Best Price for Brisbane-London return in Business Class?

[kinkacruiser]

We've booked a cruise ex Southhampton for next June and although it's way too early to book flights, I'd like to know what would be a good price to watch out for for a Brisbane-Heathrow business class return for around June 24,2014 returning late July.
I believe it's anywhere in the $5000-$7000 pp range. I will be using the Matrix search engine to check prices as the time draws nearer.
Also, when can I expect to see sales from various airlines?

 

[kinkacruiser]

I was surprised to get no feedback on this so I'll rephrase my question.
What is the best price you received for business class return Aus-London in the last 12 months?
Which airlines should I subscrbe to for specials? Ideally we would like to fly out of Brisbane.

 

[The Rok]

I was surprised to get no feedback on this so I'll rephrase my question.
What is the best price you received for business class return Aus-London in the last 12 months?
Which airlines should I subscrbe to for specials? Ideally we would like to fly out of Brisbane.

$6,400 on QF

 

[trippin_the_rift]

$5k is an excellent price and you wont find cheaper. Heck even $7k is cheap.

The least ive paid return in biz is 8k

 

[Sprucegoose]

$6,400 on QF

No that Sir is a good deal.

 

[Ansett]

Best Price was $6000.00 each on QF in J however best ever deal I had was LHR to MEL return on QF about 4 years ago when I was residing in the UK for the grerat price of a tad under 2200.00 pounds sterling in F

 

[ftm]

Malaysia Airlines have some consistently available Business fares in the $5-$6k range. Rather than a sale fare, these are their everyday fares, so you can grab one of those and save yourself the time, apprehension and uncertainty of waiting for a sale from another airline that may or may not happen!

They fly from Brisbane, so suit you from that perspective too.

 

[albatross710]

sounds like a wonderful holiday coming up.

J fares have a lot to do with the economy and what the market is prepared to pay. my best return J fare to Europe was also four years ago in the midst of the GFC.

My other good fare to Europe, albeit in Y that year was when Emirates introduced their flights from BNE-SIN-DXB.

So, things to look for to improve your price...reducing demand and increased capacity.

Good places to look, this forum and a regular watch on http://www.bestfligths.com.au. Although I've never booked on best flights I do find that they are actively updating the europe business specials page and their search engine works ok. Then take that info to search further and book in a way that suits you.

And, enjoy the holiday!

Alby

 

[haydensydney]

I've seen some on China Southern or Vietnam Airlines (Some codeshared with Air France) for just under $5000. Though, you may only get fares sub-$5000 if you fly into Amsterdam or Paris (and just get a cheap hop to London) - the taxes in the UK are a killer.

Or you can try buy points on US Airways and book a Star Alliance flight with points alone, for under $3000. There's some info here, but you might be pressed for time given that US Airways has been bought out by American Airlines.

 

[albatross710]

I've seen some on China Southern or Vietnam Airlines (Some codeshared with Air France) for just under $5000.

And of course, not all business class standards are the same. What Jetsar may call Biz Class is very different to China Southern which is very different to Singapore.

 

[markis10]

Another option is Avianca Life Miles which will be around $2500, worth looking at travelling to CDG or similar to save some $$$.

 

[WheelieBagWanderer]

Hi,
As a suggestion, maybe jump on to The Skyscanner website (Australian version with .au at the end of the link so you get prices in AUD) and have a look there.
Doesn't give all options, but definitely some ideas!
Good luck!

 

[mrpooky]

Although I've never booked on best flights I do find that they are actively updating the europe business specials page and their search engine works ok. Then take that info to search further and book in a way that suits you.

mrspooky and I tried to book a package to Vanuatu on bestflights once, and would never try to do so again. Their advertised prices were not available, their customer service was woeful, and they wasted weeks of our time. In the end, with mrspooky on the edge of tears because our planned holiday was looming nearer and we hadn't managed to get bestflights to do anything useful, we called Air Vanuatu directly and organised international and domestic flights last minute over the phone, and then booked our hotels directly over the 'net. It was a wonderful holiday, too!

Air Vanuatu has won us as customers for the long haul, through this and other experiences with their excellent service. Bestflights, however, will never get $1 from us.

That said, the bestflights website is good to get a 'ballpark' idea of prices.

mrpooky

 

[MH_fan]

I will never pay more than $6500 for a J ticket from SYD/MEL/BNE to Europe. Malaysia Airlines often release sale fares in Feb/Mar for travel in Apr-Nov of that year for $5500 return or even less sometimes. Their usual fares are often between $6000 and $6500. I avoid the Chinese-based airlines, even though they are cheaper, to reduce the stress of transiting through one of the major Chinese airports. You'll also get OneWorld benefits with Malaysian.

 

[paultiffen]

Buy some AA miles at 2.2c each and it will cost you 1200*2.2 + taxes (which don't include fuel surcharge)

 

[HansGolden]

Don't torture yourself with China Southern. Seat was decent, but food and drinks were worse than any economy I've ever flown. I flew CZ biz BNE-CAN about ten days ago (April 8th). In contrast, their flagship CAN-LAX A380 had decent food, though still worst biz food ever tasted. Their FAs barely speak English (and I've taught ESL, so know how to speak to allow non-natives to understand) and we had many miscommunications and service breakdowns as a result. Also, they were out of my preferred meal for 50% of the meals. Very polite, though staccato.

LifeMiles is tremendous option. Just used to purchase three biz tix to AU from US. Wow.

 

[fairhsa]

If price is that important, look into AirAsiaX. They have all business class flights via Malaysia. The quality is not top notch but my 6 foot 4 companion said the seat was perfectly fine for overnight and the prices are fabulous for what you get.

Failing that, the normal advice is to "not start here". I get great prices on biz class on Cathay from Hong Kong to London... by starting in Taiwan. You might look at ex-NZ perhaps, but that trick is very hard for Australians generally!

 

[Heachem]

Malaysia Airlines have some consistently available Business fares in the $5-$6k range. Rather than a sale fare, these are their everyday fares, so you can grab one of those and save yourself the time, apprehension and uncertainty of waiting for a sale from another airline that may or may not happen!

They fly from Brisbane, so suit you from that perspective too.

I am currently in Europe having flown with MAS for sub $6000. The flights were OK, not at singapore, Cathay, QF levels of comfort and service, but OK considering the price, and I could get QFF points and credits. I would do it again considering the savings.

 

[albatross710]

That said, the bestflights website is good to get a 'ballpark' idea of prices.

mrpooky

I agree, like I said, look to book where you are comfortable.

 

[Tim Warren]

I would also check out Cathay Pacific. I do not fly the route mentioned here often but have been commuting from Bahrain to Sydney frequently for nearly a decade and CX are by FAR the cheapest Business Class in the sky and it is a farther distance!