Getting to India can take a surprisingly long time (at least 12 hours), so it is worth making the trip comfortable with a Business Class redemption.
Whilst Air India flies direct to Delhi from Sydney and Melbourne, we explain below why this may not be the best use of your points—a transit through the Middle East or Southeast Asia seems like the way to go.
Point Hacks India Series
Part I: The Why: A two-week journey through India
Part II: The How: A comparison of your points options to get to India
How much?
Due to geographical proximity, it is generally cheaper to fly to India from Perth than any other Australian city.
Here is a comparison of the different award values for a one-way Business Class seat to Delhi:
| Frequent Flyer Program | Airlines | From Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide | From Perth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airways, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines | 92,000-126,500 | 92,000-103,000 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airways, Qatar Airways | 70,000 | 45,000 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airways, Qatar Airways | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | Virgin Australia, Etihad, Singapore Airlines | 83,500 (VA) or 92,000 (partners) | 71,500 (VA) or 78,000 (partners) |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Singapore Airlines, Air India | 76,000 (Singapore) or 87,000 (partners) | 55,000 (Singapore) or 87,000 (partners) |
| Etihad Guest | Etihad | 121,000-125,000 (N/A from Adelaide) | 118,000 |
If flying into a southern Indian city like Kochi, Chennai or Bangalore instead of Delhi, the Middle Eastern hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha offer more direct flights than the Asian gateway cities of Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur (due to the large Indian migrant worker populations in the Gulf countries).
These cities are slightly closer to Australia than northern Indian ones like Delhi, so some city combinations are cheaper than the miles quoted above.
Option 1: Air India direct from Sydney or Melbourne using KrisFlyer miles
The only direct services between Australia and India are with Air India on the 787 Dreamliner flying from Sydney 4x weekly and from Melbourne 3x weekly. This aircraft has 18 lie-flat business class seats in 2-2-2 configuration.
The general consensus is that seat is comfortable (although if travelling alone, choose the middle row as the person at the window has to climb over the aisle seat in the other two rows). Whilst the service is adequate, the entertainment and food offerings are reported to be sub-standard compared to alternative airlines.
Air India Business Class on the 787 Dreamliner
Option 2: Via the Middle East
The Gulf carriers fly to their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha respectively from the five major Australia cities (except for Adelaide with Etihad and Brisbane with Qatar), with direct onward flights to Delhi (and a host of other Indian cities).
Qantas/Emirates via Dubai using Qantas Points
Get more information in our beginner’s guide on how to use Qantas Points for Emirates flights.
Etihad via Abu Dhabi using Velocity Points or Etihad Guest miles
You can read our Etihad redemption guide.
Qatar via Doha using Qantas Points or Asia Miles
Check out our Qatar redemption guide with info on the A380 and A350 services from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth (upgraded to the A380 from May 2018).
Option 3: Via South/Southeast Asia
Qantas/Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, then Cathay Pacific/Jet Airways to Delhi using Qantas Points or Asia Miles
Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur, then Malaysia Airlines/Jet Airways to Delhi using Qantas Points or Asia Miles
Qantas (or Singapore Airlines) to Singapore, then Jet Airways/Singapore Airlines to Delhi using Qantas Points or KrisFlyer miles
Jet Airways has upgraded their angled 737 Business Class seats to A330 lie-flat seats on their Singapore to Mumbai flights, meaning you could be flying flat the whole way.
SriLankan Airlines from Melbourne to Delhi via Colombo using Qantas Points
This oneworld carrier flies direct from Australia’s second largest city to their hub in Sri Lanka and then onto their northern neighbour—and it only costs 92,000 Qantas Points.
Transferring points
If you have:
- American Express Membership Rewards points: transfer them to Velocity, KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, Etihad Guest or AAdvantage via Starwood
- Westpac Altitude, ANZ Rewards or Citi Rewards points: transfer them to Velocity, KrisFlyer or Asia Miles
92,500 is a bare minimum.
Also I flew Singapore business class 2 times in 2015 and 2016. The miles required to Hyderabad were significantly less than what they are now.
Also given many credit cards require more miles to transfer over to KrisFlyer compared to 2015-2016.
Availability is a problem post COVID. Previously in 2016 Dec I booked the flight a week ago I got business class for the same journey I changed the return date which is also in December as I had to report to my new Job.
But now since 2022 I have problems finding seat even in Economy.
Finally I had to book the ticket a year in advance as soon as the quota was released.(this was a Business Class)
The miles for KrisFlyer expire every 3 years which I had to renew for 200 AUD.
Hope this gives everyone some idea.
The other good thing with Etihad, gaining and moving up the different Etihad Guest Tiers (their frequent flyer program) seems much easier and faster than with other airlines and for Australians, this enables gaining Virgin privileges with the Etihad Guest Program including the use of Virgin lounges with Etihad Gold and above. They recently changed their program slightly and made it a little less desirable which started from 8th October 2017 but still it is a great program. Etihad also have great planes, great crew and are really good to fly with.
Being a Priority Pass member is also a big benefit for being in many Indian airports for some space, food, drink and wifi access.
It’s a no-brainer to go via HKG on QF/Cathay.
Another guaranteed way to travel to the subcontinent can be had regularly if we were to spend $2500 (all inclusive) for travel with Srilankan (even less when they have 2 for 1 sales). The trick is to book tickets originating from Colombo (either end i.e CMB-MEL in one return ticket and CMB-BLR/South Indian City in another return ticket). Some of this is in Malaysian Metal. This will also earn status credits with Qantas or OneWorld.
So the option is 125,000 plus $900 with Star Alliance or $2500 with One world. Redemptions with Oneworld carriers for more than 2 J is nearly impossible to achieve and therefore the above comparison.