Flying business class

[manlyago]

Off to Australia at Christmas and I’m thinking about flying business class. As a treat for a big birthday.

Any smart ways of doing this? Using credit card/points /cash back to reduce the cost?

Thanks!

You mention school holidays

how many people do you want to fly business within that 8-10k?

Well to be fair op your explicitly states you can’t afford the current BC prices you have identified, hence spending time today researching whether you can find alternatives

@Hop27 yes I’ve done it twice. Once economy and once business. My (adult) son who I’m travelling with is not a fan of flying so even more reason to do business if we can. And I agree it’s the lounges etc… that make it even better.

In terms of budget £15k for 2 seats is my max. But would rather be under that if possible!

@Ohthatsexciting did I say I couldn’t afford it? I don’t remember saying that. More an oh my god it’s expensive….

How many people are flying. Ex is complaining that economy is £1200 and that's for 4 weeks (going before the rush!) premium economy was over £3k

Btw Qatar was very good service if you can look beyond the owners

If you do end up flying economy, you can buy a Priority Pass card for lounge access. (Although be aware that there is no PP lounge at Sydney airport - or at least there wasn't when we last flew back from there!).

However, if you have an Amex card (of any variety I think) you can get free access into some lounges - definitely worth exploring!

Qatar/Emirates is coming out as £10k each which is just too much for me.

havr you found cheaper?

just came across your other thread about the drive in Oz

3 teen sons, so five business class?

Just two of us (luckily!) this time due to work /Uni commitments we’re flying out and back later than the rest of the family. That’s why I thought I’d grab the opportunity to fly business as we wouldn’t do it for all 5 (husband is happy to fly economy with the other kids and save the money!)

@Ohthatsexciting cross posted. Just two of us on these flights.

Actually it looks like there is a PP lounge at Sydney now!

Priority Pass

Ah I see

have you found two seats for £15K?

For the same price as two BC you would likely get five PE

@Ohthatsexciting yes and less but I’m not sure about these third party sites “Gotogate” etc… I prefer booking direct with the airline. It’s weighing up stopover time/airline/cost. For example Turkish airlines coming in at only £5k pp but I don’t know what they’re like and there’s stopovers. Also I can fly in and out of three airports and flex the return date slightly. A lot of variables to wade through!

Singapore Changi has MAD amounts of things to do and see in it. And some hotels attached. We spent 7 hours of a layover in Helsinki and it was doable as free (fabulous) showers in the lounge and pretty decent food and a place to layout and sleep made it better. If you can't get lounge access through a biz class ticket then I would pay for a third party lounge.

Turkish has a relatively strong soft product in business - check out One Mile at a Time - hes a fan, although I believe they are 2-2-2 in business still (but avoids the dreaded foot coffin issue). If you are flying with Hubs, then no problem!

Thanks @CocktailNapkin sounds great!!!

Booking.com doing £11k for two seats - out on Lufthansa/Singapore. 8 hours in Singapore. Quick turnaround in Frankfurt though of only 1 hour…

back Swiss air/Singapore.

I’m assuming use of Singapore lounge as flying Singapore for part of each journey…

I use Booking.com all the time for accommodation but never flights.

Bloody hell… read the reviews of gotogate!!

I know @Ohthatsexciting !!! But yet when you look at them in Skyscanner their rating is high.

I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole

have you considered five PEs for two BC?

@Ohthatsexciting other family seats booked already. It’s only the 2 we still need to do.

@Ohthatsexciting when you at you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole do you mean Gotogate or booking.com?

We recently flew with Finnair London — Sydney return via Helsinki and Singapore for £3.5K each. They’ve just renovated their business class seats too.

*when you say

I should proof read!