Help with Booking Business Class Return Flights to Europe

[ellen10]

I need to book some business class flights form Sydney to Lisbon or Oporto in late August 2025. I need to be in Oporto by 29 August.

Return flights will most likely be from Rome to Sydney. But that will probably be around the 1st week in October. These dates don't seem to be available yet.

Last year we booked reward flights starting from Singapore ( not enough points for reward flights next year). So will need to pay. We purchased economy flights to Singapore and stayed one night either side of the reward flights to ensure no delays. So not sure this is worth it or to keep a look out for sale business flights to and from Sydney.

I don't want to use Chinese carriers as the language barrier on the flight almost caused an anaphylatic episode. So I am gun shy.

I have always booked my own flights, but am wondering if a TA is worthwhile investigating. Some airlines have advertised business sales but most finish before our return flights. Can I set up alerts on websites?

 

[Forg]

Sorry can’t answer the quesion, but a minor side-comment … don’t make the mistake I nearly made and discount China Airlines due to the name, they’re Taiwanese so don’t have quite the same “disdain” based approach to customer interactions as all the Chinese Communist Party airlines.

In my limited experience you’re a little early for August sales, and I will be watching responses to your questions to see what alerts or TA’s or whatever you can use (the two times I got good sale fares were total flukes).

 

[ellen10]

Thanks @Forg for your reply. Its more about the language understanding and barrier regarding food allergies and their additives in the food. e.g. fish sauce. whilst on the plane.

Yes I can vaguely remember sales but can't recall approximately when they are, or occur. I need to pay a major payment for a cruise by the beginning of November, so trying to piece the holiday jigsaw together.

 

[Buzzard]

My wife and I are looking for flights next year to hook up with a cruise we have booked. She mentioned that Qatar have a sale on but I haven't checked to see what's on offer. You might want to have a look @ellen10. There's also a very good TA in the Coffs Harbour area that I'm sure many on AFF know and would recommend, myself included.

 

[harryhv]

watch premium-flights dot com
Turkish airlines sales come up frequently, if you don't mind starting from Melbourne

 

[AIRwin]

Turkish airlines sales come up frequently, if you don't mind starting from Melbourne

Or SYD?

 

[tmdl]

watch premium-flights dot com
Turkish airlines sales come up frequently, if you don't mind starting from Melbourne

All I can see here is flight from Europe / US ?

 

[RooFlyer]

I have always booked my own flights, but am wondering if a TA is worthwhile investigating. Some airlines have advertised business sales but most finish before our return flights. Can I set up alerts on websites?

I think a TA is always worth investigating. A good one will have a handle on the various options/price benefits of the carriers - including 'left field' ones such as the Finnair or Lufthansa packages (commonly called RTW but need not be - you can go Oz-Europe and back, with a stopover in Asia). Both use Qantas as far as Asia (you may be on a QF AY wet-lease though!). I think allows open-jaw, like you are after.

And a TA fixes things if something goes wrong abroad (like flight cancellations).

If you would like me to give you my TA to enquire from, PM me.

 

[ellen10]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.
I will investigate further and thank you @RooFlyer I have sent you a PM

 

[VPS]

I need to book some business class flights form Sydney to Lisbon or Oporto in late August 2025. I need to be in Oporto by 29 August.

Return flights will most likely be from Rome to Sydney. But that will probably be around the 1st week in October. These dates don't seem to be available yet.

Last year we booked reward flights starting from Singapore ( not enough points for reward flights next year). So will need to pay. We purchased economy flights to Singapore and stayed one night either side of the reward flights to ensure no delays. So not sure this is worth it or to keep a look out for sale business flights to and from Sydney.

I don't want to use Chinese carriers as the language barrier on the flight almost caused an anaphylatic episode. So I am gun shy.

I have always booked my own flights, but am wondering if a TA is worthwhile investigating. Some airlines have advertised business sales but most finish before our return flights. Can I set up alerts on websites?

I use these cards when I'm travelling - I print them out in all the languages of the countries I will be visiting and the airline language and laminate them.

Translated chef cards - Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chef cards are available in 21 languages to help you eat out when travelling overseas.

allergyfacts.org.au

 

[tdimdad]

I use these cards when I'm travelling - I print them out in all the languages of the countries I will be visiting and the airline language and laminate them.

This is another fantastic thing I've gotten from this forum. A zillion thanks for posting!

 

[VPS]

This is another fantastic thing I've gotten from this forum. A zillion thanks for posting!

You’re welcome

 

[offshore171]

Can I set up alerts on websites?

Google Flights is probably the one that comes to mind here.

Google Flights

www.google.com

Do you have a price per seat budget in mind?

 

[Gremlin]

I use these cards when I'm travelling - I print them out in all the languages of the countries I will be visiting and the airline language and laminate them.

Translated chef cards - Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chef cards are available in 21 languages to help you eat out when travelling overseas.

allergyfacts.org.au

We made our own on several occasions when travelling with my son who has many food issues. They were brilliant except on one occasion in a backwater hotel in a backwater village in China when none of the restaurant staff could read.

 

[ellen10]

Google Flights is probably the one that comes to mind here.

Google Flights

www.google.com

Do you have a price per seat budget in mind?

Yes I have been having a look at a few major airline websites. At present most Business class flights are above $10,000 return to Australia. I'm hoping for lower than that.
No real fares at present.

 

[Gremlin]

Bear in mind that the first week of October is likely to be school holidays. Bargain fares might be challenging at that time.

 

[SydneySwan]

I would be looking for a Finnair sale fare - AY fly to both Rome and Lisbon.

 

[Forg]

Quick look on Google Flights, which only goes up to something like the 8th of September at this time, is showing ~$7500/person return, Sydney-Lisbon and Rome-Sydney. I doubt anyone much has a sale on, that far out, as yet.

It’s combinations &/or codeshares … they seem to be combos of airlines like Vietnam, Singapore, Swiss, Lufthansa, Thai and Qantas … ie. it’s a bit all over the place, when you move the departure date a day or two either way. I was having a squizz at Barcelona for February, when it was about 6 months before the dates I was looking at, and Qatar was $6k/person at the time; and they also fly to Lisbon.
So while it can’t be sorted now, I think there will be some much better options than the $10k/person on offer at the moment.

What does a TA typically make per fare? I mean if they’ve got access to all the right tools they can surely sort you out while only spending at most a couple of hours - do I have that wrong? So you’d expect they should be financially viable if they charge a few hundred per person? If that is at all sensible, it seems like reasonable value if the fares are costing 20x that & they can do all the chasing/alerting for you.

 

[Warragul]

If you are willing to use separate bookings, QR from Singapore to Lisbon, then Rome to Singapore around the dates you stated can be around $4150. Separate booking from Aus to Singapore, is quite variable in price. JQ ' business' ex Mel is around $1600 RTN (flex). Need to allow buffer time ( and additional $$, if using hotel) in Singapore in case of delays.

 

[drron]

If people still interested in awards to Europe in August 2025 still some availability on QR BKK-DOH-MAN. I have just booked ours through AA for 120000 miles and $A120 instead of BA at 150000 Avios and $A728 for the 2 of us.