Routing suggestions - UK to Yangon, back from Hanoi

Shimrod

We're going to Myanmar next February, returning from Hanoi on 10th March. The dates of the holiday are pretty much fixed -we have hotels booked in Myanmar from 16th Feb although we could slice a day off the end of the holiday and head out of day earlier if need be.

Budget for flights is around £1200 each, and we'd prefer premium economy. We originally planned to go with Cathay Pacific via Ho Chi Minh, but decided to have extra time in Yangon instead. The Cathay Pacific flight HKG to RGN has us arriving at midnight which is not ideal.
The other option we've found which is a bit of a compromise is Emirates, which will let us book economy out (7hr and 5hr flights which are manageable in economy), but business class back from Hanoi. The timings of the route out are much better for us as well.
We'd prefer to fly from Manchester, but I'd drive down to London the night before if necessary.
I've been looking at this for a couple of weeks now, but haven't been able to find anything - routes via Bangkok are significantly more expensive - any other suggestions that fit our budget would be welcome!
Thanks

PeacefulWaters

Have a go posting on Flyertalk. They have a thread designed to find cheap business class flights.

It might mean a positioning flight to somewhere like Oslo or Amsterdam and starting from there.

Here's a link to the thread. Give a date range and destinations and take it from there.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1709344-premium-fare-deals-j-f.html

richardw

Arriving in the East late evening is good because you can go to your hotel and go straight to bed and have a good long sleep, arriving in the morning in the East is a struggle to stay awake.

From MAN your options are Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

From LHR add in Eva Air and Vietnam Airlines for PE. I've flown on VN and their PE was very good, 2-3-2 seating, they do have a habit of changing schedules though.

dj1471

Have another look at Bangkok routes, I always fly via Bangkok when visiting SE Asia because there's plenty of competition which keeps prices down. You can then get budget flights to anywhere in the region very cheaply - but that's the trick: don't book via BKK with a major carrier, book to BKK then switch to a budget airline for the short hop to your final destination (note though that you may need to change airports).

I haven't flown Qatar yet but their economy class gets very good reviews and they have some incredible prices flying via Doha.

I've found Emirates a bit of a gamble - they have some newer planes which are very nice but also some old planes which are uncomfortable and have crappy entertainment systems - I've flown business on both and the latter made for an unpleasant flight.

blindman

Shimrod wrote: »

We're going to Myanmar next February, returning from Hanoi on 10th March. The dates of the holiday are pretty much fixed -we have hotels booked in Myanmar from 16th Feb although we could slice a day off the end of the holiday and head out of day earlier if need be.


Thanks

This thread on FT is about starting Ex UK for BA flights

However it has links to how to use the ITA software whcih you can use to find cheap routes.

Also and article on Headfor points explains ITA software

Shimrod

I'll have a look on Flyertalk and see if I can get further guidance from over there.

I thought a BKK route might be an alternative, but the only viable one cost wise is still Cathay Pacific, which was still via Hong Kong, and so didn't really give any advantage over going direct to Yangon.

I'm trying to avoid a long leg of a flight in economy. The Emirates Manchester- Dubai is at the upper limit of what I'm prepared to do, but the budget doesn't stretch to business class both ways (doesn't normally even cover business one way). I've only ever watched one film on a plane, so entertainment systems don't bother me - it's all about getting the extra space in the seat.

richardw

Which day do you want to leave the UK for RGN?

Which day do you want to arrive in the UK from HAN?

Shimrod

richardw wrote: »

Which day do you want to leave the UK for RGN?

Which day do you want to arrive in the UK from HAN?

Need to be in Yangon on 16th, could travel a day earlier. Departure from Hanoi on 10th March.
The challenge with positioning flights is I would want to travel the day before, but I might not be able to get the extra day off work.

cinereus

As always, the answer is learn advanced queries on ITA.

Mr_Wangers_Wang

Crazy fares on Cathay right now...

I'm unable to post the link.

Try searching for Secret Flying, then Euro deals then UK - Hong Kong for £333 return

richardw

The return journey on Cathay Pacific from Hanoi to Manchester with one change in HKG is good. With the outbound, consider getting a day room at the Regal airport hotel at HKG.

Emirates or Qatar airways could be good with a sleep sector in business class.