Advice mixed class to Europe

[christinam]

Hello,

I want to visit a friend in Geneva for a couple of weeks in June 2011. Plan is to fly to London for a few days first, then on to Geneva, then back to Melbourne, I guess via London. I want to do the long haul part in Business, but am ok to fly Economy on the shorter leg.

Any suggestions as to the best airline and how to get the very best price? I am a QFF, but doubt they will have anything particularly good to offer, at a reasonable price.

Thanks so much!
Christina

 

[markis10]

Have you looked at Finnair for 4K (J one leg only) - they have some good fares and I enjoyed my travel with them!

http://www.travel.com.au/flights/finnair-mixed-class-to-europe/s11070,eur

 

[christinam]

Hi Mark

No, I haven't. I'll go and have a look at Finnair now - thanks!

Christina

 

[rechoboam]

Hello,

I want to visit a friend in Geneva for a couple of weeks in June 2011. Plan is to fly to London for a few days first, then on to Geneva, then back to Melbourne, I guess via London. I want to do the long haul part in Business, but am ok to fly Economy on the shorter leg.

Any suggestions as to the best airline and how to get the very best price?
Christina

Best price is often emirates, but I was disappointed with the seats and I hate Dubai. Still, price/value is reasonable.
I would advise you: check whether you can upgrade the short leg on the way back once you arrive in Europe. Sometimes just flying there mixed class gives you enough points. I did. Next time I would just pay j the whole way though, it's worth it if you can.

 

[markis10]

Also have a look at J returns ex BKK or SIN, its easy to get there from here (starclass to Bangkok is not a bad option or the new SIN services) and often the Asian fares are cheaper.

 

[JQash]

Emirates often advertise on their website mixed class fares, might be worth while checking them out.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Best flights have a "mixed RTW" fare.

Swiss, Qantas, Thai, Virgin Atlantic Economy & Business MixRound World Fare to over 70 Cities Aug 10-Jul 11

 

[rechoboam]

Problem with Emirates is the variable nature of the fleet. But my experiences in both J and Y have been that the australia-Dubai leg has uncomfortable seating in each class, the J seats are very much not flat. But it is a lot cheaper than most alternatives. Also Dubai connections to various places (central Europe, Morocco) are often very quick and prevent you stopping off in both Asia and a European hub (LHR/FRA etc)

 

[Dalescott]

If flying out of Melb, the EK website will force you to a 0335hrs flight out of Melb. Speaking from experience, this flight is a pain, by the time you get off the ground you are exhausted. We fly regularly, two/three time a year to Euro, and have alway used EK. But we are finding that they are becoming evermore unhelpful, and have know started to us a TA. Even she is having trouble with them, and we have flown mixed fares the last few time (just to save some money). I would suggest that you use a TA, as in the end it will only cost you frequent flyer point, and you may save a little money.

 

[christinam]

Thanks everybody, lots of things for me to go and research. Much appreciated!

Dale, what is a TA? Apologies, it is my first day here, so I am not familiar with the acronyms that people are using!

Cheers
Christina

 

[Dave Noble]

Problem with Emirates is the variable nature of the fleet. But my experiences in both J and Y have been that the australia-Dubai leg has uncomfortable seating in each class, the J seats are very much not flat. But it is a lot cheaper than most alternatives. Also Dubai connections to various places (central Europe, Morocco) are often very quick and prevent you stopping off in both Asia and a European hub (LHR/FRA etc)

As long as not on the A345 the seats to Australia in business are from services I have seen are generally the decent lay flat ones with horizontal offered ex Sydney on the 388

That EK provides decent 1 stop services across Europe is something I would class as a benefit rather than a drawback
Dave

 

[Oneworldplus2]

TA = Travel Agent

 

[rechoboam]

As long as not on the A345 the seats to Australia in business are from services I have seen are generally the decent lay flat ones with horizontal offered ex Sydney on the 388

That EK provides decent 1 stop services across Europe is something I would class as a benefit rather than a drawback
Dave

The Melbourne services one year ago were all A345 as far as I remember. The J seats I had Europe-Dubai were in a Boeing, and they were lay-flat (and very wide). If they have those seats or any lay-flat ones now, that would change things quite a bit. And I don't remember a 3am option then, we left after dinner.

Perhaps I wasn't clear, the 1 stop service across Europe (and other interesting places like Morocco or Egypt) is definitely an advantage, in fact the only reason I chose Emirates was a need to get straight to Vienna in about 20 hours total.

EDIT: And TA is travel agent, I use one for anything complicated. Acronyms are here:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

 

[Dave Noble]

The Melbourne services one year ago were all A345 as far as I remember. The J seats I had Europe-Dubai were in a Boeing, and they were lay-flat (and very wide). If they have those seats or any lay-flat ones now, that would change things quite a bit. And I don't remember a 3am option then, we left after dinner.

All 3 daily services to Melbourne are now 777s

If travelling in 1st class, the MEL-KUL-DXB service is the only remaining service not to have suites but the previous flat bed option


Currently, daily

From MEL: the service via KUL has the old seats still , but the service via SIN and the non-stop service both have the nice lie flat seats as you would have had from DXB onwards and the latest ICE system
From SYD: the 2 777 services both have lie flat and the 388 service has the "mini-suite" horizontal beds
From PER: the 345 service has the old seats and the 777 service has the lie flat seats
From BNE: the 345 service has the old seats and the 777 service has the lie flat seats

Looks like nearly all services will have the lie flat soon.

from 1 November, the Perth 345 is replaced with a 777 with lie flat seats and
from Jan 2 , the Brisbane 345 is replaced with a 777 with lie flat seats , leaving just the MEL-KUL-DXB with the old seating .

As far as 3am departures out of MEL, There are 3 departures daily; there is
EK405 to DXB via SIN at 18:00
EK407 non stop to DXB at 22:25
EK409 to DXB via KUL at 03:35

The EK website doesn't try to force anyone onto the EK409 service; if searching by price, it will give the lowest options for day selected, but simply using search by schedule will allow choosing of flights by schedule. Of course, can always just pick up the phone and book and save any typing since EK doesn't fine people for booking over the phone

Dave

 

[christinam]

@oneworld, thanks for the acronym link, very helpful.

@Dave, that's really detailed advice, thanks so much.

Wondering what the Finnair flights are like, as they are cheaper, plus I'll get some QFF points, as they are a OneWorld partner. I don't mind too much about the food and entertainment, as long as I'm able to get some shut eye on the flight.

Christina

 

[markis10]

Have a read of this:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../finnair-business-class-any-recent-20915.html

 

[Dalescott]

TA means Travel Agent, my apologies for shortening words.

 

[fernpittman]

Hello,

I want to visit a friend in Geneva for a couple of weeks in June 2011. Plan is to fly to London for a few days first, then on to Geneva, then back to Melbourne, I guess via London. I want to do the long haul part in Business, but am ok to fly Economy on the shorter leg.

Any suggestions as to the best airline and how to get the very best price? I am a QFF, but doubt they will have anything particularly good to offer, at a reasonable price.

Thanks so much!
Christina

I recently did a shorthaul flight with Emirates in Business, it was a dream due to the pod style seating. I also did a long haul flight with Air New Zealand in Economy with exit row seating - loved it - and read in the Travel Section of the London Times that Air
NZ were voted the best long haul carrier for the year. Can only help with my experience of these two, good luck with the pricing - bestflights.com have a simple search engine.
Fern

 

[FJS]

Suggest you stay well clear of British Airways.

I had a very poor trip to Europe flying J in June will never fly long haul with them again.

Cheers and good Luck

 

[Dave Noble]

EK are offering SIN-ZRH r.t for $4423 plus tax in business class and a $760 r/t fare in economy for MEL-SIN giving a fare of $5183 plus taxes ( note EK dont charge any fuel fines so taxes are reasonable )