Europe & Upgrading

[TonyD]

Hi,
Two questions really . In August 18. Going from Brisbane to Amsterdam then Paris to Brisbane. Qantas seem to have a myriad of ways to go . Most direct seems to be via Dubai but would also be keen on BNE PER to LHR then Amsterdam on the new service . What are people thoughts please ?

Secondly there will be 4 of and I have enought points to upgrade to Prem Econ one way and J the other . Heres my dilema . cheapest tickets are apprx $1600 each but I gather I cant upgrade those - so economy saver are $2800 ish and upgradeable . What is the risk that I pay oanother $1200 each and cant upgrade that would be a waste ?? PE is around $4k outright . Thank you

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,
Two questions really . In August 18. Going from Brisbane to Amsterdam then Paris to Brisbane. Qantas seem to have a myriad of ways to go . Most direct seems to be via Dubai but would also be keen on BNE PER to LHR then Amsterdam on the new service . What are people thoughts please ?

Secondly there will be 4 of and I have enought points to upgrade to Prem Econ one way and J the other . Heres my dilema . cheapest tickets are apprx $1600 each but I gather I cant upgrade those - so economy saver are $2800 ish and upgradeable . What is the risk that I pay oanother $1200 each and cant upgrade that would be a waste ?? PE is around $4k outright . Thank you

What is your status with Qantas? Unless you are platinum or higher, the chances of an upgrade are probably slim to none. The additional $1200 is a huge price to enter the lottery for upgrades,

Worth considering two alternatives... for $4400 you can get full business class the whole way from Australia to Europe (Viet Nam airlines). But for $2800 (even less on sale) you can get a mixed class ticket... economy to Asia followed by full business class to Europe on oneworld carriers. That's guaranteed seating, no stressing about the upgrade, and full points and possibly even SCs.

 

[offshore171]

Do BNE to Singapore in Y and switch to Finnair business between Singapore and Europe. Shouldn’t cost much more than the upgradable economy fare.

 

[TonyD]

What is your status with Qantas? Unless you are platinum or higher, the chances of an upgrade are probably slim to none. The additional $1200 is a huge price to enter the lottery for upgrades,

Agreed - I'm Gold but possibly could make Platinum - especially if I maxinmise points on this trip. Thank you

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agreed - I'm Gold but possibly could make Platinum - especially if I maxinmise points on this trip. Thank you

Easy then. As per offshore171's post - economy to SIN and full business class to europe and back on Finnair should get you to platinum, especially with the longer connecting flights (also in business) from HEL to Europe. And it should be under $2800

 

[love_the_life]

Easy then. As per offshore171's post - economy to SIN and full business class to europe and back on Finnair should get you to platinum, especially with the longer connecting flights (also in business) from HEL to Europe. And it should be under $2800

Second (or third) the idea of paying Y to SIN or Asian hub then booking a higher class from there. As there are 4 of you, 4 upgrades although not unheard of, is not so likely from my experience.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree with the others - mixed class fare with AY would work very nicely.

Plus the 787-9 only has a relatively small PE cabin, getting 4 upgrades would be unlikely in my view and PER-LHR in Y? You'd be better off going via SIN even in Y IMHO.

 

[TonyD]

Thank you all so far for the advice . Sorry Richard Mel , what is AY?
also does mixed class mean mixed airlines as well ie QF and Fin ? or one airline all the way through ?
Also I cant figure out how to do the mixed booking

 

[mannej]

AY = Finnair

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you all so far for the advice . Sorry Richard Mel , what is AY?
also does mixed class mean mixed airlines as well ie QF and Fin ? or one airline all the way through ?
Also I cant figure out how to do the mixed booking

For the cheapest prices for mixed class travel you will be buying two tickets - one between Australia and Asia, and a second between Asia and Europe. The Australia to Asia can be on your choice of carrier... Qantas, Singapore, British Airways, Thai. Your connecting flight will also be on your choice of carrier... Sri Lankan, Finnair and plenty of others all have regular and frequent sales out of various Asian ports.

The current one talked about is using Finnair from Singapore, so you'd take either Qantas (for Oneworld benefits) or Singapore Airlines to get to SIN. As it is two separate tickets you won't be protected in the event of flight delays or cancellations. So you need to leave plenty of time between the flights on the two tickets. Singapore is however an easy place to spend time, and you'll have lounge access for at least three hours before the connecting flight (ie once check-in opens).

It may sound like a bit of extra time... and it is... but you get to sleep on a flat bed and arrive in Europe refreshed.

 

[BD1959]

In August 18. Going from Brisbane to Amsterdam then Paris to Brisbane. Qantas seem to have a myriad of ways to go . Most direct seems to be via Dubai but would also be keen on BNE PER to LHR then Amsterdam on the new service . What are people thoughts please ?

Something not explicitly stated previously: although QF flight numbers if travelling via Dubai, these flights will actually be on Emirates. This means that there is:

1. No PE (currently) available on these flights
2. No points upgrade possibility on these flights

You really need to be sticking with QF metal in order to realise the possibility of a points upgrade - although with the reduction in capacity of Oz-LHR with the introduction of the MEL/PER-LHR 787 - is unlikely for 4 despite whether to you fly via PER or SIN.

Regards,

BD

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, cheapest option would be two tickets for a mixed class fare, but one can also sometimes get through fares from airlines like Finnair or Lufthansa(Star Alliance) or some other European carriers.

By mixed class we mean economy for the shorter sector to/from Asia, and Business for the Asia-Europe sectors (one can also find, or used to be able to anyway, mixed Business/First fares, but these are more rare as the number of airlines offering F cabins are that much fewer these days, but I digress )

And yes, these mixed class fares are often mixed, but partner, airlines - it's a way for an airline, like Finnair, who do not fly to Australia themselves to generate revenue and feed by offering these discounted premium fares in conjunction with their partners such as Qantas or Cathay Pacific. One doesn't normally see a carrier such as QF offer such fares.

The risk with buying two separate tickets is that if one intends a through connection, then you have the issue of delays and mixed connections causing havoc (elimiated if one plans stops in Asia of course) and the oneworld interlining changes.

As I noted, one can find mixed class fares ex-AU, which probably are a bit pricier than doing it separate tickets wise as described above, but are also far easier to manage and convenient.. Usually bought through a travel agent.

(for example: Finnair Mixed Economy/Business Class Europe Airfares | QFlyer - though I do not recommend this particular site as I have zero experience, just posted for information sake)

Hope this helps on that front.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The cost on a single ticket - $4196 - vs $2800 priced separately would seem to preclude it as a value-for-money proposition, especially with multiple pax. I'm not sure I'd be taking QF or JQ for the connecting service... too risky for delays. But SQ I think would be a good option... triple or quadruple daily flights to SIN, and a selection of departure times allowing the OP anything from 'generous' to 'ok' connecting times (OP free to choose 'generous').

Actually at $4196 for mixed class ex AU I'd be taking Viet Nam Airlines full business the whole way on a single ticket for $4400.

 

[RichardMEL]

The cost on a single ticket - $4196 - vs $2800 priced separately would seem to preclude it as a value-for-money proposition, especially with multiple pax. I'm not sure I'd be taking QF or JQ for the connecting service... too risky for delays. But SQ I think would be a good option... triple or quadruple daily flights to SIN, and a selection of departure times allowing the OP anything from 'generous' to 'ok' connecting times (OP free to choose 'generous').

Actually at $4196 for mixed class ex AU I'd be taking Viet Nam Airlines full business the whole way on a single ticket for $4400.

I don't disagree at all with what you're saying, there are pros and cons to each method - as I outlined above.

The safer and more conservative option would be to take a through ticket from AU - be it VN J, AY mixed or whatever fare so one is covered (in theory, anyway ) in the case of delays. missed connections, through bags blah blah blah and of course assuming aligned partners through the way, earning of FF/SC (if that's the goal).

One could position to asia with an award, or JQ/Scoot or whatever, cheaper, forgo the points etc and risk connection issues (again, unless planned stopovers would mitigate that) and you have a cheaper solution absolutely.

or, cheap revenue flight and award ex-Asia in J or F to wherever

Everyone has different needs, goals, budgets and flexibility and comfort with various options - eg some here have no issue doing the CMB position and cheap tix (which used to be JNB and CAI, who knows which will be next - probably Vladivostok? ) and some people are not or can't be bothered with all that work and mucking around and want a "simple" (not fairer ) solution.

btw that page was the first one that came up on a quick google.. I have no idea if that price is accurate or even if it's the best out there. Given AY has a J sale on for around $5k all up, that price is crazy for mixed, but it could well be an old page or cheaper sale mixed cabin fares could be out there - this is where a good TA can be of help.

Certainly many AFFers are more adventerous and innovative with finding the best solutions at lowest cost o involving things like UL or launching fares out of other hiubs (like MH J fares ex-BKK) or whatever. Not everyone is into that so I figured I'd point out one can get fares ex-AU too which take a lot of the hassle out of it for those who want it easier

As this thread deomsttates many ways to achieve the goal

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think the QFlyer fares were for July 2017. Their current offerings are marked 'POA'. Flightcentre has one deal in the $3700+ range: Mixed Class Flights | Flight Centre

Convenience and 'through ticket' protection are up to the individual. The $3700 deal is on LH, presumably connecting on SQ anyway.

 

[RichardMEL]

ah I didn't notice the date on that. my bad. I wouldn't have posted that old info if I did. Apologies to all on that.

Still, those sorts of fares are out there. That was my point really.

 

[UP4014]

via Perth has light loads most of 2018, perhaps use your points if you have enough now and book classic rewards in the class you want and pay for the return.