Bali help

[Reado2075]

I should have around 200k avios and looking to go to bali next july. What’s the best option please?
There will be family of 4.
I presume direct to singapore then connecting flight to bali booked separately, but any advice gratefully received
Thanks

[Cat]

Do you have any vouchers (AMEX or Barclaycard) at all?

I would go with going out to Singapore and back from Hong Kong (to save on taxes & surcharges) , booked separately (as long as return flight isn’t available when you book the outbound) and then linked up via Twitter, if using an AMEX voucher.

Funnily enough, I’m writing this from the back of a taxi, on my way to Ubud!

[Froggee]

You might be better off paying cash.

BA off peak would be 80,000 Avios return + £250 to Singapore. And that still leaves you with booking the Bali flights for which you will need a suitable buffer so as to ensure you do not misconnect.

Qatar would be 80,000 points + approx £325 return. And that is a connecting flight that takes you all the way to Doha.

So can you get ~120,000 more Avios and how do cash prices compare for when you are looking to go?

Do you wish to go to Singapore at all?

What works well is BA one-way to Singapore (40,000 or 45,000 + £125. Cheap LCC to Bali after a few days. Then for the return, Qatar DPS-LHR one-way for 40,000 points + £96 or so.

[BBbetter]

Why would anyone fly to or from HKG if the intended destination is Bali? Are the taxes really worth saving, if OP doesn’t have enough Avios for J seats?

HKG is 5 hours from Bali, while Singapore or KL is 2.5 hours.

If getting flights to SIN is difficult due to avios availability, fly to KUL instead.

If you live outside London, you might even be better off flying Qatar on Avios or cash, or even KLM on cash.

[Richie]

Please delete.

[ekposh]

Agree with BBbetter. SIN or KUL is your best bet. Forget HKG unless you want to go there. Not worth the saving in taxes and DPS-HKG flights are long and most likely via SIN anyway.

[Cat]

@BBbetter – three reasons

1) saving an awful lot in taxes and surcharges for the return journey
2) better seat on the HK flight (although that’s probably not relevant in this case, unless they come up with a load of Avios very quickly)
3) a different stopover on the way out and the way back, if you have the time and the inclination to break up the journey with stopovers

[Reado2075]

Thanks for the input….inhave have a look at return different route to see the difference…im not bothered about a stopover in singapore tbh as it appears v expensive…maybe worth avios to dubai then pay emerites direct to bali..

[JDB]

Cat wrote:

@BBbetter – three reasons

1) saving an awful lot in taxes and surcharges for the return journey
2) better seat on the HK flight (although that’s probably not relevant in this case, unless they come up with a load of Avios very quickly)
3) a different stopover on the way out and the way back, if you have the time and the inclination to break up the journey with stopovers

The dynamics of a routing/single from HKG have changed somewhat. HKG is now a single daily 789, so not a better seat vs some other BA flights, eg SIN. Some of the tax benefit has been eroded with the advent of RFS and dependent on how you book. BA’s withdrawal of the second daily service and Virgin’s cancellation of the route reflect various factors, one of which is the reduced attractiveness of HK as a tourist destination.

[BBbetter]

@Cat, you probably missed the fact that OP doesn’t have enough avios for J or F seats.

OP, if cost of the stopover is an important factor, consider transit or stopover at Srilanka or India.

[Reado2075]

Presumably I would need to transfer some avios into qatar app to redeem rather than book it via the ba website if plan to use qatar on return journey?

[Froggee]

No you can book it on BA.

Some here think it better to book Qatar redemptions on Qatar though as they seem more accommodating if things go wrong. I forget the differences for cancellations etc though.

But even for that, if you link your BA and Qatar accounts then you can book on Qatar and it draws the points from your BA Avios account.

[Cat]

I realise my choice of routes wouldn’t be for everyone! Different strokes

The dynamics of a routing/single from HKG have changed somewhat. HKG is now a single daily 789, so not a better seat vs some other BA flights, eg SIN.

That’s odd, I’m booked onto BA0032 twice in the next year, both times it’s showing a 777 in a 1-2-1 layout.

[Paul]

I favour HKG for the return. Yes it’s 5 hours but it’s CX and an easy connection. Singapore is very good but no one world carrier to from Bali so
You need to build in a lot bigger buffer.

If you go for a stop in SIN the KL have an excellent and good value cash flight to/from DPS but neither out or back connects with anything.

QR is best for return as its overnight and allows all day on the beach on you last day. J fares on QR are sky high though and Avios in J as rare as hens teeth.

If spending cash TK ex EU is often very good value but so too is LX and LH with connections over SIN.

[JDB]

Cat wrote:

I realise my choice of routes wouldn’t be for everyone! Different strokes

The dynamics of a routing/single from HKG have changed somewhat. HKG is now a single daily 789, so not a better seat vs some other BA flights, eg SIN.

That’s odd, I’m booked onto BA0032 twice in the next year, both times it’s showing a 777 in a 1-2-1 layout.

BA31/2 is a 789 in the winter timetable 28 Oct – 23 March. Thereafter, it reverts to a 777, but one that has no First.

[paulthetaxman]

I got back on Sunday from doing a Singapore – Bali – Hong Kong holiday. We used Air Asia from Singapore and then Cathay to HK.

Observations from me – Bali is really busy in July / August. Traffic jams etc. I’d also say (despite having been here before) wasn’t perhaps in retrospect worth the effort to go to. I’d say go to a Thai Island instead but look at weather etc.

Also worth saying that Air Asia are a nightmare if you have a problem – as we did. No customer support.

Also…Hong Kong is so hot. We had a feels like temperature of 48c due to humidity which did make going out a struggle.

[Gagravarr]

Bit of a left-field idea, but…

Avios redemption LHR-AUH, the cheap-ish Sri Lankan deal in business AUH-CMB-CGK (about £800 return in business, earns 560 tier points so almost silver), then an Indonesian low-cost carrier from Jakarta CGK to Bali DPS (£40-£50 including bags)

[davedent]

Having done the AUH -CGK route b2b 3 times I strongly advise against this !

[davedent]

Jakarta domestic terminal is pretty dreadful and the flights are often cancelled /delayed.

[Aston100]

Four of you trying to get reward seats to Singapore during English school holidays is going to be difficult.
Have a plan B.

By the way, I booked KUL for late July 2025 (as my gateway to Indonesia). Despite initially messing up, I eventually booked 2 club seats by 01:10 through the BA app.
There were still 2 left around 2am.

So, you may want to consider KUL rather than SIN for that outbound at least.
Not sure why you were advised about HKG on the inbound.
I’m looking to take Qatar or even Malaysia Airlines on the way back from DPS.

[ToneTheTraveller]

I have literally just done this trip – although just two of us. Used Seatspy and so far its been spot on.

Booked 355 days before LHR-SIN with BAP card so booked Biz class with 180k avios and £900 – ended up getting a FC upgrade for £620 each outwards and came back Ying/Yang BC.
In terms of getting to Bali I used Singapore Airlines (amazing) via Amex Plat and dumped a load of points – 45000 + £800 (it was £1300 for both of us return in BC).

There are plenty of flights per day out of SG to Bali – 2 hours fly time..

I’d go back again in a couple of years and stay in Mandaapa Ubud, fabulous resort (we visited for lunch) on a day out but were staying RC in Nusa Dua which was great – Kepinski next door was fabulous though!

[aq.1988]

davedent wrote:

Having done the AUH -CGK route b2b 3 times I strongly advise against this !

How many TP’s did you earn on that trip? I remember seeing your thread, and it was a crazy itinerary!

[Michael C]

Just to support the LHR-KUL / SIN-LHR route.
Inbound Singapore availability tends to be easier to find.
I’d stop off in both directions, but as @Cat says, each to their own!

Hope rest of trip was great, Cat – we’ll def. stay in Ubud next time.
Not sure if you saw another of my posts mid-trip, but have a look at
Centara Hua Hin: fabuloussss stay and a great trip out to the Wildlife Friends Foundation!