Australia to Europe from $684 return

[jase05]

Not sure I'd call Chinese airlines "decent". Excepting CX of course.

Can’t vouch for their Y products but I have had some decent J long haul flights on Chinese carriers.

 

[ffhound]

Nice fare… but whY?
Maybe 25 years ago I might have.

You know you want to

 

[clifford]

You know you want to

I know I don't want to. In the past I've done quite a few trips between AU and EU in Y (but with a couple of stops on the way) and I likely won't be doing it again. But. of course you're quite welcome to do it.

Well, I say that, but if I was travelling with my partner, and it was A330's all the way, I might consider it. But as a solo traveller, No.

 

[AuSammy]

Although Y is a bit c..p all the way to EU, the prices being offered make booking 2seats together tempting to give more room at about the same price as one.

 

[clifford]

Although Y is a bit c..p all the way to EU, the prices being offered make booking 2seats together tempting to give more room at about the same price as one.

But can you do that with the airlines involved and expect a guaranteed empty seat even if the flight is full/oversild?

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Cheap flights yes, CEA reviews show they just do the basics at best. One should also remember the CCP is the major shareholder in CEA.

 

[AuSammy]

One should also remember the CCP is the major shareholder in CEA.

What relevance is there? I dont like the CCP as many people don’t but lots airlines partially or fully owned or heavily supported by governments.

 

[MELso]

What relevance is there? I dont like the CCP as many people don’t but lots airlines partially or fully owned or heavily supported by governments.

It's a recurring theme here that some members run around going 'CCP airline!' without articulating why this is a problem. However, as you note, there are many other airlines owned by governments that are unpleasant by Australian standards (Qatar, Etihad, Emirates and Vietnam Airlines all spring to mind), and Australia buys a whole heap of stuff from China in other areas.

Where the 'CCP Airline!' label is problematic to my mind is in regard to transparency over safety. The MU5735 crash and refusal to publish the report of the subsequent investigation (likely because pilot suicide was involved) highlighted a worrying lack of transparency on the part of the CAAC to explain publicly why the plane crashed.

Still, given the newness of CZ's and MU's long haul fleets, I don't really have any qualms about flying a Chinese airline.

 

[AuSammy]

highlighted a worrying lack of transparency over safety

A recent crash in India by a different airline also comes to mind that seems to be a part of an orchestrated coverup by authorities.

What we don't know we don't know. Can only go by history of incidents.

My first flight on Alaskan had me concerned 20yr ago when the seats were threadbare and I could see what looked like rust around the fixtures on the wings.

IIRC REX had a run of worrying incidents not that long ago.

Indonesian based airlines, some banned from flying in EU for quite some time a few years back.

Every day there is a risk that something untoward might happen as you get out of bed. Everyone has their own risk tolerance level. I’d be more worried a mixup might see me gaoled in China or targeted by officials in the US (Dr David Dao?) or in a random terror attack in almost any airport or railway station in the world rather than a plane fall out of the sky.

 

[AuSammy]

But can you do that with the airlines involved and expect a guaranteed empty seat even if the flight is full/oversild?

Why? when you are paying a revenue fare.

Are there any reliably reported regular issues with that airline overselling on international flights and denying boarding etc?

No different to someone buying a spare seat for their musical instrument.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A recent crash in India by a different airline also comes to mind that seems to be a part of an orchestrated coverup by authorities.

Where the 'CCP Airline!' label is problematic to my mind is in regard to transparency over safety. The MU5735 crash and refusal to publish the report of the subsequent investigation (likely because pilot suicide was involved) highlighted a worrying lack of transparency on the part of the CAAC to explain publicly why the plane crashed.

And SQ321?

 

[MELso]

Anyway, back on topic, as well as Y, there are also very tasty J fares on MU and CZ at the moment (if you're prepared to take a punt on booking though Aunt Betty/BYOJet using Skyscanner).

For example, you can fly MEL-AMS/CDG from just over $4.4k on CZ on some days in March and April next year (although more typically around $5k). There can be five hour layovers but still, J for less than premium economy is pretty good.

 

[Melburnian1]

Anyway, back on topic, as well as Y, there are also very tasty J fares on MU and CZ at the moment (if you're prepared to take a punt on booking though Aunt Betty/BYOJet using Skyscanner).

Are AuntBetty/BYOJet reliable and (relatively speaking) trustworthy sites from which purchase airline tickets?

 

[jase05]

Are AuntBetty/BYOJet reliable and (relatively speaking) trustworthy sites from which purchase airline tickets?

Personally I’d never book through them but YMMV

 

[MELso]

Are AuntBetty/BYOJet reliable and (relatively speaking) trustworthy sites from which purchase airline tickets?

I'm guessing they'll be like most other OTAs - fine if nothing needs changing/goes wrong but one of the circles of hell if they do. Hence you need a big discount over booking direct to compensate for that risk - which is the case here.

 

[AuSammy]

Are AuntBetty/BYOJet reliable and (relatively speaking) trustworthy sites from which purchase airline tickets?

Subsidiaries of Flight Centre with very little support. Had bad unsuccessful experience trying to get back anything when border closed for covid from Aunt Betty didn’t want to know me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are AuntBetty/BYOJet reliable and (relatively speaking) trustworthy sites from which purchase airline tickets?

As others have said, Aunt Betty is a subsidiary of Fright Centre. Perfectly acceptable if things go to plan!

I booked with them, close-in, on Garuda to Bali… as in flight leaving in 5 days after booking so unlikely to change.
Saved a heap of cash and everything was fine.