PR BNE/MEL/SYD - LHR return $1074 - $1092

[Melburnian1]

PR has sale Y return fares from BNE to LHR from A$1092, from MEL $1074 and SYD $1090.

A Filipino specialist travel agent may be able to beat these Internet airline website fares by $20 or $30. Ring one or two and see what they can get it down to.

Until 24 March, the BNE travel is via DRW.

Sale is on until 31 January 2018 at the website with travel dates 16 January to 30 October 2018. There is a 'weekend surcharge' to or from SYD (only) at A$50 each way. Checked baggage may be 30 kilograms but it is not specified.

Note that unlike some competitors, these cheaper fares are available in peak period like school holidays. There may not be many offered on busier days and probably hen's teeth-like at Easter.

The MEL and SYD routes normally have the completely refurbished A333s (1-2-1 across in J, a new W section and 2-4-2 in Y) while MNL - LHR is normally the B773ER which while 2-3-2 in J (and not quite completely lie flat) and 10 across in economy has seemed OK on the small number of times I've travelled on it.

One option is to visit a beautiful Filipino beach one way by flying to the central islands. You may need to go to a good travel agent to arrange this. The brief fare conditions on the airline website stupidly say 'minimum and maximum stay is three months': it must be referring to 'maximum stay.' There is no mention of stopovers being prohibited.

The BNE route is not as good as it has the A320 or in holiday times A321 and until late March 2018 involves a stop in DRW.

These fares will not quite be the cheapest Oz east coast to LHR - BI is generally cheapest, but only operates from MEL, and lacks alcohol. BI also operates MEL - BWN - DXB - LHR whereas PR flies nonstop MNL - LHR.

However these PR fares on a random February date I selected look to be only a few dollars dearer than BI, and roughly $200 return cheaper than EK. Tastes differ but I intensely dislike travelling via the Middle East, as southeast Asia is far more culturally similar and lively.

Some of these flights require northbound a compulsory overnight in MNL. PR normally provides STPC provided one books with it, an Australian travel agent or Australian-domiciled website. You'll get a cheap MNL hotel that will be basic, probably like that Red Planet chain in which I have not stayed (it used to be called Tune Hotels if I recall). Transfers will be included. You may need to ring PR in Sydney to arrange this included accommodation.

Also be aware that the MEL flights are only three days a week, while BNE is four. MEL eventually may become daily but this is some time off as it requires new smaller aircraft.

PR is a legacy airline so meals and drinks are included.

 

[trooper]

Very comprehensive info there!!! Thanks.

 

[Melburnian1]

trooper, thank you. These fares will not suit every Y traveller: some don't wish to have a compulsory stopover even if that's normally only one way in the return trip.

Over the years at various times, airlines like JL and KE have offered Oz-LHR fares that have necessitated a one way stopover. These have been quite good: I used JL once on that basis, and it was great to have a "proper" sleep in an hotel bed and not have to get up at 0500 next morning for the second sector.

Remember also that LHR is an expensive airport to fly out of as departing passengers pay the Air Passenger Duty, so that's why these fares will never be as cheap as if say the same airline also flew to CDG.

 

[Limewood]

What are he current J fares like SYD/MNL/SYD?

 

[Melburnian1]

Limewood, these fares will typically be cheaper through a travel agent.

For SYD - MNL on Friday 27 April returning ex MNL on Monday 14 May, the PR website suggests the cheapest J class return is $2598 while the comparable QF one is $2986. This is not the cheapest that PR J fares have been for SYD - MNL.

While sound maintenance and pilot experience are keys, on PR one should be flying on a typically four year old A333 while QF's A332s vary but some are around seven years in age. Both have been refurbished, PR's only very recently (2017: eight done I believe). QF's may have a few more small 'bells and whistles' but the PR seats (lie flat beds)on my one trip I found comfortable. They stand up very well against QF in a comparison through the Seat Guru website.

It is rare for a QF A333 to venture to MNL but this has occurred within the past month at least once.

So typically for a similar travel experience in the fittings on board, one can pay several hundred dollars less for a J seat on PR as compared to QF.

As with most major airlines, it can be worth subscribing for email updates as they have sales, although often restricted to Y class. Last year there was the doozy of a 'beyond MNL' J return fare for roughly A$1210 that I and many others snapped up, but we had to be quick.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 'Herald Sun' online 'Escape' travel section is screaming that TR new fares (from PER starting at $379 one way, or from east coast cities such as MEL from $429 and up) are great for travel via Singapore to Berlin, but these Scoot fares do not include luggage or meals.

Granted if one wants to go to Germany the PR fares involve a side trip by preferably rail or if you must air, at extra cost, but given that the PR fares include meals and 30kg luggage they're great value; even better if as noted above the airline throws in a free night in an hotel in MNL one way.

I rarely find low cost airline international airfares are cheap once one pays for the excluded items.

 

[emirates777]

The 'Herald Sun' online 'Escape' travel section is screaming that TR new fares (from PER starting at $379 one way, or from east coast cities such as MEL from $429 and up) are great for travel via Singapore to Berlin, but these Scott fares do not include luggage or meals.

Granted if one wants to go to Germany the PR fares involve a side trip by preferably rail or if you must air, at extra cost, but given that the PR fares include meals and 30kg luggage they're great value; even better if as noted above the airline throws in a free night in an hotel in MNL one way.

I rarely find low cost airline international airfares are cheap once one pays for the excluded items.

Well said and I agree too. Not to mention the ability to earn FF points flying full service. Matters to some, especially on this forum

 

[Melburnian1]

Well said and I agree too. Not to mention the ability to earn FF points flying full service. Matters to some, especially on this forum

One slight qualification, emirates777, is that some airlines (including I think PR in the above case) restrict the points earning rate on discount economy to as low as 10 per cent of the 'full' earnings per sector.

That said, it really irritates me how some travel writers (in this case anonymous) basically reprint an LCC airline's spin. Anyone who didn't read it closely (as it briefly mentions that luggage and meals are excluded) might come away thinking 'what a bargain.'

Full service carriers need to be a lot more aggressive in reminding those who only travel infrequently, or who are new to air travel (plenty in both groups, and we were all in the latter group once) that they mostly include luggage, meals and (within reason) unlimited drinks in the fare. QF has a very good message like this on its website, and PR even produced a video (as in its country it's subject to competition from two LCCs, Cebu Pacific/ Cebgo - 5J - and the local AirAsia offshoot). Some international airlines fail to mention this essential difference with LCCs. I don't recall VA ever doing it.

 

[Buzzard]

Not sure that I could fly that far in Y