Hi all,

I'm trying to figure out a small mileage run to tag onto my AONE4 in Australia/New Zealand during September and can't figure out how I should fly.. Seems like all the longish routes are restricted already as per the OWE rules.

Anyways, I know you all like challenges here, so wanted to see if anyone can help me out. Currently, these are my restrictions:

1. Going to fly into Australia from HKG, so can arrive and depart the continent at SYD, MEL, ADL or BNE on CX.
2. Only 5 segments left on my ticket to fly to Australia/NZ, 2 of which is the international segments, leaving 3 for domestic flights.
3. Would like to take planes with newer business class seats and would try to avoid redeyes.

So how can I maximize my mileage in Australia?

Thanks for your help!

If you are allowed NZ, the best is HKG-AKL-SYD-PER-ADL-xxx, but it rather sounds like your ticket was ex-NZ which makes this illegal. Within Australia for 3 segments it hardly matters, the difference between best/worst MR would be on the order of a hundred miles.

My ticket is ex-BKK, so I can go to NZ.. but I rather not fly HKG-AKL as only no F class seats on that flight..

Longest routes within OZ/NZ are;

ADL-AKL
SYD-PER
PER-CBR
BME-PER
SYD-DRW

SYD-PER on a 743 will probably give you the most comfortable ride if your doing it for the sake of miles and not to visit anywhere. SYD-PER-CBR makes for a nice run, or SYD-PER//BME-SYD is a nice open jaw leg.

Edited to note; If you're looking to maximise first class usage then MEL-AKL with QF and AKL-SYD on LAN would be good, perhaps combine the SYD-PER-CBR run for max miles, get a cheap Virgin Blue/Jetstar flight from CBR-MEL and then MEL-AKL-SYD for the first class credits...

You would have noticed that QF Oz domestics don't have First Class. However, their Business class up front is better than anything you'll get on in USA domestic first class. The only true Frist class will be LA AKL-SYD and the odd QF on the same route if they offer three class service. If you can, look for a 333 (SYD or MEL - PER). They will have the international ShyBed seats.

BME-PER?

PER-BME is around 1040 miles.

By contrast, PER-CNS is 2130 miles, and PER-DRW is 1644 miles. Both are served by Qantas as nonstops, both are longer than BME-PER. And there is MEL-DRW, which is around 1940 miles, but that's a JetStar flight, not Qantas flight.

Perhaps you meant MEL-PER, which is around 1680 miles...

I think it is just a typo for BNE-PER.

Almost, it was a typo, but should've read BME-SYD... my apologies

It's an unrestriced transcon effectively, being close to 2100 miles so you could do you're SYD-PER//BME-SYD for max miles, or SYD-PER-CBR if you didn't fancy the overland jaunt up the West Coast.

I think HKG-BNE is regional, what about HKG-ADL and HKG-PER? Assuming you really want to arrive and depart on CX through SYD or MEL only, then best would be something like

SYD-ADL-PER-SYD as your 3 australian sectors with longest flight overnight on the better domestic business

or if want to include NZ SYD-AKL (on LA)-MEL-SYD with SYD-AKL being better than AKL-SYD if flying LA (both schedule timing and service).

As you wish for CX first between SYD/HKG both ways and you don't wish to visit NZ as there is no First class HKG-AKL perhaps you (as a BA Gold) could do -HKG-(F)SYD-(J)PER-(J)DRW-(J)SYD-(F)HKG- for over 9800 miles and 200 TP's:As an AA Plat you would earn over 11000 miles and over 8k Qmiles.

can only either fly SYD-PER or DRW-SYD, as only one "transcon" allowed in Australia...

Thanks for all the help guys.. I think I will be flying HKG-SYD-DRW-PER-ADL-HKG.

Shhhhh! Don't give them (QF) any ideas. No Jetstar in CBR yet, and long may it remain so.

I disagree, see here: composing a DONE4 itinerary

Unfortunately, tried that track already.. and CX who is reissuing my RTW said no... only one "transcon" in australia per RTW

That runs against CX's own published rules. Perhaps christep, if he reads this. can comment on this apparent contradiction?