Article: Strategies for Cheap Business Class Flights to Europe

[clifford]

Yeah, I guess CGK and MNL aren't worth bothering with. But what would I know?

 

[CaptJCool]

Yeah, I guess CGK and MNL aren't worth bothering with. But what would I know?

They absolutely are !

I visited Jakarta recently
It would be really straight forward staying at a Terminal hotel
The train to the city is A$6.50

 

[jase05]

Yeah, I guess CGK and MNL aren't worth bothering with. But what would I know?

Both are excellent options.

 

[Grrr]

I’m looking at
1. SYD -> eg BNE or ADL (either Qantas or Virgin points or cash)
2. BNE-DOH then onwards (QR Avios)

So ended up getting ADL-DOH-Europe

Have decided to arrive in Adelaide the day before just to have zero stress.

Never been to before Adelaide before; any suggestions for what to do / where to stay for just under 24h ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah, I guess CGK and MNL aren't worth bothering with. But what would I know?

I transited MNL last week… time from door of aircraft opening to being in my room at the Belmont hotel was 15 mins!

The QF flight arrives at a quiet time, and with the (now mandatory) digital arrivals form immigration and customs took less than a minute (I had carry on only).

Similar story the next morning for my flight out. So easy!

I think transferring terminals would be a pain, but many carriers use T3.

(edited to fix spelling)

 

[Grrr]

If you get there in time (morning)

Unfortunately arriving in ADL 3pm; flight out next day is 930pm

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately arriving in ADL 3pm; flight out next day is 930pm

See here:

M

Post in thread 'Things to do in Adelaide'

Saturday at 9:36 AM

So ended up getting ADL-DOH-Europe

Have decided to arrive in Adelaide the day before just to have zero stress.

Never been to before Adelaide before; any suggestions for what to do / where to stay for just under 24h ?

If you get there in time (morning), head to Maggie Beer’s for the lunch. It’s about an hours drive from Adelaide, but well worth it!

• MEL_Traveller

 

[clifford]

I transited MNL last week… time from door of aircraft opening to being in my room at the Belmont hotel was 15 mins!

Sorry, I was being a little fascetious in my previous post. I've been to MNL many times, and know the ropes at T3 and T1,

I do find it a little hard to believe that it was only 15 mins from exiting the aircraft to the Belmont. Perhaps a little bit of artistc licence, but I imagine that it was a fairly quick arrival process, based on what you say.

I'll be arriving at MNL (T3) early next year on CX at 00:25 for a 05:45 departure on another airline in the same terminal, and I'm allowing up to an hour to get into the departure hall. It will probablly be quicker, especially as I use the "elderly" lane (it's to the far right, and a little obfuscated). Should be just about the right time to check in and head off to the underwhelming PAGSS lounge.

 

[Speckymagee]

I’ve really enjoyed reading these articles and watching the webinars. I’m QFF and found suitable European flights (One World - Qatar and or Oman) next September out of Jakarta return. I used seats.aero and Google flights. So I’m getting the hang of it. My question is next steps….how do I make the booking? Do I go to Qantas? Don’t think so as I can’t see the flights? So do I go to (say Qatar) and book direct with them and quote my Qantas FF number so as to get the points and the SC? Just confused about next steps. Thanks

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I transited MNL last week… time from door of aircraft opening to being in my room at the Belmont hotel was 15 mins!

The QF flight arrives at a quiet time, and with the (now mandatory) digital arrivals form immigration and customs took less than a minute (I had carry on only).

Similar story the next morning for my flight out. So easy!

I think transferring terminals would be a pain, but many carriers use T3.

(edited to fix spelling)

What's the Belmont like?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry, I was being a little fascetious in my previous post. I've been to MNL many times, and know the ropes at T3 and T1,

I do find it a little hard to believe that it was only 15 mins from exiting the aircraft to the Belmont. Perhaps a little bit of artistc licence, but I imagine that it was a fairly quick arrival process, based on what you say.

I'll be arriving at MNL (T3) early next year on CX at 00:25 for a 05:45 departure on another airline in the same terminal, and I'm allowing up to an hour to get into the departure hall. It will probablly be quicker, especially as I use the "elderly" lane (it's to the far right, and a little obfuscated). Should be just about the right time to check in and head off to the underwhelming PAGSS lounge.

No.

I was pretty much second or third off the plane, and the Qantas flight arrives at a quiet time.

Got to passport control first, so no queue there and maybe it’s the new digital arrivals form? But stamped and on my way in 15 seconds, maybe 20 tops.

No checked luggage, so exit, up in the lift, across the walkway and right there at the Belmont.

15 mins from door open to in my room.

The next morning flew out on CX… departed at 8. I left the Belmont at 630.There was security to enter the terminal as part of the walkway, and it was empty. I was at the CX check-in at 645 to pick up a hard copy boarding pass, and at the gate lounge by 7.

Maybe it’s the Qantas arrival time is pretty quiet? Or it’s the digital arrivals card.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What's the Belmont like?

Not bad!

Easy to walk to. Friendly staff on arrival, check-in took around a minute. Room was spotless. Bathroom good (I had shower only, no bath). Bed comfortable and room quiet! Wifi worked fine. There’s a convenience store just around the corner.

I laid $115 refundable until like two days prior.

last time I was in Manila was well before covid and the walkway hadn’t been built or wasn’t open so I stayed at the Heritage. But the Belmont was certainly more convenient and if you’re only there for a quick transit it’s ideal.

 

[Mattg]

I’ve really enjoyed reading these articles and watching the webinars. I’m QFF and found suitable European flights (One World - Qatar and or Oman) next September out of Jakarta return. I used seats.aero and Google flights. So I’m getting the hang of it. My question is next steps….how do I make the booking? Do I go to Qantas? Don’t think so as I can’t see the flights? So do I go to (say Qatar) and book direct with them and quote my Qantas FF number so as to get the points and the SC? Just confused about next steps. Thanks

Sounds like you're looking at paid fares with Qatar Airways or Oman Air.

You just book with the operating airline on their website. You can enter your QFF number during the booking process on the Qatar or Oman Air website.

 

[CMA222]

Not bad!

Easy to walk to. Friendly staff on arrival, check-in took around a minute. Room was spotless. Bathroom good (I had shower only, no bath). Bed comfortable and room quiet! Wifi worked fine. There’s a convenience store just around the corner.

I laid $115 refundable until like two days prior.

last time I was in Manila was well before covid and the walkway hadn’t been built or wasn’t open so I stayed at the Heritage. But the Belmont was certainly more convenient and if you’re only there for a quick transit it’s ideal.

I will be at the Belmont twice next week. I stay there about 8 nights each year. Very good hotel, excellent staff and good value. As noted it is a short stroll across the elevated walkway (" Runway Manila") and even the walk can be avoided if the guys are there with the free golf buggy to take you across, and then (usually) carry your luggage to The Belmont foyer.

 

[Traveler999]

I finally paid the $100USD or so for a pointsyeah subscription and have had plenty of fun looking at the opportunities that for example Canadian miles provides to allow some excellent fares costing 45,000 miles one way (say $575USD if buying) to get to Asia. but if you add another 5000 miles you can take a stopover eg SYD/BNE-DPS-SIN-SAI , to go to siem reap for example.

Alas I am in Auckland but Alaska allows 10/15k miles for PE/J to BNE and SYD which I did in September. I know if you are in Australia then Qantas makes sense as there are so many opportunities to earn them but the miles and taxes are getting too unreasonable.

If you have the inclination to book short hops on the way to Europe you can do something like below all in Business Class, which is way I swapped lots of Amex points for Hawaiian miles while the exchange to Alaska still worked.

SYD/BNE - BKK 45,000 Canadian
BKK-CMB - 15,000 Alaska - visit Sri Lanka
CMB-BOM 15,000 Alaska - visit India
BOM-MCT/DHB/AUH/DOH 15,000 Alaska - Alaska will allow a stopover in MCT with Oman airways
DOH-AMM/CAI 15,000 Alaska (regional first class)
AMM/CAI- IST/ATH 15,000 on either Alaska or air Canada

so for way less than a Qantas or Singapore air ticket you can either take a month to get there or a month to get back.

once you learn the mile distances for the various award to get a sweet spot I use Great circle mapper to see where I can get to for the miles
GPS Visualizer: Calculators: Great Circle Distance Maps, Airport Routes, & Degrees/Minutes/Seconds