MEL > DUB, BCN > MEL - Questions

[ojm]

Hi all,

Been a member here for a while, first post (I think!).

Travelling June and July next year to Europe. Flying Melbourne to Dublin, then home from Barcelona to Melbourne.

Just a few questions really.

1) When is the best time to book? Looking at economy flights now, all options seem to be circa $2k mark. Will the price change dramatically?

2) There seem to be very few options with only one stopover: the main one I see is Etihad with stopovers in AUH.
a) How do Etihad compare to say Thai or Qantas?
b) Is it worth flying with Qantas/Thai/etc via London with connecting flights?

I'd love premium/business, but with two of us going for an extended period, we don't want to stretch the budget on flights. Is it likely to get a reasonably priced option to upgrade to PE/J on the flight from say AUH>DUB?

Thanks!

 

[oldbold]

There is an Etihad deal at bestflights.com.au/cheap-flights/phone-flights-details/uk-and-europe/etihad-airways/110272 which is a little cheaper until Jun 23rd : $1899 Zone 1 (DUB), and $1979 Zone 2 (BCN). You would be allowed at least one stopover - but note that Etihad fkights from Barcelona are via a code-share to Brussels. Might work out better, particularly for a second stopover, to go out and back to the same place.
Etihad don't appear to have Premium Economy on their own aircraft.

 

[The Rok]

You would be better off booking with VA. Go VA from Melbourne to AUH in PE then from MEL to DUB in Y. It's is nor much more than Y overall.

 

[alieninperth]

I think that you should be able to do the who thing as a one stop out with Emirates. I have seen an article which said that they were to start a service into Dublin early next year. I can't see any news on their website but it is coming up in searches. coming back from BCN is only showing connecting flights though FRA or MAD. prices around $2k in June next year.

 

[ojm]

Just as an update:

Booked MEL>DUB, DUB>MEL via V Australia with PE for the MEL>AUH legs.
Cost per person was around $2600. Will travel back from Barcelona to Dublin to fly home.

First time in a seat that isn't economy - hope its worth the $500 additional cost!

(another plus, looks like I will become Velocity Gold afterward the flights)