Premium class fares ex UK

[Fatboyfat 361]

I just received this mailshot from "Flight Centre" ( I used them for my last UK-BKK flights with no problems). Some of the Biz class fares offered from around the UK look quite good value. Nothing exceptional in 1st this time and Premium Economy doesn't seem great, although I am not "au fait" with thenormal fares for that class.

http://www.flightcentre.co.uk/first-and-business/search?destination=Bangkok&flight_class=Business%20Class

[jacko 8,813]

Claiming from £1200 Biz with Turkish from my destination. Can't really look at the details as it isn't an on-line booking engine, more a send enquiry type of approach. Dates would suit me great but I am at the wrong end of that trip!

I tried Turkish Airlines directly Ex BKK, coming in at 102,000 baht! Some difference there!

 

Finnish still coming in best here 87,000 baht, but don't like the arrival times, Emirates 94,000, Qatar 116,000, Etihad 96,000 BA 103,000

 

Qatar will not get many bookings at that price so I am betting on another sale from them, at the moment they have some Valentines day 2 for 1 deal and that will have to pass. I see Japan Airlines will drop fuel surcharges soon, so I still have hopes of cheaper tickets, although there is a likelihood it will only be for the arse end!

[Fatboyfat 361]

The "headline" advert for my particular flight was ￡2700 return from Glasgow 1st Class. Initial comeback to me was for about ￡3400 which I declined as it "was way too far from the advertised rate". (Still lower than anywhere else tho', and I would probably have reverted to that eventually.) They immediately came back with the original quote, and I finally ended up paying ￡2800 as I don't like the 0130 departure BKK. The Emirates website price remained ￡4600 throughout, and never reduced up to my outward flight date. I think you probably have to be prepared to haggle with all of these 3rd party agencies!

[neilri2001 42]

I'm looking for a decent business class fare for March ex London. I have used Flight Centre a few times many years ago but in recent years whenever i have tried to book one of their headline fares advertised in the papers / shop window it has never been available. I am a big fan of EVA Business but for March i haven't seen it below £2.3 to £2.4 k. The product is very good but £2k is my personal limit

[Fatboyfat 361]

I'm looking for a decent business class fare for March ex London. I have used Flight Centre a few times many years ago but in recent years whenever i have tried to book one of their headline fares advertised in the papers / shop window it has never been available. I am a big fan of EVA Business but for March i haven't seen it below £2.3 to £2.4 k. The product is very good but £2k is my personal limit

I used to use "Ours" agents (London based) yonks ago for EVA and China Air; They were the best deal for the Taiwan airlines back then, and were the "bucket shop" for EVA. Not sure if they are still in business neilri2000, but they would be worth trying if they are.

Edit in: Just checked and they are still in business, but EVA Biz class is ￡2092. China Airline (not direct obviously as they are always via Schipol) is quoted at a fairly remarkable ￡1240 for Biz tho'!

 

http://www.ourstravel.com/node/47

Edited February 13, 2016 by Fatboyfat

[neilri2001 42]

Many thanks for that FBF. May be tempted to stretch my budget and principles a bit and stick with EVA. China Airlines is incredible value but in the three times i've used them ( albeit not in the past seven or eight years ) i always used to have problems with my luggage making the connecting flight at Schipol. It would get delivered by courier a day or so later but on the Thailand legs the lock would generally be missing and the contents thoroughly checked through for valubles

[Fatboyfat 361]

i always used to have problems with my luggage making the connecting flight at Schipol. It would get delivered by courier a day or so later but on the Thailand legs the lock would generally be missing and the contents thoroughly checked through for valubles

I had that problem once (no busted locks though) I sort of expected it though, as the transit time in Schipol (75 minutes) was pushing it for me on foot, let alone baggage transfer.

[neilri2001 42]

I'm travelling over the Easter period so finding a bargain was never going to be easy but in the end i booked Emirates via West East travel ( whom i have used several times before in years gone by ) at a total cost of £1940 with all four sectors on the A380.

 

China Airlines was available at sub £1300 but only on selected dates and with the UK - Amsterdam sectors in economy. Upgrade these sectors to business and want a popular date then the cost goes up to £1800+ which is just not worth it.

 

Eva is still available from selected agents at under £2200 over Easter but whilst it is a fantastic product i find the day flight back challenging.

[jacko 8,813]

I'm travelling over the Easter period so finding a bargain was never going to be easy but in the end i booked Emirates via West East travel ( whom i have used several times before in years gone by ) at a total cost of £1940 with all four sectors on the A380.

 

China Airlines was available at sub £1300 but only on selected dates and with the UK - Amsterdam sectors in economy. Upgrade these sectors to business and want a popular date then the cost goes up to £1800+ which is just not worth it.

 

Eva is still available from selected agents at under £2200 over Easter but whilst it is a fantastic product i find the day flight back challenging.

How did it compare with booking directly on their Website?

I have done the 4 sectors on the A380, and loved it, but in First.

[neilri2001 42]

How did it compare with booking directly on their Website?

I have done the 4 sectors on the A380, and loved it, but in First.

It was at least £250 more expensive on the emirates website and with a much more limited range of flight options. It's been many years since i changed planes in the middle East, is the transit fairly painless these days?

[jacko 8,813]

It was at least £250 more expensive on the emirates website and with a much more limited range of flight options. It's been many years since i changed planes in the middle East, is the transit fairly painless these days?

Dubai and Doha are OK (although it used to be better at the old airport with the Premium terminal), Abu Dhabi less so. I may be testing Abu Dhabi again soon to see if it improved or not.

[Fatboyfat 361]

It was at least £250 more expensive on the emirates website and with a much more limited range of flight options. It's been many years since i changed planes in the middle East, is the transit fairly painless these days?

As both of your legs are on A380s, you will arrive and leave from the same (dedicated A380) terminal. As Jacko says, painless; with the added beauty of being able to board direct from the "enormous" biz class lounge.

[Gus 97]

Also of course with EK you get the free chauffeur driven Limo transfers, enjoy. :)

[torrenova 644]

Dubai and Doha are OK (although it used to be better at the old airport with the Premium terminal), Abu Dhabi less so. I may be testing Abu Dhabi again soon to see if it improved or not.

 

Abu Dhabi not bad these days, with me doing 4 transits in the last couple of months. Moderate walk to security but then a breeze through transfer and lounge at gate 35 and the plane going from gate 33 (both ways) so lounge to plane is no more than a couple of minutes.

 

Had a shower last week in the lounge, had to wait 15 minutes but nice to refresh. Food pretty good to be honest and free flow everything from the bar or table service.

[jacko 8,813]

 

Abu Dhabi not bad these days, with me doing 4 transits in the last couple of months. Moderate walk to security but then a breeze through transfer and lounge at gate 35 and the plane going from gate 33 (both ways) so lounge to plane is no more than a couple of minutes.

 

Had a shower last week in the lounge, had to wait 15 minutes but nice to refresh. Food pretty good to be honest and free flow everything from the bar or table service.

Thanks for the feedback....

I was unhappy with the lounge during transit towards UK many times as it always seemed to be packed and I couldn't find a seat. The staff were great though, as one lady persuaded a German couple that having their legs up on the sofa on one side, and baggage on seats around them was not a considerate approach. I was going to book KLM as the cheapest option but the late Manchester arrival was forcing me into a hotel and that cancelled out the saving over Etihad. (Plus the messing about getting to and from it).

 

Aww Bugger! Etihad seem to have removed the very cheap (no chauffeur driven car) business class fares today and now coming in at 101.000 baht (was 87.5k)! Must have ended in February so I screwed up there!

Edited March 1, 2016 by jacko

[Fatboyfat 361]

[quote name="jacko" post="1140682" timestamp="145679174

 

Aww Bugger! Etihad seem to have removed the very cheap (no chauffeur driven car) business class fares today and now coming in at 101.000 baht (was 87.5k)! Must have ended in February so I screwed up there!

 

Yes the mailshot did say book by 29th February.

[jacko 8,813]

Yes the mailshot did say book by 29th February.

It may have been fortunate....... I will likely be making an expensive last-minute booking soon and had I been sitting on a non-refundable booking I could not use, it would have been a double hit. Well that is me being unusually optimistic.

[neilri2001 42]

BA have just announced a business and first class sale ex UK. Bangkok Business class can be had for £1734 for late May and early June and pretty much all of July and August. A slightly higher fare of £1867 is available for Early May, later June and much of September. You need to book by March 22nd although presumably the quicker you book the greater the availability. These are pretty good fares for BA.

[Fatboyfat 361]

I had a look at BA last year, and although the price was OK ish, the old direct flight option had gone, and the available route was either via Hong Kong or via Kuala Lumpar. That could have been because I was searching for 1st class though. I really don't like the flying past Bangkok, and then having to backtrack from Hong Kong concept.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Fatboyfat

[jacko 8,813]

I had a look at BA last year, and although the price was OK ish, the old direct flight option had gone, and the available route was either via Hong Kong or via Kuala Lumpar. That could have been because I was searching for 1st class though. I really don't like the flying past Bangkok, and then having to backtrack from Hong Kong concept.

Yeah, the direct flights must use the 777-200 the 3 class configuration. Club, Traveller Plus and Traveller.

[neilri2001 42]

BA haven't had first class on the LHR - BKK route for a while. To be honest BA's business class product on this ( and many other routes ) is fairly dated but still great if you can use miles and upgrades. I would consider the seating in Eva Business to be almost as good as first on BA but the food and service is better on BA. If the prices were similar i would choose EVA every time but unless EVA price match BA are coming in around £500 cheaper with these sale prices and you can also get triple airmiles if you pay with a BA Amex card. I had a closer look last night and there is good sale availability up until the middle of December.

[Gus 97]

Just a bit of info, I was looking at the professional pilots forum pprune, and it appears that many flight crew with EK are leaving the company as soon as they can, for various reasons I believe, but the geographical position of Dubai means many night shifts.

[bigbadbaz 69]

I booked about 3 months ago Qatar bizz class Man to Bkk in April for £1570 return with minimum stop over

 

I'm one of these saddos who has to check now and then to see if I could have got it cheaper and this time round it seems I booked right time and right price.

 

I checked a couple of days and the price is around £2900 which is stupid but makes me think anyone looking to book a flight a sale may be on the cards in a couple of weeks time so they can say 40/50% off or bogof

[jacko 8,813]

I booked about 3 months ago Qatar bizz class Man to Bkk in April for £1570 return with minimum stop over

 

I'm one of these saddos who has to check now and then to see if I could have got it cheaper and this time round it seems I booked right time and right price.

 

I checked a couple of days and the price is around £2900 which is stupid but makes me think anyone looking to book a flight a sale may be on the cards in a couple of weeks time so they can say 40/50% off or bogof

Yes I think you are correct. I was looking for Biz fares the other way BKK-Man and had quite a few that attracted me booking 3 months in advance, I had set a target price that I thought would become possible what with the competition on the route and better oil prices. Never quite got there and I kept leaving it. Then something happened in the UK had me thinking I may need to do an immediate trip...... so I waited to see how that turned out. It ended up being a non-issue and I was back in the market looking for a Biz Class but now only about 5 weeks in advance. My usual Mid East contenders were all well above 100,000 baht now and I got nervous whether I should grab one before it got worse.

 

Booked me via Helsinki in the end, much cheaper but an unknown quantity, also a daytime flight ex BKK when I prefer overnight.

[Goldpanner 399]

Ive never realy bothered with business class or first. I just get on board, eat the dinner then drop half a Zovirax sleeping pill and get woken up at Breakfast !. works for me.