Booking Flights for a European Summer 2023

• 

  Hybroid on 09/03/2023 - 00:33

  Qantas are never the cost-effective option so haven't flown with them. You could consider Sydney -> Los Angeles for a few days -> London or Amsterdam via Delta airlines (Virgin co-share). Direct flights each leg and breaks up the long trip to Europe.

  Play about with multi-city flight bookings as they're often far cheaper than single destination and back.

• 

  maverick1 on 09/03/2023 - 00:39

  +2

  don't think you will find any reward seats for European Summer. They are hard to come by at such short notice. Something may open up close to your travel date.

  • 

    blueyez on 09/03/2023 - 01:14

    unfortunately work took forever to approve leave =( but I think locking in flights sooner rather than later is better at this point as the aim is to make the event!

• 

  Starcraftmazter on 09/03/2023 - 01:40

  +6

  My dream was to fly in business class with Qantas - ah don't kill me for calling it around the world trip lol - however due to work being strict on my leave I don't think it would be a good idea for a trip of this length. But open to using points just on flights from here to Europe if it would be worthwhile.

  My friend, that is not a dream - it's a nightmare. Australia is lucky that so many of the top airlines in the world fly here and will deliver you almost anywhere in the world with 1 stop. Just some;
  * Singapore Airlines
  * Qatar
  * Etihad
  * Emirates
  * Cathay (if they return to their former glory)

  There are other quite good airlines that will deliver you to Europe, and perhaps they are slightly better or on par with Qantas - but the above 4 are miles ahead (especially for business), and are all cheaper than Qantas as well (especially if you are patient and wait for sales and buy a long time ahead).

  I would recommend you rethink your plans (I know not the advice you want to hear, but honestly). In any normal year, I would say you are far too late to buy tickets for those dates - you should be buying 6-9 months out or even further if possible. However right now, we are facing historically record-breakingly high air fares. The good news is, this situation should mostly resolve itself towards the end of this year, at which point you should be hunting for good deals to go next year's northern summer.

  In terms of award availability, forget about Qantas, they have pissed off most of their oneworld partners, and their only partner to Europe - Emirates has sky-high taxes and surcharges, which themselves cost as much as a ticket if you just bought it outright.

  Velocity has tonnes of award space - there is economy space almost any day, any dates, any number of days out, but of course we typically want to use points for premium cabins. Good thing they also have insane availability of premium econ with singapore airlines, and for business while it's always hard to get it, I would say velocity has 10x the business award availability of Qantas, having plenty with Singapore airlines and Qatar as well as Etihad - all 3/4 above fantastic airlines flying to Europe. If you book far enough ahead, and consider different airport options, I've actually found it very easy to find business reward seats - I even recently booked for this September, which in the grand scheme of things is not even that far away (I recommend you book seats literally as they become available around midnight, and book separately each journey so as to not wait for return flights to become available).

  • 

    blueyez on 09/03/2023 - 01:53

    Thanks for the input, I'm very aware of how last minute this travel is when considering points, just putting all my options on the table.

    Attending this event will happen regardless of how I end up getting there =)

    My around the world comment was regarding the Oneworld Classic Flight Reward, but I think my short travel time isn't good use for it.

    Just realised I also still have Virgin flight credits to use up too

• 

  Autonomic on 09/03/2023 - 02:56

  Do you have 200k points for Qantas and VA each or combined? The trickiest part is finding an award flight ex-AU. There's decent availability on Finnair out of SIN, BKK and DEL to Europe.

  Doesn't appear to be anything from MEL-SIN on VA in business but there is ADL-SIN if that's an option. Once you're in SIN you can then get a flight out to Europe in business with Qantas points. You can also fly MEL-BNE-DOH-FRA on 7/6/23 for ~$800 in taxes with Velocity points but the taxes are pretty steep.

  • 

    blueyez on 11/03/2023 - 23:44

    200k each =)

• 

  nxllson on 09/03/2023 - 03:15

  Hey OP,

  Quite an interesting trip you've got planned! Chiming in based on all the information you have provided so far.

  If it is 200k spread across both Qantas and Velocity, it would be a good idea to head on over to classifieds and swap it over with someone if you are prepared to use your points for a Business Class flight. I had a brief look using my Bronze QFF account and yup… almost impossible to secure flights to any parts of Europe with Qantas (it's not even giving me an option with Emirates).

  Now, do keep in mind that as Bronze QFF holders, you have a very low chance at being able to secure business class flights to Europe with relatively little notice, let alone even in Economy. Flying to France / Netherlands is also considerably more difficult to secure with good airlines. If you were to go to Asia, Qantas Points would be good to have.

  Here is what I would recommend:

  • Travel to London and then use cash for the final leg between London & Netherlands / France. This will give you the best options in terms of airlines.

  • Convert your Qantas points (if necessary) to Velocity when you do manage to find a good flight. I was able to come across a MEL > SFO > LHR with United Airlines for 59,800 pts + $126.40 taxes / 81,000 pts.

  • 

    blueyez on 11/03/2023 - 23:47

    Thanks for the suggestions =) I'm waiting for another 150k Velocity points to hit my account but am not holding my breath on it happening soon

• 

  kerfuffle on 09/03/2023 - 07:04

  I might reach Silver with Velocity although this might take time - I'm applying for a new credit card and the bonus status conditions state '250 Status Credits will be credited to your Velocity Frequent Flyer account within 30 days of receiving the relevant eligible offer associated with the individual card provided by the issuer of the card

  You don't become Silver just by getting 250 SC. You also need to fly the required sectors on VA metal.

  • 

    blueyez on 11/03/2023 - 23:41

    Yes I'm aware of that - I will be flying a second sector in April to meet that requirement

• 

  LeifSmart on 09/03/2023 - 08:18

  +3

  Vietnam airlines have cheap premium economy tickets to Paris. 2k ish return, depending on dates.

• 

  MELso on 09/03/2023 - 08:39

  +2

  First of all, as others have mentioned, you're highly unlikely to find reward seats in any class at this late stage, whether through Velocity or Qantas (although paradoxically, some airlines do release unsold inventory as award seats a couple of weeks before departure).

  Second, 200,000 points will not get you a return in business class - you'd need to go over using Qantas points and back using Velocity points (or vv).

  Which airport in Oz are you leaving from? This determines which airlines are better.

  As LeifSmart said, VN offers cheap fares to CDG in all classes (although there are long layovers involved). Otherwise, plug some details into Kayak and play around - but book directly with the airline.

  (Note also that flying via the US will require you to clear US customs on the way, so you'd need an ESTA if you went down that route.)

  • 

    blueyez on 11/03/2023 - 23:48

    I'm based in Melbourne but can fly out of other domestic airports if it's worthwhile =)

    Don't think I'd be keen flying via the US

    • 

      MELso on 12/03/2023 - 09:14

      You could possibly fly LATAM or Air Canada (Star Alliance) in that case if you do book round the world.

      Another option might be to get a positioning flight to SE Asia using points (e.g. using Velocity points to get to SIN, or Qantas points to get to SIN, CGK or BKK), then using Qatar Airways for a paid flight in business class.

• 

  Buwwy on 10/03/2023 - 02:25

  +1

  Almost no chance of finding business reward seats right now from Aus. Economy should be fine. I can see a few dates for Mel-Cdg in economy with Qatar (via Virgin).

  You can also look at departures from Asian cities, e.g. Sin-Cdg on Qatar has some business availability around that time.

  Another option is to wait until <1 week to departure. Can often find last minute business and first class reward seats that open up. But with peak season, might be harder to come by. Risky but if you have that flexibility, might be a good way to travel premium straight from Aus.

  A few different ways but you should be able to incorporate some of your points to help fund your trip. All the best!

  • 

    blueyez on 11/03/2023 - 23:49

    I do love taking risks, but not that close to departure!