Advice please: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali

[FH2]

Hello. I am hoping to get BA reward seats in CW from LHR to Singapore for summer 2024 (2 adults and 2 kids age 12 and 15). We are thinking of spending a few nights in Singapore, then fly to Bali and spend a few nights in Ubud followed by a week in Lombok, fly back to Singapore for a night and then home to London. However I know that it is very difficult to get the reward seats LHR-SIN-LHR so we are wondering whether to try for Hong Kong instead of Singapore. Would these flights be any easier to get or is it just as difficult as SIN? I am also thinking that if we opt for HK, it might be much more expensive to then fly to Bali, so instead am considering Malaysia as an alternative if we go to HK instead of SIN. Is it possible to get low cost flights from HK to Malaysia? My husband is a keen scuba diver so we would be looking to go to Langkawi or Redang (I think weather in Redang might be better in the summer). Any advice would be most welcome!

[The real Swiss Tony]

LHR-HKG & back is 180k Avios and £770 in fees. Value the Avios at 1p each and it’s £2.6k, which is more than BA sell a J fare at anyway.
Use an AMEX 2-4-1 and that comes down by £900, but 1) will you find availability and 2) you can go IB/CX via Madrid for under £1900 in late April/early May anyway. Fares may well come down, too.

Given the grief in finding seats I really think the case for using miles to get to the far east is a weak one.

[BJ]

HKG is Zone 7 therefore less expensive than SIN which is Zone 8. There are other reasons for this too but I will not go into them here. HK may be marginally easier to find 4 reward seats; keep an open mind, it is good to have options. You couldd go out to SIN, return from HKG for example. You will find very attractive fares on LCC between all desginstions you have in mind (e.g., Air Asia, Scoot, HK Express). For premium regional flights you can redeem avios on CX and MH. You may find this is cheaper but much more hassle than going via BA site. Note that CX are increasingly using new a321s on regional routes including to Bali, and they are reportedly rubbish in business. In this respect MH would be a better bet, even if it were on a 737-8 as opposed to a wide body. Frankly, I’d save the avios and use LCC as they have better frequecies and pucntuality than the regional flag carriers. Having been to all your proposed destinations multiple times I would recommend combining HK and Malaysia for travel and adventure, or HK and Bali for excitement and relaxation … but everybody has their own views 🙂 Ultimately it’ll depend on reward availability but anything will be great!

[BJ]

Further to comments on availability difficulties from Tony you could broaden your horizons (and maybe your chances) going to SEA via India or China.

[FH2]

Thanks for the responses! We have two Amex 241 vouchers which expire end of 2024 so need to use them before then. I prefer a direct flight from London to SIN or HKG though recognise that it will be difficult to get the seats but will give it a go! I will explore the LCC options between HKG and Bali and HK and Malaysia to see if it suits us price-wise and length of flight. If we end up with SIN, I think we can go with Indonesia Air Asia or Scoot to Bali/Lombok. I had not thought of going out to SIN and back from HKG so thanks for the suggestion – will give that some thought.

[BJ]

Going back from HKG will cut your costs significantly. Note that BA has recently added capacity to Beijing and Shanghai so you might have luck with availability there.

[BuildBackBetter]

Scoot premium economy is very good value.

[polly]

With @BJ on all those points raised. We have done all 4 destinations, mixing and matching between HKG. KUL ( now stopped sadly ) SIN. Inter Asia LCC’s are brilliant value, if you can be flexible with plans. Good luck with the planning, sounds like a great trip. However, you will need to be pretty sharpish ready to press the button to grab those SIN flights!

[The real Swiss Tony]

BuildBackBetter wrote:

Scoot premium economy is very good value.

But is only offered on the very small 787 fleet. Unlikely that the OP will find that on the routes mentioned.

[FH2]

Thanks everyone! We are quite keen to go to Bali and Lombok as apparently the scuba diving is great in Lombok and I think it would be quicker and cheaper to get a LCC flight to these destinations from Singapore (and back again) rather than Hong Kong (though if I am wrong then please correct me!) If we were to go to Hong Kong and Malaysia instead of Singapore, Bali and Lombok, I like the look of Redang Island for diving, but this looks like a bit of trek to get to from HKG. I still haven’t had a chance to get my head around what our itinerary would look like if we were to fly into SIN but back home from HKG. A lot to think about! We hope to go in July or August 2024 so BA flights will be released quite soon..

[SamG]

The real Swiss Tony wrote:

BuildBackBetter wrote:

Scoot premium economy is very good value.

But is only offered on the very small 787 fleet. Unlikely that the OP will find that on the routes mentioned.

Twice daily on Bali! Can be worthwhile especially if you’ve got luggage

Redang is beautiful – also check out Wisana resort, lovely for a few days and also Perhentian islands. Not sure if you can travel directly between them. However accommodation isn’t cheap and the “luxury” options are somewhat lacking for the cost. It’ll also be quite a trek from HK as you’ll need to go via KL. Also need to consider if your teens would enjoy it as there isn’t a huge amount to do.

We stayed at Sudamala on Lombok which was nice. Unfortunately we got sick so didn’t do some of our planned trips but we did a lovely boat trip via them out to some of the islands with a picnic

Bali-HK is a long flight and I believe quite expensive but could be an option if you can’t secure seats. If you’ve got a new voucher also check out of other domestic airports which opens up more seats. You can book lcy-glasgow or Edinburgh on the return so you can skip the last leg.

Also consider flying Singapore airlines to Bali. On the return you could take the lunchtime flight, they’ll send your bags through to BA. You could pop to the city or somewhere on the east coast for a early dinner then head to the airport for a lounge crawl and shower – Qantas/Qatar/BA

[FH2]

SamG wrote:

The real Swiss Tony wrote:

BuildBackBetter wrote:

Scoot premium economy is very good value.

But is only offered on the very small 787 fleet. Unlikely that the OP will find that on the routes mentioned.

Twice daily on Bali! Can be worthwhile especially if you’ve got luggage Thanks – Sudamala looks lovely! Yes I am thinking that HK to Redang might be a bit of a mission. I would be happy with Langkawi but apparently the scuba diving is not great there so husband won’t be happy..

Redang is beautiful – also check out Wisana resort, lovely for a few days and also Perhentian islands. Not sure if you can travel directly between them. However accommodation isn’t cheap and the “luxury” options are somewhat lacking for the cost. It’ll also be quite a trek from HK as you’ll need to go via KL. Also need to consider if your teens would enjoy it as there isn’t a huge amount to do.

We stayed at Sudamala on Lombok which was nice. Unfortunately we got sick so didn’t do some of our planned trips but we did a lovely boat trip via them out to some of the islands with a picnic

Bali-HK is a long flight and I believe quite expensive but could be an option if you can’t secure seats. If you’ve got a new voucher also check out of other domestic airports which opens up more seats. You can book lcy-glasgow or Edinburgh on the return so you can skip the last leg.

Also consider flying Singapore airlines to Bali. On the return you could take the lunchtime flight, they’ll send your bags through to BA. You could pop to the city or somewhere on the east coast for a early dinner then head to the airport for a lounge crawl and shower – Qantas/Qatar/BA

Sorry – editing my post as I hit send too quickly! Sudamala looks lovely! HK-Redang looks like a bit of a mission. I would be happy with Langkawi but apparently the diving is not great there so husband would not be happy…

[Reney]

For redeeming points the general view is LhR-SIN is much harder as that it part of the route to Australia. I believe you need to do the midnight call for those flights, unless you are willing to start from the regions?

Saying that I have been constantly checking Hong Kong flights and without the extra seating on seatspy it doesn’t look great BUT at least redemption seats on flights on the furthest month looks like they stay around for a few days. So maybe you don’t need a midnight call. You mention kids, so presumably your dates are not that flexible, maybe worth thinking about flying from regions or hang out in the booking T+355 thread.

@SamG I thought HK to Bali is only 4 hours, is that long when you spend almost 15 hours getting to HK?

[SamG]

It’s about 5hrs but it’s very expensive cash in business and very hard on points to get in any cabin I believe as there aren’t many flights. Totally doable though of course especially if you’re saving points/cash on the long hauler

I agree re: Langkawi I’d rule it out, it’s also the wrong time of year for good weather on that side of Malaysia

[BJ]

@Reney, EDI-LHR-SIN with amex voucher has recently been very simple unless things have changed in last couple of months. More recently HKG is looking extremely difficult but I was searching that without voucher extra availability.

[Dan loves Christmas]

I’m flying hkg-dps this summer, I spent a fair bit of time looking at options. Couldnt do anything with avios, but was able to get direct reward flights with cathay one way (amex rewards>Asia miles) and also garuda (virgin miles, had to book over the phone). My wife was not keen to take 2 children on one of the flights via Singapore given the total journey time. As I’m joining them in Bali I will be flying via Singapore on scoot – I suspect it will be quite relaxing in comparison to her direct journey.

[FH2]

Thanks all. I don’t have enough Avios for the inter-Asia flights so will be looking for the cheapest cash fares. 5 hours HKG-DPS does seem a bit long. If we go to HKG I think we will end up combining with Malaysia as the flight is shorter I believe. I am looking at the Tanjong Jara Resort in Terengganu. Has anyone been there? Am thinking HKG for a few nights; Kuala Lumpur for a few nights and then to Tanjong Jara. @Reney, you are right that we have limited flexibility on dates so I will be looking to book at the 355 days out at 1am UK time I think! Slightly nervous as I am reading on the other threads that others have had mixed experiences with the US call centre at that time. I am thinking that I may call Australia instead.

[S]

Following this thread as I also have tentative plans on travelling to Bali from Manchester. Unfortunately I only have the old 241 so options are even more limited and it expires in November this year.

With the amount of Avios BA now demand for J even with a 241, what are the opinions/things to consider on using Avios on Qatar instead using Privilege Club for 80k one way? More Avios than BA 241 but paying less surcharges (I think?) and a better hard product than old club world?

Thinking abit more outside the box, KLM have a fifth freedom route from Bali to SIN. I believe its 95k Delta miles with minimal tax one-way too.

In terms of availability, I am using seatspy but would I be better served using Expertflyer (which I have never used) instead?

[BuildBackBetter]

S wrote:

Thinking abit more outside the box, KLM have a fifth freedom route from Bali to SIN. I believe its 95k Delta miles with minimal tax one-way too.

Have flown that route pre covid. Probably the only widebody intra Asia from Bali. Nice and clean 787 with a proper meal.
Is that really 95k from SIN to DPS? 95k seems way too high.
Alternatively you can use Virgin points now.

[peckishpassport]

BuildBackBetter wrote:

S wrote:

Thinking abit more outside the box, KLM have a fifth freedom route from Bali to SIN. I believe its 95k Delta miles with minimal tax one-way too.

Have flown that route pre covid. Probably the only widebody intra Asia from Bali. Nice and clean 787 with a proper meal.
Is that really 95k from SIN to DPS? 95k seems way too high.
Alternatively you can use Virgin points now.

DPS-SIN on KLM Business Class is 25K Virgin and $16. I was looking at this the other day. I was able to score Scoot Premium Economy for just under £100 one-way. Considering the luggage allowance and the comfier seats, it’s exceptional value for a 2.5h flight.

[S]

BuildBackBetter wrote:

S wrote:

Thinking abit more outside the box, KLM have a fifth freedom route from Bali to SIN. I believe its 95k Delta miles with minimal tax one-way too.

Have flown that route pre covid. Probably the only widebody intra Asia from Bali. Nice and clean 787 with a proper meal.
Is that really 95k from SIN to DPS? 95k seems way too high.
Alternatively you can use Virgin points now.

Whoops…meant to say (DPS)-SIN-AMS with KLM is 95k points one way…95k points for DPS-SIN would be abit much!

[BJ]

BuildBackBetter wrote:

S wrote:

Thinking abit more outside the box, KLM have a fifth freedom route from Bali to SIN. I believe its 95k Delta miles with minimal tax one-way too.

Have flown that route pre covid. Probably the only widebody intra Asia from Bali. Nice and clean 787 with a proper meal.
Is that really 95k from SIN to DPS? 95k seems way too high.
Alternatively you can use Virgin points now.

TG, SQ and CX have all operated widebody aircraft on DPS rotations. I believe Garuda have also done so. IIRC TG even used 744s with First cabins.

[SamG]

SQ operate multiple 787s into Bali too now though narrowbody is beginning to become more common in Asia – SQ do operate a couple of 737s daily now and Cathay is rolling out A321s

@FH2 I actually cancelled a stay there just pre COVID as some friends stayed and said the F&B in the evening was very limited and there aren’t alternatives nearby. Worth checking on what the situation is now

One idea I had was Koh Samui, the diving conditions should be good at that time of year and there are direct flights from Hong Kong and Singapore though they’re quite pricey. More options for accommodation and activities though.

@S – Qatar is a great option for SE Asia if you can find standard availability. I especially like the fact you can fly into one airport and out of the other e.g. BKK and out of Phuket. Makes a twin centre holiday more efficient!

[BJ]

I should add to this topic that 25k Alaska miles (40k amex MR-60k Bonvoy-25k Alaska miles) gets an intra-SE Asia business class seat on SQ including connections X-SIN-Y. Availability is generally very good. Economy class is 17k miles, not so good given fares on LCC.

[Jon]

FH2 wrote:

I am looking at the Tanjong Jara Resort in Terengganu. Has anyone been there?

I love that place! The beach in particular is fantastic. The rooms are perhaps showing their age a bit now, but I didn’t mind that – traditional rustic charm etc 😉 If your expectations are high-end brand-new business hotel you’ll be disappointed, but if you want something simple, authentic, relaxing, and generally wonderful, you’ll love it. If you get the suite at the far left end of the beach (as you face the sea), furthest from the main pool (NB there’s a separate adults-only pool), that’s a wonderful little hideaway.

Takes about 4 hours to drive across from KL, or you can fly to Terrenganu airport and taxi from there.