Business class travel for group of 13

[mhh]

I'm organising an (extended) 3 week family trip to London ex Adelaide in April 09. I'm wondering if we can stretch to business class for the international sectors. Any thoughts on a good travel agent for this kind of travel - and the airlines likely to offer the best deals?

It's probably not relevant but I'm a Qantas FF with about 900,000 points...

Any thoughts most welcome.

Edit: Oops, I think I've posted in the wrong section. Mods, feel free to move me.

 

[Dave Noble]

I would suggest phoning the airlines and speaking to their group bookings department.

Looking at fares being offered for next year, perhaps contact carriers such as Air France or SAS ( they have non-group business return for $4600 plus tax out of Sydney ). Air France uses QF to Asia and then Air France onwards whilst SAS uses Thai to Asia and then continues on on SAS

Dave

 

[Travel Guru]

I'd suggest finding a good agent and having them source a group fare for you.

The challenge you're going to have with those mainstream fares with Air France etc are they don't release alot of seats on each flight into their cheaper business fares so you're unlikely to be able to book 13 people into the one.

What sort of budget did you have in mind?

TG

 

[mhh]

One travel agent suggested that booking as a group would probably increase the fare with most airlines (although it would allow more flexibility) so there may not be much advantage in presenting as a group.

The best ADL-LHR-ADL fare for Business so far is $7655 (including taxes) with Malaysia. Another alternative is to use QFF points for 4 J seats (that's all the points I've got) and pay the $9716 per seat for the rest of the family with Qantas J.

Any comments on the respective merits of MAS and Qantas for Business class would be most welcome!

 

[simongr]

Your main challenge wil be getting 4 J seats together on ADL-LHR-ADL - some people might end up flying BA as an option... DOn't forget even if using points you will be hit up for a heap of taxes. It would be a good use of points though if you can make it work.

 

[Travel Guru]

One travel agent suggested that booking as a group would probably increase the fare with most airlines (although it would allow more flexibility) so there may not be much advantage in presenting as a group.

The best ADL-LHR-ADL fare for Business so far is $7655 (including taxes) with Malaysia. Another alternative is to use QFF points for 4 J seats (that's all the points I've got) and pay the $9716 per seat for the rest of the family with Qantas J.

Any comments on the respective merits of MAS and Qantas for Business class would be most welcome!

Because there aren't alot of international airlines servicing Adelaide, it might be worth searching ex. Melbourne and buying an add on airfare to/from MEL...from there you open yourself up to options such as Thai Airways which is a good product and cheaper than MH.

What the agent told you about the group fare being higher is true, group fares offer awesome flexibility (you only need notify names close to the date, you can drop ppl off/add them on) but they do charge you for the privilege.

For me, i'd be looking at A. Booking as early as possible B. Snapping up as many seats as I could on something like MH or TG.

If you are going to buy J seats on QF, hunt down an agent who can get access to QF Corporate fares (very few Retail agents can) as its about 500pp+ cheaper than the retail J fare.

TG

 

[mhh]

For me, i'd be looking at A. Booking as early as possible B. Snapping up as many seats as I could on something like MH or TG.

Good advice, TG. I'm on to it!

 

[ozstamps]

ADL gives you near zero choice hence higher prices.

MEL - or better still SYD gives you DOZENS.

For the $150 RT to ADL cost you'll save $1000 a ticket easily - and have CHOICE.

 

[mhh]

ADL gives you near zero choice hence higher prices.

MEL - or better still SYD gives you DOZENS.

For the $150 RT to ADL cost you'll save $1000 a ticket easily - and have CHOICE.

Good thought. I'll see what is finally offered.

At this stage, the Malaysia Airlines option looks pretty good to me with the advantage of flying straight in to Adelaide, and no Y domestic leg required.

I've told the agent I'll consider coming through MEL or SYD if they can find a better alround deal (considering price but also route, schedules and J quality) but they haven't suggested anything so far.

 

[ozstamps]

See what www.travel.com.au quotes .. you save a forture out of SYD.

 

[mhh]

See what www.travel.com.au quotes .. you save a forture out of SYD.

Save a fortune? I must be doing something wrong. I'm getting higher prices for their cheapest SYD-LHR-SYD offering than my local travel agent. $8830 for Thai and $10,949 for Malaysia Airways (compared to my quote of $7655 with MH).

In any case, it won't take my full booking yet as the return date in late April isn't available yet on the site.

 

[ozstamps]

You are planning far too far ahead.

Airline fares can't be booked til 330 days out and that is near what you are looking at so are being quoted published fares not specials.

Most airlines have not released fares past end March 09.

When they do, you'll often get for under $4500 RT ex SYD

Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

Some right now do Biz to Europe for $3249 for June for instance:

http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bin/04_201f/flights?maindetails=7391http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bin/04_201f/flights?mainlist

Glen

 

[mhh]

You are planning far too far ahead.

Glen

Thanks Glen - I'll save this site to Favorites.

The problem is we want to travel in school holidays and we need to book well ahead due to size of the group. Already we are finding some of the accommodation we want is gone so I'm stuck with booking now.

Mark

 

[mhh]

We've abandoned the J idea.

In the end the main wish was to get out and back into Adelaide the most direct way (ie, not through SYD or MEL) and that left too few airline choices and no really attractive deals/schedules.

Thanks for the input though - it is much appreciated.