Best use of miles : Europe to Auckland

[FlyingDobber]

Dear All,

I have some miles to burn - approx 210k and would like to know the best way of using these miles to get me from Europe to Auckland (return) in the summer.

Often I have bought a Y ticket and upgraded to business. This year I dont necessarily need the status miles for requalification so could buy an award ticket.

I have looked at the 77W and A380 flights from London, Zurich, Frankfurt etc but I seem to be able to get a "new" business class seat. Done this before with paid tickets so I know what they are like.

I have started to investigate a mixed class ticket ie FRA-SIN in First (747 Skysuite) and then either 777-200ER Spacebed or 77W business to auckland.

The wife will be on the same flight, booking made through her account, same miles etc so we will be looking for 2 seats.

Not sure really what to do?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Clowesy

[pavion]

I dont think 210k miles is enough for 2 J/F from Europe to Aukland including the 77W J class seat, unless of course you have a glitch. Also breaking up into two tickets will also cost more miles

[FlyingDobber]

I dont think 210k miles is enough for 2 J/F from Europe to Aukland including the 77W J class seat, unless of course you have a glitch. Also breaking up into two tickets will also cost more miles

Sorry, maybe i didnt make it that clear - oops
I have 210k miles and my wife has 210k miles in her account.

If i need to top up any then I am able to "buy" the miles - as long as its not too many!

Thanks
Clowesy

[pavion]

My own opinion would be that a mixed class approach would be pretty expesnive and so not worth it, but you either have again in my opinion

1) FRA-SIN-AKL taht will give spacebeds on both flights and can be redeemed with a saver award on SQ only

2)Your Destination - XXX - AKL on *A

That can allow you to mix and match airlines, so if you want to go down to Hong Kong on Lufthansa or Swiss and then onwards on Air New Zealand or you could go down to Singapore on a * Alliance airlines and then head towards AKL on SQ

[Gunners]

The round trip rates for Star Alliance couriers are shown at

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...trip_Dec09.pdf

It seems that a business class return from Europe to New Zealand is 150,000 points with Star Alliance Partners.

However, 150,000 points business class Europe to Pacific return can only be obtained at selected European airports on SIA and does not seem available on A380 which require a lot more points.

In reality if XXX - AKL on *A (Europe to Auckland) is booked, how easy is it to get this redemption (through SIA booked on other Star Alliance airlines)?

That is in reality is there a good chance of getting a redemption on another Star Alliance Airline/s on preferred dates and through preferred European Airports?

[pavion]

Availability on airlines like Swiss, Lufthansa and Thai are quite large from what I have seen in the past, SQ is one of the most stingy when it comes to redemption, but a good starting point is ANA *A Tool.

A 30 second search from 1 september to 4 september found me

2 ways to get to Aukland from Frankfurt on 31 August and 1 way back on the 4 september. SOme flexibility required, but if you opt to skip SQ then availability is much more wider, in both cases it involved LH, TG, or NZ

[Gunners]

Thanks E-Aviation for your advice. Just have a couple of more questions. Can Krisflyer customers get access to something like ANA *A Tool?

Secondly when filing out the SIA redemption form would SIA treat FRA - AKL as one one redemption for 75000 points or would they want to apply redemption points to each seperate legs if booked for example FRA-HKG on Lufthansia and Hong Kong to Auckland on Air New Zealand?

[pavion]

I dont quite get what you mean, are you saying its 75k for Europe XXX and 75k for XXX New Zealand? If so, then yeah you could consider it that way but I dont think I quite get what you are trying to say.

The ANA *A Tool is avialable for anyone and everyone above the age of either 2 or 12, just sign up the the mileage program. When booking a *A flight, at least on other members, it doesnt matter which airlines you book, as long as you fly a direct routing, ie not like LHR-LAX-NRT-AKL, possibly LHR-LAX-AKL could work out but don't know exactly

[MAN Flyer]

Forget flying on the 77W or A380 in J, they are just not worth the silly miles they want anyway.

If you want to get on SQ you only have AMS and CPH left in Northern Europe on the 772ER and FRA on the 744 and then one of the two flights to AKL on 772ER. Alternatively look at TG ex-LHR or LX from MAN, BHX or LHR into BKK and onwards with TG, although the TG flight is not daily to AKL.

[FlyingDobber]

I wanted SQ really but will try TG

I managed to get a Saver F and Saver J to AKL - the other half is going a few days before me...

Returning seems to be the problem. 2 Standard F's are available and it appears 1 Saver F is available from SIN-FRA (akl Saver J seems fine).

I have 2 computers on the go. Each logged into our accounts...its a 174K mile trip so thats good too.

Just hestistant of "paying" if those seats arent really there.

Any ideas?


my other option was the istanbul flight - i think this is only regional F though?
I guess its another phone call...

Cheers
Clowesy

[FlyingDobber]

Finally booked

Finally booked...

F from FRA-SIN rtn and J from SIN-AKL return: This appears to be a 77A a/c so upgrades from the spacebed?

The only other questions I have now...

Which seat? 2B or 4F (return we fly toghter so have row 3).

Should I book the Cook - Lobster?

Finally - which lounges in FRA? SEN lounge - I am KFEG so usual lounge and will I get into TPR in Sin?

Cheers
Clowesy

[SQtraveller]

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