Extremely Cheap Etihad Business Class MNL-Italy-SE Asia

[Flashback]

Argh I left it too long ... now gone

On the dates I was looking at for my folks, I'm only seeing +$500 per pax, so still not too bad.

 

[Melburnian1]

It looks to me that these may be coming back late September 2026. I know that it is at the far end of the booking cycle but this would nest in nicely with some plans that I already have.

Do any of the fare rules suggest that this might be available in 12 months?

EY is typically one of the cheapest J carriers on UK and Europe-bound routes ex MNL, so the fares should be decent at that time.

Whether at the same level as the above highlights is the $64 million question.

 

[Haplo]

there are very little demand for flights out of MNL and CGK in business class to Europe, normally you can just book one month ahead, as at least that was my experience

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

there are very little demand for flights out of MNL and CGK in business class to Europe, normally you can just book one month ahead, as at least that was my experience

On EY or other carriers in particular?

 

[jase05]

On EY or other carriers in particular?

QR is often in the low $3k region to parts of Europe even in peak periods

 

[CaptJCool]

QR is often in the low $3k region to parts of Europe even in peak periods

When the local minimuM wage is 30 cents a. Hour while ours is $26 plus 25% casual loading = $32-33 per hour

 

[Flyfrequently]

QR is often in the low $3k region to parts of Europe even in peak periods

Have been looking at Google flights from CGK appreciate your expertise @jase05 , when looking for Q suites is it, A350, 787, 777 ?

 

[jase05]

Have been looking at Google flights from CGK appreciate your expertise @jase05 , when looking for Q suites is it, A350, 787, 777 ?

CGK has 3x daily on the A350 but I don’t think they have any QSuites or if they do it’s maybe on just the one flight each day.
If it’s QSuites on Google flights when you click on the flight it will say “Individual suites”. If not it will say “lie flat seat”

 

[clifford]

there are very little demand for flights out of MNL and CGK in business class to Europe, normally you can just book one month ahead, as at least that was my experience

Well that may (or not) be correct, but on my flight MNL-AUH in March, most seats in business class are already taken. I think there is a lot of demand for cheap quality bus class setas out of MNL. I've never been on an EY flight out of MNL that hasn't been full in J. But YMMV.

 

[Haplo]

On EY or other carriers in particular?

I prefer QR due to it being part of OW and uses Avios

 

[Haplo]

Well that may (or not) be correct, but on my flight MNL-AUH in March, most seats in business class are already taken. I think there is a lot of demand for cheap quality bus class setas out of MNL. I've never been on an EY flight out of MNL that hasn't been full in J. But YMMV.

I had once book a flight 3 weeks out leaving during the October long weekend, the flight was fullish from memory but it was still pricing in the lower 3000s.

 

[Melburnian1]

When the local minimuM wage is 30 cents a. Hour while ours is $26 plus 25% casual loading = $32-33 per hour

If my sources in Philippines are correct, the local minimum wage (at least in Manila) is P670 per day, or just under A$17 - so roughly a tiny A$2.15 an hour if we assume an eight hour day. I gather not all employers pay this much though, but your claim of A$0.30 an hour is way off beam.

 

[Melburnian1]

there are very little demand for flights out of MNL and CGK in business class to Europe, normally you can just book one month ahead, as at least that was my experience

For Manila, that seems increasingly less true, at least for cheaper business class fares. This year on Air France, the business cabin had only five vacant seats in one direction and just one in the other.

AF only reintroduced CDG-MNL-CDG flights in 2024 after an absence of 20 years.

In 2024, I used Etihad: the business cabin was full in each direction MNL-AUH and v.v.

 

[CaptJCool]

If my sources in Philippines are correct, the local minimum wage (at least in Manila) is P670 per day, or just under A$17 - so roughly a tiny A$2.15 an hour if we assume an eight hour day. I gather not all employers pay this much though, but your claim of A$0.30 an hour is way off beam.

The point of the comment still stands

$2 per hour wage = no can pay for business class flights

Minimum Wage Philippines 2025 in All Regions - NewsToGov

The minimum wage in the Philippines is an important topic that affects millions of workers in the country. Prices of necessities, especially food, have increased during the pandemic. Many people have been struggling to budget their salaries to keep them going. It’s not easy, since most Filipinos...

newstogov.com

These are regional One of the regions equates to $1.20 (US$0.77 per hour)

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

The point of the comment still stands

$2 per hour wage = no can pay for business class flights

Minimum Wage Philippines 2025 in All Regions - NewsToGov

The minimum wage in the Philippines is an important topic that affects millions of workers in the country. Prices of necessities, especially food, have increased during the pandemic. Many people have been struggling to budget their salaries to keep them going. It’s not easy, since most Filipinos...

newstogov.com

These are regional One of the regions equates to $1.20 (US$0.77 per hour)

Minimum wage workers are not the target of business class airfare marketing...

 

[Haplo]

I just had a look and I think CGK is actually cheaper than Manila.

From a re-positioning point of view with CGK you have Garuda (on top of QF) which you can redeem Avios for, which may be a better option.