Flying from Australia to Europe or North America in Business Class can be very expensive, and reward seat availability is limited. As an alternative, you could save thousands by redeeming your Qantas points to fly to a city in Asia such as Jakarta and then buying a Business Class ticket from there!
Qantas operates daily Airbus A330 flights from Sydney to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. This is one of the few Qantas international routes that often has reasonably good Classic Flight Reward availability in Economy and Business Class.
It costs 40,600 Qantas Frequent Flyer points + $221 for a return Qantas Classic Reward ticket in Economy Class from Sydney to Jakarta. For a Business Classic Reward ticket, you could expect to pay 114,000 Qantas points + $361 round-trip.
Alternatively, you could buy a cash ticket on Qantas or Garuda Indonesia, which flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Jakarta.
From Jakarta, you could continue on a separate paid ticket to Europe or North America. Business Class airfares from Indonesia to Europe or the USA are much cheaper than tickets from Australia. You’ll still get to enjoy the longest part of your trip in Business Class (or the whole trip if using points for Business Class seats between Sydney and Jakarta). You’ll also be able to earn points and status credits for any airfares that you purchase with money.
The main catch is that it’s probably a good idea to plan a stopover in Jakarta of at least one day in both directions, just in case of any delays to your inbound flights. If you miss the next flight and it is booked on a separate ticket, you may forfeit that airfare. Also, note that you may need a visa to enter Indonesia.
Current Business Class deals from Jakarta to Europe
Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways both have some good value Business Class fares from Jakarta to Europe at the moment.
For example, you could fly with Turkish Airlines from Jakarta to Paris from approximately $2,776 return. (This amount is quoted in Australian dollars, but you would pay in Indonesian Rupiah when booking on the Turkish Airlines website.)
The above sale fare is available for bookings made until 15 December 2022 and travel commencing between 1 February and 30 June 2023, subject to “J” class availability. Turkish Airlines now offers a second flight on the Jakarta-Istanbul route on some days, giving the choice of a morning or evening departure from Jakarta.
Turkish Airlines also has some reasonable Business Class airfares from Jakarta to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London for around $3,000 return. Open-jaw tickets (flying into one European city and out of another) are possible.
You can discuss this deal on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: TURKISH AIRLINES Business Jakarta to Paris return from $1,777 USD
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways currently has Jakarta-Istanbul flights available for around $2,911 return in Business Class. You could earn Velocity points and status credits on Etihad. However, beware that an overnight stop in Abu Dhabi is required on the outbound journey.
Business Class deals from Jakarta to New York
If you want to travel to New York, United and American Airlines also have some good round-trip Business Class deals available from Jakarta.
For example, United is offering Business Class tickets from Jakarta to Newark via Tokyo for around $3,824 return. You would be flying on All Nippon Airways (ANA) between Jakarta and Tokyo, and United Polaris Business Class from Tokyo to Newark. A free stopover in Tokyo is permitted in one direction.
This United airfare is available to book until 15 December or sold out. You would need to commence travel by 31 July 2023, although various blackout dates apply.
You can discuss the United/ANA deal on the AFF forum: ANA/UA Business class Jakarta to NYC (EWR) – US$2,515
Oneworld’s American Airlines is also offering Business Class tickets from Jakarta to New York or Philadelphia for under $4,000 return. With this fare, you’d fly Qatar Airways from Jakarta to Doha and have the choice to fly either Qatar Airways or American Airlines between Doha and New York. (You’d just need to be booked on American Airlines flight numbers in and out of the USA.)
This airfare does not appear to have an expiry date, although you would need to fly between Doha and New York between Monday-Thursday. The airfare shown above would earn you 27,300 Qantas Frequent Flyer points and 520 Qantas status credits, which would get you well on your way to earning Qantas Gold status.
This deal is also being discussed on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: AA codeshare QR J [QSuites] Jakarta to New York (and PHL?) from US$2,636
Singapore Airlines too has some good Business Class airfares from Jakarta and Bangkok to New York via Singapore for just over $4,000 return. That’s less than half the cost of the cheapest Singapore Airlines Business Class airfare available from Australia to New York!
