Why is it so expensive to fly to Europe on Qantas?

[wisewoman]

I will need to make several trips to Europe from Perth this year having already made 2 to London recently. I am a Qantas Platinum FF but I can fly with Singapore Airlines or Qatar for $1200 less return economy and $2000 less business with much better flight times and shorter flights? Clearly I do a lot of flying with Qantas but I just can't justify paying so much more, especially when I am forced to fly Emirates and earn less status credits and points. Why would I Qantas?

 

[opusman]

I will need to make several trips to Europe from Perth this year having already made 2 to London recently. I am a Qantas Platinum FF but I can fly with Singapore Airlines or Qatar for $1200 less return economy and $2000 less business with much better flight times and shorter flights? Clearly I do a lot of flying with Qantas but I just can't justify paying so much more, especially when I am forced to fly Emirates and earn less status credits and points. Why would I Qantas?

If you're booked on a QF flight number with Emirates you earn the same SCs/points as on QF metal.

 

[Mal]

... Because you're paying the Australian tax.

 

[Daver6]

Just fly Qatar. You get your WP benefits and a much better product (assuming J).

 

[wisewoman]

Yes but even then the same flight is $200 to $400 more if you book with Qantas rather than Emirates and then you get no status credits and a handful of points. And also you can't use QFF to upgrade on Emirates even on a QAntas codeshare flight.

 

[bismarck]

I will need to make several trips to Europe from Perth this year having already made 2 to London recently. I am a Qantas Platinum FF but I can fly with Singapore Airlines or Qatar for $1200 less return economy and $2000 less business with much better flight times and shorter flights? Clearly I do a lot of flying with Qantas but I just can't justify paying so much more, especially when I am forced to fly Emirates and earn less status credits and points. Why would I Qantas?

If flying paid business, I would consider Singapore. Great product, and the PPS Club is generally well regarded.

Do you do much domestic flying?

 

[medhead]

Just fly Qatar. You get your WP benefits and a much better product (assuming J).

Of course Qatar to europe will earn less SC and points

Yes but even then the same flight is $200 to $400 more if you book with Qantas rather than Emirates and then you get no status credits and a handful of points. And also you can't use QFF to upgrade on Emirates even on a QAntas codeshare flight.

You will get the same SC on the QF codeshare, and none of an EK flight number. Just need to be careful to book the QF flight number. QFF awards seem to be easier to get on EK flights.

 

[Quickstatus]

The "longer" flight times are due to padding of the schedule in case of delays so that the flights are officially "on time". The aircraft speeds along in the air at about the same speed so the actual time between takeoff and landing is the same. Still it means having to wait around more at the terminal.

There are many that do not like transiting through the Middle east.

Have you tried the other One World partner Finnair (AY). I wonder if you can get a fare from PER to Europe via SIN,BKK,HKG and then HEL with QF or CX and then AY. Some say a 2 stop into Europe via Asia and HEL is better than the Middle east crossroads

 

[alieninperth]

+1 for the EU via Asia and HEL, but then I don't go to LON so I used to have an additional flight with QF. In terms on best value for money, I would go for the mixed Y/J return with either AY(Finnair) or UL (Sri Lankan). UL would include an overnight in Sri-Lanka at the airlines expense (I think).

 

[marki]

Just fly Qatar. You get your WP benefits and a much better product (assuming J).

Is this true??

 

[marki]

Yes but even then the same flight is $200 to $400 more if you book with Qantas rather than Emirates and then you get no status credits and a handful of points. And also you can't use QFF to upgrade on Emirates even on a QAntas codeshare flight.

This I have found to be true just for having a QF in front of a number instead of EK ( more expensive ticket) * in reference

 

[Guvner]

If you are flying regularly from Aus to EU why don't you book (or buy) an award one way, and start your regular return tickets from EU rather than here?

You'll save quite a few $$ over time.

As an example, there were recently (still are?) return fares from Oslo to Mel on QR in J for circa $AUD5000. The same fare starting in Mel was circa $AUD7500.
A short hop from Oslo to LHR will save you a fortune UK taxes.

I recently looked at a return F fare on Emirates from MEL > JNB which came in at $12000... start the trip from JNB to MEL and return was $7000.


If I was a regular to Sth Africa, I'd by a one way "award" using AA miles and fly J MEL-SYD-JNB on QF for about $2k.

Then buy my all my Emirates F return tickets from JNB and save $5000 each time.

At the end of my planned travels I'd do the reverse of step 1.

 

[alieninperth]

BA has also had ex OSL/mainland EU to AUS for just over $3.5k. It seems to pop up fairly regularly. Alternately, BA are currently offering EX TXL (Berlin) to CGK (Jakarta) for just under $3k.

 

[marki]

BA has also had ex OSL/mainland EU to AUS for just over $3.5k. It seems to pop up fairly regularly. Alternately, BA are currently offering EX TXL (Berlin) to CGK (Jakarta) for just under $3k.

This is in J?

 

[TonyHancock]

This is in J?

I can vouch for the ex OSL, although if you originating in the UK, SVG and BGO are better options for back to backs and come in at the same price as OSL.

 

[alieninperth]

Yes it is in J. Thanks TonyHancock for the added info. Marki you could do no better that reading Tonys TR for the practicalities of starting a trip to AUS on mainland EU.

 

[travelislife]

Is this true??

100% on all counts. WP benefits and better product in J. Note the reduced SC and points earn though.

 

[Daver6]

Is this true??

Which bit?

 

[Himeno]

100% on all counts. WP benefits and better product in J. Note the reduced SC and points earn though.

Except for the QR lounges in DOH and LHR that are exempt from the oneworld rules. (ie, there are 4 QR lounges in DOH, only 2 of them are usable if not flying QR J/F)

 

[marki]

Which bit?

Ah it's already been answered thanks ( all bits)