BA/QF WT+ to Europe

[Foreigner]

Hi Folks
I plan to travel to Germany in Oct 09. Best Flights show special (until May 15) at aud2959 plus taxes.


"You will fly with Qantas or British Airways from Australia to Singapore or Bangkok. You will then continue on to your destination via London. You are permitted two stopovers on your entire journey."

Few suggestions sought:
1. I wish to go to Cologne. Would Frankfurt be best or Dusseldorf?
2. Which would be better in WT+ - BA or QF?
3. If London is one stopover, would BKK or SIN be better?
4. Are there other specials I should consider?
I live in Sydney and am QFF'er, would like to stick with OW and maximise SCs.
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[Foreigner]

I would like to add Munich as a possible turnaround point. And,on my last trip, I stayed in Frankfurt but used ICE service to travel between Koln an FRA. A day trip to Berlin was a bonus.

 

[Evan]

1.) I would maybe choose frankfurt due to frequency of BA flights from LHR ? Not really sure about this one.
2.) Without and doubt at all QF whY+ but there is nothing wrong with BA.
3.) I would much prefer SIN (I live here) because you dont have to be worried about being ripped off by taxi's and its a nice clean fun place, but whatever you prefer, SIN is probably more expensive stop over due to hotels but still at the moment not as bad as last year.
4.) Thats a pretty good price. Not much i can think of that would compare to that at the moment.
Your SC earn will be limited since SYD-BKK-LHR-FRA is the same if you substitute in another Germany city or SIN Instead.

 

[NM]

Be aware that if traveling in WT+/PE you will have to pay the higher rate for the UK Air Passenger Duty. As this is calculated based on the destination following Uk departure, you could save money by having your UK stopover on the outbound journey rather than the return journey.

If you stopover in the UK then depart to Germany, and transit UK on the return journey you will pay GBP20 UK Air Passenger Duty.

If you transit UK on the way to Germany, then stopover in the UK on the return before departing for Australia, you will pay GBP80 in UK Air Passenger Duty.

So that is a difference of about A$120.

 

[docjames]

1. LHR-MUC goes about 6/day. Consider Stuttgart also (about 4 flights/day)
2. Definately QF. Wouldnt be too upset if end up on BA WT+ for availability.
3. Agree with Evan and NM
4. You could fly Around the world in Y for the same price, but if you want Y+ that's a good price depending on how the taxes work out. be careful what you consider taxes and what bestflights consider taxes may be different! Also, have a seach of the forums, there have been a members have troubles with bestflights, so if you can get that price elsewhere, something to consider.

 

[medhead]

As you mention Koln and FRA are an easy 1 hour ICE trip. This is doubly convenient because you the train station is at FRA.

It is also a nice ICE trip from FRA to munich - 3 hours.

Another option is to train from london to Koln and return during your stopover there. But that takes between 4 and 6 hours including transfers. Probably not that good.

Qantas also fly from FRA but no Y+.

If you want to return to London that I'd probably go to FRA as its more central. But it's probably not that much different as you have to get back to either FRA or MUC to fly back to LHR. Otherwise I'd have the london stopover on the way there, fly to MUC, train to koln/FRA and return to OZ from FRA.