000 QFF points, 36,800 miles flown, 15 sectors):

BNE-SYD-LAX-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-BOS-SFO-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE

Another option is:

BNE-SYD-LAX-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX-JFK-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE

This is less FF points and less SC's, but I can do ORD-LAX-JFK on QF flight numbers which will bring the cost down.

The LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD will all be the same QF10 services, but on separate coupons to maximse SC's. Another thought was to take the daytime departure QF32 from LHR to SIN, then CX up to HKG and QF128 overnight HKG-SYD, allowing me to spend some of the day/evening in the CX Wing lounge.

Any other suggestions of options to consider? How to best use the additonal 5 sectors without adding to the days to get from ORD back to BNE. I don't mind overnight flights if they are earning me lots of SC's (like DFW-ANC-ORD).

Why not stay with the DCIR22 routing an buy a separate ticket LAX-SAN/SFO. It can't be that much money or flight time in Y.

Don't you have one more segment in the country of origin? Meaning you can sneak down to ADL at the start to pick up some more SCs on your way to SYD. I think I remember that was tight on mileage when you were looking at a DCIR22 but shouldn't be a problem this time.

One other gag to be aware of is that on BOS-SFO American has started to run some 757s so you may want to choose your flights carefully there to make sure you get the 767s. If you are going to ANC anyway, you don't need to spend any more time on a 757.

If you dont stop in Asia on the Europe-Asia-Australia you could do something like BNE-(SYD-)HKG-NRT-HKG-DPS-HKG-LAX in the beginning.

You could replace ORD-BOS-SFO-LHR with ORD-SJU-LAX-LHR for a bit more miles and better planes on AA (also more flight choices out of LAX-LHR). LHR-MEL could be done as LHR-BKK-HKG-TPE-HKG-SIN-MEL, adding a day to go from BKK to SIN (I find LHR-BKK is much nicer flight than LHR-SIN due to the slightly longer distance and seems to have lighter loads).

I certainly did entertain that option. However, for not many more $$$ that the DCIR22 + B fare LAX-SJC, I can get the DONE4 fare. And on the DCIR22 I will get 560 QF Status Credits - not enough to requalify Plat status, will get me to Gold, but I will only drop Plat to Gold anyway even if I don't fly.

Also, on the DCIR22 routing, I have to take BNE-LAX direct, so no chance of Skybeds on the outbound flight, and have to take HKG-BNE direct, so again no skybeds. If I go DONE4, I can route BNE-SYD-LAX and waitlist for a flight that is currently full but has Skybeds sheduled, and can take QF10 LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD for skybeds on the way home.

Unfortunately the schedule would mean leaving the day before to get into SYD for the QF107 departure at 10:50am. Would need to be into SYD T3 before 8:50am and that's not going to get me BNE-ADL-SYD that morning.
Yes, I have noticed that they all seem to be 757 on the day I would be doing it. I am leaning towards the ORD-LAX and overnight there meeting a work collegue for dinner. The LAX-JFK-LHR. That gets me into LHR a few hours earlier than SFO-LHR (8am arrival from JFK vs 11am arrival from SFO) and that leaves me more time (it will be a Saturday) to do a LHR-HEL-LHR run that afternoon (worth 120 SC's).

And by arriving into LHR at 8am, and heading up to HEL for the afternoon, I won't be back into LHR until 18:40. Then I leave for FRA at 16:45 next day, leaving me technically in transit in London and not paying the huge taxes for J class arrival (GBP40 I think). I can spend the night at FRA, catch work collegues for Monday, and head back to LHR to connect to QF10 departure that night.

I wonder if I can check my luggage at ORD for the whole trip home and just put a few changes of clothes into my carry-on?? None of the connections is more than 24 hours (FRA will be 23:45). Baggage tag would be long, reading ORD-LAX-JFK-LHR-HEL-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE. It probably will nevetr see it again!

I suspect I will have to collect it at LAX, LHR and FRA. Should be able to check through from FRA though.

Yes, that could be done, but would mean departing a few days earlier to complete it and arriving at my meetings in the US rather beat (like normal, I guess :p ). But it adds a lot of non-QF flight numbers to the trip, reducing the corp discount we receive. All bar the BNE-SYD-HKG would be CX flights. but I could get directly into SFO and avoid LAX which is attractive ;) . Perhaps if I can't get the skybed flight SYD-LAX, I might see how much discount I lose by going SYD-HKG-SFO?? And I can take the AA codeshare and still get the 100% bonus points as a QF WP member.

Edited to add: I just checked the schedule. CX872/AA6118 departs HKG for SFO at 4:15pm. Unfortunately, there are not connections from BNE or SYD that will get me into HKG to make the SFO flight. The earliest arrival from Australia seems to be QF128 at 5:40pm :( . So back to the original plan I guess. Otherwise I add another day to the start and would prefer not to have to do that.

Unfortunately the schedule is not going to work for ORD-SJU-LAX. There are three flights ORD-SJU (all 757 by the way), with the earliest departing ORD at 6:33am (too early for me) and arriving at SJU at 12:13pm.

Then there is only one direct SJU-LAX flight (763) that departs at noon. So I would lose a day overnighting at SJU. I would be better off overnighting at LAX where I know some people to meet for dinner.

Also since the SJU flights are J and F, the SC's earned at not as good. ORD-SJU-LAX would earn 60+100=160 SC's. ORD-BOS-SFO earns 30+150=180 SC's.

Still thinking I'll do ORD-LAX-JFK-LHR. Its less SC's (60+60+100=220 to LHR) via 340 for ORD-BOS-SFO-LHR. But I can tack on a LHR-HEL-LHR run as mentioned in previous post for another 120 SC's making it the same, and I get 763 from ORD-LAX on QF code share, QF 744 LAX-JFK. I also get to use the FL at LAX and BAEC at JFK for pre-flight dining. That gotta be better than the BA/QF lounge at LAX TBI. It does mean a shorted sleep opportunity over the Atlantic.
I probably wouldn't add the HKG-TPE-HKG bit. I'll be ready to get home by then and will have enough SC's for requalification.

But I may consider LHR-BKK-SYD-BNE. That would be 30 SC's less than LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE, but one less sector, and I might have had enough of being in the air by then.

What is the QF F lounge like in BKK? I have only ever used HKG and SIN for Asia transit returning to Australia.

I also though of taking QF32 LHR-SIN, then CX to HKG (and enjoy thye Wing) and QF128 HKG-SYD-BNE, or AY (on QF codeshare) SIN-BKK and then QF home via SYD. But that means leaving London around midday so I lose my day in FRA or I don't get home until a day later. At least if I book QF10 as separate sectors/coupons LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD I know the connections will work ^ and can always change the SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE if I am asked to spend the day in the SIN office on the way home (always a possibility).

Status run on DONE4
 

Assuming that you are going Pacific first to get to the US and then Atlantic to Europe on the DONE 4, you could route from LHR to BAH and pick up the CX 732 or 730 to HKG. If it is the 732 then find out where it stops (Dubai or Riyadh because that might be worth a coupon split and stay on board. You get more status points going via BAH than direct LHR to SIN/BKK/HKG and home. Never book straight through to SYD as getting off and getting back on the same aircraft (even if you have to split to the BA codeshare half) will increase the status points. The flight from London would be BA Club flat bed, a day flight and connects reasonably well to the CX 732/0.

Remember that your coupons are valuable. I would consider buying a LON-FRA separately as you can pick them up cheaply. Remember that LGW to FRA is often cheaper than LHR to FRA. Should you *A as well, you could book on flybmi.com as they can be very competitive with 1W.

If you are DONE4ing then I will have another think about the European sectors for you when you have decided if you are routing this way.

May the status points be with you...

The QC at BKK is very nice, and the F side is similar to MEL/SYD F lounge. But a bit crowded (not unacceptably so). However, a short walk towards duty free shopping will find you at the CX lounges. The J lounge is nothing special, but the F lounge is wonderful. Empty. Staff that treat you like a VIP (guess they don't get many F pax in BKK). 4 internet computers (QF has 2 on the F side and 2 on the J side, for 100x more pax). And very nice food (not wing level, but nice). Just don't tell anyone, shame to spoil this secret little lounge.

Price is more sensitive that outright SC's. As I mentioned, our corp discount is higher for QF coded flights than for BA and even less for CX. So my preference whereever I can is to use QF flight numbers, then BA/AA get the next level of discount.

I asked to be booked on QF10 LHR-SIN and QF10 SIN-MEL as two separate sectors. But the agent said she had to sell it as LHR-MEL is that was available to sell (and it is). So I said, book me LHR-SIN on QF10, then overnight in SIN and next day QF10 SIN-MEL. Then later I will change the date of SIN-MEL to the orevious day and have what I wanted. I also want to take QF10 to get the QF Skyeds for the return home.

I am not short of sectors, having only used 17 out of 20 (yes, I know, shame on me). But I do have a family to get home to. I prefer to do my runs in the middle of the trip, spending weekends on planes and in lounges rather than in hotel rooms ;) .

I have LHR-HEL-LHR in the routing as a run on a weekend before hitting FRA on Monday. This has two advantages - it is over 1000 miles so worth 60 SC's each way, and it keeps me out of London just long enough that each passing through LHR is less than 24 hours so lower taxes. I suppose I could do LHR-DBX=LHR or LHR-BAH-LHR, but I know the HEL route fits into the same day so no red-eyes and its in the EU so no major immigration/passport/customs issues for the turnaround.
My time and money are more valuable than the sectors for this stage of the trip. I am happy to take 2 x 30SC for LHR-FRA-LHR and 2 x 1250 points since its on the QF codeshare. And as QF flight numbers, it add to my QF percentage and hence lowers the overall price. Unfortunately HEL-FRA is under 1000 miles, or I would have gone LHR-HEL-FRA-HEL-LHR.
I would love a QF codeshare in Europe that is over 1000 miles and can get a return from LHR on the same day. But I can't find one. Its a real shame QF don't codeshare on the LHR-HEL route like BA/AY/AA do.

Thanks for the tip. Its our little secret ;) . I promise not to tell too many people :) . BKK remains an option for the return, so long as I can convince the TA to book it as two sectors. Might have to my overnight booking trick and change the date of the second leg later :o .

RTW stopover
 

You have 2 stopovers and 4 segments in Oz and 12 months to complete the trip. Can be open jaw. Start in SYD and finish in BNE for example. With a little planning you can get a trip /stopover to somewhere in Oz effectively for next to nothing

Instead of
BNE-SYD-LAX-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX-JFK-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-SYD-BNE

Purchase BNE-SYD separately and then
SYD-LAX-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX-JFK-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-BNE-DRW-BNE
Stopover’s in BNE and DRW

I took 360 days to do a RTW, with a 9 month stop over in home town

And for more SC’s
SYD-JFK-BOS-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-MEL-BNE-DRW-BNE

BOS-SFO = 2704 miles (above the 2700 !!)
Au to US east coast and US west coast to LHR maximises miles and SC’s

Also AA has serval flights to FRA, like DFW-FRA at 5143 miles

Maximising SC's and QF flights
SYD-JFK-BOS-SFO-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX-LHR-FRA-LHR-SIN-HKG-NRT-MEL-BNE-DRW-BNE = 17 segments (NRT-MEL = 5060 miles:- above the 5000 miles.

That is an interesting thought and I will look into it. Thanks.
Yes, that might be more SC's but it won't get me into SFO in time for my meetings. I have to be in SFO the same day as I depart Australia, so no time to go SYD-JFK unfortunately.
But that means flying AA in J :p . And there is little on offer ex FRA that is >1000 miles to collect more SC's in Europe over the weekend. So I would end up with DFW-FRA-LHR-HEL-LHR-FRA and have to use QF5 FRA-SIN (no skybed) or DFW-FRA-LHR-HEL-FRA-LHR, which drops my discount due to proportion of miles on QF flights numbers.
As mentioned, I can't fir SYD-JFK-BOS-SFO into the schedule, and NRT-MEL is a 763 so no skybed like taking QF10 through. So the combination of time constraint at the start of the trip, avoiding the extra day to do SIN-HKG-NRT, more non-QF flights numbers, and the lack of skybed from Asia to Australia means I can reallly take the this recommendation this time. But next time, who knows ;) . Thanks for the suggestions anyway.