Booking dilemma

[Lara19]

Dilemma...hoping the experts here can assist please!

After a massive change of travel plans, we need to revisit our flights (nothing was in concrete initially...PHEW!!)

We need to be in Prague on 20/8 and will depart Munich around 6/9 (a day later or earlier is ok)

I have been looking through the forums and intel shows that it may be better to book Syd to Asia, and then onto Prague, and similarly returning. However, I got tangled in so many options that I contacted an agent. Their advice was to choose one airline only, and do that to and fro. I'm not of the opinion that this is the best (read, economical, duration, etc.)

These flights will be cash, as I have only megre rewards on Qantas. We (husband and I) have the "luck" to select business class, but not adverse to flying a shorter leg in Economy if necessary. The trip will begin and end in Sydney, again not tied to that if suggestions recommend otherwise.

What would the "brains trust" advise please? I'd hope to get back to the agent and say "book X Y Z" with confidence, or for that matter go direct to the airline/s.

All your thanks!

 

[equus]

We (husband and I) have the "luck" to select business class, but not adverse to flying a shorter leg in Economy if necessary. The trip will begin and end in Sydney, again not tied to that if suggestions recommend otherwise.

More information would assist. What would you consider a "shorter" leg - and does it make a difference if it is day or night?

How much extra time are you prepared to spend - as unprotected connections might save money, but should involve a much longer "connection" - ideally overnight?

What sort of budget (total) and saving (by taking longer) are you looking at? A lot of the "saving" can be eaten up in hotels, extra taxes, transfers etc. as you take longer - not to mention the extra time.

Any ideas on a transit stop / overnight you might like? Is Singapore preferable to Jakarta or Colombo? Is there anywhere that could be an extra destination rather than just a means to saving a few $$.

Any no-fly or preferred airlines? When you say "business" - what about low-cost "business" (e.g. Scoot) for a shorter leg? What about unbundled business (see the recent article), removing lounge access etc. to save money?

 

[Lara19]

"More information would assist"

Thanks Equus for taking the time to consider my question.

Happy to tell you my blood type even, if that will assist!

What would you consider a "shorter" leg - and does it make a difference if it is day or night?

A "shorter leg" in my mind would probably be 5 hrs or less. Prefer that timeframe to be day.

How much extra time are you prepared to spend - as unprotected connections might save money, but should involve a much longer "connection" - ideally overnight?

If we have the benefit of lounge access, then timeframe between connections is not a huge issue. Also, not opposed to a stopover, esp Singapore. Colombo, not sure?

What sort of budget (total) and saving (by taking longer) are you looking at? A lot of the "saving" can be eaten up in hotels, extra taxes, transfers etc. as you take longer - not to mention the extra time.

Sure, realise that cheaper is not the best option. We are fairly fit 60 somethings however, travel has a way of wearing you down at times, so if we were faced with a very long connection, a night in a hotel, whilst adding cost, may be preferable. All depends where that is.

Any ideas on a transit stop / overnight you might like? Is Singapore preferable to Jakarta or Colombo? Is there anywhere that could be an extra destination rather than just a means to saving a few $$.

See above.

Any no-fly or preferred airlines?

British Airways not preferred, stuffed us around one trip badly! Also bad experience from an incident with Jetstar. Reading some pleasing reviews re Finnair, and Emirates. However, I'm open to considering some "left of field" carriers. Just one issue that may be a "sticking point" is that Mr doesn't much enjoy Asian style cuisine so would need to have an option for Western palates.

When you say "business" - what about low-cost "business" (e.g. Scoot) for a shorter leg? What about unbundled business (see the recent article), removing lounge access etc. to save money?

I'm not familiar with Scoot, so off to research. Interesting article about the "unbundled business", so again depends on what you can/need to add to fulfill our needs, like lounge access as mentioned.

I believe that a holiday begins from the time you shut the front door so we don't require the cheapest option, just want to be able to get value for the $$ being paid, and from what I've read here before, you experts have a way of thinking outside the box, unlike the travel agent I consulted!

Hope this answers things I previously omitted, and happy to provide more if necessary.

 

[markis10]

Etihad and Turkish have $4500 return business airfares in August to Prague from Jakarta, google flights is your friend, and often cheaper flights can be had to other European cities by just putting Europe as the destination, ie Zurich $3200

 

[equus]

For "direct" flights (not too much mucking about) - that Turkish combination can be had in combination with Qantas for $7,633pp or if you use Jetstar to SIN it comes down to $7,115. The routing for Jetstar is Sydney - coughet (Jetstar) - Istanbul- Prague (all Turkish), and the return is Turkish all the way Munich - Istanbul - Kuala Lumpur - Sydney.

Jetstar to coughet for a transit is not much chop - so the extra $500 per person has the same return, but the outbound Sydney - Singapore (Qantas) - Istanbul - Prague (all Turkish).

Now if just looking at the Singapore - Prague, and Munich - Singapore portion, Turkish comes in at SGD$4,250pp (about $A5,000) but Etihad comes in at SGD$4,029pp (about $A4,780). As @markis10 said, trying other cities in Europe, and looking at Jakarta may bring things down even more. Don't forget that buying fares ex Asia will charge in the foreign currency, so you may end up with a surcharge on the CC when paying. Doesn't sound much, but adding 2% adds $100pp to the fare.

Getting to Singapore, would need to be on a lower cost carrier to come in anywhere cheaper than those "simple" Turkish options. Jetstar "Business" will cost around $3,200pp - and is more expensive than the real business option on Qantas/Turkish already. To make a saving, you need to look at an even more pseudo business - like ScootPlus (pretty similar to Jetstar really), which will could be about $1,130pp. Total could be down to under $6,000pp. However, you would need to factor in a hotel stay in Singapore each way (unprotected connections), lug bags for transfer etc. Could stay in the airport hotels, but you still have meals etc.

You could save around $1,500pp (so $3,000) at a cost of a couple of days of your time, inconvenience and recliner chairs for Sydney-Singapore and vice versa. You would probably end up spending $1,000 or so of that on hotels / transfers etc. (the airport hotels at Changi are convenient, but not cheap - going into town itself would be cheaper, but adds transfer costs).

Personally, I would just be looking at the single booking straight through, probably on the Turkish/Qantas combination. Play around with different dates, and potentially arrival departure cities in Europe, but at the end of the day, any savings are going to come from additional time, more connections, stress from not being on a single booking, and/or lower amenities and travel comfort.

Things would be different if you had points or the like to get awards for Sydney-Singapore (or Jakarta) and return on Qantas, Singapore etc. That could save money and still retain the travel class - but will still take longer, and you have already rules that out.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I have been looking through the forums and intel shows that it may be better to book Syd to Asia, and then onto Prague, and similarly returning. However, I got tangled in so many options that I contacted an agent. Their advice was to choose one airline only, and do that to and fro. I'm not of the opinion that this is the best (read, economical, duration, etc.)

A travel agent will have an incentive to book the airline that pays the most commission.
A single PNR, even if multiple airlines, gives a level of protection and baggage interlining. All about risk vs savings. Savings can be considerable with separate PNR's as posts above.
Is collecting freq flyer miles/points/avios a consideration?