Sydney-London-Sydney Business Class

dhmadm on 18/08/2014 - 02:24

I have been a past beneficiary of good advice from experienced travellers and contributors to this forum, so I thought I would post details of a booking I recently made.

My wife and I are travelling around mid-Sept to London from Sydney. First we go on Scoot from Sydney to Singapore, overnight there before taking Air India to London.

AI are flying the latest Dreamliners on this route & it is one stop (either New Delhi or Bombay)to London from Singapore

Cost? Approx $ 700 return on Scoot Biz & about $ 2000 return on AI. So, even after the cost of overnight Hotel in Singapore, this deal is under $ 3000 for Sydney-London-Sydney, Business class.

If there are cheaper/better deals for this route, please post. I found that Vietnam Airlines was the other option but at least $ 1000 more expensive.

Travel

Comments

  • RockyRaccoon on 18/08/2014 - 08:32
    +3

    Goodness gracious me!!

    Hotter deal than a Vindaloo

    Can you advise what sites you used to book the Air India flights, and can you break the trip in India?

  • roderigo on 18/08/2014 - 08:33

    Great Plan - cant think of anyway to do it cheaper myself other than scoot economy to Sing? its a fairly short flight and you are having a sleepover in Sing anyway

  • [Deactivated] on 18/08/2014 - 09:24

    Keep us updated on how the AI flight goes :) I've heard both good and bad things about them, so I'm kinda curious.

    I think you dodged a bullet with Viet Air. Plenty of bad reviews about them - their seats aren't even fully flat-lie and most of their flights have incredibly awkward timing, urgh.

  • donga100 on 18/08/2014 - 09:37
    +2

    Only thing I would add is that ScootBiz is actually equivalent to what is sold as premium economy on other airlines. Air India don't have the same glamorous reputation for their business class as airlines such as Emirates or Singapore Airlines and maybe the service isn't as excellent too but for me the main benefit of flying business is the comfort of the seat which will definitely be good on these new aircraft. Not to mention the price is less than half of what you would pay for Singapore or Emirates. Nice work!

  • modsec802 on 18/08/2014 - 09:49

    As mentioned above, Scoot isn't a true business class ticket

  • jman123 on 18/08/2014 - 10:38
    +4

    One thing I'd mention is the long layover in India - it's at least 13 hours on the return leg. Delhi airport is not one that I'd enjoy spending 13 hours in.

    Also I'm not sure if you have star alliance gold, but if you sign up with Aegaen and put the points to them, you will hit star alliance gold during your trip. If you join the Air India program you will not. (20000 miles vs 50000).

  • dhmadm on 23/08/2014 - 22:12
    +1

    Answering some of the points made & questions asked:

    1)Rocky Raccoon: Booked directly on the Air India web-site. And, we are breaking the journey up in Bombay on the way to London & on our return, too. You can do so in Delhi as well.

    2) donga100: Haven't flown AI in 10 years but am hearing good things about their service. And yes, we are resigned to a sort of premium economy experience with Scoot Biz. Acceptable for the price.

    3)jman123: Yes, it is a long layover but the new New Delhi airport is aeons superior to Sydney & Melbourne Airports. In fact, almost all the airports of India's major cities now are new and far superior to Sydney and Melbourne.
    Thanks for the Aegean suggestion. Will do so.

  • dhmadm on 01/11/2014 - 01:34
    +1

    Updating my experiences on the above post:

    1) Air India - OK for the price. SQ or Cathay need not worry for a few years. AI is not at all in their league but the seats are terrific and the aircraft brand spanking new. They were mostly on time. Service OK, though erratic. Would fly them again if the price was right i.e. cheap, cheap, cheap.

    2) Scoot Biz : as I was warned, at best it is Premium Economy. Flight time from S'Pore to Sydney was awful (1.45 a.m.) and the connections meant that we had to spend at least a day in Singapore each way. Not that keen to return on Scoot. Service was good, though.

    3) Yes, did hit Aegean Gold status (so, Star Alliance Gold)

  • dhmadm on 01/11/2014 - 01:37

    I am finding that Vietnam Airlines is possibly the cheapest for my next London trip, Business Class. Around $ 4.5 K. Depart end March for 4 weeks.

    The AI deal from S'pore is not cheap, anymore.

    Has anyone used the big business class discounters such as Alpha Flight Guru etc? Are they risky?

    Thanks!

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