Choosing fares to Europe

[significance]

Most of my travel is for business, but my husband and I will be taking a holiday in Europe this May. I am pondering what tickets to book. Leading choices are:

• Economy on Emirates on a sale fare - I've heard well of Emirates, but have never flown with them.
• Economy sale fare on Qantas, for a similar price - this would be the difference between Silver and Gold QFF status for me, and would the difference between Bronze and Silver for my husband.
• Red e-fare on Qantas: a few hundred dollars more, but this would give us the chance to upgrade one way to Premium Economy on my points - assuming that there are premium economy seats available for upgrade.

Which option would you take?

 

[TonyHancock]

I would really be aiming for the gold status first up, it does give you Qantas Club access, a 50% mileage bonus, so it would make your next membership year more comfortable and gain you a few more points.

It is a complete lottery on the upgrade front. The are too many variables to give any prediction, but on a long haul flight QF Premium Economy is a lot better than Economy.

I'd probably take the risk of paying for the Red e deal but would be prepared that it might be a long shot to get the upgrade confirmed.

 

[Dalescott]

You didn't say where your flying from and to?? But I would fly with neither, use with Etihad. They have a number of advantages, newer planes, 2-4-2 seating in Economy, better service by far. My Daughter has just returned from UK, and she loves Etihad.
Emirates planes are old (if flying out of Melb), and service levels have dropped. Economy is very cramped, seating is 3-4-3. Qantas is better, out of Melb. But other cities may be different.

 

[wandering_fred]

From PER it does sometimes get interesting if you are willing to "slum" it a bit on the way out (the first time). Or an award flight to set up the nexr flights.

The Red E deals in May PER-LHR are showing a bit less than $3K.

JQ or Air Asia to HKG and then advance purchase Y+/WT+ fares are about AU$2K.
A bit more $$ from SIN or BKK. Weekends do require purchase well in advance.

The return fares SEAisa <> Australia are much less than the other way round. :mrgreen:Useful if you fly at least once a year (less a day)

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[significance]

Thanks everyone for the advice!
I ended up going with Qantas & BA (From Canberra to Venice).

 

[Alanslegal]

Thanks everyone for the advice!
I ended up going with Qantas & BA (From Canberra to Venice).

Which planes are you flying?

For the A380's people try to snare seats in row 80's or 71D, unless you have paid for exit rows.

 

[significance]

Which planes are you flying?

For the A380's people try to snare seats in row 80's or 71D, unless you have paid for exit rows.

We haven't paid for exit row seats, but looking at the booking, we seem to have been assigned exit row seats anyway (both directions). I imagine this will change if someone else pays for the privilege. I often seem to be assigned exit row seats on Qantas, though I don't know why.

For some reason, I couldn't get an A380 in both directions on the fares I chose (I could get either the return flight or the flight out on an A380, but it wouldn't let me select both). A380 out, 747 back.