Efficient route SYD-BUD

[doctork]

Notwithstanding the extensive discussion about the BA/QF split over at: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....antas-emirate-partnership-gives-me-47508.html ...

I am trying to go SYD to BUD on 28 June in J. I don't much care which way I go. I've searched using Matrix, oneworld, QF, SQ, VA, EK, EY, QR.
Seems my two most efficient ways to get there (<33hours) are:
- AY via SIN or HKG (SYD-SIN in QF/BA, SYD-HKG in CX) as SYD-HKG/SIN-HEL-BUD (27-28 hours)
- fly to MEL with VA/QF and fly QR MEL-DOH-BUD (about 26 hours including the SYD-MEL)

I wouldn't mind trying to increase/maintain status on Velocity or QF in the process. So I'm leaning to using AY (despite the slopey seats on the A340). Unfortunately, EY/VA/SQ seems to take a long time to get me where I want to go, and QF/BA takes even longer. There seems to be a big price difference, too: ~7K on AY, ~8.5K on QR (inc paying for SYD-MEL), and ~ohmygod$$ for QF.

Could anyone with more experience in getting to smaller European capitals advise on whether I've missed anything?

Regards

'tork.

PS: sorry if this should be on the Flight Assistance thread, but I didn't want to pay $30 for a confirmation that I was right or a simple "You're wrong, newbie" which is all I really want. Cheers.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Look at BUD airport web site to see which airline use it. Then work backwards

..Could anyone with more experience in getting to smaller European capitals advise on whether I've missed anything?

Fly to another city and take a train or other airline to BUD

 

[medhead]

Fly to another city and take a train or other airline to BUD

Vienna would be a candidate for such. I believe EK fly there.

 

[V1213]

Vienna would be a candidate for such. I believe EK fly there.

Munich is another option, although it's most efficient to take the sleeper train to Budapest from there.

 

[casanovawa]

Once you get into Europe, the intra euro business flights would be pretty equivalent to economy, so are there any major ports in Europe that you can fly into cheaper/better timing and then take a cheap economy flight on the last leg or as people say a train???

If the extra J SC on this last shorter leg aren't desperately needed...

 

[Mwenenzi]

Look at BUD airport web site to see which airline use it. Then work backwards

..Could anyone with more experience in getting to smaller European capitals advise on whether I've missed anything?

Fly to another city and take a train or other airline to BUD

bud.hu: Destinations
bud.hu: Airlines

Trains:
http://www.budapestby.com/transport/trains.htm
http://www.mav-start.hu/english/index.php
http://www.mav-start.hu/english/travel/permanent_offers.php

 

[medhead]

Munich is another option, although it's most efficient to take the sleeper train to Budapest from there.

I've done the sleeper Munich to Budapest. Not recommended really. It took about 8 hours to get to Vienna. Then another 2 or so to Budapest. I'd suggest just cutting out the middle man and get a day time train from Vienna.

The other thing is the night trains can be very slow. As they are trying to achieve fixed morning arrival times and also semi-decent departures. So they seem to string out the travel times so a 5 or 6 hours journey takes 8 hours.

My first stop train planner is www.db.de

 

[Geegeela]

It may tickle your fancy to do a bit of train hopping.

Here is the link for details. How to travel by train from London to Budapest & Hungary

And here’s the map for full route from London.

 

[ozmille]

You can get a 6k J return to VIE on TG and OS and then a day train to BUD

 

[clifford]

It's a bit of a problem since Malev was killed off.

Who do you blame?

 

[Geegeela]

It's a bit of a problem since Malev was killed off.

Who do you blame?

The Economist had a bit to say about it.

Malev stops flying: Survival of the fittest | The Economist

 

[Must...Fly!]

Look up AY via BKK, that's what i'd be doing for the price I can see (around $5600)

 

[doctork]

Look up AY via BKK, that's what i'd be doing for the price I can see (around $5600)

Thanks Must...Fly!. That price looks pretty good. How do I find that one? finnair.com doesn't give me a SYD-BKK-HEL-BUD option. Do I book them separately? QF/BA SYD-BKK, AY BKK-HEL-BUD? Am I right that AY use the newer J seat on BKK-HEL?

EDIT: ok I see the discount Y special via BKK, but I fly in the blackout period of July. How can I see the J fares?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thanks Must...Fly!. That price looks pretty good. How do I find that one? finnair.com doesn't give me a SYD-BKK-HEL-BUD option. Do I book them separately? QF/BA SYD-BKK, AY BKK-HEL-BUD? Am I right that AY use the newer J seat on BKK-HEL?

EDIT: ok I see the discount Y special via BKK, but I fly in the blackout period of July. How can I see the J fares?

I noticed you depart 28 June, what is your return date? I put in a random date in July, PM if you wish it to not be public knowledge and I will try find it again.

 

[haydensydney]

I would go QR - for one, you get to fly to BUD with one stop, second - you get to try a world class airline. I would hate to fly in to Europe knowing that I had to catch a 2 hour train to my destination...

Budapest is great - I studied in Hungary for a year when I was younger. PS... all times I've been to BUD, I've flown via LHR on BA.

 

[drron]

We have done the AY via BKK.I had no problems with it.From BKK it is the A330.J cabin alternates 1-2-2 with 2-2-1.So if travelling alone you dont have to worry about being disturbed.
I thought the lounge in HEL was fine.If a longish transfer do not go through to the Schengen terminal-lounge there not as good.So go to the Non-Schengen lounge.

 

[medhead]

I would go QR - for one, you get to fly to BUD with one stop, second - you get to try a world class airline. I would hate to fly in to Europe knowing that I had to catch a 2 hour train to my destination...

Budapest is great - I studied in Hungary for a year when I was younger. PS... all times I've been to BUD, I've flown via LHR on BA.

Still I did enjoy the hydrofoil to Vienna.

 

[shearsense]

Vienna would be a candidate for such. I believe EK fly there.

Done this a few times. Easy and cheap, but the extra few hours from airport to train station in VIE and then onto BUD don't make it very efficient time-wise. There is a bus from VIE airport to BUD, but still adds 3-4 hours to the journey

 

[doctork]

Many thanks to all the AFFers who are always willing to help out.
Just thought I'd let you know the result:
It's the corporate beancounters who have had the last word: AY is cheapest for the purpose, therefore AY it is.
But I did manage to get a HKG transit on the way back so I can look at the new Wing F lounge...

 

[haydensydney]

Still I did enjoy the hydrofoil to Vienna.

Ooohhhh.... that would be fantastic. I've never looked into that before - how long was the trip?