Qantas is currently running a special mid-year sale with a twist. For the first time, it is also offering its email subscribers an additional discount on top of the sale prices. The sale will end 26 June 2019, 11.59 pm.
All fare classes are on sale, and sale fares start as below:
Destination
Return fare from (S$)
Economy
Premium Economy
Business
First
Sydney
557
1431
2952
8123
Melbourne
555
1432
2952
6481
Brisbane
529
1685*
2952
8410*
Perth
424
N.A.
2001
N.A.
London
1070
2954
5537
11584
*Via Melbourne or Sydney; domestic class of service will be in Economy (for Premium Economy fares) or Business (for First class fares)
On top of Australia and London, there are also sale fares available to New Zealand. Of which, what’s notably attractive are fares to Wellington with return fares starting from $664.
Note that Qantas do add on surcharges for travel on weekends (typically Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) so fares may vary a little, depending on when you intend to fly.
If you are looking at ExpertFlyer.com for fare class availability, you should be look at O class for Economy, T class for Premium Economy, I for Business and A for First.
Sale fare to Wellington
Exclusive discounts for Red Email subscribers
On top of the sale, Qantas is also offering its email subscribers an additional discount on top of the sale. The discounts applicable are:
On return flights to Australia and New Zealand you’ll save an extra: Economy Class: 10% Premium Economy Class: 10% Business Class: 15% First Class: 30%
On return flights to London you’ll save an extra: Economy Class: 10% Premium Economy Class: 7% Business Class: 7% First Class: 7%
I did some search online for a sample fare to Melbourne and these are the price differences:
Economy class: $514 after the additional discount, savings of $41
Regular sale fare – Economy return to MelbourneRed Email exclusive fare – Business return to Melbourne
Business class: $2,532 after the additional discount, savings of $444
You will soon get the offer email in your inbox, which will lead you to a special booking page. Alternatively, you can try this link that I got from my email, and use the promo code “REWARD” to search the fares. Remember, sale ends 26 June 2019, 11.59pm.
Singapore Airlines have unveiled their July Spontaneous Escapes a tad late this month, but it’s still a good range of offering for a post-mid year break.
A total of 23 Singapore Airlines destinations and 21 SilkAir destinations are on sale this month.
Notable mentions
Dusseldorf business class seats make a return this month, after a very long absence. SQ flies the A350 to Dusseldorf and online reviews of the premium product has been no less than great.
All of Japan is on offer this month, given that Singaporeans don’t typically like to visit Japan during the summer months. One way business class seats go for 32,900 miles, while economy class seats go for 17,500 miles each way.
Full list of offers are below:
Singapore Airlines
Miles required each way
Sector
Economy Class
Premium Economy
Business Class
Eligible flights / Blackout dates
Southeast Asia
SIN – Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur – SIN
5,250
–
13,300
SQ107, SQ116, SQ117
SIN – Surabaya Surabaya – SIN
–
–
13,300
–
Singapore to Bangkok Bangkok to Singapore
8,750
–
15,050
To Bangkok: Only on SQ970, SQ974 (J only), SQ976, SQ978 & SQ982 From Bangkok: SQ973, SQ975, SQ981 & SQ983 (J only)
Singapore to Manila Manila to Singapore
8,750
–
15,050
To Manila: SQ912 (J only), SQ916 & SQ918 (Y only) From Manila: SQ915 (J only), SQ919 (Y only) & SQ921
UOB has launched PRVI Pay for a while now, and most recently raised the processing fee to 2.1% in March 2019.
Limited time offer: 1.8% processing fee
Earlier this week, I received a physical mailer from UOB, offering a promotional rate of 1.8% processing fee to use the PRVI Pay facility.
This effectively means that you are paying 1.8 cents per mile, which can translate to a $30 savings for every 10,000 miles bought. Note that the amount that you’ll like to apply for is up to your credit limit with UOB.
To apply, you will need to fill up the physical form and mail it back the old-school way. Once approved, the money will be in the bank account that you designate, and the amount plus the processing fee will be debited from your credit card account. Note that there is no installment option, you will have to make full payment on the amount requested by your next statement.
I’m not sure if all cardholders have received the mailer, or like they claim, a ‘select’ group of members.
Launched in 2017, PRVI Pay is essentially a cash advance facility offered by UOB with a 2% fee for a one-time drawdown (which means you need to pay back at the end of your billing cycle), or a 2.2% fee if you want to break the about into a 3-month instalment. As with any other unsecured loan, you do not actually need to show that you actually need the money and it is credited into your bank account directly.
The cash advance also earns you an effective rate of 1 mile per dollar drawn through PRVI Pay, awarded in blocks of 2.5 UNI$ per $5 drawn. This means you are effectively buying miles at 2 cents per mile, or 2.2 cents per mile if you opted for the 3-month instalment version (PSA: you should not be taking out instalments from your credit cards anyway).
Hilton has an array of properties in metropolitan Bangkok, ranging from the newly opened Waldorf Astoria to more budget friendly DoubleTree by Hilton.
I’ve tried out several other Hilton properties in Bangkok before, including the Conrad Bangkok, and wanted to find out how does DoubleTree Sukhumvit measure up.
DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok
The hotel
DoubleTree Sukhumvit by Hilton, Bangkok is located just off the main Sukhumvit Road. The hotel was opened in May 2013, after Hilton took over what was formerly known as the Imperial Tara Hotel and did a refresh. At the time of the opening, the DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok was touted as Hilton’s 100th property in Asia Pacific, as well as the first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Bangkok.
The hotel is a 7-minute walk from Phrom Phong BTS station, and that also means a short walk from EmQuartier and the Emporium. This affordable option is well-placed if you are keen to zip up and down Sukhumvit for most of your time in Bangkok.
The hotel has 177 rooms across four room categories. Rooms include three levels: Deluxe, Guest and Superior, and if you are looking for a suite you only have the King Deluxe Suite (there’s only five in the entire hotel) to choose from.
DoubleTree Sukhumvit Lobby
Upon arrival, you will be greeted with the warm Thai hospitality, and the famous DoubleTree cookie treat at the front desk, as your agent processes your check-in. I’ve stayed at the property twice now, and both times I didn’t have to wait very long to get my key card.
The hotel has a pretty eclectic decor style, similar to what I’ve seen at Hotel Indigo Bangkok before. There are hints of nostalgia with its vintage phonographs, transistor radios, cameras, wall clocks, as well as modern funk kind of furnishing around the lobby.
Lift Lobby
The room
The room I was staying for the day was the Deluxe King room. At 28 square metres, the room was a comfortable size although admittedly a little small for a Bangkok room.
DoubleTree Sukhumvit – Deluxe Room
Along with a generous king-sized bed, the room also has an armchair by the side of the window. In lieu of a work desk, there was a round glass-top table with an office armchair, which suffices for your basic hotel-office needs.
King-sized bed
Of course, there are the usual hotel amenities, including a large 40-inch flat screen TV, a mini-bar, complimentary coffee and tea as well as an in-room kettle. There are also some in-room luxuries such as bedroom slippers and bathrobes.
Window side lounge chair
As with many other DoubleTree properties, the bathroom came with a shower stall instead of a bathtub. Specifically for DoubleTree Sukhumvit, even the suites don’t come with a bathtub.
Bathroom
DoubleTree uses the same suite of Crabtree and Evelyn bath amenities as the mainline Hilton properties, which I personally like to use as it’s pleasing to the nose and yet not overpowering.
The facilities
Given the size of the hotel, the property is fairly well equipped with amenities. On the recreational front, DoubleTree Sukhumvit has an outdoor swimming pool on the 7th floor, which was fairly popular with the guests during my stay.
Swimming Pool
On the same floor, there is also a 24-hour fitness centre which is accessible with your room key card. Unfortunately there is no spa, so if you are looking for some relaxation facilities such as a hot tub or sauna, tough luck.
24-hour fitness centre (credit: DoubleTree Sukhumvit)
On the same floor there is also a poolside bar, Mosaic. As DoubleTree Sukhumvit doesn’t come with an executive lounge, the bar also doubles up as the happy hour bar for Hilton Honors gold and diamond members, offering complimentary drinks between 6 to 8pm daily.
Mosaic Poolside Bar
The ground floor has a full restaurant Dee Lite (yeah tacky name), which also serves as the breakfast restaurant. Unfortunately for this stay I left too early, even way before breakfast was served, so there’s nothing I could share with regard to the F&B.
Final thoughts
Bangkok is a land full of hotels – and cheap ones to boot. While higher quality and luxury hotels are often available at very affordable prices, DoubleTree Sukhumvit is incredibly value-for-money especially when you compare it to Hilton on the next soi. Having said that, this value comes with less amenities and will only be of good value if location is your primary consideration.
In-room amenities
For one, the hotel does not come with an executive lounge, so if you are a Hilton Honors diamond member, what you will receive instead are complimentary Happy Hour drinks daily from 6 to 8pm by the pool, which is also offered to gold members.
Overall DoubleTree Sukhumvit is a very comfortable property, albeit less than the usual frills. This is usually not a problem in cities like Bangkok, as you will usually spend much time outside of the hotel anyway. If you are in town to explore the myriad of offerings along Sukhumvit Road, this is definitely an ideal location to be in.
Hotel at a glance
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sukhumvit Bangkok 18 1 Sukhumvit Soi 26 Khlong Ton, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand TEL: +66-2-6496666 Nearest BTS station: Phrom Phong Approximate taxi fare from airport: THB350
No. of rooms: 177 Suites available: Yes Executive Lounge: No
Expect to burn up to 30% more Avios for your award tickets on non-BA flights, especially on the short routes.
British Airways have announced earlier this year that it will be devaluing the Executive Club Avios for partner awards from late May onwards, and you would have seen many sites urging you to make a redemption before that.
What makes this so special is, unlike other airlines who typically unveil the new charts at the time of announcement, British Airways didn’t. Instead, the charts were only unveiled on 30 May 2019, the day the changes took effect.
The new chart
While British Airways does not have an official chart on their website, there have been many sites that have compiled the chart. For ease of reference, I’ve used this one from The Points Guy, who have earlier pieced a new chart and confirmed it with one that a FlyerTalk member have pieced together since the changes went live on 30 May 2019.
For ease of reference, I’m only including the Business and First class award tickets (since that’s what points are usually for), but if you need the chart for Economy & Premium Economy, you can get the from this TPG article.
Zone / Distance
Avios required for Business (one-way, in ‘000)
Avios required for First (one-way, in ‘000)
Old
New
Change
Old
New
Change
Zone 1 Under 650 miles
9
12.5
+3.5 (39%)
18
24
+6 (33%)
Zone 2 651 to 1,151 miles
15
16.5
+1.5 (10%)
30
33
+3 (10%)
Zone 3 1,152 to 2,000 miles
20
22
+2 (10%)
40
44
+4 (10%)
Zone 4 2,001 to 3,000 miles
37.5
38.75
+1.25 (3.3%)
50
51.5
+1.5 (3%)
Zone 5 3,001 to 4,000 miles
60
62
+2 (3.3%)
80
82.5
+2.5 (3.1%)
Zone 6 4,001 to 5,500 miles
75
77.25
+2.25 (3%)
100
103
+3 (3%)
Zone 7 5,501 to 6,500 miles
90
92.75
+2.75 (3%)
120
123.75
+3.75 (3.1%)
Zone 8 6,501 to 7,000 miles
105
108.25
+3.25 (3.1%)
140
144.25
+4.25 (3%)
Zone 9 Over 7,000 miles
150
154.5
+4.5 (3%)
200
206
+6 (3%)
Notable observations
The short haul journeys up to 2,000 miles (that’s about 4 hours flight time) sees the biggest jump in Avios needed, with an increase from 10% to 33% depending on the zone. This means that the previous sweet spots, such as using only 7,500 Avios for an economy class ticket on Cathay Pacific to Bangkok is now gone.
Above 2,000 miles, the increase are surprisingly moderate, with a rise of about 3% across most zones. That’s very reasonable, given the last time BA raised redemption rates were in 2015. Compare that to Singapore Airlines’ two devaluations in the last three years.
Final thoughts
While devaluations are never great news, the worst fears with British Airway’s Avios devaluation turns out to be more benign than speculated.
While the short haul journeys have gone up quite steeply, the reality is that this is pretty comparable to what other oneworld carriers are charging anyway.
For comparison, this is what the different oneworld airlines are charging for a one-way Singapore to Bangkok and Singapore to Hong Kong Cathay Pacific flight:
Programme
BA Executive Club
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Asia Miles
Class
Economy
Business
Economy
Business
Economy
Business
Singapore-Bangkok (one-way)
9
16.5
14
26
10
25
Singapore-Hong Kong (one-way)
11
22
20
38
10
25
Of course, there are also taxes and surcharges to consider, but BA’s fees has always been reasonable. As such, even with the increase, Avios still provides very good value for you to use for award flights across all levels.
Shanescape 