Almo

Nothing via OSL. One flight via FRA, but on 773 not A380 (which is fine, but I don't know whether it's worth going LHR-FRA-BKK-MEL just to avoid a long stopover in BKK, the A380 might have sweetened the deal.

Back to the drawing board.

bcworld

The '773' ex FRA is actually a 773ER which also has full lie flat business class seats.

Almo

Thanks bcworld. Sadly that doesn't work either and I'm officially stumped - can't get LHR-MEL on 29/30/31 December to be back on 1st Jan.

Edit: maybe Turkish will work... off to check.

Almo

Ended up booking a return LHR-IST-SIN-MEL. Availability is definitely tight between LHR and MEL at the end of December but I found the Turkish/SQ flights and the agent actually found an option LHR-PEK-BKK-SIN-MEL, which wasn't attractive to us but at least they're out there. Taxes and fees on the TK/SQ flights were only $244.54, which is great, the other option she gave me would have been $486.76!

bcworld

Unless you're stopping over at IST the taxes you have been quoted are incorrect. This could still get picked up before ticketing or possibly even at check in.

Almo

Ah. I've just asked the same question on flyertalk. I'm happy to pay the appropriate amount, I wasn't trying to pull a fast one. I guess I'll have to call them again.

Aussie06

whats the chance of getting 4 business reward tickets flying brisbane - birmingham around 26th December. Don't mind the route and dropping into Franfurt etc

bcworld

Virtually no chance.

Aussie06

That's what i thought, will maybe have to fly cattle and upgrade with my quantas points.

Didn't know wether splitting into two two's would give me a better chance.

Where can i check or am i better just calling direct. I have banked some miles which i could use for other trips but would have prefered to buy more and travelled back in comfort

Have travelled back 4 times now with these deals and you do get spoilt somewhat.

k974

hi,

i've read this whole thread from start to front and even asked this question before and i apologise for asking again, but can anyone tell me the simplest way to book a first class fare from syd to london, i tryied to join ana and i dont know where they keep me login in name, i cant get the us airways site to work either.

i'd really appreciate it if someone could point a complete idiot like me in the right direction.

thanks

upyerfud

www.united.com then put in required flight destinations, dates and click Search by award travel. Should show Star Alliance availability. Then take a note or print off options and phone US Airways.
The miles shown on United Airlines is not the same as required by US Airways.

bcworld

As well as the advice upyerfud gave you have to be prepared to put in the hard yards investigating all available routes.

Putting Sydney and London into united.com will not give you all available options. You need to be prepared to search for e.g. SYD-BKK + BKK-LHR seperately as even some relatively short connections are not always shown as standard.

If you're interested in SYD - London then I would concentrate on the Thai options via BKK. You could also look at options on Asiana via ICN. Not much else will be straightforward.

upyerfud

Something I've just noticed, which may already have been mentioned, but are Qatar Airways joining Star Alliance? Asking because if I use United search for flight from LHR on 17 October it shows Qatar flight at 1505 to Perth via Doha. Same shows for return to Perth in early January from LHR or Geneva.
Would be great if it was available on a regular basis.

k974

thanks guys really appreciate that, not stuck on going to london, ireland is the end destination so other places be find too. thanks again i really appreciate it, all the codes and everything made it way to complicated for me.

thanks

bcworld

No - QR has a partnership with UA - but I believe it is ending soon.

You can't book QR flights with US.