Finnair J fares to Europe in August 2017

[Henk]

Looking for reasonably priced return business fare SYD-WAW in August 2017. Searching various websites found some Finnair J fares for about A$5300. Would prefer QF but there is very little sub A$7000. How is AY Business product? What SC points will I get for a return J flight SYD-WAW with AY? Is A$ 5300 reasonable or should I wait for something better?

I was contemplating booking a QF reward flight to BKK or SIN and pick up a good fare from there to Europe, (WAW) but at the moment there is nothing below A$3000. Should I take the risk and wait for a better fare from South East Asia to Europe?

Thank you for your help.

 

[OATEK]

Looking for reasonably priced return business fare SYD-WAW in August 2017. Searching various websites found some Finnair J fares for about A$5300. Would prefer QF but there is very little sub A$7000. How is AY Business product? What SC points will I get for a return J flight SYD-WAW with AY? Is A$ 5300 reasonable or should I wait for something better?

I was contemplating booking a QF reward flight to BKK or SIN and pick up a good fare from there to Europe, (WAW) but at the moment there is nothing below A$3000. Should I take the risk and wait for a better fare from South East Asia to Europe?

Thank you for your help.

Finnair J is very similar to CX. And they fly the new A350 from SIN and HKG to HEL, with options on BA, QF and CX to Asia. We use them regularly and at the price point (regularly sub $6K) we have been very happy. Off on our next AY jaunt in April.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd prefer Finnair J over CX.

Are you committed to oneWorld? I am usually a OW flier, but my travel agent found me a sensational Star Alliance (LH ticket) fare for April/May that beat AYs best price hands down. (It was actually a RTW fare, but my TA said the relativities were similar for Europe return).

Like AY, they use a feeder airline to Asia (SQ in this case) then their metal to their base (FRA), and then onwards.

Try a good Travel Agent for AY and LH fares - they can get fares not available on the web. But I'm talking about a regular TA, not a Flight Centre type one.

... but back to your question ... Yes, an award to Asia then a good fare from an Asian port will probably yield the lowest cost for what you want to do.

SYD-SIN on QF then SIN-HEL-WAW on AY in business will get you 280 status credits; and 21,000 points for a WP one way.

 

[JaneFlyer]

AY are very good, with a great reputation for safety but the one downside I hear repeatedly is their food is not always up to J standards of Asian or ME carriers. Great price though so i'd book it.

 

[GDSman]

I flew with a group of 6 mates MEL-LHR on QF/AY in J. Very happy with the price and product. Asian crews for the SIN-HEL sectors with Finns within Europe. HEL a very quick and easy airport to transit. All up very happy and I'd fly them again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...one downside I hear repeatedly is their food is not always up to J standards of Asian or ME carriers. Great price though so i'd book it.

The on line reviews tend to support this - particularly for the 'business lite' flights... predominantly to leisure destinations (BKK) but also the midnight departure ex HEL to SIN. Those flights have reduced single-tray catering without the additional courses served on 'full service' flights. But the fares are also reflective of the service reductions.

Without status the AY lounge offering for business class at HEL seems less than ideal. The best lounge is the one OW status holders.

We had booked AY but changed flights to EK after reading the reviews.

 

[bunyah]

Last weekend booked 3 Business Class seats SYD-AUH-PARIS $4,900 each with Etihad (short layover 2/3 hr in AUH). Our local regional TA started out at $5,900. Spent whole weekend on Skyscanner/Hipmunk/Momondo but consider it worthwhile. TA (and Flight Centre) then offerred to meet on-line price.

Which raises the question - has anyone known a Travel Agent to really cut their price to better what you find on-line - I mean $200 or more below? I can't see where just meeting the best price I find is gaining me anything!

 

[miniyazz]

Yes surely one of the things you 'pay' them for is to find you a good deal, not cream $1000 excess profit per person. They're obviously still profiting at that rate or they wouldn't have matched it, there's usually a loophole in the T&Cs.
I guess they prey on people who CBA to do the legwork themselves (which presumably is most of their business, alongside corporate fares) - why did you use them anyway?

 

[bunyah]

Used them just for quote, but actually booked with on-line agent (Fly365, who had E Ticket to me next morning, with all airline reference nos., etc,, was able to go in and select seats, etc..).
One point on searching on-line is the need to clear your "cookies", otherwise that cheap fare you saw 5 mins ago dosen't come up again.