VA MEL to Paris cheaper than MEL to Abu Dhabi?

[malmacdowall]

Hi all,
I am looking to travel on VA, Business class, to Abu Dhabi in mid March..
Cost to Abu Dhabi is $3990 each way but on checking, the same flight via Abu Dhabi to Paris, same airline is $2800... what the?

So my question is, do I just book the Mel to Paris tickets and just not show up for the Paris leg? It would save me $1000 each way....
But then book the retrun from Paris, not show up until the check in at Abu Dhabi?

Any thoughts? Will it work out? Unfortunately I have a meeting in Abu Dhabi and not in Paris ( As I am anticipating that many suggestions will be ... Just go to Paris you idiot....) Look forward to your thoughts...

 

[blackcat20]

You could not show up for the Abu Dhabi to Paris flight (apparently known as throw away ticketing, highly frowned upon by airlines), but if you miss the first leg of a flight/ticket, the rest is cancelled.

 

[MissBurrill]

Some of the flights to Paris have this disclaimer.



PLEASE NOTE - Your flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris will be in Economy class
or from Paris
PLEASE NOTE - Your flight from Paris to Abu Dhabi will be in Economy class


Perhaps you're looking at one of these fares? That's what happens when I choose a 'business deal' fare.

 

[sergeyvzn]

book it with Abu Dhabi as a stopover (if the fare rules permit a stopover i.e.), go to your meeting, then fly to Paris, overnight and do the full Paris-AbuDhabi-MEL run back home

 

[DJ 1D]

book it with Abu Dhabi as a stopover (if the fare rules permit a stopover i.e.), go to your meeting, then fly to Paris, overnight and do the full Paris-AbuDhabi-MEL run back home

+1

Why not have a nice dinner in Paris before the long trip back?

 

[malmacdowall]

Some of the flights to Paris have this disclaimer.



PLEASE NOTE - Your flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris will be in Economy class
or from Paris
PLEASE NOTE - Your flight from Paris to Abu Dhabi will be in Economy class


Perhaps you're looking at one of these fares? That's what happens when I choose a 'business deal' fare.

You are quite right... The section from AUH to CDG was economy, but the MEL to AUH leg is business.... and yet its still cheaper. I spoke to VA customer service and they couldn't help either... Apparently the MEL to CDG was showing a discounted business fare was available, but the same fare was not showing as available for the MEL - AUH only...

She also told me that if I missed the AUH to CDG leg, then the remainder of the ticket would be cancelled... A pity I am not going to Paris... Will have to book the more expensive MEL to AUH... But if you are considering Paris, I haven't seen pries so low as the VA ones, in the past 6 years I have been flying there... Even the PE prices were cheap...

 

[ozmille]

As I love Paris I would do the whole trip and get some extra status credits (or whatever they are called with EY) on the way.

 

[malmacdowall]

As I love Paris I would do the whole trip and get some extra status credits (or whatever they are called with EY) on the way.

It certainly is a beautiful city. One of my favorites too... Booking through the VA website, so i get the status credits... Just dont know if I want to do the AUH - CDG - AUH in Economy. ... I have a few trips O/S in April / May on VA so should be Gold by May.... (Just made Silver in Dec 2010)

 

[ozmille]

It certainly is a beautiful city. One of my favorites too... Booking through the VA website, so i get the status credits... Just dont know if I want to do the AUH - CDG - AUH in Economy. ... I have a few trips O/S in April / May on VA so should be Gold by May.... (Just made Silver in Dec 2010)

It's only about 7 hrs extra. Well spending anything more then 4hrs in economy is a bit of a burden. But if you are saving money at the same time why not...

 

[antycbr]

And it'd be a good status run - 3267 miles each way towards Velocity Gold at an earn rate of 1mi:1sc or 1mi:1.5sc if gold

 

[Keith009]

You are quite right... The section from AUH to CDG was economy, but the MEL to AUH leg is business.... and yet its still cheaper. I spoke to VA customer service and they couldn't help either... Apparently the MEL to CDG was showing a discounted business fare was available, but the same fare was not showing as available for the MEL - AUH only...

She also told me that if I missed the AUH to CDG leg, then the remainder of the ticket would be cancelled... A pity I am not going to Paris... Will have to book the more expensive MEL to AUH... But if you are considering Paris, I haven't seen pries so low as the VA ones, in the past 6 years I have been flying there... Even the PE prices were cheap...

Yep, the CDG fare you found is a mixed class fare. The cheapest 'fully' Business class fare to CDG is just a slight over 7k return, which is about the same as the Business fare to AUH. Clearly, VA is targetting Europe-bound pax.

Dinner in Paris sounds like a great idea if you end up saving money. You can even use all that money you save on some wonderful shopping.

 

[extracta]

The $2800 dollar fare to paris has the Abu Dhabi Paris legs in economy.

If you go to the VA website you can get the Mel Abu Dhabi return J Deal Fare for $2800 each way.

 

[malmacdowall]

The $2800 dollar fare to paris has the Abu Dhabi Paris legs in economy.

If you go to the VA website you can get the Mel Abu Dhabi return J Deal Fare for $2800 each way.

Hi Extracta, I wasn't able to find it for $2800... ???

 

[haydensydney]

Centurion have an all Etihad metal SYD-Europe in J companion fare for $5700 ea - quite a stunning deal! But your unable to use the VA codeshare on those fares

 

[Keith009]

Centurion have an all Etihad metal SYD-Europe in J companion fare for $5700 ea - quite a stunning deal! But your unable to use the VA codeshare on those fares

Aren't you still able to earn Velocity points and status on Etihad flight numbers? Or am I missing something else?

 

[malmacdowall]

Aren't you still able to earn Velocity points and status on Etihad flight numbers? Or am I missing something else?

You are quite right.. You can earn points and status on the Etihad flight numbers, but I believe if you book direct with Etihad you have to claim them through Etihad, you get the Etihad rate and you dont get the Bonus status and points for Silver / gold members.

Silver - 20% bonus Velocity Points
Gold - 40% bonus Velocity Points.

 

[Timtammi]

I'm very interested in the $2800 VA MEL-CDG fare as it seems great value as I only want a one-way J fare to europe (already have a FASA booked for the return).

I cant find it on the VA website? What dates are applicable ex MEL?

 

[extracta]

Hi Extracta, I wasn't able to find it for $2800... ???

Sorry about that I just looked and couldn't find it either. The flight Mel - Paris at the cheaper price is still there though so seats must be available.

You could always try booking Premium Economy for $1400 each way and then try for an on departure paid upgrade.

Another interesting one is flight centre are showing a return J class to Dubai for $4400, but they do not show the airline. Possibly Royal Brunei. Might be worth a phone call though.

 

[malmacdowall]

I'm very interested in the $2800 VA MEL-CDG fare as it seems great value as I only want a one-way J fare to europe (already have a FASA booked for the return).

I cant find it on the VA website? What dates are applicable ex MEL?

Hi Timtammi, The dates I was searching were departing on the 26th / 27th March...
Return flights were Wed 30th March... hope this helps.... But remember that the AUH - CDG leg is economy...

 

[Timtammi]

Hi Timtammi, The dates I was searching were departing on the 26th / 27th March...
Return flights were Wed 30th March... hope this helps.... But remember that the AUH - CDG leg is economy...

Yes I think I can live with that but how do I find the flights at all? Does that pricing come up automatically if searching for MEL-CDG flights in J? Or do I need to do something different? I dont see any mixed class fares listed on their fares page?

thanks for your help!!