Best ways to go back and forth between LHR and JFK (ex. BNE)

[dough11]

I generally need to go to the UK 6-8 times a year and 3-4 to the east coast of the USA. From what I can gather from reading on here/FlyerTalk, I've been doing this "the hard way" compared to being a bit smarter with my planning to book ex-EU as an example.

I've tried searching but I can't seem to get the search terms right hence the post.

My question is: For repeat travel like this, with relatively flexible dates, is there a process/strategy I should think about for booking better fares? Would this work better with J fares which would cost more than Y but maybe not as much as they'd otherwise cost compared to my bookings today. Or is there a travel agent you can recommend who is skilled up in this and worth dealing with (I book it all myself currently)?

I've tried the ITA matrix using the 'Opairline' parameter but was hoping for bit more of a head start from the experts here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I generally need to go to the UK 6-8 times a year and 3-4 to the east coast of the USA. From what I can gather from reading on here/FlyerTalk, I've been doing this "the hard way" compared to being a bit smarter with my planning to book ex-EU as an example.

I've tried searching but I can't seem to get the search terms right hence the post.

My question is: For repeat travel like this, with relatively flexible dates, is there a process/strategy I should think about for booking better fares? Would this work better with J fares which would cost more than Y but maybe not as much as they'd otherwise cost compared to my bookings today. Or is there a travel agent you can recommend who is skilled up in this and worth dealing with (I book it all myself currently)?

I've tried the ITA matrix using the 'Opairline' parameter but was hoping for bit more of a head start from the experts here.

The savings you read about are transatlantic flights, originating in Europe, that are cheaper than flying from the UK itself. So for example BA from London to New York might be £3000, but if you originate in Amsterdam and are willing to fly AMS-LHR-JFK (and return), the fare might only be £1500. You must complete all travel, including back to AMS at the end. But you could include a stopover in London on the way back (if you include it on the way out to the USA you get stung with the luxury departure tax).

One of the reasons for this is that you will save on the very high luxury departure tax from the UK, but the main one is competition... BA is trying to get you to fly them with one stop rather than non-stop on KLM (out of AMS), or non-stop on the other relevant home carrier if flying out of somewhere else in Europe.

Whether or not you are going to save money depends on how you are constructing your tickets now. Are you buying Australia to Europe and then a separate ticket London to the USA? Are you willing to 'back-track' to Europe in order to pick up your flight to the USA? Etc.

 

[dough11]

Whether or not you are going to save money depends on how you are constructing your tickets now. Are you buying Australia to Europe and then a separate ticket London to the USA? Are you willing to 'back-track' to Europe in order to pick up your flight to the USA? Etc.

I should have been clearer- these are separate trips (at the moment) so I only go to LON or JFK on a trip, not both although that may change in the future.

I'm happy to add extra legs (like AMS as you mention) to either start or end the trip if it works out better overall. I can work from wherever during the trip so that doesn't worry me too much.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For separate trips you might consider originating your flights in Europe anyway. Flying from Europe to Australia can be as low as AUD3500 return Singpaore Airlines business class! You'd need to make your own way to Europe one way (this is where points come in handy) and then buy round-trips EU-AU. But you need to watch out for things like maximum stay (can be one month, or three, or 6), how flexible the fares are, and indeed how it affects your travel insurance. Some travel insurance policies require a return ticket to Australia... if you buy ex Europe you don't technically have a return ticket to Australia... you have multiple tickets back to the EU.

 

[dough11]

For separate trips you might consider originating your flights in Europe anyway. Flying from Europe to Australia can be as low as AUD3500 return Singpaore Airlines business class! You'd need to make your own way to Europe one way (this is where points come in handy) and then buy round-trips EU-AU. But you need to watch out for things like maximum stay (can be one month, or three, or 6), how flexible the fares are, and indeed how it affects your travel insurance. Some travel insurance policies require a return ticket to Australia... if you buy ex Europe you don't technically have a return ticket to Australia... you have multiple tickets back to the EU.

Wow that is low! I hadn't even thought to check out SQ. Would the same work for QF?

Ideally I would stick with QF although if there are better options out there for this sort of travel, maybe now is the time to change. I am a P1 until November this year so I guess its not a bad time to make the call.

Good point re. insurance. I will have to double check my policy on that. I have an annual one that I'll check the details on.

 

[I love to travel]

What class of travel?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow that is low! I hadn't even thought to check out SQ. Would the same work for QF?

Ideally I would stick with QF although if there are better options out there for this sort of travel, maybe now is the time to change. I am a P1 until November this year so I guess its not a bad time to make the call.

Good point re. insurance. I will have to double check my policy on that. I have an annual one that I'll check the details on.

The SQ example was out of Stockholm. It comes and goes. Qatar has some pretty good fares out of Oslo from time to time. A family member is flying Germany to Australia on Air China in July for $2200 return (but there are 6 hour transits in PEK on this fare). So these specials come and go and trying to tie them to status may not always be easy.

TBH there are also good fares ex Australia these days if you are willing to fly second tier carriers. The transatlantic is probably where you are going to save the money.

 

[dough11]

What class of travel?

Y or J. It normally works out to be a 50/50 mix.

 

[higheden]

We do this trip several times a year and work it around Singapore Air sales. They seem to produce the best fares for the most comfort. We've tried other airlines, different American Airlines (always the most expensive in our experience) and BA as well as a few others - using the flexible travel dates on SQ works well, plus checking their sale fares from the point of outbound travel.

 

[PineappleSkip]

On the travel insurance side, I have mainly done leisure trips starting ex Au (bolted on to long term work trips that are separately insured). Have mainly used World Nomads, who don’t require you to commence with a departure from Australia. Most Aus insurers will only cover you if your travel commences from Aus.

cheers skip