Booming Chinese airlines offer bargain business flights to Europe

[marki]

Booming Chinese airlines offer bargain business flights to Europe

China’s three largest airlines are selling premium fares for thousands of dollars less than international rivals. But be prepared for long layovers.

www.afr.com

It seems to be a good solution to getting into business at economic prices. Airlines, one of the biggest Chinese carriers, flies through Shanghai and costs around $6300, according to data provided by Flight Centre. The same service Air China offers, flying to Europe through Beijing, costs just under $7000.

Emirates business fares between Sydney and London cost at least $9500. Singapore Airlines and Qantas charge more than $10,000.

Post automatically merged: Today at 1:42 AM

Chinese airlines have some advantages. Major European airlines have been banned from using Russian airspace since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, adding hours and significant fuel costs to services between Europe and China and making it more difficult for them to compete.

 

[marki]

Adele Eliseo, who runs Champagne Mile, a website that provides travel tips and guides to maximising frequent flier points, said price-conscious fliers were increasingly choosing Chinese carriers for cheaper premium seats. Middle Eastern rivals - the food on offer? Taittinger is off the menu and has been swapped for Maxim’s Brut Reserve. And while salads and other European meals are limited, there is a wide selection for fans of high-quality Chinese teas, with more emphasis on pu’er than Pinot Noir.

 

[RooFlyer]

Chinese airlines have some advantages. Major European airlines have been banned from using Russian airspace since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, adding hours and significant fuel costs to services between Europe and China and making it more difficult for them to compete.

Are we talking about getting to Europe from China or Australia? From Australia I would think in which case the Russian airspace transit is not really a factor.

Without looking at a map I would’ve thought the deviation north to China before going to Europe would negate any wobble the Middle East airlines need to take going through from Australia.

Middle Eastern rivals - the food on offer?

Is excellent, as are their lounges.

Taittinger is off the menu and has been swapped for Maxim’s Brut Reserve.

Where?

And while salads and other European meals are limited, there is a wide selection for fans of high-quality Chinese teas, with more emphasis on pu’er than Pinot Noir.

Well, I’m sure as heck not going to choose a flight to Europe on the basis of the quality of its tea, or it’s wines for that matter.

The price point certainly is notionally attractive, but I’m in no way tempted to look at Chinese airlines.

 

[marki]

Are we talking about getting to Europe from China or Australia? From Australia I would think in which case the Russian airspace transit is not really a factor.

Without looking at a map I would’ve thought the deviation north to China before going to Europe would negate any wobble the Middle East airlines need to take going through from Australia.



Is excellent, as are their lounges.



Where?



Well, I’m sure as heck not going to choose a flight to Europe on the basis of the quality of its tea, or it’s wines for that matter.

The price point certainly is notionally attractive, but I’m in no way tempted to look at Chinese airlines.

Well, I will be choosing (Thinking at least) a flight to Europe notionally on the price point just to be free from the shackles that Qantas Frequent Flyer gets you in. I hope you can elaborate on why the terse in the negative. Obviously, there is more.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, I will be choosing (Thinking at least) a flight to Europe notionally on the price point just to be free from the shackles that Qantas Frequent Flyer gets you in. I hope you can elaborate on why the terse in the negative. Obviously, there is more.

If you’re platinum 1 you’re not going to get service or lounges anywhere close to what you’re getting with QF and OW at the moment. Mainland Chinese airline lounges are nothing to write home about in the main, and while the service onboard can be good, you’re not going to find the quality of beverages or other soft product you’ll find on other carriers.

 

[marki]

If you’re platinum 1 you’re not going to get service or lounges anywhere close to what you’re getting with QF and OW at the moment. Mainland Chinese airline lounges are nothing to write home about in the main, and while the service onboard can be good, you’re not going to find the quality of beverages or other soft product you’ll find on other carriers.

Maybe I am willing to downgrade to less than half-price of a Qantas ticket and, therefore, would expect some differences unless you're sleeping over on the flight and don't care about food. Then, Lounges can be supplemented via priority pass offers or AMEX lounges.

 

[markis10]

If you’re platinum 1 you’re not going to get service or lounges anywhere close to what you’re getting with QF and OW at the moment. Mainland Chinese airline lounges are nothing to write home about in the main, and while the service onboard can be good, you’re not going to find the quality of beverages or other soft product you’ll find on other carriers.

Their catching up:
CZ J Bordeaux and Rhone Valley reds as well as a Barossa old vine Shiraz. In terms of white there was a Macon Villages as well as a Hawke’s bay Sauvignon Blanc.

 

[elanshin]

Well, I will be choosing (Thinking at least) a flight to Europe notionally on the price point just to be free from the shackles that Qantas Frequent Flyer gets you in. I hope you can elaborate on why the terse in the negative. Obviously, there is more.

Hint: there was aeroplan points sale a few days ago. And they can be redeemed on EK/SQ/TK/NH.
Do some maths on the costs, ill just say it makes even 6k return look expensive

Sale is now over but they happen many times a year.

 

[marki]

Do you have a link? I found a good link on AFF

 

[Cossie]

Good for others, however I don't care how cheap they are, but no way for me, the only chinese airlines I will consider flying are Cathay and China Airlines, definitely do not want to transit though communist china, and that unfortunately, means Cathay is out of the picture now as well, given what has been happening in Hong Kong.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hint: there was aeroplan points sale a few days ago. And they can be redeemed on EK/SQ/TK/NH.
Do some maths on the costs, ill just say it makes even 6k return look expensive

Sale is now over but they happen many times a year.

lol, except on EK… which will make $6.3k very attractive

 

[elanshin]

Do you have a link? I found a good link on AFF

Sorry im deliberately not spelling it out in exact detail. These are the kinds of things I don't necessarily want to end up on blogs. There should be enough information there to piece together with some basic maths involved.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good for others, however I don't care how cheap they are, but no way for me, the only chinese airlines I will consider flying are Cathay and China Airlines, definitely do not want to transit though communist china, and that unfortunately, means Cathay is out of the picture now as well, given what has been happening there.

Juneyao Airlines is privately owned, as is Slring. Both of those were very good in business class (or ‘spring plus’ in the case of the latter).

But yeah, there’s a reason why western carriers can’t overfly Russia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, I will be choosing (Thinking at least) a flight to Europe notionally on the price point just to be free from the shackles that Qantas Frequent Flyer gets you in. I hope you can elaborate on why the terse in the negative. Obviously, there is more.

Oh, I'm well and truly free of QFF, I assure you. Didn't meant to be that terse, but the points you presented in favour of the Chinese airlines to Europe just weren't persuasive.

Price: Acknowledged, but see also below.
Timing: No great advantage; from Australia Russia not an issue.
Food & bev: Your examples not really important to me, and in general, dining on Chinese airlines not attractive to westerners.

Do some maths on the costs, ill just say it makes even 6k return look expensive

Not really fair to compare Award prices to fully paid, but point taken. My main routing these days is SQ award to SIN & return, then QR revenue to Europe and return to SIN. About A$6K total cash outlay on 1st tier airlines.

 

[markis10]

Food & bev: Your examples not really important to me, and in general, dining on Chinese airlines not attractive to westerners.

Beg to differ, on all my recent flight in the past 12 months the Y fare has been excellent, comparable to CX and SQ, in J, will let the menu speak for itself




I will concede MU were stingy in the beer handouts in Y

 

[Austman]

I did a TR of CZ long haul and domestic J, not that long ago:

Thread 'China Southern Airlines (CZ). Business Class. International long haul and Domestic.'

Aug 18, 2024

This is a trip report about China Southern Airlines (CZ) in Business Class.

The route is MEL-xCAN-KMG return. That’s Melbourne-Guangzhou-Kunming. All in Business Class.

MEL-CAN is a B787. CAN-KMG varies - for me it was a B737 or an A320.

Ticket cost was approximately $2,800 when booked directly on China Southern’s website. The cost was charged in AUD and billed in Australia.

CZ is not a member of any major alliance. They have FF arrangements with several airlines including AA and BA. Their own FF scheme is called Sky Pearl Club.

It’s my first time flying CZ.

Off I go!

• Austman
• business class
• Replies: 55
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That menu does sound good!

 

[RooFlyer]

Beg to differ, on all my recent flight in the past 12 months the Y fare has been excellent, comparable to CX and SQ, in J, will let the menu speak for itself

Yes, that looks pretty good. Which route?

Still wouldn't convince me to go to Europe via China on a Chinese airline.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yes, that looks pretty good. Which route?

Still wouldn't convince me to go to Europe via China on a Chinese airline.

Why? Can’t be worse than QF.

 

[marki]

Yes, that looks pretty good. Which route?

Still wouldn't convince me to go to Europe via China on a Chinese airline.

Cost Business fare of 14K compared to 6K would have got me thinking. Especially if cash is tight. And need for luxury is importent.