Best & cheap Business Class

[Travel Guru]

Flight Centre have a price beat guarantee. If you don't have an existing relationship with a specific branch/agent, be warned that :
1) Their initial quote may be significantly $$$ higher than quotes available through other channels, unless you present a quote to beat.
2) Will try to hit you with CC surcharge that could bump the overall cost to higher than if booked through other channel (always take a quote that is inclusive of taxes, surcharges AND CC fees to allow a reasonable comparison)
3) Their taxes and surcharges often do match (read are higher than) the same quoted by the airline (see also 2 above).
4) They have a booking fee of their own, so ALWAYS compare NET fare with NET fare (see also 2 above)

To answer your original question, it doesn't take much effort to compare a couple of online agents (eg best flights, travel.com.au, zuji) and the airline itself. Worth checking anyway.

As someone who spent many years working for the big red cult, I've seen every trick in the book and more.

Always know what the actual taxes should be (check with airline direct) as some agents will attempt to squeeze $30-$50 more out of you by over inflating the taxes deliberately.

If you're not quote beating, it's worth checking the fares with 2 or 3 FC's as the agents set their own markups on nett-fares, and you'll often find a FC in a low-socioeconomic area or an area with high competition will set lower markups than FC's in higher socio-economic or competitive areas.
It's also worth checking with FC's other brands Escape and Student Flights.

I would argue if you have a quote from an online agent (or other agency group for that matter) that includes or doesnt charge a CC fee, then they shouldn't either.

Definitely do your homework, it'll pay dividends.

TG

 

[garyjohn951]

Today I booked the following Business Class trip and the cost was $A7,500.00 inc taxes.

MEL-SIN-LON-PRG-HEL-HKG-MEL, all J except PRG-HEL [short 2 hr trip]

Best price with QF with MEL-SIN-FRA-PRG-FRA-SIN-MEL was $A11,200.00

 

[Mal]

Today I booked the following Business Class trip and the cost was $A7,500.00 inc taxes.

MEL-SIN-LON-PRG-HEL-HKG-MEL, all J except PRG-HEL [short 2 hr trip]

Best price with QF with MEL-SIN-FRA-PRG-FRA-SIN-MEL was $A11,200.00

Finnair special ?

 

[garyjohn951]

Finnair special ?

No, the TA says it currently advised as running Nov 30, 2008 until further notice. I did one last year and one the year before as well, so it is a regular. With an average saving of $A3,500.00, you could say this one is free. ie 3 for 2 offer.

The only requirement is one "long-leg" trip on Finnair. Finnair fly to Helsinki from BKK, HKG, BOM, PEK, and a number of Japanese cities.

As you can see from my intinerary I am using QF, but you can use CX,BA or JAL as well.

 

[turneeri]

Many thanks to everyone who responded with great advice. I've booked and picked up my eticket last night - managed to get Malaysia Airlines on the dates that I wanted for around $7100 inc taxes which I thought was a pretty good price. Route is MEL - KL - LHR with only a couple of hours or so with stopovers. I had a look at a couple of websites last night where I had previously priced these flights and already prices up creeping towards $8k so feeling pretty chuffed with myself!! However if prices come down I won't be feeling so pleased!!

 

[MelUser]

As someone who spent many years working for the big red cult, I've seen every trick in the book and more.

Always know what the actual taxes should be (check with airline direct) as some agents will attempt to squeeze $30-$50 more out of you by over inflating the taxes deliberately.

If you're not quote beating, it's worth checking the fares with 2 or 3 FC's as the agents set their own markups on nett-fares, and you'll often find a FC in a low-socioeconomic area or an area with high competition will set lower markups than FC's in higher socio-economic or competitive areas.
It's also worth checking with FC's other brands Escape and Student Flights.

I would argue if you have a quote from an online agent (or other agency group for that matter) that includes or doesnt charge a CC fee, then they shouldn't either.

Definitely do your homework, it'll pay dividends.

TG

On the LAN website you can select a function called print e-ticket.

THis then shows the fare, taxes and total fare. Is the profit that the travel agent is making the difference between what you have paid and what is indicated as the "Total fare"?

 

[Tooner]

A bit late for the OP, but for anyone else, the Gulliver blog referred to this site for info on J & F: Airline First and Business class flat bed and lie-flat seat seat reviews

Worth a look. MAS reviewed here: MAS Malaysia Airlines First and Business Class seat reviews

Cheers

 

[MelUser]

No, the TA says it currently advised as running Nov 30, 2008 until further notice. I did one last year and one the year before as well, so it is a regular. With an average saving of $A3,500.00, you could say this one is free. ie 3 for 2 offer.

The only requirement is one "long-leg" trip on Finnair. Finnair fly to Helsinki from BKK, HKG, BOM, PEK, and a number of Japanese cities.

As you can see from my intinerary I am using QF, but you can use CX,BA or JAL as well.

Does anyone know if/when Finnair is reintroducing this fare as an option via the US in one direction?

 

[munitalP]

Turneeri, I am flying QF Y+ to London next month and will report back. YMMV but I rejected the non Oneworld J options in order to earn QF status credits. As QFF gold I already get lounge access so that was not an issue. In the past I have flown BA WT+ and thought it was a worthwhile option, so now I will give the QF product a go.

I have flown WT+ with Mrs! SIN/MEL

It was 100% better than any Y seat available

Mr!

 

[Mal]

Does anyone know if/when Finnair is reintroducing this fare as an option via the US in one direction?

There's a post somewhere here on it. I doubt it will come back - Finnair were losing too much money on it I believe.

 

[auriga]

Malaysia airlines has some very good business class fares to LHR, just over 2K AUD all in return. Unfortunately, that is ex-SGN though.

 

[Keith009]

Here's a good review of MH long haul J on SQTalk:

Leroy and Bubba go fly kites (golden ones, that is..) - MH J KUL-JNB - SQTalk

MH holds its own against the likes of SQ as you can see, and at a smaller price too.

Have a great trip!

 

[HardieBoys]

The Finnair Business Europe fare that went one way via North America and home via Asia was pulled in March 2008. From memory, the last day this could be ticketed was 16 March 2008. It was replaced by their current fare, which is in and out through Asia.

I managed to get the old fare before they canned it, and had a great trip. Helsinki is a very easy airport to transit. I'll be getting my next trip to Europe through Finnair, based on my recent experience with them.

 

[davi]

I'm flying back from Hanoi on MH business class. Worked out to be the same price to book two one way fares with economy there from ADL/ business back than if i was to book a return economy flight from Australia - go figure?
I've flown MH before, they are great for longer day flights but weren't that wonderful on those smaller asian routes - no entertainment whatsoever
As my flight back to ADL is overnight, i'm hoping I will be able to get a little more sleep in business class.

 

[Keith009]

I'm flying back from Hanoi on MH business class. Worked out to be the same price to book two one way fares with economy there from ADL/ business back than if i was to book a return economy flight from Australia - go figure?
I've flown MH before, they are great for longer day flights but weren't that wonderful on those smaller asian routes - no entertainment whatsoever
As my flight back to ADL is overnight, i'm hoping I will be able to get a little more sleep in business class.

MH business class fares are dirt cheap ex various points in SE Asia. SGN is a v popular starting point.

 

[pauly7]

Here's a good review of MH long haul J on SQTalk:

Leroy and Bubba go fly kites (golden ones, that is..) - MH J KUL-JNB - SQTalk

MH holds its own against the likes of SQ as you can see, and at a smaller price too.

Have a great trip!

good review, bears were a little... strange....:shock:

 

[Harpoon]

I've flown MH J - MEL-KUL on the 777-200.

I slid down the bed when it was fully reclined, but other than that, their J class product is superb, especially the service of the attendants.

So to the OP, I think you made a good choice going with MH J, despite the lack of a quality FF program!

 

[openseat]

Here's a good review of MH long haul J on SQTalk:

Leroy and Bubba go fly kites (golden ones, that is..) - MH J KUL-JNB - SQTalk

MH holds its own against the likes of SQ as you can see, and at a smaller price too.

Have a great trip!

Those Leroy and Bubba trip reports have me quite worried!

 

[Keith009]

Those Leroy and Bubba trip reports have me quite worried!

Aww but aren't they cute. SQTalk icons.

I'd get Miffy my rubber duck to produce her own TR but she's never been one for photos...

 

[turneeri]

Thanks everyone!! If you want I'll write up a MH travel report upon my return I'm really looking forward to it!!