Help me plan a trip with StarAlliance points

[gardkarlsen]

I got inspired by a thread on a Norwegian plane forum the other day - a fellow poster said that he had 200.000 points and wanted to hear opinions on how to use it the "best way". I also have 200.000 points and I have started dreaming on blowing them on a First class (or maybe business class) trip to Asia. The destination of this trip is not really that important as the main focus on this trip will not be the final destination but rather the flights, the food on board, the lounges etc. But there are of course some "guidelines"

• I'm flying roundtrip from SVG in Norway
• I would like to fly LH out of Frankfurt in order to try the FCT
• I would like to try airlines that I haven't tried before: Singapore, Asiana, ANA etc
• I don't have to get to my final destination fast - I don't mind several stops along the way and I would love to spend a night in Bangkok, a night in Singapore, a night in Tokyo etc
• Leaving around September 25 and returning around October 2nd - I'm a bit flexible.
• Final destination...well, as I have been to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, China etcit would be nice to try a new place....maybe Macau to climb Macau tower (I guess Hong Kong airport is the best alternative) or Seoul
• It would be nice to avoid countries where I need a visa
• I don't mind stops on the way back either

As a thank you I promise that I will make trip reports including both photos and videos. Thanks in advance for any suggestions :-)

[Kyo]

Let me have a think about this one - but you raise a very interesting point of note.

As you know, a few of us are coming to Oslo on the 22nd-25th for a mini-DO (looks like a mini one so far)...

I can also tell you that I'll be on LH3133 in J ex OSL-FRA on the 25th (depart 1340 / arr 1540).

I will ALSO be transiting on LH782 in F ex FRA-BKK on the 25th (depart 2245 / arr 1405) and will definitely be in the FCT/FCL/Tower etc... (planning to hit all 3 lounges). You would be most welcome to join. Furthermore, if you are not flying in F, I can still bring you in if you are on LH782 also.

We could have a real party at the FCT!

I think BKK would be a great place for a breather followed by a shop hop to wherever in Asia you may want to go. You can even continue to fly on to SGN on LH, visit HKG in F on TG or even book SQ ex-BKK to HKG with a transit/Singapore Stopover Holiday in SIN.

Also, I hope you can join us in Oslo earlier that week. I just bought a very comprehensive guidebook (although I'm sure a real 'local' host would be far more knowledgeable.).

[SQflyergirl]

Or a better alternative,

You could leave OSL after the do (which is on the 23rd) on the 24th of september, go straight to HEL on KF502, connect to ARN on KF443, connect to LHR on SK533, then connect to BKK on TG917, and sin on TG409.

Dunno who would so something stupid like that, but it's an option

[Kyo]

Well, the DO is actually 23-24th... personally flying that route you mentioned sounds a bit like overkill.

Five flights in-a-row is about the same as I did after the VIE DO last year...

VIE-IST-DXB-MAA-BKK... (four flights, already felt like a turkey)

Had to recuperate in BKK - I don't think I could have done BKK-SIN after that. Something like 42 hrs non-stop..

[Kiwi]

I'm not familiar with Eurobonus award rules. Do they have zones, distance-based MPM, routing rules (eg no going through 3rd zone), etc?

[Kiwi]

I will ALSO be transiting on LH782 in F ex FRA-BKK on the 25th (depart 2245 / arr 1405) and will definitely be in the FCT/FCL/Tower etc... (planning to hit all 3 lounges). You would be most welcome to join.

That be 4 lounges as there are 2 FCLs - 1 in A and 1 in B. Tower lounge is not an F lounge.

Visiting all these lounges on a single departure is rather pointless. Once through immigration in the FCT then it will be a pain to get your passport back, re-enter Germany and go back through security into the airport for A then B (immigration again + another lot of security) FCL. Going the other way, visiting FCL first then FCT is also painful backtracking and unneccessary extra security and immigration.

If you want to visit all FCL/FCTs then best to visit FCL B when arriving at FRA in LH F, then go to FCL A. Keep the FCT for departure.

Of course guests only possible if flying on exactly the same flight.

[SQflyergirl]

Well, the DO is actually 23-24th... personally flying that route you mentioned sounds a bit like overkill.

Indeed. Whoever thought that one up is nuts. In fact, i'd go one further and throw in a SIN-MLE right at the end just to make that person certifiably mad.

[Kyo]

Thanks Kiwi, I was thinking of doing something almost exactly along the lines of what you said.

The plan was to visit the FCL of whichever terminal I land at from OSL on LH J (no F on this intra-Europe flight). Tell them I have an LH F BP going on to BKK, take a few snapshots at A or B FCL (I am assuming A and B FCLs are similar anyway) then head to the Tower lounge to see what that is like.

Subsequently, I will clear immigration and dash off into FRA itself for my first ever experience of Germany.

Many hours/light-ish German snacks later, I will head back (probably by taxi) and head to the FCT whereupon I'll follow the trusty nickbot guide to the FCT, private elevator and all... go for a shower/light-ish dinner/imbibe myself silly on drinks and then do the Cayenne (hopefully) transfer over to the awaiting plane.

Gardkarlsen would be most welcome to join for the experience if he's on the same longhaul as me, at any stage, if he is not already flying LH F himself. If he is, we could try to arrange for seats on the same side of the cabin etc as well. Let's see what he says when he replies.

Another option, gardkarlsen, is to fly OSL-BKK directly with the new TG flight. For me, personally, I've been wanting to check out Germany (to me, opportunity cost of giving up the culture factor would be more than the flight experience), even though it's only a 7-8 hour transit, technically. I do not intend to exit the airport more than once.

Anyway, if anyone's on LH782 on the 25th, they are more than welcome to send a PM over if they would like to Lounge Meet in the FCT later in the evening.


LOL, I gotta say there are some mad routings on this lovely forum!

[Kiwi]

OSL-HEL-ARN-LHR-BKK-SIN-MLE is only twice the direct distance OSL-MLE - not too bad.

Whereas this little trip was 9 times the direct distance

[SQflyergirl]

Well, I have no idea who's doing that silly routing - if at all. Just throwing some ideas to GardKarlsen to mull over

[gardkarlsen]

Hi and thanks for the feedback so far. And thanks for the offer Kyo I was not aware that you had to be on the same flight to bring the guest. Is this only for 1st class lounges? But if I'm in FRA that afternook I would love to meet up in the FCT for a couple of glasses of champagne

Anyway, I have been trying to work out a sort of schedule with a couple of alternatives before I call SAS. There are rumors that they only allow two stops on the way but they lady that I talked to the other say in SAS did not inform me about this.

My alternative 1 is SVG-FRA-SIN-ICN (and hopefully spending a night in Singapore before going to ICN). Want to leave out of FRA on LH F in order to get into FCT.
Back I would like to try ICN-BKK-NRT-FRA-SVG (with a night in BKK at least)
I'm also open to replace ICN with HKG.

Alternative 2: SVG-FRA-BKK-ICN and back going ICN-SIN-NRT-FRA-SVG

Both options are back to Europe with ANA from NRT to FRA NH6001. A third alternative is try to end up ack in SIN a try to catch a SQ flight to FRA. Asiana from ICN to Europe is also an option. I guess it is impossible to find out before I give them a call to see what is possible.

How far ahead should I be in order to book award tickets? Has it become easier to find award tickets in First and Business with the international financial problems that we are going through?

About many flights in a row...I totally agree that it can be exhausting and that is why I hope to spend the night in places like Singapore and Bangkok...to relax, sleep in a real bed before I move on :-)

[Kiwi]

I was not aware that you had to be on the same flight to bring the guest. Is this only for 1st class lounges?

This applies to the LH FCT & FCL. Guests of F pax (on different flights) are allowed to visit the Senator lounge, and guests of *G pax can visit the Senator lounge or the United Red Carpet Club.

A third alternative is try to end up ack in SIN a try to catch a SQ flight to FRA.

Don't forget on awards flying SQ does not release F & J seats to other *A programs on 77W or A380 a/c. This limits the options to/from Europe.

[HUGE AL]

Keep in mind that NH6001 is a codeshare and operated by LH as LH711.

[gardkarlsen]

Keep in mind that NH6001 is a codeshare and operated by LH as LH711.

Thanks for the info. I had a feeling about this but wasn't sure about it.

[HUGE AL]

Thanks for the info. I had a feeling about this but wasn't sure about it.

When in doubt, just Google the flight number. It will come up as the airline operating it.