Need to purchase business flights to Europe. Full price retail is ~$7k/person, that's fine, but wondering if there is any easy ways to save a bit of cash.
Any other ideas?
Probably 3, I can look at getting Amex
Qatar has 2 for 1 biz class. Ends 18/2 so get on it!
Settle in to unparalleled comfort and complete privacy as you travel to remarkable destinations around the globe with our incredible companion offers in premium.
Experience the best that the world has to offer and take advantage of incredible Business Class fares when you book for two or more passengers.*
Book by 18 February 2019 for travel between 1 March and 11 December 2019.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/great-premium-offe…
It says from AUD 6.3k per person though?
I think it is confusingly/misleadingly worded to make you think it is two for one, but it doesn't actually say that anywhere.
Two seats or more, one great offer. Fares for two starting from $6,339* pp.
All it is saying is that you get a 'great offer' when you buy two or more seats, not two for one.
Getting points is easy.
Finding business class availability is going to be the most trickiest part here.
If you have a tonne of Qantas points, I have almost found it impossible in the last 12-24 months getting any business or first class seat with Qantas to London - the best bet is to fly Emirates (using Qantas points) but expect to pay $2,000 in taxes for a return flight, plus a tonne of your hard earned points.
Now, if you have Singapore Points (or even Velocity points where you can transfer them to Singapore), you might find better availability with Singapore Airlines to a variety of European destinations (but those points are harder to earn etc). Also you can use your Singapore points and fly with Thai Airways to Europe as they have better availability but their business or first class products are inferior to Singapore.
Now, you if you are short on points 1. sign up to more credit cards 2. purchase points from airlines (preferably when their on sale). Lots of airlines sell points (some will let you top up points only).
Yeah I’ve always struggled with qantas availability, so don’t like chances of multiple seats and direct flights
You might find that round the world tickets are sometimes cheaper. If you are happy to stop in New York for example, you might get a cheaper ticket. I think Finnair had some deals recently.
Yeah it’s getting to that price point
Can also look at buying points legitimately (ie. direct from the airlines themselves) when they have bonuses on offer - some PointHacks guides here. I haven't actually done this and it seems fairly complicated, but something else to consider.
Don’t think you will beat the classifieds rate, airlines even with deals charge $$$ c/point but yeah it’s the availability that is difficult with points
Don't.
I have been told that its cheaper to upgrade from economy to business rather than buy business class tickets. but this would depend on availability.
You run the risk of not getting an upgrade, so stuck in economy, and on virgin to get a upgrade you have to buy a higher economy ticket. So you end up paying 2-3 times the 'sale' fare price to fly in economy
also the same for Qantas - the cheapest sale fare classes aren't eligible for classic reward upgrade
yeah business class FF seats are bit like unicorns, everyone has heard about them. No ones seen them! They are pretty rare.
I know a friend who paid $2000ish for flights to the USA economy hoping for a points upgrade to business with virgin, but it didn't happen. They had been gutted, as the saver fare was $900ish at the time of booking for economy, which is basically the product they got in the end!
and I think it was $4k for business saver. So after spending billions to rack up enough points on credit cards, paying twice the price of economy saver or half the cost of a business saver, they got economy. The horror.
Its a scam I tell you! Save all your yearly credit card fees and buy a business saver instead :)
@JimmyF: They can be available if you are flexible with your travel dates and routes (& booking in advance also helps). However, tickets for 3 on the same flights might be harder to come by
Are you time constrained for the flight itself?
You will need approx. 140k points each way (so 560,000).
The cheapest way to get these is to apply for 3*100k points offers on new CCs each. This will involve up to $18k of day-to-day spending though and could take up to 3 months.
However you'll only pay ~$1800 in annual fees.
Then, redeem for either Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines or Cathay Pacific. Be prepared to stop over for 1-3 days in Tokyo/KL/HK and forget about the idea of 'dates' - you don't get to choose.
Total taxes should be about $100 each.
TOTAL = $2k for 2 return bus class to Europe :)
You will need approx. 140k points each way (so 560,000).
Hmm math checks out for 4 people
The cheapest way to get these is to apply for 3*100k points offers on new CCs each
short 260k points…
TOTAL = $2k for 2 return bus class to Europe :)
See above, still missing points
Hmm math checks out for 4 people
I said 3 credit cards "each"
I said 3 credit cards "each"
Cool story, too bad this ship sailed 2 weeks ago.
But ok, so you think you'll get 6 CC that give 100k points each for
~$1800 in annual fees.
So thats $300 each card…. Yeah nah still doesn't pass the sniff test.
"… wondering if there is any easy ways to save a bit of cash."
Start in Asia. We took a postioning flight to Singapore for our last QF 280k J award. Qatar always seems to have BC sale fares EU-Asia.
Check lower tier airline fares. Air Vietnam, Air Sri Lanka (& maybe Garuda?).
Use an LCC business class (Air Asia?).
Spot on we've been doing just that out of HKG in J (bus.) for 25years due to stingy Qantas award points availability on OneWorld airlines, easy to book seats, and its daylight flight to Hong Kong (stop), used points for Y (Econ.) and upgraded to PE (Pre, Econ.).
We signed up to Qantas Amex Premium card 100K FFP points each, got nine referrals another 270k so 470 K.
Been looking at the same thing too. Need to save a few pennies since it is a personal trip and out of our own piggy bank.
Fly China Airlines (not a mainland China airline) if it goes to where you are going. Depending on date, some sale biz fares are at mid $4k to low $5k.
A really good airline and they are flying brand new a350s… top notch service with an excellent lounge.
Downside is a 16hr stop over in TPE - well, or a day tour, i suppose.
PS… the biz flights once went down to $4k a few months back… i guess will likely be the case if you book far enough in advance.
How many tickets do you need?
Some credit cards (I only know of Amex, not sure of other cards) have "companion fares" so that the ticket for the person travelling with you is significantly cheaper.