Australia flights - book in the UK or in Oz?

spookylukey

dmg24 wrote: »

Flying ex EU means starting your journey in another EU country. This way you avoid the UK departure taxes, as well as simply benefiting from better fares due to different pricing structures based on supply and demand.

Keep us informed how you get on - I am planning the same trip at the same time! I have sufficient airmiles to fly biz, but would quite like to use them elsewhere.

Aaah, I see - will do a bit of digging into the ex EU thing too then. Any ideas on what countries seem to do better fares to give me a starting point?

I checked AirAsiaX and for their business class flights (which don't look a patch on other airlines business class) on the dates I'm looking at it was 3.7K. The Qantas premium economy was 2.2K by comparison.

P.S - You'd better hope we are not on the same flight as I've been told I snore

Westin

I can't see the benefit of having someone in Australia booking the flights in AUD$ for you.

I've booked flights for domestic travel on Virgin Blue and Jetstar using my Nationwide BS credit card (before their silly charges) and latterly with my new Halifax Clarity card. You obviously pay in AUD$ and your credit card converts to GBP£ but no problems.

Jetstar did offer the option to convert my flight payment to GBP£ (obviously picked up on my UK credit card on the web). As I was booking a couple of one way tickets I thought I would try one in GBP£ and one in AUD$. When I received my Halifax Clarity credit card statement very little in the difference of the two flights (both had been the same AUD$ fare) - I think about 70p between them.

dmg24

spookylukey wrote: »

Aaah, I see - will do a bit of digging into the ex EU thing too then. Any ideas on what countries seem to do better fares to give me a starting point?

I checked AirAsiaX and for their business class flights (which don't look a patch on other airlines business class) on the dates I'm looking at it was 3.7K. The Qantas premium economy was 2.2K by comparison.

P.S - You'd better hope we are not on the same flight as I've been told I snore

Have a look at the main hubs - Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan etc. I have seen Nice mentioned also. Ironically you may end up travelling with BA through Heathrow, but they will offer lower fares to be competitive with the national/ direct airlines.

The beauty of biz is that you don't have to worry about snoring - good old noise cancelling headphones!

spookylukey

Hmmmn, very interesing. Business class flights from Milan to Sydney are just 2.5K with Emirates. Cheapo easyjet return flights to/from Milan are just £50.

How long would it be sensible to leave between flights, I'm obviously conscious that if Easyjet let me down I'd have no comeback if I missed the 2.5K flight to Oz! Would it be best to arrive in Milan the day before and spend the night there?

dmg24

Yep, I would definitely arrive the day before. It would be worth trying to find insurance that would cover missed connection too - and hope for no ash clouds!

Just had a nosey - you might get the A380 for the second leg - enjoy!

spookylukey

Even better, 2.4K with Etihad (Milan to Sydney return) or £2550 for Milan-Sydney then Sydney-London with Etihad. On the way there I won't mind adding an extra element of the Milan trip but I think on the way back I'd just want to get home ASAP!

MSE is great, I'd never have thought of flying from a different country!

malkie76

Congrats! That's a pretty decent fare, with a solid carrier!