Article: Strategies for Cheap Business Class Flights to Europe

[BrendanC]

Thank goodness for AFF alerts. I read the article with interest. Until a couple of hours ago I'd been looking at buying a J ticket SYD-LHR via Oman. One way for just under $4K and I'd have to work out to get up to Edinburgh and then back home. Plus an overnight layover in Muscat.
Now I have return flights BKK-HEL-EDI with Finnair for the same price. Granted, I have to get to and from Bangkok and there's a 23 hour layover in Helsinki but most of my trip will be in comfort.
Business Light so I added a checked bag both ways and lounge access on the way back for a couple of hundred extra.
Now, I'm wondering what my options are for a night in Helsinki and possibly BKK to and from.

Oh yeah. What sort of QFF and SC earn can I expect on AY?

Highly recommend the Hotel Lilla Roberts in Helsinki for a night or two. A beautiful hotel and excellent restaurant. Stayed there in 2018 and intend to go back again later this year.

 

[sydney slug]

Highly recommend the Hotel Lilla Roberts in Helsinki for a night or two. A beautiful hotel and excellent restaurant. Stayed there in 2018 and intend to go back again later this year.

Had a great meal at the Savoy looking out over the Espa. One night in Helsinki is probably adequate…although padded with a short ferry ride over to Tallinn for another night or two and you have three excellent days.

 

[Skyring]

When are you going? If it's the northern mid-summer, of course you'll be dancing in the parks of Helsinki all night in the (near) midnight sun...

Now wouldn't that be great!
Next month. I've transited through HEL before - the year of the volcano and OWE status saved my bacon then - but I don't think a short walk across the tarmac from bus to plane really counts for a country ticked off!

 

[Duffa]

How about these...?




Bamboo Airways.
Chris gave them a good review on ABT ( I know it's not called ABT any longer but you get my drift)
And I believe they use the Collins Aerospace seat in business class for Melbourne flights. Even better.
These are a bargain...
I booked a 4 day stop-over in Hanoi on the way back as I just couldn't face 16 hours in Hanoi airport. My friends have never been to Vietnam so that becomes part of our holiday.
The stop-over fare could not be done online. It only added $100 per pax to the airfare for the stopover.

I did all the research on Bamboo website but booked via FC because FC were about $500 cheaper than the airline direct and only $200 or so more expensive than the various "dodgy brothers" offered by Google flights.

YMMV

 

[VPS]

I did look at booking a return from Europe to Aus last year as I could have easily cancelled my award flight home but I couldn't find anything that I considered that cheap.

Where is the best place to find these do you think?

 

[Mattg]

I did look at booking a return from Europe to Aus last year as I could have easily cancelled my award flight home but I couldn't find anything that I considered that cheap.

Where is the best place to find these do you think?

Google Flights Explore mode. Try searching from many different European departure airports, and hover the map over Australia to see what prices come up

 

[SYD]

Not J but signs that Chinese capacity is coming back online. Hopefully that will flow through to J fares soon ex-Oz.

Y+ SYD-MAD A$2,490.

Airfare of the Day -Premium Economy- CHINA EASTERN Sydney to Madrid from $1,669/A$2,490

Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to China Eastern and their basic season premium economy sell-up refundable fares valid for round trip travel departing from Sydney (SYD), Australia to Madrid (MAD)…

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Mattg]

Not J but signs that Chinese capacity is coming back online. Hopefully that will flow through to J fares soon ex-Oz.

Y+ SYD-MAD A$2,490.

Airfare of the Day -Premium Economy- CHINA EASTERN Sydney to Madrid from $1,669/A$2,490

Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to China Eastern and their basic season premium economy sell-up refundable fares valid for round trip travel departing from Sydney (SYD), Australia to Madrid (MAD)…

loyaltylobby.com

Can you transit through China now?

 

[SYD]

Can you transit through China now?

No idea and there’s a long layover in the example!

 

[aussiepiper]

Thank goodness for AFF alerts. I read the article with interest. Until a couple of hours ago I'd been looking at buying a J ticket SYD-LHR via Oman. One way for just under $4K and I'd have to work out to get up to Edinburgh and then back home. Plus an overnight layover in Muscat.
Now I have return flights BKK-HEL-EDI with Finnair for the same price. Granted, I have to get to and from Bangkok and there's a 23 hour layover in Helsinki but most of my trip will be in comfort.
Business Light so I added a checked bag both ways and lounge access on the way back for a couple of hundred extra.
Now, I'm wondering what my options are for a night in Helsinki and possibly BKK to and from.

Oh yeah. What sort of QFF and SC earn can I expect on AY?

Hi Skyring. Did you book this through an agent?

 

[Skyring]

Hi Skyring. Did you book this through an agent?

No. There was a link to the Finnair site. I just went there, paid my money, and was good.
I prefer booking through the airline because if there's a problem then I can complain to them, rather than be directed to whatever shonky website could have saved me twenty bucks at the time.

 

[MELso]

I've found that mixed class fares on AY routed through SIN and HEL also show up on Kayak if you book through Expedia for $6K. I presume a more local travel agent could also book these 'Finnair Combination Business/Economy Fares' if you provide the details of the fare basis (which is MNN0P0CM)...

 

[SYD]

I've found that mixed class fares on AY routed through SIN and HEL also show up on Kayak if you book through Expedia for $6K. I presume a more local travel agent could also book these 'Finnair Combination Business/Economy Fares' if you provide the details of the fare basis (which is MNN0P0CM)...

Yep. Mixed class has been around for a while. Booking the home leg via HKG and a day flight on CX would be the way to go - if available.

 

[SydneySwan]

Good article. I had forgotten some of these tricks.

 

[drcam]

The best airfare I've ever had flying to Europe was MEL-FRA-MEL with China airlines for $1750 return in 2018 in PE. The food was standard Y fare but the hard product was very very good. It also gave me enough FF points for a one-way flight between any two cities in Asia, although I never got to use it.

SQ points availability to Europe these days seems just as appalling as everyone else's.

Errata: I managed to get a speculative one way redemption from Bali to Seoul in June next year, paid about $105 in taxes. A reasonable result.

 

[CaptJCool]

As a comparison
I took a little tour through QF website
outbound date late May 2024 - return date late September 2024

J
Singapore-London A$10,017

all these below via Singapore to London
Jakarta / denpasar A$7,965
Manila A$7,343
Bangkok / coughet A$5,671
Kuala Lumpur A$9,077
Hong Kong (CX to Singapore) A$7,973

Auckland (via Sydney and Singapore) A$10,830
Sydney A$10,018

F
Singapore-London A$17,686

all these below via Singapore to London
Jakarta / denpasar A$11,375
Manila A$9,240
Bangkok / coughet A$9,545
Kuala Lumpur A$14,074
Hong Kong (CX to Singapore) A$11,427

Auckland (via Sydney and Singapore) A$16,289
Sydney A$19,176 (the recent international red tail sale was $13,501)

 

[FlyingFiona]

If you can put up with the long lay over in DEL, Air India has good prices CDG-SYD rtn in J over a large range of dates - you could even try for a white Christmas!

 

[clifford]

If you can put up with the long lay over in DEL, Air India has good prices CDG-SYD rtn in J over a large range of dates - you could even try for a white Christmas!

That's OK, if you can also put up with Air India. I've had some interesting times in AI business class that I really don't want to repeat. But for younger travellers, it would be an "experience".

Maybe things will get a little better under Tata's management...

 

[FlyingFiona]

That's OK, if you can also put up with Air India. I've had some interesting times in AI business class that I really don't want to repeat. But for younger travellers, it would be an "experience".

Maybe things will get a little better under Tata's management...

After posting I went looking for a review of their 787 (which flies this route) and yes, I agree that it didn't look at all enticing. The review I watched also suggested that there have been signs of improvement since the Tata management and that refurbs are coming, but they won't be in time for this price.

As you say, it depends on someone's reason for wanting to fly J as to whether it's worth it or not - eg if someone was seeking uncramped travel conditions (as I usually am because of a significant injury which rules me out of long haul economy) then it's still an OK option.

(Same dates gave a slightly higher but still interesting fare with AF + one of the china airlines CDG-MEL.)

 

[CaptJCool]

As a comparison
I took a little tour through QF website
outbound date late May 2024 - return date late September 2024

F
Singapore-London A$17,686

all these below via Singapore to London
Jakarta / denpasar A$11,375
Manila A$9,240
Bangkok / coughet A$9,545
Kuala Lumpur A$14,074
Hong Kong (CX to Singapore) A$11,427

Auckland (via Sydney and Singapore) A$16,289
Sydney A$19,176 (the recent international red tail sale was $13,501)

as comparison
QF European Red Tail sale ending 27th March
F Sydney to London is $13,996 (last sale was $13,501)

Heading to London on 10 or 12 June, you can score F on JAL for a touch around $11,000 with some credits into the QF FF SC count. (even $350 less if you fly more and pay less into Europe via London...)