Flight from Melb to Sicily - Help to Find The Best Ticket

LRENERO on 13/02/2017 - 15:27

Guys,
I really hope you have an idea that can save me some $$$…
I have to be in Italy (Sicily) with my fiancee from the 30ish of June to the 21ish of July (quite flexible but I'd like to use the weekends).
In the past I have always used Emirates to go there because of the possibility to get "covered" for the national flight (generally from Rome to Palermo).
I can see that atm even the economy class is crazy expensive!!
I've got 237,000 miles with Velocity, 157,000 with Qantas, 45,000 with Emirates and she has 95,000 miles with Velocity and 137,000 with Qantas.
Do you guys have any idea how to get the best tickets using the miles or get a "cheap ticket" (economy is fine…) using some "secret stopovers" that I have no idea about? If I can save a grand per ticket I'm even happy to have a 40 hours stopover!!!
Thank you so much in advance!! :D

Travel

Comments

  • Wampus on 13/02/2017 - 16:04

    Barring any super specials, the cheapest way to get to that area of Europe is Scoot, via Singapore to Athens. Find a cheap flight from Athens to Sicily and that might be your best bet

  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2017 - 16:40

    wow 40 hour stopover to save money. christ

    • singlemalt72 on 13/02/2017 - 19:33
      +1

      40 Hour stopover to explore, eat, see sights, take in culture …… I always include a stopover on a trip.

    • inherentchoice on 14/02/2017 - 08:31

      It helps with jetlag.

  • Stewardo on 13/02/2017 - 17:34

    What about Milan $1250 with air India then $100 on Ryanair to Palermo
    You could channel your star alliance earn back to velocity via Singapore airlines membership.

  • Randxyz123 on 13/02/2017 - 18:51

    Incredibly popular time of the year to head over there (though so worth it). School holidays, Uni holidays and summer.

    Keep browsing specials at Expedia etc. I doubt you'll get over there for under $2000.

    Try a few travel agents they might be able to help.

  • theoracle30 on 14/02/2017 - 02:01

    You have a lot of Velocity and Qantas points!

    You could get from Melbourne to Rome on Velocity points, with Etihad predominantly.

    Monday 3 July
    1) Depart Melbourne 5:30pm, arrive Sydney 6:55pm [VA871]
    2) Depart Sydney 8:50pm, arrive Abu Dhabi 5:40am (+1) [EY455]
    3) Depart Abu Dhabi 8:45am (+1), arrive Rome 1:05pm (+1) [EY83]

    Cost: 82,800 points + $246.86 tax pp

    Coming back it's a lot better value as there is much more availability.

    Friday 21 July
    1) Depart Rome 10:00pm, arrive Abu Dhabi 5:55am (+1) [EY 84]
    2) Depart Abu Dhabi 9:00am (+1), arrive Melbourne 4:15am (+2) [EY462]

    Cost: 75,000 points + $222.80 per person

    If you pool all your Velocity points together, you'll have enough to cover both tickets with a little left over. Taxes will cost $469.66 per person.

    Of course you'll need to add on your own flights to/from Sicily. The connections to/from Rome are pretty good though.

    Just one potential option to minimise cash expenditure :)

  • RENERO on 14/02/2017 - 07:18

    Thank you very much guys! You people are awesome!

  • inherentchoice on 14/02/2017 - 08:36

    Coming up as $2135 on skyscanner with China Eastern and Alitalia.

    https://www.skyscanner.com.au/transport/flights/mela/pmo/170…

    As a creative but more cumbersome combination you could go AirAsia to Tehran and then Pegasus to Rome via Turkey. Looks like you could do that under $1500 without bags so probably $1700 with bags.

    Ryanair has $75 return from FCO to PMO and between Ryanair and Vueling there are 10 flights a day on that route, but yes it is cumbersome.

  • jamesharrisonats on 14/02/2017 - 11:52

    find a travel agent who does nothing else but Italy. They are out there. They might have deals, you can't find online.

  • RENERO on 22/02/2017 - 10:29
    +1

    Guys, flight booked. It ended up to be super cheap and also quite interesting.
    Melbourne-Rome with Air India. The stopover in New Delhi will be quite long but I will apply for a visa and I'm planning to get a hotel in the city centre. This will give us a chance to see New Delhi which is a city I always wanted to see. Cost for the flight was (for both): 1,349 AUD!
    Rome-Melbourne with Ethiad. I used almost all my velocity points but I didn't pay anything for it. Not even the taxes.

    Basically I paid a return flight to Rome for 2 people $1,349.
    I just thought that this could help someone that wants to get a cheap flight to get to Europe in the peak season.
    Thanks all

    • Wampus on 22/02/2017 - 11:05

      Nicely done! The OzBargainer is strong with this one

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