Qatar or Emirates as QFF for Sydney - Europe Business Class?

I recommend going QR in the choice between QR and EK. Beside (in my view) better food/drinks on QR and similar seats on both, I would avoid EK simply for the risk of an aircraft swap to a 777 and its absolutely outdated Business Class.
 
I recommend going QR in the choice between QR and EK. Beside (in my view) better food/drinks on QR and similar seats on both, I would avoid EK simply for the risk of an aircraft swap to a 777 and its absolutely outdated Business Class.
How often are there aircraft switches on the route? I agree the 777 would be unpleasant (especially at the paid cost) but it doesn’t seem to be a frequent occurrence?
 
How often are there aircraft switches on the route? I agree the 777 would be unpleasant (especially at the paid cost) but it doesn’t seem to be a frequent occurrence?
I think it is rare for the Sydney-Dubai sector, but happens frequently on the Dubai-Europe routes.
 
I think it is rare for the Sydney-Dubai sector, but happens frequently on the Dubai-Europe routes.
I care more about the SYD-DXB sector (we continue on to FCO in an A380). Our return from BCN is on a 777, but day flight to DXB.

I guess the leaning towards EK is for the status credits (will put me an international J flight away from Lifetime Gold), and if we decide we want a Dubai stopover for a few days (as have never been).
 
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business class to Europe
Thinking laterally
What about Finnair (AY)
They sometimes have Round the World ticketing (RTW) that can be quite competitive

SYD-PER-SIN-HEL-USA-SYD
SYD-SIN-HEL-USA-SYD
SYD-HKG-HEL-USA-SYD

Or the other way round.

Then add in side trip HEL-FCO-HEL

Can harvest a few SC from such itineraries
 
Last edited:
Thinking laterally
What about Finnair (AY)
They sometimes have competitive Round the World ticketing (RTW) that can be quite competitive

SYD-PER-SIN-HEL-USA-SYD
SYD-SIN-HEL-USA-SYD
SYD-HKG-HEL-USA-SYD

Or the other way round.

Then add in side trip HEL-FCO-HEL

Can harvest a few SC from such itineraries
Finnair RTW for the dates I'm looking at is $13.9K. I did find a Lufthansa/Austrian/Etc. for $10.7K, but lots of long layovers. I did originally consider stopping in NY (family) and SFO (priced into those Finnair/Lufthansa itineraries), but decided not to subject my travel companion to my family!

Right now I'm resigned to having spent ridiculous $$ on 4x J class international fares in 2022 (US earlier in the year, and Europe coming up). Given haven't done any in 2020 or 2021, I can just about stomach it! What irks me is having FF points up the ying yang but Classic rewards not really possible for these trips.
 
Finnair RTW for the dates I'm looking at is $13.9K. I did find a Lufthansa/Austrian/Etc. for $10.7K, but lots of long layovers. I did originally consider stopping in NY (family) and SFO (priced into those Finnair/Lufthansa itineraries), but decided not to subject my travel companion to my family!

Right now I'm resigned to having spent ridiculous $$ on 4x J class international fares in 2022 (US earlier in the year, and Europe coming up). Given haven't done any in 2020 or 2021, I can just about stomach it! What irks me is having FF points up the ying yang but Classic rewards not really possible for these trips.
I managed to find business class award flights on Finnair and JQ / QF. It was BNE-MEL-SIN-HEL-AMS and AMS-HEL-HND-BNE. Being in northern Europe, they're more affected by the flight bans associated with the was in Ukraine. They cancelled the flights to Haneda and moved me on to a flight to Narita. My issue was that they just called it Tokyo in the email they sent me and made it look like it was just a timing change. Even now, independent tourists aren't able to enter Japan, which means I wouldn't be able to travel. I understand that they need to make changes, but their inability or reluctance to communicate properly didn't instil any confidence in them as an organisation.

I ended up paying for tickets on Emirates. It cost me more, but at least I felt confident that I wouldn't be left in the lurch.
 
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Seasonality brings the price down often by half. Unfortunately you are travelling in peak season.

Other contributors here have managed to build OW RTW Classic rewards itineraries, but some FF status helps.
Yep. I've done the Finnair RTW and Lufthansa one, both under $7K in the past. Hoping it will come back down by next year.
 
I should add that I’m trying to reach QFF Lifetime Gold (I’m 1200 status credits away) so the additional 300 SC from the Emirates flight is a bit of a temptation/plus in the Emirates column.
If I was that close to Lifetime Gold I would definitely be choosing Emirates to get the extra SC.
 
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