Economy with Emirates v premium economy with other airlines

silvercar

fifeken wrote: »

Are you sure? Emirates website will usually "force" a mixed booking like this into Business class for both legs.

Booking by phone can yield combinations of different classes that the websites don't show.

Also worth comparing booking it all on the lower class via the web and getting an upgrade price on the phone for certain legs, with booking it all over the phone.

malkie76

Doshwaster wrote: »

In that case I would book BA/Cathay/Qantas PE and then use my BA miles to upgrade to business.

Normally that makes sense, but if the OP is booking travel through an agent (ie a corporate travel agent), then they will not be able to upgrade their ticket using miles (needs to be direct with BA). Besides, I'm not confident you can MFU on Cathay or Qantas using BA Miles (you can however do 100% redemptions)

Otherwise, the advice to stick to one carrier (or at least one FF programme and use partner airlines) is excellent advice.

It's actually an important point to know if the OP is booking their own travel, or through a company agent. Corporate TAs often get much, much better deals than booking direct, or can attract certain priviledges not available to the public. (eg if there are no seats in business our TA gets us booked into First, but charged for business, we also get flexible conditions for non-flexible prices).

The downside is you cannot upgrade your tickets with miles (as stated above).

You also need to check your company policy about earning miles while on business - some employers do not allow you to do this, or insist that you use miles earned for future company flights (luckily my employer does not!)

I read this photo review (well, looked at the photos) ( http://www.jadeair.com.tw/discuz/viewthread.php?tid=8623&extra=page%3D1 ) of TKs premium economy product and was rather impressed - not sure if they fly your route though ????

boots_babe

Thanks for all the responses, I've just read through with interest.

It will be booked through our corporate travel agent, Portman. So whereas usually I could compare as much as I like then pick, in this case I am far more limited. I also don't think booking mixed airlines would be an option in light of the way they will be booking it. Which is a shame as I think that would be an interesting option.

When I was looking myself last night online, I did check out Qatar as suggested by dickydonkin, but they don't fly to my final destination of Coimbatore. So i think that is a non-starter as don't think we can have mixed airline.

Fifeken thanks for your comments. I'm still getting mixed feedback but as a regular traveller I'd be tempted to think you would have a fair opinion. I'll wait to see what flight options we are presented with (was meant to be today but haven't materialised, need to get a move on as initial travel is only next week) then see if I can try again for the PE depending on which airlines are on offer.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Doshwaster

boots_babe wrote: »

When I was looking myself last night online, I did check out Qatar as suggested by dickydonkin, but they don't fly to my final destination of Coimbatore. So i think that is a non-starter as don't think we can have mixed airline.

It would be a very strange company travel policy which didn't allow "mixed airline" bookings. Often the only way to get from A to B is to use two (or more) different airlines.

Coimbatore is only a short flight from Bangalore (which has a fairly modern, if boring, airport) so I'd still fly there on BA PE (or Air France via Paris) then get a short internal flight. Whatever you do on an trip to India, avoid Mumbai airport.

fifeken

silvercar wrote: »

Booking by phone can yield combinations of different classes that the websites don't show.

Also worth comparing booking it all on the lower class via the web and getting an upgrade price on the phone for certain legs, with booking it all over the phone.

I agree this is the case for many airlines, but in my experience not with Emirates as far as mixing classes as described here goes. I'm pretty sure Emirates also make a surcharge for booking over the phone.

Mr_Wang

In my opinion Kingfisher is the best airline flying to India.
Also, I haven't checked but I'll bet you get there in half the time. It usually takes 9 hours from LHR - DEL
Then probably around an hour and half to the South.

I would never ever use BA on any route, they are simply not worth the worry of potential militant action by the unions.

But look, having flown Kingfisher many times I can assure you they are spot on, and the stewardess are probably the best looking women on any airline in the world. As it happens I've got a Kingfisher flight in a few weeks, I rarely fly anyone else to and within India.

budgetflyer

Not if you were stuck in India last year during the Ash cloud Mr Wang. Kingfisher behaved appalingly.
If you had a spare 3.5K you could buy a seat, but they wouldn't transfer stuck passengers on to one.

I got home with Qatar, 12 days late which was 8 days after the earliest they were allowed to fly. People I know who were due to fly the original same day with Kingfisher ,it took 19 + days to get them home.

budgetflyer

boots_babe wrote: »

Business class is but a dream I am afraid, I will struggle massively to try and get the PE option.

Apparently a £1k limit per person too.

PE for just the main leg is a good idea, hadn't thought of that so thanks.

As people are asking, the destination is Coimbatore. So some route options have been:

Man -> Brussels -> Chennai -> Coimbatore
Man -> London -> Chennai -> Coimbatore

One of those is BA, one is Jet Airways, can't remember which is which. But each of them involves I think 18 hours one way, and about 24 in the other direction.

Or for Emirates:

Man -> Dubai -> Chennai -> Coimbatore.

I am so confused! Usually when I book travel I am used to scouring everywhere, doing loads of research then being able to choose best optino. I am not used to having it somewhat out of my control.

I never sleep on planes, I just can't no matter how tired as I can never get at all comfortable. Longest flight I've done before is about 14/15 hours with 25 hour door to door journey. As you can imagine this was very tiring but I STILL couldn't sleep on the plane.

That is why I am putting the emphasis on seat size, as I really think that a bit more space would give enough extra comfort so that I can hopefully drop off and be a little rested on arrival instead of awake for around 30 hours.

You should be able to do Manchester to Mumbai Premium Economy with both BA and Air France within your £1000 budget. Ba flight times are better. They do an overnight flight that gets in around 11 ish next morning. Probably better for onward connections
Then its only a low cost for the final sector.

If your corporate TA cant do that, then really they need shut up shop and do something different