Cheapest J oneworld to LHR

[Hermes]

Hi there folks (or, in Australian, g'day)
We like to do an annual trip to Europe. So far, with points, we have managed J for one seat both ways. But for next April/May's sojourn we find ourselves with only about 150,000 in the Qantas bank (and another 50,000 or so in the old Amex Gold bank).
I am really not keen on spending $24K with the Roo. I know CX offers LHR via HK for about $6K less, but their seating seems unfriendly -- the herringbone layout means you are not sitting together.
We're now looking at Premium Economy, but if anyone has any ideas we'd be grateful.

 

[NM]

Check out some "mixed-class" or business class options from FinnAir. They use Qantas to either BKK or SIN and AY from there to points in Europe via HEL.

P.S. its always fun telling people you are going to HEL via SIN

Or save the QFF points for another trip and purchase a more reasonably priced business class product from one of the many airlines flying between Australia and Europe.

 

[docjames]

Check out some "mixed-class" or business class options from FinnAir. They use Qantas to either BKK or SIN and AY from there to points in Europe via HEL.

P.S. its always fun telling people you are going to HEL via SIN

Or save the QFF points for another trip and purchase a more reasonably priced business class product from one of the many airlines flying between Australia and Europe.

AY also via HKG if you prefer too.


Having sampled Y+ on QF, i'd go CX J if I could afford it.

Have you considered VAus or AirNZ via LAX or a multitude of non-oneworld carriers who typically offer more reasonable fares?

 

[Ewing]

Having sampled Y+ on QF, i'd go CX J if I could afford it.

That's a curious observation - CX J must be either really good or you had a bad experience in PE on QF (I've never flown CX).

I've now had 3 flights on QF PE - all on the A380 and all SYD-LAX or LAX-SYD (I haven't flown it on the 744).

To cut a long story short - the service I've had on those 3 flights has far exceeded anything I've had on QF J - right down to the staff remembering my name without needing to refer to a cheat sheet and discretely taking my meal choice before starting service so that I get it when I've been in 38K (one of the last seats to be served, but it does have the most leg room as it's at an exit).

I'm going to Europe next March for a couple of weeks (part holiday, part business) and booked PE on SYD-SIN-LHR and LHR-SIN-MEL. I was going to try A380 J (for more than double the cost) but decided to save the cash.

I looked at CX - but it's only $300 less than QF on the days I'm travelling. The loss of my status bonus would be worth more than that

 

[pauly7]

Check out some "mixed-class" or business class options from FinnAir. They use Qantas to either BKK or SIN and AY from there to points in Europe via HEL.

P.S. its always fun telling people you are going to HEL via SIN

Or save the QFF points for another trip and purchase a more reasonably priced business class product from one of the many airlines flying between Australia and Europe.

Via the AY website I can only get it to offer up CX or BA from Aus to Honkers or Bangers... No QF... Do you have to go to a TA to book the QF/AY combo??

 

[Pvcmenace]

Go CX! My partner my 2 1/2 year old daughter and I went with CX J from MEL-HKG-DPS return and had no problems with the herringbone layout. Had a ball, staff fantastic service great and could easily communicate. Would not hesitate to fly the product again,!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

If you're paying and want to save the bucks, check out JAL. You can often pickup a biz ticket for under $5500 all in with a free night japan. Gets full QF points and SC.

 

[Keith009]

If there's 2 of you, check out the JAL companion fare which can be had at approx $5500 +++ per pax as mentioned. The regular fare is only about $200 more.

QF PE can be had for about $3700 +++ when on sale, otherwise the regular fares are priced at about $4500-5000 +++ in which case it's far better value to go for JAL J.

 

[docjames]

That's a curious observation - CX J must be either really good or you had a bad experience in PE on QF (I've never flown CX).

I've now had 3 flights on QF PE - all on the A380 and all SYD-LAX or LAX-SYD (I haven't flown it on the 744).

To cut a long story short - the service I've had on those 3 flights has far exceeded anything I've had on QF J - right down to the staff remembering my name without needing to refer to a cheat sheet and discretely taking my meal choice before starting service so that I get it when I've been in 38K (one of the last seats to be served, but it does have the most leg room as it's at an exit).

To me the service CX vs QF is pretty comparable, and i'd prefer a lie flat seat any day.

I have ZERO complaints about QF Y+ - in fact I have booked it for my BNE-LAX-BNE legs next week (albeit the seats at this stage are actually J seats on the 2 class 744). The service I've received previously in Y+ (on the 744) was exactly as you descibe. The main drawback on the 744 is having to share the Y toilets ( I believe on the 380 you have your own).

If CX J is priced the same as QF, well I cant afford that so Y+ it is. But if I had the $$, I'd happily go QF J or CX J for the seat.

 

[NM]

Via the AY website I can only get it to offer up CX or BA from Aus to Honkers or Bangers... No QF... Do you have to go to a TA to book the QF/AY combo??

Nothing wring with BA or CX for the Aus-Asia leg. I have seen the QF/AY specials advertised on some on-line travel sites. I have not looked for them on the AY web site. Its also worth asking a good TA for such options.

 

[Hermes]

Thanks everyone. All very helpful.
One problem with Y+ is that I get only Y SCs. I'm QF SG, with a July 31 cutoff, but have zero SCs so far this year. The Y+ MEL-LHR-MEL trip will give me only 240 SCs (cf 480 for J), leaving another 360 to find to maintain SG -- three MEL-SYD-MELs (or equivalent) in J, which I can't justify.
I've had a quick look at JAL, but from what I can tell it's $10K+ in J for SYD-NRT-SYD -- per head!
Looks at this stage that we might try CX in J via HKG. At least that's $6K cheaper than QF, and it would not only put me in striking distance of maintaining SG next year, but also put nearly enough points in the bank for a FF seat to Europe or North America in 2012.

 

[Keith009]

I've had a quick look at JAL, but from what I can tell it's $10K+ in J for SYD-NRT-SYD -- per head!
.

The current fare sheets all expire on 31st March, so what you're looking at are the full published fares which are a lot more expensive. The new fares for April 2011 and beyond ought to be released in a couple of months. The fares mentioned all book into D, and you get the MEL-SYD-MEL QF connections thrown in as well. Simply hold some seats with a TA, either CX or JL, and ticket whichever is cheaper closer to the time.

 

[BensAdventures]

In context to your question about whether you can fly AY and use QF out of BKK, the answer is definately yes, but it depends on the dates. I'm flying this exact route in a couple of weeks and my original ticket had me out of BKK on QF, but due to a change of dates I'm now flying back BA as I'd have to spend another night in BKK to fly QF.

I spent around $6300 to fly CX to HKG, then AY to HEL & FRA, then AY to FRA-HEL-BKK and QF/BA home.

Very happy with this.

 

[Keith009]

In context to your question about whether you can fly AY and use QF out of BKK, the answer is definately yes, but it depends on the dates. I'm flying this exact route in a couple of weeks and my original ticket had me out of BKK on QF, but due to a change of dates I'm now flying back BA as I'd have to spend another night in BKK to fly QF.

I spent around $6300 to fly CX to HKG, then AY to HEL & FRA, then AY to FRA-HEL-BKK and QF/BA home.

Very happy with this.

The AY fare is pretty good. I do appreciate it for allowing some QF content as I love flying QF long haul. I guess the only thing that puts me off is the 2-3 hour or so journey on AY shorthaul. J seats on the A320 are hard as nails on those flights (and from memory, identical to whY). Much better if you can get an AY codeshare operated by BA on the shorthaul which the fare does permit - you're stuck with AY for other EUR destinations of course. With the JL and CX fares you simply fly the long haul straight into most major European destinations.

 

[pauly7]

In context to your question about whether you can fly AY and use QF out of BKK, the answer is definately yes, but it depends on the dates. I'm flying this exact route in a couple of weeks and my original ticket had me out of BKK on QF, but due to a change of dates I'm now flying back BA as I'd have to spend another night in BKK to fly QF.

I spent around $6300 to fly CX to HKG, then AY to HEL & FRA, then AY to FRA-HEL-BKK and QF/BA home.

Very happy with this.

Thanks... From a TA I'm guessing??

 

[BensAdventures]

Thanks... From a TA I'm guessing??

I actually had it almost booked online when I decided to get a quote from the local flight center. They beat the price by $100ish, so I booked with them.