Cheap SIN or BKK

[ethernet]

Emirates has a bait sticker price for nextfew days of $389 RETURN.
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia
Taxes and surcharge was quoted a whopping $360 bringing the deal to $750 odd. The draconian non-refundable/changable is a big turn-off.

Is this a good deal?

But SYD->DRW on Virgin is gettable at $175 each way ($350odd), and Tiger Airways will get you from DRW to SIN for about $100 plus $300 taxes, still $750 odd.

Seems like everybody takes turns against Austrian's pretty good pricing. Still, Jetstar has nothing close, and ML seems content not to price match. Hm might wait till the burn-off season for the next round of discounting.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Remember that Austrian discontinues their flights to Australia early in 2007.

 

[clifford]

Emirates has a bait sticker price for nextfew days of $389 RETURN.
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia
Taxes and surcharge was quoted a whopping $360 bringing the deal to $750 odd. The draconian non-refundable/changable is a big turn-off.

Is this a good deal?

But SYD->DRW on Virgin is gettable at $175 each way ($350odd), and Tiger Airways will get you from DRW to SIN for about $100 plus $300 taxes, still $750 odd.

Seems like everybody takes turns against Austrian's pretty good pricing. Still, Jetstar has nothing close, and ML seems content not to price match. Hm might wait till the burn-off season for the next round of discounting.

Agree with your comments on the Bestflights Emirates deal. I wouldn't take it either (and getting *A FF miles out of EK isn't the easiest, even though their contracted to do it).

I'm flying OS MEL-SIN-MEL next month, and at least they do credit *A miles fairly quickly. I've also been op-upped to C on OS before now (couldn't ever see that happening on EK).

I've also flown SYD-DRW-SIN a few times using DJ/TR. Can be relatively quite comfy (I've had an exit row all to myself on TR) and it can easily cost less than AUD 600 if you time it right with fare sales, eg SYD-DRW-SYD for $278 and SIN-DRW for less than AUD 130 incl taxes (just booked it for July).

So my advice would be to hang in there and wait for the next round of sales.

 

[ethernet]

I just tried July for Tiger and got Darwin to Sin $AUD 8.60 each way, but taxes come in at plus 162 to leave the country and $131 to come back in, costing $311 for the the return trip, so $600 is doable.

How much was your MEL SIN MEL OS fare?

If I can find a airline to take my money. I view things as you are not really purchasing a ticket, but a set of conditions. And when airline play hard-cough and sting you $200 or more ($500 for KLM) - I see red.

Oh well, looks like Darwin, and a trip to see the Kimberly's is looking good.
Just a hunch, that given RECORD christmas shopping splurges, may mean JAN-MAY may be shockers for the airlines.

 

[serfty]

... I've also been op-upped to C on OS before now (couldn't ever see that happening on EK). ...

FWIW, I have been told if you have just about any sort of SkyWards status, op-ups on EK abound. This is due to EK filling their craft to/from Oz mainly with once or twice a year fliers.

This comes from my Nigeria based brother who works for the UN these days. He lived in CBR for 30 years and attained Multi-Star Golden Wing status and then QF WP during that time. He is now a Skywards gold and flying Emirates to from Oz he almost never travels down the back even though he only buys WHY fares.

 

[clifford]

How much was your MEL SIN MEL OS fare?

Not sure of the exact amount off the top of my head, but it's somewhat less than AUD 800 all up.

I'd certainly go with the DRW option, as it's an interesting place to visit if you haven't been before, and as you say, there are a lot of side trips you can make. I'm very glad I decided to go via DRW (and I've done it a few times now).

One other option I haven't mentioned so far is to go DRW-DPS-SIN. It'll cost you a bit more, but then you can relax in Bali for a while (bombers permitting). I currently have a booking for SIN-DPS-SIN on QF for Mar-Jun which cost approx AUD 300 including taxes. Might be worth thinking about.