Business class from UK to Sydney

dickydonkin

littlereddevil wrote: »

If I were you I would avoid Heathrow like the plague and go KLM via Amsterdam or go to Glasgow and fly with Emirates.

Interesting you advised to 'avoid Heathrow like the plague' and in the same paragraph suggested EK as an alternative which would require a transfer in the hell hole of Dubai Airport.

If the OP does indeed choose to fly J class via LHR which would very likely be with BA (or alliance partners) - then Heathrow will be fine.

Dumbe

dickydonkin wrote: »

Interesting you advised to 'avoid Heathrow like the plague' and in the same paragraph suggested EK as an alternative which would require a transfer in the hell hole of Dubai Airport.

If the OP does indeed choose to fly J class via LHR which would very likely be with BA (or alliance partners) - then Heathrow will be fine.

Dubai does have queues but these can very easily be avoided.. I use ahlan arrivals service when I stay in Dubai. I'm met at the plane, taken to a lounge to relax while the ahlan team retrieve my bags and sort out the immigration then they accompany me though a special passport control without any queue all the way to the car the hotel sends. Cost me about 50 pounds and wellwroth itafter along flight.

Normally out of the airport long before my fellow passengers who are still in what can be a very long immigration queue

Op if you have never transferred in Dubai i suggest if you use this route you consider using ahlan if you chose to stopover in Dubai or marriiba transfer services if you are transferring without a stopover.

Done this way Dubai is one of the more pleasant airports in the world. Although I freely admit ( having never had to attempt Dubai without using ahlan ) I shuddered looking at the long queues and seeming chaos at the transfer desks as I was escorted quickly past it all .

spottydog

School summer holidays in Australia end just after Australia Day which is 26th Jan. It's also not unusual to find businesses shutting down during January, I live just outside Sydney's CBD and during January many of the restaurants will shut for a week or two for their annual holiday.

redmike123

We fly out to Australia most years, and I have looked a going business class, but it is really , really expensive. What works for us is fly to Singapore coach class, its about 10 or 12 hours on the aircraft so its really not too bad, we then stay in a really good hotel in singapore for a couple of days, - the Fullerton is nice, so is Raffles, we relax, go shopping, swim, eat lovely food, and then we do the next leg from Singapore to Sydney, which again is coach class, but it is less than 10 hours, so again, perfectly do able. There are lots of good hotels in Sydney in which to relax, and overall for the two of us I reckon we save about £2000 per trip by travelling this way.

hs61

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the comments re the cost of business class flights but for me it is the first time I am going to treat myself and my wife to something special so on this trip I am prepared to go the extra mile!! Just trying to source the best value between all the airlines.

Icequeen99

hs61 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the comments re the cost of business class flights but for me it is the first time I am going to treat myself and my wife to something special so on this trip I am prepared to go the extra mile!! Just trying to source the best value between all the airlines.

The only problem with long haul business/first is you won't want to go back to economy. I just did a BA first flight to the US back in Club World, would definitely recommend them for First but I thought the Club world was tired looking. Disappointing for the cost. I think it is worth doing some research on the different products in that class.

That said, it makes the world of difference flying. Sometimes as well the airlines have offers on so if you buy a full fare business ticket you can upgrade to first for free.

IQ

Gloomendoom

hs61 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the comments re the cost of business class flights but for me it is the first time I am going to treat myself and my wife to something special so on this trip I am prepared to go the extra mile!! Just trying to source the best value between all the airlines.

I'm not sure of your budget and you may have made your mind up but you may be better saving on the flight and using the money to push the boat out while in Australia. It is a very expensive place to visit.

hs61

I seem to be finding business class fares for the two of us to Sydney and return from London at around the £8000 mark. I know this is a lot but I have not had a holiday for 4 years and it is to meet my brother who I have not seen for over 30 years. He is putting us up and we are intending to save hard all year to fund fares and spending money. I would be grateful for any tips re how to go about using loyalty programmes with any of the airlines and if they are worthwhile taking up at point of ticket purchase?

Many thanks

mgdavid

£8k?
madness but each to their own!

"I have not had a holiday for 4 years"
normal economy would be £1.5k or less - think of all the extra holidays you could have with the £6.5k.

Bennifred

hs61 wrote: »

I seem to be finding business class fares for the two of us to Sydney and return from London at around the £8000 mark. I know this is a lot but I have not had a holiday for 4 years and it is to meet my brother who I have not seen for over 30 years. He is putting us up and we are intending to save hard all year to fund fares and spending money. I would be grateful for any tips re how to go about using loyalty programmes with any of the airlines and if they are worthwhile taking up at point of ticket purchase?

Many thanks

£8000 for two? :eek: Blimey - that's almost double what we paid for LHR to Sydney business class in July 2010. Have fuel prices really increased by so much in less than three years??