Flights to Australia

discontent64

It would be brilliant to travel business class to Australia.  We want to keep the total travel time down and have looked at premium economy - which doesn't seem to offer huge advantages over economy - but tend to be about twice the cost.
So, has anyone some thoughts on which airline offers the nicest, low total transit time and best value business class option?
We have done a quick check and the routes, total time and costs seem to be very variable for the "same" journey.  KLM came in quite well but I was never that impressed by their service.  Qatar and Emirates would be good as would Cathay from memory but last travel with any of those was a long time ago, and things change rapidly I believe.  Thank you.

bagand96

If you have time then I believe it can be much cheaper to "start" your journey at a European hub rather than the UK.  I think Dublin, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Oslo have been favourites in the past for those that do it.  Can save a significant amount, a lot of people do it on BA even routing back via London.  Then add a cheap low-cost flight to "position" you to your Europe start point.  Wise to do it the night before and get a hotel just in case of disruption.

Might not be for you, as I said you need to have the time and motivation to do it.

Beginners guide to Ex EU flights on Qatar, British Airways & Virgin Atlantic - Turning left for less

Voyager2002

If you are in Biz then total travel time ceases to matter, since you are comfortable and have lots of entertainment. You might look at routes that take a long time since these may have lower prices.

Your list of possible airlines should include Etihad, who are similar to Emirates but just that bit better.

Grumpy_chap

discontent64 said:

It would be brilliant to travel business class to Australia.  We want to keep the total travel time down and have looked at premium economy - which doesn't seem to offer huge advantages over economy - but tend to be about twice the cost.

Whatever cabin class you fly, the flight takes the same time.  They don't have special boosters for those who "turn left".

zagfles

Voyager2002 said:

If you are in Biz then total travel time ceases to matter, since you are comfortable and have lots of entertainment. You might look at routes that take a long time since these may have lower prices.

Your list of possible airlines should include Etihad, who are similar to Emirates but just that bit better.

Why does "total travel time cease to matter", if OP want to get there quickly then it clearly does matter however comfortable the seat is.  

If time isn't an issue, then a far better way IMO is to book a flight with a long layover in Singapore (8 hours or so) and book the transit hotel where you can get a decent kip in a private hotel room with en-suite facilities rather than trying to sleep in a "dorm" in the sky. 

marcia_

 I have just book flights to Sydney and checked business class on each airline. More out of curiosity as I can't afford it. Qatar were the cheapest. 

jimi_man

zagfles said:

Voyager2002 said:

If you are in Biz then total travel time ceases to matter, since you are comfortable and have lots of entertainment. You might look at routes that take a long time since these may have lower prices.

Your list of possible airlines should include Etihad, who are similar to Emirates but just that bit better.

Why does "total travel time cease to matter", if OP want to get there quickly then it clearly does matter however comfortable the seat is.  

If time isn't an issue, then a far better way IMO is to book a flight with a long layover in Singapore (8 hours or so) and book the transit hotel where you can get a decent kip in a private hotel room with en-suite facilities rather than trying to sleep in a "dorm" in the sky. 

Singapore is a long old trek in Economy and for those who are six foot plus, it’s really not to be recommended - it’s actually quite unpleasant - even with an eight hour layover in a transit hotel. 13-14 hours each way, in an economy seat, usually at night isn’t nice. 

OP as has been said, consider an ex EU departure. Also think about which airline. EU airlines such us Swissair, Lufthansa etc all have their hubs in their own country so if one isn’t starting from that country then it will involve a stop in (say) Switzerland/Germany then another stop before getting to Australia because of the distance - so two stops. Whereas Middle East airlines, and ones like Singapore, Cathay, BA etc only stop once. Qantas fly direct to Perth if that’s a possible route, though Qantas Business class product isn’t the best. 

I’m a BA fan personally but that’s mainly because a lot of family are/have been employees so there is some bias there. However I acknowledge they aren’t the best. Qatar as one of the better ones and is just one stop in Doha. Though I came back from Sydney twice in BA business class - once in their Club Suite and it’s very pleasant and a lovely way to travel.  Have a look on Google flights to do your research and try altering the starting point. Brussels, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Malaga, Budapest etc and see what you come up with. 

zagfles

jimi_man said:

zagfles said:

Voyager2002 said:

If you are in Biz then total travel time ceases to matter, since you are comfortable and have lots of entertainment. You might look at routes that take a long time since these may have lower prices.

Your list of possible airlines should include Etihad, who are similar to Emirates but just that bit better.

Why does "total travel time cease to matter", if OP want to get there quickly then it clearly does matter however comfortable the seat is.  

If time isn't an issue, then a far better way IMO is to book a flight with a long layover in Singapore (8 hours or so) and book the transit hotel where you can get a decent kip in a private hotel room with en-suite facilities rather than trying to sleep in a "dorm" in the sky. 

Singapore is a long old trek in Economy and for those who are six foot plus, it’s really not to be recommended - it’s actually quite unpleasant - even with an eight hour layover in a transit hotel. 13-14 hours each way, in an economy seat, usually at night isn’t nice. 

I've done it a few times on various airlines and always been fine, although I'm not 6 foot (though pretty close, 5 foot 11). Tall people could just book the extra legroom seats for maybe £40 extra or so.

Slept in economy seats fine too (the free booze helps ), although this varies, my wife never gets much sleep on any form of public transport. But with the transit hotel, if you time things right, you don't need to.

For instance if you get a flight arriving in Singapore early morning, that'll feel like midnight so it's not much past usual bedtime, and you book the transit hotel by the hour so a daytime booking eg 9am to 5pm is no problem. The rooms are windowless and it's nice and quiet so although it's daytime it'll feel like nighttime to you. Then if your onward flight to Aus/NZ is another overnight flight, you'll have only just got up so won't need to sleep on that flight either. Bit weird when they're serving dinner with wine when you just want breakfast with coffee 

Singapore airlines are probably the best, entertainment system is good, big choice of films inc new releases, and you get well fed and watered. All booze free inc cocktails, but not champagne. You have to fly Air France if you want free champagne in economy! 

We found it helped with jetlag too, you go to bed a few hours later than usual so are ready for a good night's (or rather day's) sleep in the transit hotel, then when you arrive in Aus/NZ have a couple of early nights gradually getting later and you're into the time zone. 

jimi_man

I found that having a flat bed on long flights was an absolute game changer and makes the flight something to look forward to rather than dreaded and becomes part of the holiday instead of a means to an end. I’m 6’3 so any form of economy seat is distinctly unpleasant. 

However it’s horses for courses and I know you’re not a fan from previous discussions. 

However in this case the OP has specifically asked about business fares to Australia. 

zagfles

jimi_man said:

I found that having a flat bed on long flights was an absolute game changer and makes the flight something to look forward to rather than dreaded and becomes part of the holiday instead of a means to an end. I’m 6’3 so any form of economy seat is distinctly unpleasant. 

However it’s horses for courses and I know you’re not a fan from previous discussions. 

However in this case the OP has specifically asked about business fares to Australia. 

I know, I was initially just responding to the PP who suggested time doesn't matter if you have a comfy seat, OP specified they wanted low travel time. Time can matter for other reasons than those who consider economy purgatory that must be endured. (though personally I'd much prefer 12 hours on SIA to 3 hours on Ryanair, but each to their own)

You could of course use the transit hotel even if you fly BC, as has been suggested here before, if a "dorm bed" is a "game changer" then surely a private hotel room with en-suite facilities is a match changer! And the cost will be trivial compared to the cost of BC. Assuming of course you can afford the extra 8 hours or so. 

jimi_man

zagfles said:

jimi_man said:

I found that having a flat bed on long flights was an absolute game changer and makes the flight something to look forward to rather than dreaded and becomes part of the holiday instead of a means to an end. I’m 6’3 so any form of economy seat is distinctly unpleasant. 

However it’s horses for courses and I know you’re not a fan from previous discussions. 

However in this case the OP has specifically asked about business fares to Australia. 

I know, I was initially just responding to the PP who suggested time doesn't matter if you have a comfy seat, OP specified they wanted low travel time. Time can matter for other reasons than those who consider economy purgatory that must be endured. (though personally I'd much prefer 12 hours on SIA to 3 hours on Ryanair, but each to their own)

You could of course use the transit hotel even if you fly BC, as has been suggested here before, if a "dorm bed" is a "game changer" then surely a private hotel room with en-suite facilities is a match changer! And the cost will be trivial compared to the cost of BC. Assuming of course you can afford the extra 8 hours or so. 

Yes I’m with you on that one. Haven’t used SIA for 25 years but they were pretty good then. I won’t use Ryanair - not least because I don’t live anywhere near Stansted. 

The transit hotel is an interesting concept. I can see the benefit possibly on an economy ticket, but on a business ticket where a bed is provided on the plane and sleep is a lot easier then it’s possibly a bit of a waste of time and an unnecessary delay to one’s journey. I suppose it depends on how pushed one is for time. I don’t have time constraints so it wouldn’t matter to me, though I’d probably rather stay for a couple of days and hoover up some black pepper crab.