Case Study: How Matt books flights to Europe

[AFF Editor]

I thought some AFF members might be interested to see how I approach booking a trip to Europe, something I do a few times per year. I don't just fly the same airline every time, and try to make the journey part of the destination.

You can read the case study article here:

Case Study: How I Book My Flights to Europe

AFF Editor Matt Graham explains the strategies he uses to fly between Australia and Europe in comfort, without spending too much.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

What's your approach to booking a trip to Europe?

 

[OZDUCK]

Though not as interesting as some of Matt's exploits we do try to get to S.E Asia, usually Singapore, as cheaply as possible and then travel J class onwards to Europe.

For example on our trip to the German Christmas Markets last year we flew Perth to Singapore in QF Y Exit Row seats and then flew to Germany and return on Vietnam Airlines in J. This involved tranitting Hanoi on the way there and Saigon on the return trip. The last leg back to Perth from Sin was a points redemption in SQ J. We had originally booked MH and Oman Air in J for an excellent fare but Oman Air cancelled our flights and offered no sensible replacement. Previously we have used QR and AY flights out of Singapore after getting there in ScootPlus. These fares are usually around $5,000 to $7,000 cheaper than for the two of us to fly J out of Perth.

Coming out of Perth we do have limited choices.

 

[Human]

Great article; now I can't wait for the second instalment: "Case Study: How I Book My Flights to North America"

 

[Abus380]

We went J with Fiji airlines to Yvr for just over 12 K when Qantas was 22 K.
Can thoroughly recommend them

 

[serfty]

Great article; now I can't wait for the second instalment: "Case Study: How I Book My Flights to North America"

Fiji and New Zealand can make for interesting stopovers and can save on fares somewhat.

 

[mandolino]

Thanks for this Matt. I use a similar approach to get from my home in Scotland to Melbourne in comfort, when I have time. I hadn't looked at Air Astana, although I went to Kazakhstan on business a few times before Air Astana came on the go. Before my wife passed away, we would use BA 2-4-1 points to get to Singapore, BKK or KL in Business, stay overnight and then get a Scoot, Jet* or Air Asia daytime flight down to MEL. (Or once, to Avalon)
Or to Sydney or Adelaide and take a few days to drive to Melbourne which also can be quite pleasant and helps with jetlag if you have the time.

Turkish airlines could also get me to Denpasar from Edinburgh in economy/business via Istanbul, then overnight and get a relatively short economy flight to Melbourne.

I've often thought you could get via North America using a budget carrier from west coast or Vegas to Honolulu, then Fiji airlines to Nadi and then it's only 4/5 hours to east coast Australia.

 

[Frangipani]

Thanks so much. I've done one long haul to Europe and it was awful, really puts you off going again and I can't afford business class. I wont mind stopovers so I will take note of this.
One question though, with the wars going on around the middle east, how safe is Kazakhstan?

 

[elanshin]

I do believe a lot of the options do require people to be willing to stop more at middle eastern, west asia countries or think outside the box.

Most people however dont necessarily consider those places for travel and they just want to go from A - B asap which does limit the options significantly.

I have a friend that I can't convince to fly Syd - Tokyo via singapore even though I found him a JL F ticket and QF J ticket. He'd rather pay Classic Reward+ Y and fly as fast as possible (cost wasn't too off).

 

[levelnine]

I have a friend that I can't convince to fly Syd - Tokyo via singapore even though I found him a JL F ticket and QF J ticket. He'd rather pay Classic Reward+ Y and fly as fast as possible (cost wasn't too off).

Which is exactly why Qantas can do what it does with cash and points tickets. 99% of the flying public has no interest in what Matt does.

 

[elanshin]

Which is exactly why Qantas can do what it does with cash and points tickets. 99% of the flying public has no interest in what Matt does.

I've managed to convince my partner to do roundabout flights though. She likes the F lounges now (and I got her to gold so we took her parents into gold lounges too last trip). "An extra stop for SC? sure"

 

[jase05]

We very rarely go the fastest way to Europe and half the fun is taking a few stops along the way and we will often take 3 or 4 flights one way but just depends on award seat availability or places we want to stop for a few days and visit. We have no real desire to get there as quick as we can these days

 

[AFF Editor]

Thanks so much. I've done one long haul to Europe and it was awful, really puts you off going again and I can't afford business class. I wont mind stopovers so I will take note of this.
One question though, with the wars going on around the middle east, how safe is Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan is completely safe, it's not really close to any of the current action. In fact, a lot of commercial flights between Asia and Europe are now overflying Kazakhstan to avoid some of the other countries.

Smartraveller lists it as a green country - Kazakhstan

 

[elanshin]

Kazakhstan is completely safe, it's not really close to any of the current action. In fact, a lot of commercial flights between Asia and Europe are now overflying Kazakhstan to avoid some of the other countries.

Smartraveller lists it as a green country - Kazakhstan

I feel like they've slowly been trying to grow their tourism and presence over the last decade. Definitely on my to visit list (but so is many other places).

 

[Port Power]

Matt’s article was a timely reminder to look around outside Qantas. I have to book flights to Europe next September. I’ve been watching QF in J for just over $10,000 return. On Wednesday, the last day of the DSC promotion, the exact flights went up to over $12,000! I searched and discovered I could book with TK ex PER for around $8,000, and that using QF to SIN and JQ return.

More research found booking TK from/to SIN in J is $5,330. I have already booked classic reward flights with Qantas to/from SIN, albeit Y on return. Winner! I might have been able to be even more adventurous, but I am really happy with the outcome, especially the price.

 

[jase05]

Matt’s article was a timely reminder to look around outside Qantas. I have to book flights to Europe next September. I’ve been watching QF in J for just over $10,000 return. On Wednesday, the last day of the DSC promotion, the exact flights went up to over $12,000! I searched and discovered I could book with TK ex PER for around $8,000, and that using QF to SIN and JQ return.

More research found booking TK from/to SIN in J is $5,330. I have already booked classic reward flights with Qantas to/from SIN, albeit Y on return. Winner! I might have been able to be even more adventurous, but I am really happy with the outcome, especially the price.

TK often have Europe fares for around $3-3.5k out of CGK which can also be a good option

 

[Berlin]

This is pretty much the approach we’re taking to fly to Paris for our own wedding next year: Velocity redemption for SQ in premium Economy to Singapore one way and on the return the same through Qantas on Jetstar “Business” class. Then a Business class return out of Asia on Qatar airlines for 3999 AUD, 2 of the legs in Q suite even.

By far the most economical way to do it, we get to enjoy the best/ one of the best business class products there is on the long legs and even earn a decent chunk of QF status credits on Qatar.

We’re feeling a tiny bit funny attending a gay wedding by flying through Qatar but then there’s caviar and Q suites so hey!

 

[Seat0B]

On Wednesday, the last day of the DSC promotion,

Just gave me a conniption @Port Power - as I thought it finished on Thursday, and indeed booked a few place holder flights on Thursday...Just checked, and yes, it did in fact finish at 23:59 AEDT on Thursday 31 Oct.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m glad matt noted the issue of a flat bed on daytime flights as a personal preference saying ‘I’ (as in he) doesn’t need one during the day. This contrasts to my bug-bear at ausbt who say that ‘you’ (meaning ‘we the passenger’) don’t need a flat bed for a daytime flight. They somehow unilaterally decide what the reader needs, disregarding any personal preferences, what time you might have got up for that daytime flight, or how you choose to spend your time on the plane.

 

[Port Power]

Just gave me a conniption @Port Power - as I thought it finished on Thursday, and indeed booked a few place holder flights on Thursday...Just checked, and yes, it did in fact finish at 23:59 AEDT on Thursday 31 Oct.

I'm retired and travel a lot. How am I supposed to know what day of the week it is! Dates are only important when catching flights.
(Anyway, the price increased some $2,000 (20%!) on the last day of the DSC promotion. Yesterday.)

 

[muppet]

Interesting article thanks Matt. I’m all for a stopover, but not sure i’m onboard with all these nested stopovers.