J sales to LHR, do they happen? any tips?

[Capricornus]

Decided to book 2x J tickets for end July to LHR on QF, was looking at prices which where hovering just above $8K after Xmas. I thought it was the saver fare. Went to book yesterday only to realise the saver fare is now $9.2k per passenger. That's almost $2.5k more. Ouch!

Admittedly it it was my own fault not realising it was a sale fare, so I'm kicking myself now for not booking. But does anyone have any experience with premium class sales on this route? Is it already too close to departure for any more sale fares to be released? Or should I await and see what comes up in the next month or two? I know in Y the general rule is to book as far in advance as possible, but is it the same for J?

ps not considering any other airline - have a flight stored as a voucher to use with this trip, and actually want to finally reach gold.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I haven't recent experience with that route, as for some years now I have been doing Africa/USA and obviously July is a peak period for Europe. However my experience with sales fares with Qantas, is that they usually they pop up quite regularly. I tend to book my J and F fares well in advance just to be safe, but I have noticed the same fare (sometimes even cheaper) later on in the year. I would tend to wait for awhile, given you have already missed the sales fare, but others might have better advice for this route.

 

[RichardMEL]

They do pop up but they are usually not great value for LHR (what with the APD and all) though having said that around the $8k mark(as you saw) is usual enough for LHR. I've rarely seen it lower (unlike USA fares where they can vary from 5500 up and you get oddities like AU-JFK being less than AU-LAX and the rest).

A year or so back they had one of those buy J get F one way deals and LHR was around $9k and that was value in that regard however they had one of those a month or 2 back and it was much more expensive IIRC.

Given July is such a high demand period I'd look to book sooner rather than later. Maybe even look at the $9k fare and see the change rules or cancel fee (maybe $600) should something cheaper open up. I'd also maybe look at expertflyer or similiar if your dates are more or less set to see how the QF1/2/9/10's (disregarding EK codeshares for simplicity) are looking in terms of I class for potential sale fare openings.

personally I wouldn't leave it much past Feb to lock something in if travel is required by that time

good luck

 

[opusman]

If you don't care about status credits you should also see what prices EK are offering, often you can get the QF flights cheaper on an EK code.

 

[Princess Fiona]

July is peak period. I would not however pay $9.2K for a QF J fare.
My last few bookings have all come in just under $8K. I booked one during the sale for March. I usually book 3-5 months out from travel.
I would wait a little while as I think the sale fare will come back.

 

[bsb]

Use your voucher QF to BKK, then UL to LHR and save a fortune and if you don't make gold, just pay for QF club and come out a few thousand Bucks ahead

 

[kermatu]

You might also want to consider Finnair. I did last year (to Spain, rather than LHR, and in September - so could be a bit different). But for me Finnair was about $3k per person cheaper than QF's best at the time, flying a combo of Cathay, Finnair and BA (but QF also an option). Had stopovers in Helsinki on way and Singapore on return. Would have been even cheaper via Bangkok on a certain day.

Takes a bit longer but worth it for the $ saving and had some very good experience on other airlines. And the Helsinki to next destination and return (LHR in your case) will earn full J status credits for QFF and is essentially free (though not the usual J product). So I wasn't far short of what I'd have earned on a QF direct to LHR anyway.

You could book this when a sale is on - would lose maybe $300 if cancelled if a better deal from QF comes up?

 

[Mattg]

Use your voucher QF to BKK, then UL to LHR and save a fortune and if you don't make gold, just pay for QF club and come out a few thousand Bucks ahead

A very good suggestion. Don't forget that you'll earn points and status credits on Sri Lankan airlines as well - from memory it's 240 QF SCs for BKK-CMB-LHR in J retutn. And the price is usually under about $3,000. QR and RJ are both also options out of BKK which will earn QF status credits while saving you some serious coin.

 

[RichardMEL]

The BKK/UL suggestion makes sense, or even BKK/AY too (bit more expensive but A350 would be fun)

Problem with EK or AY fares ex-oz is that they can't be booked with a QF voucher, which is part of the issue.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Do also look for flights to LGW. There's more availability. Perhaps QF to DXB then QF on EK. To LGW.

 

[katiebell]

RTW can be cheaper so if not pressed for time look at that.

If doing a codeshare with AY or other OW member either book the QF ex Aus as a separate ticket or codeshare on CX. Flying QF with a codeshare (eg BA or AY flight number) is awful: no access to most of the MMB options on the QF website, incluing no online checkin or meal selection and SC and FF point earning is not at QF earn rates even on QF metal.

QF sales are unpredictable, erratic and often onlhy available for a few days.

 

[Steelo]

If you don't mind taking your time and enjoying the service along the way, check out the fares out of selected Asian Ports - Sri Lankan Business class from Kuala Lumpa to London is only $3562 Aud return. You can often pick up an award seat from Melbourne to KUL on Emirates.

Qatar have also had some good sales recently out of KUL or Colombo - they don't last long - but worthwhile keeping an eye out. My experience is that these fares change regularly from these ports.

We scored a one way J flight on Cathay from Colombo to Melbourne (via Hong Kong) for only $1800.

A very good suggestion. Don't forget that you'll earn points and status credits on Sri Lankan airlines as well - from memory it's 240 QF SCs for BKK-CMB-LHR in J retutn. And the price is usually under about $3,000. QR and RJ are both also options out of BKK which will earn QF status credits while saving you some serious coin.

 

[BD1959]

Sorry, a little thread-creep ...

Playing with the QF Calculators, J: LHR-CMB (UL) -HKG (CX) -MEL (QF) is calculating 320SCs one-way ... am I doing something wrong?

Regards,

BD

 

[Mattg]

Sorry, a little thread-creep ...

Playing with the QF Calculators, J: LHR-CMB (UL) -HKG (CX) -MEL (QF) is calculating 320SCs one-way ... am I doing something wrong?

Regards,

BD

Sounds correct to me. 120 SCs for LHR-CMB on UL; 80 SCs for CMB-HKG on CX; 120 SCs for HKG-MEL on QF.

 

[Mattg]

If you don't mind taking your time and enjoying the service along the way, check out the fares out of selected Asian Ports - Sri Lankan Business class from Kuala Lumpa to London is only $3562 Aud return. You can often pick up an award seat from Melbourne to KUL on Emirates.

I was actually having a look at this for a friend the other day, and the Sri Lankan Airlines fare from Kuala Lumpur to Paris return was around the $2,500 mark in Business class for the dates we were looking at. Fantastic deal.

 

[Capricornus]

Thanks to all of you for suggestions!

My Update: the QF business sale fare SYD>LHR reappeared! A return J quoted $8.1K for July departure. I know it is significantly more than what other airlines offer, but it is also significantly less than the standard business saver fare $9.2K is, such that even my loyalty to Red Roo would struggle to justify it. Better yet, found a multi-city itinerary returning TXL>SYD at $7.9K - not only saving $450 for 2 pax compared to return SYD>LHR but also giving 40 more SC for an extra leg TXL>LHR in J. Crazy!

If you don't care about status credits you should also see what prices EK are offering, often you can get the QF flights cheaper on an EK code.

Sadly, do care about SC as want to reach gold for the first time! EK lost me to one unpleasant experience, and their J service did not impress either. Besides, I have a personal preference of the understated elegance of QF over the bling. ;-)

Use your voucher QF to BKK, then UL to LHR and save a fortune and if you don't make gold, just pay for QF club and come out a few thousand Bucks ahead

One of the aspects of this trip was to chance a J>F upgrade on points on the flagship route. Otherwise, would be a good alternative.

July is peak period. I would not however pay $9.2K for a QF J fare.
My last few bookings have all come in just under $8K. I booked one during the sale for March. I usually book 3-5 months out from travel.
I would wait a little while as I think the sale fare will come back.

You were spot on, and only had to wait a little! I agree that $9.2K is overpriced given the so many competitive value propositions. The total per pax came just under $8K which is what was budgeted for. I know that J can be had to Europe for $2K less, but our last QF J experience to LHR was just flawless so that we want to repeat it, and now chancing a points upgrade to F, which if successful, will be our first ever and for a special occasion.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks to all of you for suggestions!

My Update: the QF business sale fare SYD>LHR reappeared! A return J quoted $8.1K for July departure. I know it is significantly more than what other airlines offer, but it is also significantly less than the standard business saver fare $9.2K is, such that even my loyalty to Red Roo would struggle to justify it. Better yet, found a multi-city itinerary returning TXL>SYD at $7.9K - not only saving $450 for 2 pax compared to return SYD>LHR but also giving 40 more SC for an extra leg TXL>LHR in J. Crazy!



Sadly, do care about SC as want to reach gold for the first time! EK lost me to one unpleasant experience, and their J service did not impress either. Besides, I have a personal preference of the understated elegance of QF over the bling. ;-)



One of the aspects of this trip was to chance a J>F upgrade on points on the flagship route. Otherwise, would be a good alternative.



You were spot on, and only had to wait a little! I agree that $9.2K is overpriced given the so many competitive value propositions. The total per pax came just under $8K which is what was budgeted for. I know that J can be had to Europe for $2K less, but our last QF J experience to LHR was just flawless so that we want to repeat it, and now chancing a points upgrade to F.

Brilliant news !
It's great when a plan works out

 

[kermatu]

Really good news.

Was there any trouble using the stored voucher for a multi-city itinerary?

 

[Capricornus]

Really good news.

Was there any trouble using the stored voucher for a multi-city itinerary?

The only trouble was that I couldn't use it online. But I called Qantas and they sorted everything out. They even held the seats for 48hrs including the BA leg TXL>LHR because my CC would otherwise decline it that day.

The only issue seems to be when using a credit voucher is that it is not eligible for book now pay later and/or price match as it is not considered a 'new booking'.

 

[kermatu]

The only trouble was that I couldn't use it online. But I called Qantas and they sorted everything out. They even held the seats for 48hrs including the BA leg TXL>LHR because my CC would otherwise decline it that day.

The only issue seems to be when using a credit voucher is that it is not eligible for book now pay later and/or price match as it is not considered a 'new booking'.

Thanks. I have a couple of this type of voucher (though for small amounts) so good to know a multi-city could be used.