Flights to Germany in June/July - very expensive?

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  battler on 17/01/2014 - 15:05

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/130574

  This didn't work for you?

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    bmett on 17/01/2014 - 15:21

    Yes I saw that deal.
    I'm a bit worried about flight cancelations etc. Some of the comments on that deal also suggested that scoot isnt that reliable.
    Sccot also only flys from the Gold Coast, which makes it that little bit harder.

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  MITM on 17/01/2014 - 21:49

  Find another way to Singapore - perhaps via KL with AirAsia (ex GC)

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  retiredfeline on 17/01/2014 - 22:01

  +1

  Northern summer is always going to be pricey. I put in this search at Adioso:

  http://adioso.com/au/brisbane-au-to-txl-june-26-return-july-…

  and got something just under $2500 for Austrian Airlines. So if a child is half, that's $3750. Any good? Try varying the search, there was one around at $2250 for 3 weeks. BTW, Jun 26 to Jul 10 is only 2 weeks.

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  therooftop on 17/01/2014 - 22:43

  Try going to Kl via airasia and then book a flight from there. Emirates usually has good deals from Kl to Europe.

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  JoyVee on 17/01/2014 - 23:35

  +1

  what about looking at Finnair and then on to Berlin? Can use QFF points or accrue them.
  think laterally . Bne to BKK and then on to Berlin.
  Middle eastern airlines seem to have lighter loadings prior to Ramadan as less travelling as preparations are made for festival.

  Read Whirlpool travel forum or Australian Frequent Flyer " Singapore for $410" but remember tickets are only cheaper when Qantas having sale here. Jet star bookings on Expedia japan are often cheaper than buying here.

  Secret seems to be flexible with dates, mid week sometimes better. Fares are computer calculated depending on expected passenger loading
  China southern are sometimes cheap. Always check wait times between connections.

  I would get myself put on all airlines email lists so you hear about their specials first. good luck. JoyV

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  conan2000 on 18/01/2014 - 11:25

  As Perros last comment it's best to be on the airlines mailing lists to see offers. If the entire trip was in June then you may have got a better deal (my partner and I are flying to Paris for about $3.1k). But hitting July/school holiday will ramp the price up. $4.5k seems normal for a trip back to Europe at that time of year, very similar to what I have paid in the past.

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  peterpeterpumpkin on 18/01/2014 - 14:17

  +1

  If you don't find crazy specials and use flight stopover hacks it can be very hard to get cheap tickets to Europe booking directly with airlines. You'd be lucky to get the cheapest flight having only 1 stopover too. But I completely understand - it's bad enough you're missing time with family and not sleeping properly for more than 48 hours is crazy.

  Since I can't sleep well in an upright position when I travel alone I refuse to travel past West Asia unless I have a few days stopover (on a backpacker budget) halfway. It also let's you take more of a chance with re-scheduled flights from different operators (unless of course they're completely grounded).

  That deal posted previously is hard to beat for a return trip. You can get less than $4000 with the one airline for 1 adult and 1 child but you'd be spending almost 2 days in transit each way! (e.g. http://www.skyscanner.com.au/transport/flights/bne/berl/1406…). Child fare is I think 80% of adult fare with Finnair, 75% with Qantas and 100% with Virgin, so you should check each airline individually.

  I've also just noticed how badly the Australian dollar is doing compared to two years ago. 1 AUD is only 0.65 euros now, which may also explain the more expensive flights. All of my memorised conversions are way off :) The euro conversion is almost like what the pound used to be!

  ---

  Personally, I would exploit the Scoot deal for sure, although getting to the Gold Coast from Brisbane kinda dulls the deal. Let's say it cost you $1000 to Singapore return and then $2400 to Berlin return. With the $500 you save on flights you can enjoy some time in Singapore each way (maybe 2 nights on the way there and 1 extra night on the way back? Assuming Scoot is less trustworthy in that regard :)). You can easily get a guestroom for less than $60 (3 nights = $180) and then you can imagine $220 in spending money, better sleep and no extended stopovers in an airport. Just less German family time and a bit of risk.

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  RockyRaccoon on 19/01/2014 - 08:17

  we are unfortunately are a little bit bound to the school holidays. We want to fly from 26-29 June to 10-13 July. 3 weeks.

  You have the main issue here, so look at suggestions above for ways to save. Although your issue is compounded when you look at alternatives like Low cost carriers as switching planes requires greater stop over times eating into the time you have away.

  If your first flight is delayed, then you will miss the connection and since its not the same carrier, you have very little support from either to arrange new flights and compensation, plus the hassles etc, you dont want on a holiday with kids. - no bargain if it goes wrong.

  School hols = opportunity for family travel = higher demand = less seats available for discount, and like all supply and demand situations, less supply and higher demand = higher prices.

  You will have to accept that with kids at school.

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  kobrien456 on 22/01/2014 - 04:04

  +1

  I live in Brissie inner south and Gold Coast airport feels as convenient for me as Bris International. Especially if we are saing big on airfares.

  We have 1. paid for a weeks parking, pretty cheap at airport. 2. Parked at a friends house and taxied.
  3. Had a friend drop us; they then spent the day at the beach. If you have a large no of you travelling, perhaps consider hiring a people mover and asking a friend to drive you. Or train to Robina and then maxi taxi. Some people leave vehicle in a quiet side street. Consider approaching a householder nearby and paying to keep it in their yard?

  I prefer this smaller airport. Much less hassle and stress.

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  kobrien456 on 22/01/2014 - 04:04

  Dupe