Europe bookings are a MESS!

[QFPlatinumAddict]

Hi,

I am currently trying to look at fares for a family trip to Europe in September, and quite frankly the Qantas website is a joke for Europe bookings atm. I realise there are issues surrounding the official approval, but this is beyond ridiculous. If I try to book Adelaide to Paris return in premium Economy it only lets your route via Singapore on the days that QF81/82 operates and despite trying multiple dates it only gives you an economy seat with BA on the code-shared SIN-LHR leg....I don't particularly want to fly with AF as you don't get SCs. If I try to force it to book via MEL so I can get on QF9 and back-track from LHR the cost jumps from $5700 to almost $9000.....Essentially all QF can offer at the moment is to fly me via singapore, but in economy for most of the trip for almost $6000, or they are offering to fly me via Dubai on their own metal for almost $9000.

This is so ridiculously uncompetitive I cannot believe it.....do they actually expect to accept this as a good offering to Europe?!? I understand the BA agreement is winding down, but in the interim the options are frankly appalling! At those prices Emirates is sooooo much better. Does anyone else see this as an issue?

 

[Newk]

Yep, I think this "interim period" sucks. I am looking at Italy in June and I agree it is hard and expensive with the current routing through LHR
I am guessing why Qantas wants approval of the Emirates deal ASAP

 

[mannej]

Is it an AF number of QF number you would be on?

 

[ozmille]

have you had a look at AY J for the same price as QF whY+? I can see ADL to CDG for 6,8 whilst QF whY+ comes at around 6,7k. Also MH with one stop in J is 6,8k and by then the might be OW as well

 

[MH_fan]

If you're travelling from Adelaide to Paris in September, why not have a look at what Malaysian can offer? When they have a sale, you can usually get a business class tickets for just a little over $6000...and they'll be part of OneWorld too. They'll also be using the A380 between KUL and CDG.

 

[zachary.august]

I just searched for flights in September from ADL-CDG on QF in PE and I got a quote of 5667 per person

That is flying ADL-SYD-SIN-CDG-SIN-ADL , with the ADL-SYD and the SIN-ADL legs in Y. That has the legs to SIN on QF and the legs from SIN to CDG on AF but with a QF flight number which will earn you status credits. I believe that if you book these tickets now QF will contact you about rebooking on to EK flights once everything is approved.

 

[grussellt]

If dates aren't too important why not have a look at ADL-HKG/HKG-CDG for CX awards (on QFF) and then buy some AA miles. It will cost you 60000 miles (one way) and the taxes will be a nice surprise (compared to QF charges). See threads under AAdvantage programme.

 

[blackcat20]

Yep, I think this "interim period" sucks. I am looking at Italy in June and I agree it is hard and expensive with the current routing through LHR
I am guessing why Qantas wants approval of the Emirates deal ASAP

I'm looking at similar for September; managed to get a bizarre quote of $13,000 (!!) for economy by including Paris and Rome.

 

[moa999]

Blame the ACCC for failing to give an interim authorisation.

Qantas should be able to book you the normal way via LHR with BA at present.

 

[serfty]

Blame the ACCC for failing to give an interim authorisation. ...

QF/EK withdrew their application for interim authorisation over three months ago, only resubmitting it in Late December after the Draft determination came out.

Well, mentioned in the Qantas press release but described in more detail on the ACCC website was this:

Qantas and Emirates withdraw application for interim authorisation

Quite interesting approach (not really sure what the ramifications of the action are, though withdrawal of an application seems to show a bit of a retreat to me). I have a feeling, along with the extension of FRA services, that the full QF/EK alliance, if approved at all, will be in force later than April 2013.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-tie-up-partnership-39712-38.html#post730559

 

[Kaldemir]

If you don't mind back tracking from LHR why not book it on BA? I booked a trip from Sydney to Stuttgart in Y over Easter. $1700 as opposed to $2200 on QF. Also QF would've routed me to FRA on the way out and put me on a train to STR and via LHR and MEL on the return leg. Btw on the BA website you can book QF metal too. And if you have insurance with BUPA you get 15% off..

 

[Vincent Hardy]

There's quite a good JAL companion fare in Business at the moment, you can use BA and AF operated flights, and if you use Qantas on the Narita leg from Sydney, you can get it down to about $5750 in J pp