Cheapest Business Class fares to Nice

[bellavita]

Hi Everyone

First post but long time watcher!

I get so confused by all the J, Y class talk..have no idea about all that...not sure if that is relevant to my questions!

Will be flying from MEL to NCE next year either in Mid May or Sep/October. I will be travelling solo and would rather pay for business class as I have used a lot of my points in the programs I am a member of (Flying Club, Skymiles, QFF, Mileage Plus) and would doubt I have enough for an upgrade...(Flying Club is the only one I may enough for an upgrade certificate)

Anyone suggest that best flight options for me? or even a really great Premium Economy seat? Would be happy to fly interstate also to leave from another airport if it was viable.

 

[Postcode]

Have a look at CX, BA or QF to LHR, then on to NCE. (CX fly to CDG but their connections to NCE only operate via LHR on BA metal). Try booking on the airline websites and others such as Travel: Cheap Flights, Hotels, Holiday Packages & Car Hire | Expedia.com.au and taking a print up to a travel agent. Worth a try.

Emirates have a fairly competitive fare in J.

Shop around and don't be afraid to call the airlines whose cards you hold, tell them what you want and ask what they can do for you.

I often fly to CDG then book well in advance for a small price a TGV rail ticket to Nice. Just spend a few nights in Paris first to allow for weather and strikes.

Good luck and let us know what you find and decide to go. I spend at least a month or so in and around Nice each year and it's one of my favourite places to visit.

 

[albatross710]

A couple of thoughts for the Christmas melting pot.

Not all business class are the same. A business class fare via Singapore and Istanbul could be a different proposition to say Singapore Airlines all the way. Some of the Europe business fares that I see advertised for $4k are possibly not going to be the wonderful business experience ie lie flats, cuisine, speed.

Use this forum to help you weight up the value of a fare verses what you will get for that fare.

Planning ahead is good.

Intra-european train travel is excellent. Nice would also be an enjoyable trip from Milan.

Consider the use of the price difference to pay for the business ticket and how you could otherwise spend it ie extra two weeks of holiday? 3-4 day stop overs in Singapore, Bangkok, London etc.


Alby

 

[browski]

If departing from MEL, I suspect your best J option will be on QR. It is QR metal all the way to Nice, although there is a short stop in Milan. This fare in J should also be at a great price.

Alternatively, investigate the SQ option, it wil fly you on SQ metal to Frankfurt and then codeshare on another airline from FRA to NCE.

Otherwise, the old staple, EK might be offering some good J fares (or even some "mixed class" fares).

 

[bellavita]

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Sorry for the ignorance but who is QR? Qatar?

Not interested in train travel or anything like day/s stopovers. As I'll be travelling alone, Nice is a 20min drive to my family where I'll be staying the whole time, so would rather Melbourne to whereever, and then direct to Nice if possible. Emirates go direct from Dubai to Nice (according to their website) and would like to avoid changeover if possible.

 

[browski]

Sorry for the ignorance but who is QR? Qatar?

Yes, it is Qatar Airways. Price for mid-may will be about $8000. Qatar flight is MEL-DOH-MPM-NCE. The stop in MPM is 50 minutes and you do not change planes (and it is on an B777/A330 combo. It was not named Best Business Class airline of the year 2010 for nuthin!
Emirates will be about $7800 for their cheapest (read worst connection) and $8400.00 for the flight with best connection.

 

[Dalescott]

EK have raised their prices on the mixed fares. This is due to there popularaty, and also have been finding EK J class getting dearer and dearer. We are now shopping around, for the best price on all airlines. We are also seriesly looking at Bestflights for the first time.

 

[Mal]

We are also seriesly looking at Bestflights for the first time.

Something to add here: BF rarely (if ever) gets flight offers that other good TA's can't access. Perhaps use them as a price point, and then ask a<nother?> reputable agent what they can find...

 

[Postcode]

Something to add here: BF rarely (if ever) gets flight offers that other good TA's can't access. Perhaps use them as a price point, and then ask a<nother?> reputable agent what they can find...

I agree totally with you Mal. BF are OK for checking what fares are available. I had an experience with them two years ago where they took my booking and money then decided to change my booked airlines. It appears to be run and staffed by backpackers.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. I was not impressed and certainly let them know it along with the WA consumer affairs office.

There are plenty of reputable agents out there. Finding one who is consistent is another joy of travel.

As for the original poster, bellavita you are so fortunate to have family in the area around Nice. Je vous souhaite bonne chance. Pourriez-vous nous dire ce que vous avez trouvé. Ce sera très utile pour moi aussi. Merci.

 

[mannej]

Considering that the OP is looking at going the most direct route, I would look at the Emirates fare.
Although the cheaper price books the worst connection, call (or visit) your local Emirates office. They have honoured the cheaper price with the better connection in the past (going to Nice out of all places ).

I don't think that the EK service is out of this world, but that was at the back of the bus, but there have been good reports about its premium products if you look around.