How Do I cut My Long Haul J costs to Europe?

[madrooster]

I use a combination of ex EU and Y+ (using GUF1 to J) and then outright points redemptions in J and F to meet my long haul to EU. I really thought the ex SVG fares at an average of approx $4300 with BA were pretty good. Apparently though I am opting to take this more expensive option instead of the cheaper lie flat options available. Hence the question. (One other advantage of the BA route is being able to use the Avios earned for short haul J redemptions - usually 15-20 per year either in Europe or with QF in Australia)

Is there a reason for SVG? BGO/OSL are usually cheaper.. currently $41xx AUD.

How frequent are your trips to the EU?

 

[TonyHancock]

Is there a reason for SVG? BGO/OSL are usually cheaper.. currently $41xx AUD.

How frequent are your trips to the EU?

I'll complete at least 7 trips to Europe/UK this year. It is likely to be 8 or 9 in the end though.

When I started the EU trips I chose OSL but it was always a bit iffy on the back to backs because you have to clear immigration and security. I was lucky, but the last OSL back to back was almost the nightmare I feared. I was the last to board and only just made it. I got held up in immigration behind pax on a flight from the USA.

BGO was my next choice but the airport was going through a bit of a refurb, of which no one knew the outcome. It was a safe back to back - you disembark straight into the boarding lounge. Not sure whether it has been updated now but I did have a bit of a scare when I got off the plane on my last flight there and was directed by groundstaff to arrivals. It took a bit of explaining but I was allowed to stay in the empty gate area. (Pax for the back to back flight had not been allowed into the gate area)

Which brings me to SVG - another "safe" back to back. Pax disembark into the departure gate area so it is a quick trip to the loo for me and back on the plane.

I think BGO is still OK but have not tried it since all of the upgrades have been completed. If it gets the thumbs up from the FT crowd I'll probably go back to BGO if the price is better.

The message I am not conveying well in this thread is the beauty of the points and status earned using these BA ex EU fares. My flights to and from Europe, excluding the ex EU part, are all paid for using points. Later this year I and some of my colleagues have to head to the West Coast of the USA so one will be flying F on my points and another will benefit from a GUF2 on a Y+ fare with me. The status and points element allow me to significantly reduce the cost of additional flights so whilst I can see, and have benefited from the cheap BKK and SIN fares to Europe in the bigger picture the overall savings in a year don't quite make them as effective for me.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Oman air have some incredible pricing KUL-NCL via Muscat and Paris. I've seen as little as $1400 AUD in J. It's been on the premium fare deals part of FT for a while but still seems live. Would turn your journey into more of a chore with working out a route to KUL plus buffers. But worth a look...

Oman Air: MNL-NCL $1,141 RT - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[ermen]

Have a look at QR sale fares ex ARN.
Valid for a couple more days.

Exclusive offers on flights

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Singapore Airlines business class return from ARN to Australia east coast AUD3066 - or £1750. 12 month max stay, book by 30 June - credit to FT: SQ: ARN-Australia (SYD/MEL etc) in Business (D) rt £1,748 - FlyerTalk Forums

On a side note... we do get stiffed for good deals exAU

 

[TonyHancock]

Singapore Airlines business class return from ARN to Australia east coast AUD3066 - or £1750. 12 month max stay, book by 30 June - credit to FT: SQ: ARN-Australia (SYD/MEL etc) in Business (D) rt £1,748 - FlyerTalk Forums

On a side note... we do get stiffed for good deals exAU

I'm liking the look of that , and yes we get absolutely stiffed on exAU deals.

 

[NZflygirl]

NZ's even worse for good deals!!


Tony would you ever consider the Norwegian / Scoot combo? although I have read the connection time may be an issue.

 

[Melburnian1]

...and yes we get absolutely stiffed on exAU deals.

With Australians' consumer spending overall fairly moribund, in theory one might hope that 'deals' ex Oz gradually become more competitive.

However given history I'm not all that hopeful - we seem to just pay more originating from here.