Creative Routes Sydney to London

[robolb]

Hi All,

I'm looking to book 2 x CR Biz Class flights ( U? ) from Sydney to London next year.

Having spent a few hours trying out options on the Qantas website it would appear that.

1. Seats on a Qantas Aircraft are highly unlikely. Just a few economy seats.
2. That a more 'creative' route might be required.

I'm not too worried about the flight time or number of stops.
It's more about getting a comfortable seat. (Age, Arthritis etc)

I've seen for example, that we could go Sydney-Shanghai-Tokyo-Helsinki-London
Another option was to go Sydney-Shanghai-Amsterdam. Then maybe grab a cheap Ryan Air type flight to London.

But I'm sure the old hands here probbaly have some other creative routes that they could suggest?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[aikman]

People have reported it's easier to get seats on QF flights to India. Then they complain about the difficulties in getting a transit visa lol.

 

[Human]

People have reported it's easier to get seats on QF flights to India. Then they complain about the difficulties in getting a transit visa lol.

I agree that going via India (and British Airways from there) is a good option. Likewise Sri Lanka. You could also try via KL, Jakarta, Manila or Taipei. Hong Kong and Tokyo are also possible, but you'll have more difficulty finding reward seats from Sydney.

Also don't discount flying via South Africa; apparently there's reasonable availability from Johannesburg to Europe on KLM or Air France if BA doesn't have anything.

 

[levelnine]

Think of anywhere that most people don't want to go & that oneworld airlines fly to. Then search there.

 

[Mattg]

You can often get 2 business class seats flying:

• SYD/MEL/ADL/PER-KUL on Malaysia Airlines
• KUL-BKK on Malaysia Airlines (often you can only get 1 J seat per flight so might need to go economy on this leg)
• BKK-AMM-LHR on Royal Jordanian

Flying Malaysia Airlines to CMB and then SriLankan Airlines CMB-LHR/FRA/CDG also works sometimes.

 

[SYD]

You‘ll also save yourselves ~$1000 if you return from a non-UK port. Even flying BA from continental Europe via LHR to somewhere….

 

[offshore171]

What month of travel? Is it outside peak seasons, school holidays etc?

 

[RichardMEL]

You‘ll also save yourselves ~$1000 if you return from a non-UK port. Even flying BA from continental Europe via LHR to somewhere….

Or some Scots airports like INV, even transit LHR, will avoid APD for reasons. DUB is also a good one.

 

[DAC1]

I’ve found that I’ve had more success going via the US, especially when using QF points. Get to the USA using QF or AA and then onwards with AA or BA.

Best of all if you can find a way to go QF and AA the whole way, it’s still only 144,600 points one way per person in business.

 

[jase05]

I’ve seen some decent availability on UL MEL-CMB but MEL/SYD-CGK on QF is often the best availability I find

 

[I love to travel]

Will have to explore the Indian transit visa option as I quite like that idea.

 

[sudoer]

MEL/SYD-CGK on QF is often the best availability I find

Yeah, then cash fare on to Europe or USA...

 

[Mattg]

If you want to get really creative, my favourite SYD-LHR trip so far was:

• SYD-SIN on SQ using Velocity points
• SIN-KUL-BKK on MH using Qantas points
• BKK-ALA-LHR on Air Astana, paid J fare

Coming back, I flew

• FRA-NQZ-ALA-HKT on Air Astana J (the return leg of the outbound trip)
• HKT-SIN on SQ (paid Y fare)
• SIN-SYD on BA (J ticket using Qantas points)

Air Astana business class from Thailand to Europe and back was around $3,000 return and I had a stopover in Kazakhstan on the outbound leg. I really, really enjoyed both the Air Astana service and the stopover in Kazakhstan.

 

[luckypierre]

If you want to get really creative, my favourite SYD-LHR trip so far was:

• SYD-SIN on SQ using Velocity points
• SIN-KUL-BKK on MH using Qantas points
• BKK-ALA-LHR on Air Astana, paid J fare

Coming back, I flew

• FRA-NQZ-ALA-HKT on Air Astana J (the return leg of the outbound trip)
• HKT-SIN on SQ (paid Y fare)
• SIN-SYD on BA (J ticket using Qantas points)

Air Astana business class from Thailand to Europe and back was around $3,000 return and I had a stopover in Kazakhstan on the outbound leg. I really, really enjoyed both the Air Astana service and the stopover in Kazakhstan.

Similarly, we’re trying the nested flight option next year. Currently have booked ADL-SIN flying SQ J on VFF points and flying SIN-AGP (SIN-LHR was also an option) in AY J on QFF points. Awaiting the return flights booking windows to open up.

 

[robolb]

What month of travel? Is it outside peak seasons, school holidays etc?

Late May next year.

 

[elanshin]

So if you only have QFF points, (No VFF or other Star alliance) then I would suggest looking at China Airlines (CI) or Japan Airlines. They both release their classic rewards on time.

China Airlines has generally some pretty good options with the downside often being that you arrive into Taipei at around 3-5am and the connecting flight is at night.

JL is definitely better if you can snag it especially as they're priming to launch their brand new a35k onto the HND - LHR route as soon as they have enough aircraft.

If you can't find direct JL SYD-HND (or QF) perhaps going to CGK (Jakarta) or Kuala Lumpa (KUL).

Cathay is also a good option with their new 77W fleet renewal coming through (and they're likely to put it on LHR first). But finding their award tickets may be hard.

Of course Emirates is always an option (perhaps not departing SYD/MEL but somewhere in south seat asia instead).

 

[Scash]

BNE-DXB-LHR with EK in J is available for 2 pax on the 27 May 2025. Both legs are on the A380. EK surcharges are high though.

 

[robolb]

BNE-DXB-LHR with EK in J is available for 2 pax on the 27 May 2025. Both legs are on the A380. EK surcharges are high though.

Thanks I'll take a look

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If going via the US, there is the Usd$14 ESTA fee, per pax.

 

[robolb]

I ended up booking a couple of flights and have cancelled the unwanted one.
Seats and flights seemed to change by the hour.
So I grabbed one, and looked for a better one the next day.

The cancelled one was Biz Class x 2 Sydney, Taipei, Shanghai, Helsinki, London.
I wasn't too keen on the last two sectors being with Finnair.
Tried them last week from Bangkok to Sydney and was not impressed.
Worst Business Class seats and food I have ever had.
Sit up straight like on a bus, or lie flat, nothing in between.
Strange.........(and painful if you have back problems)

The seats I later found and kept, were (also Biz Class)
Sydney, Melbourne, Delhi (we'll stop there a couple of days) Qantas.
Then Delhi, Paris, London (Air France)

A bit more cost in terms of the 'taxes' but faster overall and better seats and food! I hope.