Honeymoon: BOB, MLE, Or LIH?

[Ergel]

You're right. I'm not sure what I did wrong.

Is this insane:

NYC-CDG -- ?
Tu 5/15 TN7, CDG-LAX,11:30am-2:30pm, Business
2:00 connection in LAX
Tu 5/15 TN7, LAX-PPT,4:30pm-10:00pm, Business
Su 5/20 T78, PPT-NRT, 6:30am-1:25pm +1, Business
8:20 connection in NRT
Mo 5/21 AF277, NRT-CDG, 9:55pm-4:15am +1, Business
CDG-NYC -- ?

Travel half way around the world for 4 days? Can't go for longer?

[AJK]

Travel half way around the world for 4 days? Can't go for longer?

It's actually entirely around the world and then some

Almost 30,000 miles.

I'm governed by availability. I'd be able to add a day onto the front end, but beyond that I'd have to stay like 11 or 12 nights, something I don't have enough points to wing.

[Ergel]

12 nights where? Can You could go somewhere pay (!!) For a few nights not so expensively? Maybe that makes sense

[AJK]

Well, with your help guys, I have the following on hold:

4/30, LH401, JFK-FRA, 15:55-5:35 +1 in Business
Connect time in FRA is 9 hours 10 minutes (likely enough time to grab a bite)
5/1, TG921, FRA-BKK, 14:45-6:25 +1 in First
Connect time in BKK is 16 hours (plenty of time to do some touring)
5/2, TG306, BKK-CMB, 22:25-00:15 +1 in Business

--Buy relatively inexpensive ticket from CMB-MLE to fly on either 5/3, 5/4, or 5/6--

5/9, EY279, MLE-AUH, 20:40-23:55, in Business
5/10, EY101, AUH-JFK, 10:00-16:30, in First

Thoughts?

[aussiebochur]

You're right. I'm not sure what I did wrong.

Is this insane:

NYC-CDG -- ?
Tu 5/15 TN7, CDG-LAX,11:30am-2:30pm, Business
2:00 connection in LAX
Tu 5/15 TN7, LAX-PPT,4:30pm-10:00pm, Business
Su 5/20 T78, PPT-NRT, 6:30am-1:25pm +1, Business
8:20 connection in NRT
Mo 5/21 AF277, NRT-CDG, 9:55pm-4:15am +1, Business
CDG-NYC -- ?

It really depends on your budget and time allowance but I would go to Paris before Shabbos, spend a couple nights there and head to PPT on Sunday or Monday allowing more time in French Polynesia.

Why return via CDG? Check NH HND-LAX and AA NRT/HND-JFK which both generally have very good availability.

Well, with your help guys, I have the following on hold:

4/30, LH401, JFK-FRA, 15:55-5:35 +1 in Business
Connect time in FRA is 9 hours 10 minutes (likely enough time to grab a bite)
5/1, TG921, FRA-BKK, 14:45-6:25 +1 in First
Connect time in BKK is 16 hours (plenty of time to do some touring)
5/2, TG306, BKK-CMB, 22:25-00:15 +1 in Business

--Buy relatively inexpensive ticket from CMB-MLE to fly on either 5/3, 5/4, or 5/6--

5/9, EY279, MLE-AUH, 20:40-23:55, in Business
5/10, EY101, AUH-JFK, 10:00-16:30, in First

Thoughts?

That's a very long time in transit...

[AJK]

Why return via CDG? Check NH HND-LAX and AA NRT/HND-JFK which both generally have very good availability.

How would I get from PPT-HND/NRT? Would I have to book a separate award?

That's a very long time in transit...

Too long?

The way I have it now, we can explore/eat in FRA and in BKK...

[Ergel]

Too long?

The way I have it now, we can explore/eat in FRA and in BKK...

Still a long tone

[AJK]

Still a long tone

 

[aussiebochur]

Looks like there's 2 biz PPT-LAX on 5/21.

Put em hold while you can...

[AJK]

Looks like there's 2 biz PPT-LAX on 5/21.

Put em hold while you can...

Yeah, I saw those. I'm just trying to figure out if I fly NYC-CDG-PPT-LAX-NYC if I'll be getting gouged on the the number of miles needed.

It seems to me that I'd need:

a OW award from NYC-CDG on a carrier that only charges half of a RT
a OW award from CDG-PPT (any idea if TN charges half for OW?)
a OW award from PPT-LAX, and
a OW award from LAX-NYC (maybe AA?)

Seems like I'd have to use a whole bunch more miles than if I were able to secure a LAX-PPT-LAX route, right?

[aussiebochur]

Yeah, I saw those. I'm just trying to figure out if I fly NYC-CDG-PPT-LAX-NYC if I'll be getting gouged on the the number of miles needed.

It seems to me that I'd need:

a OW award from NYC-CDG on a carrier that only charges half of a RT
a OW award from CDG-PPT (any idea if TN charges half for OW?)
a OW award from PPT-LAX, and
a OW award from LAX-NYC (maybe AA?)

Seems like I'd have to use a whole bunch more miles than if I were able to secure a LAX-PPT-LAX route, right?

NY-CDG OW award.

CDG-PPT-LAX is OW with AA and PPT-LAX-NY is return with AA.

Could book with Delta as well but they started charging YQ on TN and LAX-NY isnt easy to find at saver level.

Btw, what was the cost of MLE-AUH-JFK? Did you hold with AA?

[AJK]

NY-CDG OW award.

CDG-PPT-LAX is OW with AA and PPT-LAX-NY is return with AA.

Could book with Delta as well but they started charging YQ on TN and LAX-NY isnt easy to find at saver level.

Btw, what was the cost of MLE-AUH-JFK? Did you hold with AA?

Wow, I had no idea DL imposed YQ on TN. That's a tremendously disappointing surprise. (I thought that was the one reason SkyPesos aren't as bad as they're made out to be.) Not that there are any available for the next three months, but does DL charge YQ on AF redemptions to PPT?

The MLE-AUH-JFK in F cost 180K (90K each), and yeah, I held it with AA.

Go to Bora Bora!

(Figured I'd respond here to keep it on topic)

I see you're pushing for BOB

Gary actually just did a TR of his trip to the Maldives and he said he liked it better...

For me the Maldives is better for one reason: I have Hyatt points/nights. I'd have to finagle and/or sell/buy points to make BOB work in an OWB.

BOB is better as I could stopover in LAX on the way back, it seems like its closer, and its BOB!!

[aussiebochur]

Wow, I had no idea DL imposed YQ on TN. That's a tremendously disappointing surprise. (I thought that was the one reason SkyPesos aren't as bad as they're made out to be.) Not that there are any available for the next three months, but does DL charge YQ on AF redemptions to PPT?

The MLE-AUH-JFK in F cost 180K, and yeah, I held it with AA.

No YQ with AF.

180k each?

[AJK]

No YQ with AF.

180k each?

90K each. I fixed it above and added a couple things.

[aussiebochur]

Thats good. For some time AA wasnt pricing it as one award.

You really have to add everything up and see what works best for you.
Id still put the PPT flights on hold just in case.

Either way, it would be a massive let down to not get an OWB which seems to be only able to be confirmed with $$$.
May be worth comparing those as well as the point amounts...

[AJK]

Thats good. For some time AA wasnt pricing it as one award.

Yeah, I had read that. But, thankfully, the past two times I've held MLE-AUH-JFK, it priced at 90K each.

You really have to add everything up and see what works best for you.
Id still put the PPT flights on hold just in case.

Either way, it would be a massive let down to not get an OWB which seems to be only able to be confirmed with $$$.
May be worth comparing those as well as the point amounts...

You're 100% right. To get an OWB confirmed in MLE, I'd need 22K Hyatt and $350 (plus taxes/fees). Not a terrible deal, but when I consider that I could get an OWB in BOB at the Hilton for about the same cost (or perhaps even cheaper someplace else), MLE doesn't look AS attractive.

Man this is a tough decision.

[aussiebochur]

It may be worth checking what the OWB cost outright.

OWB, 22k Hyatt @ 1.65 =$363+350=$713++ per night...

There are often offers (especially if booked through Amex FHR or a Virtuoso agent) of stay x, get 1 night free which may work for you.

[AJK]

Just looking at the points side of things,
Hyatt: 5 nights @ 22K Hyatt=110K (valued) @ 1.65cpp =$1815
Hilton: 5 nights (presuming youre Gold) 200K (valued) @ .5cpp=$1000

Your Hilton and Hyatt numbers are just for a base room.

To get a Hyatt OWB, you need 22,000 + $350 per night.
To get a Hilton OWB, you need about 125,000 per night--and availability isn't so easy to find. (I think you may be able to straight out pay for the room for about $8-900.)

Then again, youll have 4 nights in Paris which need to be paid for.
But its a trip itself...

As far as flights go:
NY-CDG: 50k UA
CDG-LAX-PPT: 60k AA (Needs double checking)
PPT-LAX-NY: 62.5k AA

OR

NY-FRA-BKK-CMB:60k UA
MLE-AUH-JFK: 90k AA

But no doubt the planes on the second itinerary blow the first out of the water.

I wouldn't have to stay four nights in Paris, but you're right, those nights need to be paid for.

Actually, the NY-FRA-BKK-CMB itin is costing me 80K because FRA-BKK is in F. So, total for NY-MLE its: 80K UA + ~$200 (for the CMB-MLE leg).

If it matters, the BOB trip is 20,000 miles traveled, and the MLE trip is 28,000.

[AJK]

It may be worth checking what the OWB cost outright.

OWB, 22k Hyatt @ 1.65 =$363+350=$713++ per night...

There are often offers (especially if booked through Amex FHR or a Virtuoso agent) of stay x, get 1 night free which may work for you.

A Hyatt OWB, purchased outright, is about $1200.

Even if I found a stay 4, get 5th free, I wouldn't come out ahead: $4800 vs. $3565.

I wonder if it's possible to only pay the $350 buyup for the first night? If so, maybe they wouldn't kick us out of the OWB for the remainder (assuming they had availability).

Man, this whole endeavor would be so much simpler with an unlimited budget, eh?

[aussiebochur]

I deleted my post to update it because I forgot about Hilton's "enchantment" of HHonors with Premium Room Rewards...

(OT, but who wants to bet we will see lots of those at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem?)

If paying, it opens a whole new can of worms. Theres tons of properties, no need to stick with the big brands...