Purchasing return tix originating from europe

[jcsydney]

As a result of being able to save a fair bit on business class seats, when originating o/s..i am looking at the prospect of perhaps getting to europe 1 way and then buying a return ticket over there.

I am led to believe i may have upto 1 year to use up my return leg going back to europe. However if i start my first leg at the end of August 2013, i am unable to book anything going back after around feb/march 2014.

So just have a couple of questions, are most booking open to changes for return leg upto 1 year, if not is tehre something i should look for?

Thanks

jc

 

[opusman]

You would have to make sure you booked a changeable fare.

 

[MarcB]

I've done just this each year for the last two. I used points to get to Frankfurt the first time, and then purchased Qantas business class companion sales fares ex-Frankfurt. I've managed to nab business class doing it this way for around $3.5k per person both times - a significant saving over the $10k pp. Qantas wants for the same route Brisbane to Frankfurt! I just make sure that the fare has a validity of at least 12 months (meaning that you are able to fly back to Europe from Australia a maximum of 365 days after your first outbound sector) and low change fees. QF charge around 100EUR on the fares I've bought.

Despite a maximum validity of 12 months from date of first sector, you can only book a maximum of about 330 days from today's date - hence you will need to pay the change fee to take advantage of the full maximum stay period once your return dates become available. I always change the return sector after I have flown the first leg as this "locks" in the historical fares etc.

 

[ozmille]

the J tickets I buy ex-BRU allow for 1 free date change on the return providing I class is available

 

[ftm]

Despite a maximum validity of 12 months from date of first sector, you can only book a maximum of about 330 days from today's date - hence you will need to pay the change fee to take advantage of the full maximum stay period once your return dates become available. I always change the return sector after I have flown the first leg as this "locks" in the historical fares etc.

You shouldn't normally have to pay the change fee if your desired return date is outside system range (circa 330 days, but everyone is different) and within validity. The airline will do it FOC.

Each airline is different in how they like you to tell them - some like it noted in the booking before ticketing, some after. So best to ask your TA, or the airline and they will check.

FTM

 

[MarcB]

You shouldn't normally have to pay the change fee if your desired return date is outside system range (circa 330 days, but everyone is different) and within validity. The airline will do it FOC.

Each airline is different in how they like you to tell them - some like it noted in the booking before ticketing, some after. So best to ask your TA, or the airline and they will check.

FTM

In my experience, Qantas never (at least in "I" class tickets) offer free date changes for out of system range changes.

 

[penegal]

I regularly travel on fares purchased 'overseas'. I use points and/or one-way revenue fares to position before/after these flights.

As others have suggested it is important to familiarise yourself with the different fare rules. Some will offer free changes (even in discount business or first class D, or I or A, P), while some others may charge a fee.

 

[SQ421]

I regularly travel on fares purchased 'overseas'. I use points and/or one-way revenue fares to position before/after these flights.

As others have suggested it is important to familiarise yourself with the different fare rules. Some will offer free changes (even in discount business or first class D, or I or A, P), while some others may charge a fee.

I seem to be following you on these (and similar) threads.

Once you get the positioning flight out of the way, tickets purchased "overseas" can be a great source of savings while flying in J. Paying well under $100 per flown hour for a J flight is nothing to sneeze at!

 

[penegal]

I seem to be following you on these (and similar) threads.

Yeah, are you stalking me?

And stalking me in real life on CX739 last month... you know... people might start to talk

 

[SQ421]

Yeah, are you stalking me?

And stalking me in real life on CX739 last month... you know... people might start to talk

Yeah... I've even got videos

 

[IrishPete]

Never thought of doing this, partly because one way fares are often almost the same as return fares.

But just booked Sydney to DUblin out on 7th June returning 1st July for $1840 economy class obviously. In response to this thread, I just checked the prices the other way and similar dates available for about $1050!

Next time I think I'll be more creative.

IP

 

[scaredeycat]

I'm thinking about taking Mrs Cat to the UK next year on a JASA for positioning and then hopefully buying cheap return tickets from Europe annually; I'm not entirely clear how to go about this.
So do people go to the European website and buy the airfares before leaving Oz, or wait until they are actually over there and book then? What happens if you arrive at LHR on a one way ticket?
How often are there likely to be sales for travel in J Europe - Australia return?

 

[Cynicor]

Of course you buy prior to leaving. Just because the website is European doesn't mean you have to be.

A one-way as a JASA is often the best way to get there, then just buy a return each year.

As others have mentioned, QF don't seem to allow you a free date change if your flights are outside the 330 day window.

 

[scaredeycat]

Good to know.