Magic time to buy Aust to LHR tickets

[mrsterryn]

Considering all the fiascos with points we have decided we will have to do pay for flights instead of rewards for sept 2023.
I used to wait for boxing day to see if BA or Qantas had sales.
Currently the dates I want , Sydney to LHR aren't a bad price in premium economy in Qantas but I am wondering if sales are likely to happen again ?
Prefer Oneworld but happy try others.
I realise there are some that can only be booked through TA however I have had no success in finding one so it would need to be sorting bookable online not as a TA Really do prefer business class .

 

[odysseus]

Genuine sales, as distinct from 'sales' only happen when the airline needs to boost sales for some reason.

Given the extent of demand now that isn't a problem. So you'd be taking a gamble whether there is a sales turndown due to high inflation/cost of living (here and o/s) or whether travel demand will stay positive for most of the period until then.

 

[tmdl]

Genuine sales, as distinct from 'sales' only happen when the airline needs to boost sales for some reason.

Given the extent of demand now that isn't a problem. So you'd be taking a gamble whether there is a sales turndown due to high inflation/cost of living (here and o/s) or whether travel demand will stay positive for most of the period until then.

I would agree as I havent seen many 'WOW' deals apart from glitches that some people pick up

 

[SYD]

I would agree as I havent seen many 'WOW' deals apart from glitches that some people pick up

The SQ/LH “early bird” sales had a bit of “Wow” factor to them!

But I haven’t seen anything like that out of the OW camp.

 

[mrsterryn]

SQ/LH “early bird” sales had a bit of “Wow” factor to them!

But I haven’t seen anything like that out of the OW camp.

Yes the end date in sept was just before the dates I needed .

 

[drron]

Considering all the fiascos with points we have decided we will have to do pay for flights instead of rewards for sept 2023.
I used to wait for boxing day to see if BA or Qantas had sales.
Currently the dates I want , Sydney to LHR aren't a bad price in premium economy in Qantas but I am wondering if sales are likely to happen again ?
Prefer Oneworld but happy try others.
I realise there are some that can only be booked through TA however I have had no success in finding one so it would need to be sorting bookable online not as a TA Really do prefer business class .

I had a quick look at the consolidators and The cheapest is JAL in PE at ~$3500. Overnight in Haneda which in my book is a plus as you break up the trip and a hotel in the terminal.

 

[mrsterryn]

I had a quick look at the consolidators and The cheapest is JAL in PE at ~$3500. Overnight in Haneda which in my book is a plus as you break up the trip and a hotel in the terminal.

Ohh I would like that. Is the HND onsite hotel expected to open with the visa removal ? Love going through HND

 

[SYD]

Yes the end date in sept was just before the dates I needed .

I had a quick look at the consolidators and The cheapest is JAL in PE at ~$3500. Overnight in Haneda which in my book is a plus as you break up the trip and a hotel in the terminal.

If you’re happy to break the journey in Singas, there are some good J fares on AY and QR ex SIN ($4k to $5k). Just need to get to SIN - maybe points?

QF will thru check bags on different bookings from an award to another OW flight. On the return QR has a published benefit of thru checking to any OW flight.

I found a combo for SYD+1. QF SYD-SIN (whY return but managed to get an upgrade to J home). Overnighted in SIN on the way over but flew through coming home. QR J SIN-BER (Ret) for $4k.

Edit: BTW, booking the QR bit online also gave the option to pay in AUD at same amount I found using ITA Matrix.

Using points, I snagged for myself on a seperate trip recently, QF whY SYD-SIN//SIN-PER/overnight/PER-SYD. Avoided a red eye in whY but QF81 upto SIN was pushing my limit of travelling in whY these days but I survived….

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Cathay also has an early bird sale on.

Following drron’s post on JAL’s PEY fares… $3500 is currently above their pre-covid levels which were around the high $2000s for London, and lower for other ports in Europe. Hard to say if they are going to bring their fares down but competition is hitting up again with CX back in operation.

 

[drron]

I just tried the Royal Park hotel Haneda for November and it is open.

 

[mrsterryn]

QF will thru check bags on different bookings from an award to another OW flight. On the return QR has a published benefit of thru checking to any OW flight.

Does it work if I have a paid booking to say Singapore on Qantas and then another Oneworld carrier to LHR?

 

[SYD]

Does it work if I have a paid booking to say Singapore on Qantas and then another Oneworld carrier to LHR?

No. Hence my comment about if you’re happy to break your journey in SIN. It’s a pretty user friendly transit point IMHO.