Qantas SYD&MEL to SIN $510 ret ($410 through .br site)

[hossein_au]

and I believe it isn't possible to request an upgrade on EK metal using QF points (even if the flight is booked as a QF codeshare)?

Not just on EK; you can only use QF points to upgrade on QF metal (and QF flight number).

 

[hossein_au]

Sorry for cross-posting; there has been zero response in over 24 hours. Admin, please move/delete as you see fit. Thank you.


Hi there,
Last night I was checking some intra-Europe flights for April this year. I checked the usual web sites I have used in the past (.br, .eu, etc). Based on numerous previous advice here on AFF I also consulted Matrix ITA. To my surprise I found some flights on SkyScanner (Australian site) that were cheaper than the best prices Matrix ITA was finding!

I then talked with a friend who is based in Europe. She is not very computer savvy, nor an avid traveller, but she recalled some ads she had seen on bus stops. I checked "opodo.com", and to my surprise, their prices for the same exact flights were far cheaper than Matrix ITA (from memory, it was about 160 versus 120 Euros). I then consulted opodo.de. Even though Chrome auto-translate did not work on the German site, I managed to get prices that were even better than opodo.com (albeit by few Euros).

This has got me thinking what web site(s) people here use for intra-Europe flights?

 

[Jleno]

Did you choose the booking city option at the bottom of Matrix to match the city where you do your Opodo searches?

 

[hossein_au]

Did you choose the booking city option at the bottom of Matrix to match the city where you do your Opodo searches?

Not explicitly; but we loaded Matrix in both Germany and Australia at the same time (we were both online), and one loaded in German and the other in English. We then put in the exact same details for the flights and it came up with the exact same matches (including price). We repeated this in Opodo, which came back with cheaper prices on traditional carriers (we were not looking for LCC).

 

[Cynicor]

The point they were making is that different fares load for sale from different sale cities, not just origins. That's why .br is cheaper- sale city, even though you are departing from AU.

To compare properly with ITA you need to change your sale city on the matrix site too.

 

[whatmeworry]

Plus not every airline or their fares are loaded into the matrix.

 

[hossein_au]

Plus not every airline or their fares are loaded into the matrix.

The prices I mentioned above are for Air Berlin and BA only. The exact same carrier and flight numbers for the dates I wanted on some sites came out much cheaper than those on Matrix. Hence, my question to the experts here which sites they use for intra-Europe. I understand the reason behind the differences, sale city, etc, I am just trying to find out what sites people here use for cheap intra-Europe flights on traditional carriers (not LCCs).

 

[A330]

Some airlines don't release their lowest fares to OTAs, and as such won't appear on Matrix. An example closer to home is QF - the lowest fare bucket isn't always visible on Matrix.

To answer your question re the best website for intra-EU flights, there isn't one website that is best. For my past 2 euro trips I used quite a few: Kayak, Skyscanner, Expedia (US) and the airline's own websites.

Specifically for AB, I found prices on their own website varied depending on the country selected. So choosing the AU website offered higher fares than the US or UK websites did. For some reason expedia.com (not .au) sells AB flights cheaper than AB's own site.

BA's flights are best booked on their own website if you want to be offered discounted upgrades to J.

 

[Marsonline]

My limited Exp' w A3 indicates that the price u got fr Matrix might inc. baggage charge.

 

[evangelionpunk]

I cant find any cheap fares out of Melb to Lax return (~7days) via scanner, kayak, opdo, matrix, expedia au/us/br or anything else for that matter. Everywhere im looking QF93 appears to be ~$1500.

Can anyone see this cheaper anywhere else? Need to book soon.

 

[Oxy]

I cant find any cheap fares out of Melb to Lax return (~7days) via scanner, kayak, opdo, matrix, expedia au/us/br or anything else for that matter. Everywhere im looking QF93 appears to be ~$1500.

Can anyone see this cheaper anywhere else? Need to book soon.

No! I'm looking for the same flights at the end of August, $1800 is the rate with QF. NZ start at $1100 at the moment if your that desperate.

 

[aloha]

I was looking at flights to BKK in mid March, and the prices have doubled overnight on BR. The prices are the same on QF.com

Any reason why?

 

[Brettmcg]

I was looking at flights to BKK in mid March, and the prices have doubled overnight on BR. The prices are the same on QF.com

Any reason why?

Currently there is a restriction on QF's latest round of Chinese New Year sale fares to selected destinations in Asia which prevent them being sold in Brazil or Iran.

TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF QF OR EK AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD IN BRAZIL/IRAN.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
EXCEPT QF TICKET STOCK NOT PERMITTED WHEN TG USED.
---
EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY PERMITTED IN
CIRCUMSTANCES OF FAILURE BY THE CARRIER TO PROVIDE
SERVICE AS BOOKED / DEATH AFTER DEPARTURE OF AN
ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER / DEATH OF AN IMMEDIATE
RELATIVE AS DEFINED IN PAT GENERAL RULES/LEGAL
GUARDIAN OR WARD / OR ILLNESS OF PASSENGER AS
VALIDATED BY A DEATH OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

 

[BrentH]

Iran?

Trade restrictions?

 

[aloha]

Currently there is a restriction on QF's latest round of Chinese New Year sale fares to selected destinations in Asia which prevent them being sold in Brazil or Iran.

Doh, thanks.

 

[DGW]

Currently there is a restriction on QF's latest round of Chinese New Year sale fares to selected destinations in Asia which prevent them being sold in Brazil or Iran.

Looks like QF has had enough of us YQ-dodgers...

I'm disappointed to see this loophole closed but nothing lasts forever. At least plenty here were able to take advantage (myself included).

 

[penegal]

I see fares for 1183 BRL booking into Oscar class on a random date - that is approx $557 AUD... Much cheaper than the usual $828 on QF.com

Remember Brazil is in a different time zone

 

[JohnK]

I see fares for 1183 BRL booking into Oscar class on a random date - that is approx $557 AUD... Much cheaper than the usual $828 on QF.com

Are you referring to SIN? That appears to be still on special.

The earlier reference was flights to BKK in mid-March.

 

[hossein_au]

What's the best way to make a change to a booking made through expedia.br? I have booked a ticket but I cannot make the trip. A friend needs to book the same ticket though and I wonder if we can change the name on the ticket (I think I know the answer)? If not, then what's the best way to cancel a ticket and book another one straight away? If they do not provide refund, but only store credit, can I use the credit to buy the second ticket under a different name than that of the original pax on the first ticket?

 

[anat0l]

What's the best way to make a change to a booking made through expedia.br? I have booked a ticket but I cannot make the trip. A friend needs to book the same ticket though and I wonder if we can change the name on the ticket (I think I know the answer)? If not, then what's the best way to cancel a ticket and book another one straight away? If they do not provide refund, but only store credit, can I use the credit to buy the second ticket under a different name than that of the original pax on the first ticket?

Happy to be corrected, but I believe the answer is no on both counts.

With the cheapest tickets, you cannot change the name on the booking to another passenger, even if you pay a fee.

If you cancel the ticket, more than likely the booking will credit into a shell, but then only you can utilise the credit shell for another booking.

If you had a ticket booked with QF instead of with Expedia Brazil, that would normally be the go on the cheapest tickets.

I would not anticipate it to be quite simple to cancel into a credit shell and re-use the shell later with Expedia Brazil unless you speak fluent Portuguese. You may need a lot of patience and some luck.