Article: Strategies for Cheap Business Class Flights to Europe

[Mattg]

Air Astana will launch a new non-stop Almaty-Frankfurt flight next June, which will make it possible to fly from Thailand (HKT or BKK) to Frankfurt without needing to stop overnight in Kazakhstan or do an extra internal connection between ALA-NQZ. The layover outbound is still quite long but the new terminal with a proper lounge at ALA is now open. On the way back the stop in ALA is only 5 hours now. I'd definitely use this at that price.

 

[MELso]

WY (Oman) has some very cheap J fares to Europe, particularly out of PER on Batik (OD). Note that WY often flies KUL-MCT and some MCT-Europe routes (including FCO and MUC) with a 737Max8 with recliners, so check what metal you're on.

e.g. PER-KUL-MCT-MXP out 4 March, back 26 March in J for $4201, bookable through Expedia using a link from Kayak.

If they keep these prices up, it could become a good way of generating some QF SCs on the WY legs from 1 July 2025, when WY joins OW.

 

[pjm99au]

I’ve just booked flights MNL to MXP return on Gulf Air in business later May 26 to mid June 26 for $2,070 /pax coupled with QF J reward seats to Manila at the old rates. 8 hour layover in BAH on the way there but I can live with that

The reviews for GF business look ok with the Apex suites on their 787. I’m now second guessing myself. Looking for thoughts on the GF experience?

 

[jase05]

I’ve just booked flights MNL to MXP return on Gulf Air in business later May 26 to mid June 26 for $2,070 /pax coupled with QF J reward seats to Manila at the old rates. 8 hour layover in BAH on the way there but I can live with that

The reviews for GF business look ok with the Apex suites on their 787. I’m now second guessing myself. Looking for thoughts on the GF experience?

GF are excellent, love their seats as they have so much room and are comfortable in bed mode especially. Seat storage is at a minimal though but no biggie for me.
Food and beverages are probably their weakest point, it’s ok but well below most of the other ME carriers IMO, they do have a BTC system though if that’s of interest. Crew are friendly enough but you will need to be proactive or you could go thirsty.
Bahrain is a nice enough destination and the GF lounge in BAH is not too bad. They do use the narrow bodies to Europe but they have lie flat beds so should be fine

 

[WanderingNomad]

I’ve just booked flights MNL to MXP return on Gulf Air in business later May 26 to mid June 26 for $2,070 /pax coupled with QF J reward seats to Manila at the old rates. 8 hour layover in BAH on the way there but I can live with that

The reviews for GF business look ok with the Apex suites on their 787. I’m now second guessing myself. Looking for thoughts on the GF experience?

I was actually looking at this myself. Hard to beat at that price point. You can get it down to $1800 with OTA and mid-week.

 

[MELso]

Looks like TK no longer offers mixed class fares out of Australia.

(Not surprising given they offer services out of SYD and MEL now, but it's sad as it was a way of having a fairly risk-free way of getting to Europe part of the way in J for under $5k with a decent array of connections from IST. Back to the drawing board for a potential flight to SOF next year as neither QR on their 77W or FZ from DXB on a 737 in Y have any appeal.)

 

[Melburnian1]

I’ve just booked flights MNL to MXP return on Gulf Air in business later May 26 to mid June 26 for $2,070 /pax coupled with QF J reward seats to Manila at the old rates. 8 hour layover in BAH on the way there but I can live with that

The reviews for GF business look ok with the Apex suites on their 787. I’m now second guessing myself. Looking for thoughts on the GF experience?

I booked Air France from MNL to LHR, returning from MXP at what I thought was an excellent fare (not including lounge access) only to find GF eventually undercutting it by more than A$500 return.

From YouTube videos, I agree with @jase05 that food seems to be GF's weakest point: the presentation has looked a little slpadash, although as always the taste of what's on offer is more important.

 

[Bitten]

Reading Matt's article on strategies for cheap business flights to Europe- it mentions try starting your journey from a city in South East Asia. Looking for suggestions on what cities I should look at. Thanks

 

[DejaBrew]

Jakarta and Manila are prime candidates.

 

[SYD]

Jakarta and Manila are prime candidates.

They also have very good CR seat availability - handy for repositioning. Plus cheap to stay o/n if not wanting to risk mis-connects on seperate tickets.

 

[jase05]

Jakarta and Manila are prime candidates.

Yep, both of those along with BKK have been our favoured ports in the past but our last couple of trips KUL has had the best prices to our destinations. For us there is often good availability ex ADL on SQ and MH but we also have changed our strategies a fair bit as we now no longer take overnight flights back to Australia under 7hrs

 

[Bitten]

Yep, both of those along with BKK have been our favoured ports in the past but our last couple of trips KUL has had the best prices to our destinations. For us there is often good availability ex ADL on SQ and MH but we also have changed our strategies a fair bit as we now no longer take overnight flights back to Australia under 7hrs

I havent landed on what destination to arrive in. If there's a route that usually had good availability or prices- maybe it might be near where somewhere I want to visit. Any suggestions?

 

[Scarlett]

Reading Matt's article on strategies for cheap business flights to Europe- it mentions try starting your journey from a city in South East Asia. Looking for suggestions on what cities I should look at. Thanks

You need to look at departures from any and all of BKK, SIN, KUL, MNL, CGK and sometimes others in Vietnam. As for the destinations, only you know where you might want to go.

I’ve used South East Asian fares from all of those locations to places like CAI, FRA, BCN, GVA and TLS. Most recent booking is to Saudi Arabia using a PR fare actually from Aus rather than going to South East Asia.