Great Escapade Miles/TP earning

Hi folks,

I'm looking at going on a RTW trip, I have a bunch of work which may take me down-under, however, the majority of the flying will be on SQ and NZ

With the Star Alliance fare, I can do the homecoming SFO-LHR on UA (and probably upgrade to First with miles), or hop down to LA and pick up the NZ2.

Having compared the Star Alliance RTW fare and the Great Escapade, the Virgin GE fare comes out about £200 cheaper.

So, a few questions for those who have done a Great Escapade before:

1) Miles and TP earning - I'm assuming that a business class Great Escapade fare qualifies for normal Miles and TP earning on VS and participating partner airlines?

2) Logging sectors to a non-VS FFP - Given the stingy TP earning on NZ (2 TPs for that massive trans-Pacific sector), I stand to gain more from logging that 6500 mile sector to my United Airlines account. I'm guessing that it would be booked in an appropriately qualifying fare bucket.

3) Ticketing - I guess it's a thick deck of paper tickets?

4) Upgradeability - Are GE tickets upgradeable to the next class of service (e.g. to First in SQ) with the appropriate miles (either VS or from a Star programme)? I think that the Star RTW is upgradeable (UA First would definitely take the edge off that SFO-LHR sector!)

The Star fare seems to win in terms of flexibility, in terms of having more airlines to choose from (and seems to allow upgrades to F), but of course, there will be no VS sectors at all!

Cheers,
Mike

[HighFlyer]

Hi Mike

As short and sweet as it is ...

1) Yes - all earning as advertised on the VS site, and relativeky easy to get all the miles/TPS from the airlines.

2) I guess so ... no actual experience with UA but my GE was all booked in Z/C class so would imagine the same for you, and in which case, ease of upgrading.

3) Oh yes - a wad of paper tickets all stapled together in my case

4) Yes, you can upgrade using miles from the (elligible) scheme of your choice - space permitting.

Let us know what you decide

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Let us know what you decide

The winner is...

Star Alliance RTW fare booked with Air NZ, because they can e-ticket the whole lot, they didn't need to "check with ticketing" and "look things up" as much as VS seemed to (hardly inspired confidence!), and ANZ seemed to be able to get availability on the SQ sectors when VS couldn't (The *A RTW is booked in D throughout, maybe VS had to book some sectors in Z?).

Okay, it means I miss out on one VS sector, and the SFO Clubhouse. I think I'll survive .

Cheers,
Mike

[HighFlyer]

Hi Mike

Glad you have it all sorted .. whats your routing?

Given your issues, I think I may have been swayed to *A, especially if you only have one VS sector. Being booked in D class is also a winner as you are right in that the VS sectors would be booked in Z. They used to be booked in D but this changed about a year ago, about a month (typically) before I booked my GE.

Have a fab time, and let us know how it goes.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Glad you have it all sorted .. whats your routing?

Well, it's currently:

LHR-SIN-PER (SQ), BNE-AKL (NZ), AKL-WLG (NZ), WLG-AKL-SFO (NZ), SFO-LHR (UA)

I'll stick it in itineraries when I get minute or two.

No time for a nightstop in SIN, unfortunately, so just 5 hours, enough time for 40 winks, and some shopping.

Do any of the *A lounges in SIN have loungers/daybeds, or should I be looking at a snooze in the transit hotel?

I've yet to sort out some domestic flights in Oz. Currently looks like they will be QF because DJ seems either inconveniently timed, or expensive! (At least I'll stand a chance of earning something on my BAEC card.)

Cheers,
Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Do any of the *A lounges in SIN have loungers/daybeds, or should I be looking at a snooze in the transit hotel?

The SQ First lounge has daybeds - very comfortable (and massage chairs too). I think there's an airport hotel that has rooms to rent by the hour too...

Cheers

Michael

[HighFlyer]

Good stuff Mike, look forward to hearing all about it, particularly the SIN-PER flight. I quite fancy visiting PER, when i was in SIN waiting for my flight to SYD i saw the PER flight leave and was a little gutted as i didnt realise SQ flew there direct .. one for the pile to come back to me'thinks.

Currently looks like they will be QF because DJ seems either inconveniently timed, or expensive!

That was my experience with Oz internals. All with QF and very expensive [:(]

Hope you have a fab time

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Good stuff Mike, look forward to hearing all about it, particularly the SIN-PER flight.

It looks like the SIN-PER sector is on one of the "medium range" 777s, with no First Class - seat map. No Spacebeds... At least I'll have had them on the LHR-SIN sector!

So, it won't be that great to get some shut-eye, but it is only a 5h30 long sector. I'll either doss down in the lounge at SIN, or bag a few hours sleep in the transit hotel!

That was my experience with Oz internals. All with QF and very expensive [:(]

Hope you have a fab time

Actually, the QF flights were about 60% the cost of the comparable DJ ones, and have a sensible (32Kg) baggage allowance. If only Ansett were still flying, hey?

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have a good one .

Cheers!
Mike

[HighFlyer]

It looks like the SIN-PER sector is on one of the "medium range" 777s, with no First Class - seat map. No Spacebeds... At least I'll have had them on the LHR-SIN sector!

Oh darn .. you'll have to rough it in Raffles class

Seriously though, spacebeds would be awesome, but the flight will fly by. Even my SIN-SYD just flew by so quickly. By the time you have eaten (and dont SQ like to feed you!!) you barely have a few hours before landing.

Thanks,
Sarah