China Southern Airlines (CZ). Business Class. International long haul and Domestic.

[Chicken]

The least of my concerns!

Then that's good. I would book it too if I could when you consider an economy seat is now $2500 (unfortunately I may or may not be arrested upon landing in Hong Kong or China, and the way to find out is to FAFO, and I do not want to find out the answer which I may not like)

 

[ozstamps]

Luckily no arrest warrants out for me.

$A7000 a couple, round trip, is amazing!

SYD to IST, 6/8 – 14/8

KAYAK searches hundreds of other travel sites at once to get you the information you need to make the right decisions.

www.kayak.com.au

 

[Chicken]

Luckily no arrest warrants out for me. $A7000 a couple round trip is amazing!

You mean $7000 round trip? Or $3500 round trip?

Just tested, 6/8 back 13/8 business class return total AUD $4436.78. Still good.

 

[BjJames]

SYD-Istanbul is $A3500 round trip on China Southern right now

Go for it ozstamps -- and ignore the prejudiced nay-sayers ... flying over Russia is OK, and unless you are absolutely stupid, you face no risk of arrest. I live in China, quite happily.
CZ have a good value product though as with any airine you get good crews and bad, but the skew is towards the good. I'm not sure about internet access on those sectors, and the IFE is probably only so-so -- maybe download some favourites pre-flight to amuse yourself in need. Enjoy !

 

[ozstamps]

You mean $7000 round trip? Or $3500 round trip?

As per the link given twice, ~$A3,500 per person, round trip, Biz Class. SYD-IST-SYD

Internet is my main concern as am on computer for most of the Europe trips.

 

[Chicken]

As per the link given twice, ~$A3,500 per person, round trip, Biz Class. SYD-IST-SYD

I could not get $3500 on CZ web site. Would I risk booking this on BYO Jet? I wouldn't, I would book direct.

unless you are absolutely stupid, you face no risk of arrest. I live in China, quite happily.

Yep, people like us who protested against the Hong Kong government in 2019 2020, and had photos taken, subsequently arrested, are really stupid. That's why we can't enjoy cheap airfares ......

 

[ozstamps]

Several online agents have it for $3500 as can be seen.

 

[Chicken]

Several online agents have it for $3500 as can be seen.

But will you really book via an online agent? Not just CZ but any airline? Having the trip in disarray just to save $1000?

 

[ozstamps]

Done it endlessly before with no hassles.

Always Use AMEX and if there ever was an issue they sort it.

Plus this airline is so disorganised trying to book Biz defaults to coach anyway! And is in USD adding conversion and overseas credit card costs.

 

[jase05]

Done it endlessly before with no hassles.

Always Use AMEX and if there ever was an issue they sort it.

Plus this airline is so disorganised trying to book Biz defaults to coach anyway! And is in USD adding conversion and overseas credit card costs.

I’ve had no problems booking via their Australian website in the past but obviously if it’s cheaper on a third party site and you’re happy using them that’s fine.
I avoid all third parties bar Trip but I’ve had a couple of poor experiences in the past with others so I’m reluctant to try others now

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But will you really book via an online agent? Not just CZ but any airline? Having the trip in disarray just to save $1000?

Gosh, I would! Depending on the agent.

 

[ozstamps]

Again using Amex and I can't see you'd ever have an issue - Amex sorts it.

These are huge travel well established companies anyway. No idea why the animosity to them.

Excellent reviews - they are owned by Flight Centre - near 25,000 reviews scores it VERY highly -

https://au.trustpilot.com/review/auntbetty.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Again using Amex and I can't see you'd ever have an issue - Amex sorts it.

These are huge travel well established companies anyway. No idea why the animosity to them.

Excellent reviews -

https://au.trustpilot.com/review/auntbetty.com

How does AMEX step in if you can’t contact Aunt Betty, or they're not responding to emails? AMEX has no way to fix your flights in those cases.

The link you provided has terrible reviews… plenty good ones, but some shockers too… which don’t all look like the fault of the customer.

 

[Chicken]

There had been too many occasions when these online agents fail to ticket, or worse, take the money and disappear. However, the biggest problem is airlines refusing to talk to you when you book via an agent, so if there is any problem, there is effectively no help, (Don't expect these agents to answer your e-mail and fix or reroute you on the spot, heck not even within a few hours), and these agents will charge you a fee for the privilege of talking to them post booking.

 

[ozstamps]

Some of you folks crack me up -

 

[jase05]

Some of you folks crack me up -

View attachment 503724View attachment 503725

I’m only going on personal experience and having been burnt by 2 supposedly credible third party agent in Booking.com and Expedia.
I use Trip.com a fair bit especially for anything in China but after those other 2 bad experiences I won’t even try others.
Plenty of people such as yourself have had no issues so book what you’re comfortable with

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some of you folks crack me up -

View attachment 503724View attachment 503725

3.9 is actually a LOW score for things like this, despite what the label might say.

Any place on tripadvisor with a 3.9 is best avoided for example.

The Qantas score is to be expected… part of the national sport of airline bashing. The same doesn’t apply to Aunt Betty.

If you read the negative reviews for Aunt Betty, many of the issues described don’t reflect fault on the part of the passenger. For example, sending emails but getting no replies.

That’s different to negative reviews where customer expectations are unrealistic… for example, I slept in, missed my flight, and now the airline won’t give me a full refund.

Or the first one complaining about qantas… they were on the non-stop PER-LHR, but due to the Iran airspace closures they are now routing via SIN. This means a departure 4.5 hours earlier.

The negative review? The 4.5 hours has cut DAYS off their trip, and taken half a day away from family that they ‘simply can never recover’.