PR MEL - LHR $3889 J return; $1105 Y return

[Melburnian1]

In about June, PR is introducing two extra weekly flights from MEL to LHR (bringing total to 5x week.)

The newbies depart MEL at the ungodly hour of 0440 (so check in from 0140 or so) but the beauty is that unlike the traditional mid morning departures, they connect straight through to LHR.

On the way back, it's an hour and a half connection in MNL from the B773ER (seven across in J, 10 across in Y) to the newly redone A333 (1-2-1 in J, 7 across in W and 8 across in Y.)

The above fares were on the Webjet site so a specialist travel agent should be able to do better.

Under $4000 to LHR on a legacy airline that now (especially from MEL and SYD) has very competitive planes (newer than QF's A333) is good value for comfortable travel in J.

These fares may sometimes only be available with a 23 hour stopover in MNL on the forward journey, similar to what JL and KE have had over the years, but check with a good travel agent. You do need to choose the days carefully as not every day has a connection, or northbound a fast connection.

This airline also has a lot of flights MNL to LAX and also operates to YYZ, YVR and JFK as well as SFO given the huge Filipino community in USA and growing one in Canada.

 

[Mattg]

I'm not seeing anything under $4,887. Do you have any examples of dates where this $3,889 return fare is available?

 

[Melburnian1]

Mattg, I deleted the search but in August there seemed to be a fare available at that price. As always, we lack a window into how many were available at that fare - may be few, who knows.

 

[Mattg]

Mattg, I deleted the search but in August there seemed to be a fare available at that price. As always, we lack a window into how many were available at that fare - may be few, who knows.

Well I just ran a search for the entire month of August and did not find a single date with fares below $4,887 return - which is still a decent price but about on par with (and not much lower than) what other carriers of similar quality are charging.

Not saying the fare was never available, but if it was, this doesn't seem to still be the case.

The new 4.40am departures (and 3am arrivals) out of Melbourne are interesting though. Other than if I was connecting through to LHR, I can't see any reason I would want to take such a flight!

 

[Melburnian1]

The new 4.40am departures (and 3am arrivals) out of Melbourne are interesting though. Other than if I was connecting through to LHR, I can't see any reason I would want to take such a flight!

Fair enough, as individual situations differ, but heaps of passengers take perhaps even more 'unfriendly' (in relation to check in time) 0600 hours EK409 from MEL to DXB and onwards daily and previously its 0245 hours.

An 0300 arrival in MEL is decidedly anti social but if one is driving, 0400 on landside means little Tulla Fwy/CityLink traffic to contend with (speed limits 24 hours a day for roadworks still apply...)

It may take a few years but if international traffic growth continues at say five per cent per annum at MEL we may see 'holes' where hardly any, or no flights arrive or depart gradually playing host to other airlines.

A while back there were no flights departing for about three hours in the mid evening overseas. That has slowly started to alter with CA166 to PEK one example.

 

[kelvedon]

Got this quote for $3900

 

[Mattg]

Interesting, the fares must be only available on Webjet and/or through selected agencies. PR's own website spits out $4,900 for the above flights.

Sure enough, I am now seeing that price for fares in August on Webjet. If you try to book, it adds $54.90 in Webjet service fees.

Edit: also appears to be available via Zuji.

 

[Melburnian1]

kelvedon, you're a whiz. Note competitive times (overall) with QF, SQ and others yet a huge discount on what many others charge. Plus 1-2-1 in J SYD - MNL - SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting, the fares must be only available on Webjet and/or through selected agencies. PR's own website spits out $4,900 for the above flights.

Sure enough, I am now seeing that price for fares in August on Webjet. If you try to book, it adds $54.90 in Webjet service fees.

Not unusual for airline websites to charge more, but is variable.

I prefer booking through a travel agent not Webjet, but latter does much business.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

If they can be reliable then it is a good fare, however having no FF partnership and dropping the ball when flights are late/cancelled still weighs on my decision.

 

[Mattg]

If they can be reliable then it is a good fare, however having no FF partnership and dropping the ball when flights are late/cancelled still weighs on my decision.

You can earn Etihad Guest miles on PR (but not tier miles that count towards status)

 

[Mrmaxwell]

You can earn Etihad Guest miles on PR (but not tier miles that count towards status)

Yes true however I’ve been spoilt with my OW status and benefits, and I’ve been burnt 2/2 times with PR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While it is a reasonably attractive fare at sub-$4000 - I think the extra $200-400 for a greater choice of airlines including China Airlines and Viet Nam Airlines - both offering full flat beds the whole way and a range of Euro destinations makes them more attractive.

Plus you can book CI and VN direct with the airline rather than an OTA.

 

[kelvedon]

While it is a reasonably attractive fare at sub-$4000 - I think the extra $200-400 for a greater choice of airlines including China Airlines and Viet Nam Airlines - both offering full flat beds the whole way and a range of Euro destinations makes them more attractive.

Plus you can book CI and VN direct with the airline rather than an OTA.

Between China Airlines, Vietnam and Phillipines who do you think has the better product?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Between China Airlines, Vietnam and Phillipines who do you think has the better product?

CI and VN look to have pretty similar products. The CI cabin certainly looks impressive, but some of the trip reports with catering and amenities show it's no EVA Air. CI and VN are both full flats. PR looks to have a better presentation on the catering front, and a better amenity kit... but lacks full flats on their 777s.

I'd say it's pretty much a wash between all three, and it comes down to the beds. PR loses on that front until they upgrade their aircraft.

 

[jase05]

CI and VN look to have pretty similar products. The CI cabin certainly looks impressive, but some of the trip reports with catering and amenities show it's no EVA Air. CI and VN are both full flats. PR looks to have a better presentation on the catering front, and a better amenity kit... but lacks full flats on their 777s.

I'd say it's pretty much a wash between all three, and it comes down to the beds. PR loses on that front until they upgrade their aircraft.

Can’t comment on VN and despite being not quite as good as EVA we have never had a bad journey on CI.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can’t comment on VN and despite being not quite as good as EVA we have never had a bad journey on CI.

I don't disagree. I think for the price of their fares CI and VN are fantastic value. Flat bed. Edible food. Champagne. But BR goes to a different level with top shelf vintage champagnes, PJs, and rimowa amenity kits for example.

 

[Dalescott]

China Airlines costs $4250 Aus to LGW, you can't go wrong. Service, seat, planes all excellent. CI Y+ at $2250 to LGW, is not far north of EK to LGW in Y.

 

[Melburnian1]

PR doesn't need to upgrade its MEL or SYD - MNL planes: they're more modern than QF A333s unless you get one of the either eight or seven (I forget which) older config ones (which haven't been to Oz for some months.)

The B773ER MNL - LHR is not quite up to scratch at seven across config. but I haven't had a problem sleeping on the not quite lie flat beds.

As for cancellations, it's a long time since a flight was cancelled. Of course because I say that, there's certain to be a cancellation tonight or this week.

 

[Dalescott]

I've seen CI MEL to LGW for $4000, I think it was Direct Flights. But the question I'm asking to myself is how much price affects product. I haven't flown VN but I am told by those who have that it quite good.