Flying OneWorld around Europe [credit to QF]

[MEL_Traveller]

The annoying thing about flying some Euro carriers is they’ll only price one-way fares as Flex but you can fly return for about the same price! A bit like the oneway pricing (gouging) on a lot of international airlines ex Oz.

Yes, BA is quite a bit better (but still not always half a return fare - partly due taxes I’d assume).

That is very true… and that’s why I think BA ‘works’ for these types of connections.

LH/LX/KL/AF all have very high business (and even economy) class o/w fares.

Last time my parents were in Europe they needed to fly to Amsterdam… it was cheaper to buy a return Lufthansa ticket than one way. Which is what they did!

 

[SYD]

That is very true… and that’s why I think BA ‘works’ for these types of connections.

LH/LX/KL/AF all have very high business (and even economy) class o/w fares.

Last time my parents were in Europe they needed to fly to Amsterdam… it was cheaper to buy a return Lufthansa ticket than one way. Which is what they did!

Using points can also work - get status benefits but not obviously any SCs (well, not anymore…).

 

[Cessna 180]

I've got a potential European trip occurring later this year (although the current conflict in the Middle East has made it a little bit more complicated and could even postpone it) and I'd like to know how others travel around Europe.

I'm a QF Platinum member, so, will have reciprocal benefits with BA, IB, and AY. These are on the edges of Europe with *A and ST airlines (such as LH, LX, AF, KL) dominating the centre.

[I'd love to build up lifetime status with another airline as well but this seems unlikely being Australian-based.]

In order to build up lifetime status with QF (and to use my benefits, such as extra luggage), would it be worth booking multiple flights through a OW hub, such as London, which will mean travelling all day with a layover, as opposed to say a 1-2 hour direct flight?

With the UK not being part of the EU, would I be questioned/disallowed/penalised if they see me doing this multiple times over the course of a couple of weeks?

What are your preferences?

I went from Tirana to WAW last May on BA. Cost around $750 from memory in J. First and only time on BA (save for Comair prior to Covid if that counts).
The day was fun and the transfer through T5 was easy and then a bit of time in the BA lounge which was nice.

I mainly did this because I needed 135 SC to retain P and this netted me 130 for somewhere I was going anyway. The check in agent at TIA did have a bit of a laugh and said that "we have direct flights to Poland"
The crew were fun and as Jase05 said they are pretty liberal with the booze and put on a decent spread. So I kind of did this for the experience as much as anything.

I have also used RyanAir a few times without issues. ~around $120-$150 including a carry on bag and a row 1 seat.
No lounge, priority boarding or free lunch, but another experience which is what traveling is all about.

There are not many trains where I have been so don't have much comment on that. Polish trains are nice from what I have seen. There are a lot of bus connections in The Balkans I have found. I will use the bus if I have too but that is when I lean toward Ryan Air. Kind of comparable to a bus but quicker.

There is no right or wrong way. Down side of flying is you miss some of the scenery which I enjoy from the ground, but then an aerial view of things on a clear day is pretty special too.

 

[dajop]

It’s also worth noting we’re all different have different financial means, different tolerances and different standards. Some only every fly J so second class on trains or LCCs are out. Some have financial constraints (either direct or indirect - that’s they’d rather spend the money in other ways). Which is all OK.

If it’s easy to get to airport then helps sway the flying argument. If you’re spending an hour and each end then it sways back to train..

Also horses for courses. As I mentioned previously Zurich to Lux - not that time consuming not that expensive an ok scenery. Contemplate train. Lux to Berlin never by train unless planning some overnight stops on the way.

For some reason we live in a world where people passionately take sides whether it’s politics or merits of trains vs planes. My ethos whatever the subject is to take in the different views and decide based on my own circumstances.

 

[MG1]

These are all very good points to consider.

Cost will be a factor, but so will the back-breaking work of lugging suitcases on and off the train. The scenery will be nice from the train window, and this mode will deliver a city-to-city transfer, but the aerial view, with lounge access along with meals and booze on-board will also need to be taken into consideration. Also, having more moving parts, with having connecting flights means that there's more potential that something could go awry.

If it's a shorter train ride (say <=4 hours), then there's a good chance that that mode will be taken (depending on price and schedule), any more than that, then the flying option will likely win (also taking into account the transfers to and from the airport, along with the waiting time at both airports).

I will compare everything and try to work out what fits my timeline best.
Suggestions that I hadn't considered were brought up during this discussion.

Thank you to all involved.

 

[offshore171]

Out of interest, how much luggage are thinking?

 

[MG1]

Out of interest, how much luggage are thinking?

One large suitcase and probably a smaller (carry-on size) as well.

 

[offshore171]

One large suitcase and probably a smaller (carry-on size) as well.

Ok no problem at all on European trains. With all the previous mentions of luggage, I got the impression you were proposing Kardashian levels of suitcases!

One thing I would say, for Europe in particular: If taking a large wheeled suitcase, use a small backpack as your carry-on item instead of a cabin sized wheelie bag..

In a lot of european towns you need to schlep your suitcase through pedestrian zones to hotels, often with cobblestones and so forth. Having your secondary bag on your back frees up both arms for handling your main bags.