LHR -SYD reward seat advice

I'm after a bit of advice please, I have enough miles for a return UC to SYD. My little family and I would like to spend Xmas in Oz next year.

What's the chances of spending my miles on one seat and buying the other two?

When's the right time to get on the phone to try and bag a reward seat?

Finally, am I deluded in even thinking I'll be able to get a seat on this route at probably the most popular time of year?

[Nottingham Nick]

The advice with any reward booking is the same - patience, persistence and flexibility.

I speak as one who has managed to have multiple UC reward trips for two people to SYD - I have managed to get (almost) the dates I wanted each time.

You have to be a little bit brave as well - treat the trip as four legs and when availability for each leg on the dates you are prepared to travel opens up, grab it.

If you see PE availability but not UC, I would be tempted to grab that as a fall back. You can always change the booking if UC opens up.

Be optimistic, but have fall back plans.

Nick

It certainly isn't easy, but other V-Flyers have reported success.

The main challenge is finding 4 separate Gs - LHR-HKG, HKG-SYD, SYD-HKG and HKG-LHR. From what others have said, the Hong Kong to Sydney leg (and return) is relatively easy to get, it's the London to Hong Kong (and return) leg that's the issue.

To maximise your chances, you'll need to be flexible on dates which may well mean a layover in Hong Kong. Then just keep checking the VS website for Gs as soon as the flights open at T-330 days (so towards the end of Jan for flights in Dec 2014). If you see one, get on that phone immediately and grab it - it won't last long.

Remember just because a flight doesn't have reward availability the day it opens at T-330 doesn't mean it never will. They can and do become available at any time, you just have to keep checking.

Thanks Nick, when you say treat it as four legs do you mean LHR - HKG HKG - SYD? What would happen if I got LHR - HKG and then couldn't get the onward leg?

I can be reasonably flexible with dates, probably 7 days either way.

Do I need to wait for exactly 12 months before the date I want to fly?

Thanks Gumshoe, our posts crossed.

Thanks Nick, when you say treat it as four legs do you mean LHR - HKG HKG - SYD? What would happen if I got LHR - HKG and then couldn't get the onward leg?

I can be reasonably flexible with dates, probably 7 days either way.

Do I need to wait for exactly 12 months before the date I want to fly?

Yes - look at it as 4 separate flights (or twp trips - LHR-HKG-LHR and HKG-SYD-HKG. If there were no rewards on say the HKG-SYD legs then you'd have to get a paid seat from HKG-SYD but as Nick said the HKG-SYD-HKG sectors might be easier to get so you'd be buying tickets for the LHR-HKG-LHR trip.

Tickets don't go on sale until 11 months in advance. rewards may be available from the same point too but there is no definitive system to when VS release them so it is a case of constant checking and booking once they appear.

Another possibility is flying VS to another Asian destination - eg Tokyo - where reward seats are sometimes easier to get, then use another airline to get to Hong Kong (4-5 hours, 12 flights a day), then on to Sydney on VS again.

Looking at this Christmas for example, at the moment there are no Gs available at all from London to Hong Kong in December. But you can get them from London to Tokyo every day except weekends, and from Hong Kong to Sydney on the 23rd December which would get you there early on Christmas Eve.

Obviously it'll take a bit longer and it involves the hassle of a 3rd leg but it's worth considering if you want much better reward availability on the dates you want. And a day or two in Tokyo might be quite exciting!

I agree with gumshoe
Though I am a bit gutted that I couldn't get a G to NRT in mid December when it sounds like they are now available.
Guess that's the whole point. The lesson I learnt for next time is check constantly be brave etc however when booking for Christmas the gamble may not always pay off it you aren't persistent in your search.
In my case we didn't have any flexibility and I really want to go UC so I made a judgment call (good or bad) when a return ticket combo came up that I was prepared to pay for. In my case a Z outbound and a G inbound.
Goodluck though and perhaps report back and let us know how you get on?

I'm getting there slowly,

I was originally booked LHR-AKL via HGG and SYD on a H fare in September, I have just had a chat with a very nice lady on the AU line and I managed to upgrade the outbound leg to an S fare for £200 then grab a G for the HKG-SYD leg, now just sitting in wait for the LHR-HKG to become available.
Fingers and Toes all crossed.

There are currently Gs available for LHR-HKG on the 3rd, 5th and 10th Sep so it's not out of the question - just keep checking.

And if all else fails it's always worth asking when you get to the airport because if any UC seats are still unsold on the day, they're often willing to sell them for miles.

There are currently Gs available for LHR-HKG on the 3rd, 5th and 10th Sep so it's not out of the question - just keep checking.

And if all else fails it's always worth asking when you get to the airport because if any UC seats are still unsold on the day, they're often willing to sell them for miles.

Thanks I'm checking at least twice a day on some other S fares I already have so I'll just add it to the list.

7th September for me and I'm arriving at the Airport super early as I'm coming straight from a night shift so will be checking in at about 0800 then heading off to T4 for a few hours in the Yotel ][|) (I fear twelve hours in the Clubhouse would be too much)

PE's looking pretty busy on that flight whereas UC is still wide open - still early days obviously but if that continues to be the case there's a reasonable chance they'll sell a miles upgrade on the day, particularly if PE is full.

Given that it's a weekend, I fear your chances of a G becoming available in the meantime are slim but never say never.

Oh, and 12 hours in the CH too much? Pah, what sort of V-Flyer are you?

Oh, and 12 hours in the CH too much? Pah, what sort of V-Flyer are you?

One of the few areas where the DL lounge at T4 is better than the CH is that the DL has a few day rooms available.

Oh, and 12 hours in the CH too much? Pah, what sort of V-Flyer are you?

Haha, if it wasn't for the fact that I will have been working all night I might give it a try ):

Just wondering if I can check in then visit the CH for a spot of breakfast and a quick Mojito then leave and go to my day room and then come back to the CH around 1600?

Many thanks
Dominic

Just wondering if I can check in then visit the CH for a spot of breakfast and a quick Mojito then leave and go to my day room and then come back to the CH around 1600?

Many thanks
Dominic

Interesting idea.

You would have to re-enter the UK via immigration though and then go through security when you wanted to come back for your flight.

Though the #1 lounge has day rooms you can book - not sure how much they cost but worth investigating as a comparison to the Yotel. And you get miles and a discount on #1 lounge now as well.

Just wondering if I can check in then visit the CH for a spot of breakfast and a quick Mojito then leave and go to my day room and then come back to the CH around 1600?

Many thanks
Dominic

Interesting idea.

You would have to re-enter the UK via immigration though and then go through security when you wanted to come back for your flight.

Though the #1 lounge has day rooms you can book - not sure how much they cost but worth investigating as a comparison to the Yotel. And you get miles and a discount on #1 lounge now as well.

Thanks Tonty

I have just checked the #1 lounge and it says £20 ph for the bedroom, I am a Priority Pass member so already have access to the lounge.

What is the discount applied to and how do I claim it? and how do I earn the all important miles?

Thanks
Dominic

There was a recent thread about it.

Not sure how it would work with your PP and only wanting a room though.

There was a recent thread about it.

Not sure how it would work with your PP and only wanting a room though.

Thanks again Tonty,

How did I miss that thread? so well titled too.

It looks a much better option than changing Terminals albeit more expensive, I'll get it booked and see if I get the miles.

Thanks
Dominic

I could be wrong but I thought you only earn miles if you use the link on the VS website to pay for lounge entry which, as a PP holder, you wouldn't have to do.

I suspect you don't earn miles for incidentals like day rooms but would be happy to stand corrected!

Thanks for the extra advice guys, I would LOVE to go to Japan! I'll keep you updated.

Hi Rachel

I did this LHR-SYD for 2 in UC on miles last year and I am planning again for next year. We go in Feb which is a little easier than Xmas time, but still a challenge nevertheless due to half term hols. Nick's advice is spot on "patience, persistence and flexibility".

I shared my LHR-SYD reward chasing experience last time and although there was a bit of stress as you will read, it all worked out very well. No divorce lawyers were required!

For next years trip I have secured my 2 x G for LHR-HKG and back; these are the hard ones. I'm not at all worried about the HKG-SYD legs as they really are wide open. I have one booked and I'm still planning the dates for the final sector.

If you are FC Gold it is even easier as the £25 reward seat change fee is waived. I changed my booking loads of time and no one on the Au hotline was bothered in the slightest.

Good luck and feel free to ask more questions.

Hi Martin, thank you. I would like to read your post but when I click on the link it says I can't view the information. What was the title of the post? I'll search for it instead.

PE's looking pretty busy on that flight whereas UC is still wide open - still early days obviously but if that continues to be the case there's a reasonable chance they'll sell a miles upgrade on the day, particularly if PE is full.

Given that it's a weekend, I fear your chances of a G becoming available in the meantime are slim but never say never.

Oh, and 12 hours in the CH too much? Pah, what sort of V-Flyer are you?

I have just spoken to one of the AU FC agents who advised me that UC is nearly empty and that so far no G's have been released so far so it's looking pretty hopeful y)

Dominic

Fingers crossed!

Just to prove how suddenly G availability can change, since I last checked 24 hours ago there's now one available LHR-HKG on Sep 12th as well as 3rd, 5th & 10th.

So keep checking, at least daily - you never know.

Fingers crossed!

Just to prove how suddenly G availability can change, since I last checked 24 hours ago there's now one available LHR-HKG on Sep 12th as well as 3rd, 5th & 10th.

So keep checking, at least daily - you never know.

I was actually on the phone about changing to the one on the 5th but there was no S availability on the 5th so would have to pay £2000 to upgrade to a W to then use my miles (I politely declined).

It was then she checked and advised that no G's had been released for my flight so far.

Dominic