Lufthansa

[jbryan5]

I need to go to Europe in their summer and my wife and I have gotten used to Business class and are both resisting going back to coach.

I have the Qantas FF points and was fairly flexible around dates but could find an award seat. So I looked at paying and was stunned with the Qantas price - generally 13-14k per person! This is more expensive than a 4 continent RTW at $11k pp, but didn't want to do an RTW this year.

Even thought about premium economy to LHR and the hopping over to the mainland. This would only cost me $7k pp.

So hunted a little and found Lufthansa Business class (which as part of Star Alliance included Singapore Airlines on Adelaide-Singapore and return legs) at AUD$6.5k pp - ($5.8k + $0.7 taxes)!!
this also takes me all the way to Cologne (50kms from my ultimate destination) instead of Frankfurt (+200kms away).

Also then wanted to go Joburg later on and saw Qantas had a special $1600 economy return pp.
hmmm. extend trip in Europe...and fly Colgne-Joburg for $1700 pp Business Class. Havent booked this itinerary yet, but very tempting.

cheers,
John

 

[MelUser]

Have actually used the LH business fare in combination with Qantas.

You can go around the world or both ways via USA (or Asia) and Aus to US flights and AUS to Asia flights can be on QF/CX/JL so you still get some oneworld benefits.

Qantas Flights book into Business (D) and Lufthansa flights book into Business (Z) [which can be hard to find].

Note that this fare is slightly dearer if you fly both ways via USA and you can request points upgrades from Business into First on Qantas.

 

[newformula]

Have a look a the Finnair Business fares via Helsinki (I was looking at them on Kayak a couple of weeks back). QF to SIN or BKK, then AY to HEL and onwards. In business these were pricing at about $6.5k to GVA rtn in June/July.

 

[StuntmanRon]

+1 on the Finnair recommendation.

Flying via (or out of) BKK via AY is great value at the moment. Business (I) class is great value, especially if you can position yourself to start in BKK.
Booked Business (I) class flights to Italy for this June from BKK via HEL and is $3300 AUD return (in HKG that month & cheap flights to BKK are easy to come by)

Also you get good pretty good QFF SC earn for the money too, 640 SC for a SYD-BKK-HEL-FRA & return routing.

Good luck with the fare hunting!

 

[Postcode]

I have flights booked - CX BNE to HKG then AY HKG-HEL-CDG then return GVA-HEL-HKG, followed by QF HKG-SYD-BNE for around $6300. A year ago it was nearly $1000 more. Am happily watching the ascent of the AUD which brings down the taxes so by the time the fare is to be paid in full, it should be a few $$ less. And sooo many SCs

For the fare paid I'm happy with the product. How QF, BA et al can justify what they charge, it shows that people or their employers just don't shop around.