Getting there
This time, finding a flight with availability was a major challenge. Australia is very popular destination on points so you need to plan in advance and be ready to be flexible and make some sacrifices. I booked a flight originating in Prague since from Spain there was no availability. The way there was PRG – DOH – MEL – ADL. The flight was sold with destination of Adelaide but technical stop over in Melbourne for 6 hours. At the time of booking this was not really clear on the website and also I didn’t know we would need to leave the aircraft for those 6 hours and since it was during the night, all lounges and shops would be closed. Since I have been to Adelaide before, I was looking in forums to see if I can simply get off the plane in Melbourne but the answers were not conclusive and calling Qatar also did not provide much reassurance. My understanding was that if I would fly with cabin bag only, it would be fine but with luggage not as much. I decided to take the risk and just try. Informed the staff at check-in hat I was to leave at Melbourne instead of Adelaide but they said they need to create luggage tag to Adelaide since that’s the destination and Melbourne is not official stop anyways, only technical stop. Then tried again in Doha where Qatar staff said something similar and recommended to speak to staff at Melbourne. Once in Melbourne exiting the plane I went to speak staff first said clear NO, then after a bit of push and “please”, asked around and said it would be possible but the issue is that the baggage handling staff is off for the day so they cannot take out my luggage. In the end, we agreed they would take out the luggage in the morning and I will need to go back to the airport to get it later. DEAL! So happy it worked in the end and I could actually get off where I wanted and avoid 6 hours sleep on the floor in the terminal!
The flight was back was lot easier with SYD – DOH – BCN again on Qatar Airways. Besides the easier itinerary the great thing was that this was FIRST class flight from Sydney to Doha giving me access to Qantas First Class Lounge in Sydney and Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha. What a treat!
Now the calculation.
The flight there with Qatar Business Class was 90.000 Avios + 200EUR and the flight back in Qatar First and Business was 135.000 Avios + 225EUR. Total trip 225.000 Avios + 425 EUR. Considering the cash price was this would be at least 10.000EUR, not a bad deal at all if you are able to get the Avios!
Best way to earn these Avios is with American Express, especially their generous referral bonuses. Get your Amex Platinum España with my referral link HERE and help me earn points and you will be able to start accumulating points for your daily spending and can then refer your friends and family. Current referral bonus for Platinum is 80.000 points so just my referring one friend you can almost fly to Australia in Business.
Email me at contact@spainonpoints.com with any questions on how to apply to the card, the benefits/costs or also if you are curious about getting in other country than Spain.
Staying there
W Sydney
This was super exciting since this was a new W hotel that just opened so I was really looking forward to it.
I made a booking for 5 night using Marriott points redemption of 50.000 per night and with a fifth night free, it came down to 200k points in total. Not the best conversion but not bad for hotel points. Cash rate was around 400EUR a night so not something I was willing to pay and given I had Marriott points from my Marriott Amex card in the US, it was a good deal.
The hotel is well designed, upgrade to suite was lovely, but quite a hassle to get since the staff was clearly not well trained on Marriott policy and even their management tried their best not to upgrade me but luckily a quick call to Marriott hotline helped to fight the case.
Breakfast included for free with Platinum status and above was great, really good selection and very attentive staff so that was nice.
Not the smoothest experience but given it was opened just recently, it can be expected so I would probably give them a chance again.
This was super exciting since this was a new W hotel that just opened so I was really looking forward to it.
I made a booking for 5 night using Marriott points redemption of 50.000 per night and with a fifth night free, it came down to 200k points in total. Not the best conversion but not bad for hotel points. Cash rate was around 400EUR a night so not something I was willing to pay and given I had Marriott points from my Marriott Amex card in the US, it was a good deal.
The hotel is well designed, upgrade to suite was lovely, but quite a hassle to get since the staff was clearly not well trained on Marriott policy and even their management tried their best not to upgrade me but luckily a quick call to Marriott hotline helped to fight the case.
Breakfast included for free with Platinum status and above was great, really good selection and very attentive staff so that was nice.
Not the smoothest experience but given it was opened just recently, it can be expected so I would probably give them a chance again.
