Flights from Aus to UK - why the extra cost?

[pikey]

Just looking at booking flights for the family to pop back to the UK for a couple of weeks in the middle of next year.

The ticket costs appear to cost about $3,000 more, per person, if booked/originating from Aus than the same flights booked from the UK.

I knew it would be more, but not that much more!

What's that about?

[james280779]

yeah your doing it all wrong, It is more expensive granted but the wife and I get back for under $3k for both of us - thats Xmas and usually Mid year too (we go back twice a year)

Where are you flying from and to?

Also dont use an agent, do the legwork yourself.

I book my flights to Singapore and then to UK (London) seperately and it saves me a small fortune.

[pikey]

There's a bit of hindsight we missed...

The company that brought us over paid for one way tickets. What we should have done is offered to pay the extra to make it an open return, then buy a ticket to come back to Aus once in the UK.

I'll have a look at separate via SGP, ta

[pikey]

No, is more expensive looking up separate legs.

Going to Birmingham / Manchester (or London if it was that much less)

[Colonial]

Etihad are very good if going to Manchester.

Syd - Abu Dhabi - Manchester. Don't have to pay the London Tax either.

I got a ticket with 2 weeks notice for under 2k a couple of years back

[james280779]

said:

There's a bit of hindsight we missed...

The company that brought us over paid for one way tickets. What we should have done is offered to pay the extra to make it an open return, then buy a ticket to come back to Aus once in the UK.

I'll have a look at separate via SGP, ta

how many people and what dates, I will have a fish around also for you

[onny]

Normally I would say yes but its not cheaper flying to Singapore or KL then seperate return flights to UK around Xmas. They've got you by the short and curly there. Even the cheap airlines like Scoot and Airasia is charging over $1000 return to Singapore or KL at the moment for around xmas then add return flight to UK adds up to about the same as what you'll be paying from Oz.

You're looking at around $2500 return minimum at the moment if not more. The later you leave it the more its going to cost at that time of the year.

Try Flighfox.com a friend has used them a couple of times and he ususally save a fair few hundreds for each trip. Another option might be to use a VPN and use overseas websits like expedia.ie expedia.de etc and see if you get a discounted fare. Sometime if your internet address is overseas, the prices of some of these sites are cheaper then when you use an Australian IP address.

I'm about to start finding a flight for the other half flying out Xmas day and returning mid Jan. Using zuji.com.au and other oz sites are coming up with around $2500. Will try a VPN and then Flightfox and see if I can get better price.

[Mattt]

Skyscanner is what I use.

I've just returned from the UK, shame to be back

[pikey]

james280779 said:

how many people and what dates, I will have a fish around also for you

Ta

Had a look at quite a few operators, but struggling to get this under 18k (which is 3 operators & stops):

2 adults, 1 child (aged 2)
Out Wed 22nd May '13 pm
Back Sat 8th June '13 anytime
Destination: Man / Brum
Business class.

[robm3]

I find Emirates are the cheapest business class (and arguably the best on the A380). Skyscanner doesn't search for Business or Premium, only economy.

If I could make a suggestion it would be to try Qantas Premium Economy, it's not so bad and I use all the time (I fly long haul 1-2 times a month).

[motomk]

robm3 said:

I find Emirates are the cheapest business class (and arguably the best on the A380). Skyscanner doesn't search for Business or Premium, only economy.

If I could make a suggestion it would be to try Qantas Premium Economy, it's not so bad and I use all the time (I fly long haul 1-2 times a month).

By march or may next year Qantas to the UK will be through Dubai and connecting to some of Emirates flights.

[james280779]

lol, well I could get you back for about $4k economy, I would rather use the extra $14k and buy myself a Porsche 911 the other end - Horses for Courses and all that.

[Pommygranite]

Just booked to go back in Feb next year - $1500 Malaysian. Emirates, Qatar the same.

[Colonial]

james280779 said:

lol, well I could get you back for about $4k economy, I would rather use the extra $14k and buy myself a Porsche 911 the other end - Horses for Courses and all that.

A man after my own heart.

14k for being a bit less uncomfortable for 30 odd hours seems a bit steep.

[WeirdNeville]

Surely it's business class that's killing you?

I know it's better, but in the context of life, and the fact I'm just getting from A-B, and if I choose an operator that uses an A380 then I know that you get plenty of room in economy, and it's only 16 hours of my life... I just don't see why anyone pays 2-3 times as much for a slightly posher lunch and another few inches of leg room. And I say this as someone who's never traveled business class, so if I'm missing out on the free blowjobs and backrubs please enlighten me. But I could still source them elsewhere for less than the differential in ticket prices...

It is stupid that flights cost more if booked that way around, but it's just economics isn't it? Higher wages over there and all.

[ariddell]

$18k sounds a bit steep for Business, we paid about the same for 2 of us return heading back this xmas and NY with BA/Qantas in First.

We usually go through www.firstclass.com.au , they tend to show any of the ongoing specials at the rabies free end of the plane as cheap as I've ever seen anywhere else and save a load of hassle hunting around.

Don't bother with premium economy, if you're used to business you'll likely hate it - I've done it once with BA out to Japan from the UK and vowed never again, bumped the return leg back to business.

[200bhp]

WeirdNeville said:

Surely it's business class that's killing you?

I know it's better, but in the context of life, and the fact I'm just getting from A-B, and if I choose an operator that uses an A380 then I know that you get plenty of room in economy, and it's only 16 hours of my life... I just don't see why anyone pays 2-3 times as much for a slightly posher lunch and another few inches of leg room. And I say this as someone who's never traveled business class, so if I'm missing out on the free blowjobs and backrubs please enlighten me. But I could still source them elsewhere for less than the differential in ticket prices...

I've flown business a dozen times to and from UK->China. However, when travelling with my wife I always go premium or standard economy. The only advantage of business is a lie-flat bed when all you want to do is sleep because you're bored.

I used to get the 11PM flight out of Hong Kong, take a nytol and get a good 8+ hours sleep on the plane. After a week of very little sleep you really appreciate that.

When we flew to Aus from the UK we went with Malaysia airlines as they operate an A380 on the longest leg of the route. You can pay 140 extra to get 2 exit row seats with no third person in the row, 10ft legroom and no one on either side. 1300 ish one way for two people from the UK.

[WeirdNeville]

Yep, I can fully appreciate that if you're flying out for work and need to be functioning when you get there from the get go, a real working bed in mid air is worthwhile. But then the company would pay, and the airlines exploit this.

[pikey]

WeirdNeville said:

I know it's better, but in the context of life, and the fact I'm just getting from A-B, and if I choose an operator that uses an A380 then I know that you get plenty of room in economy, and it's only 16 hours of my life... I just don't see why anyone pays 2-3 times as much for a slightly posher lunch and another few inches of leg room.

Ah, but this isn't just flights - what products and services we chose in life are a personal decision.

For example, which stereo do you have in your living room, which car do you have on your driveway and where did you buy your shirt? For each of these there will be someone who disagrees with your choice because it's poor quality and someone who disagrees because it's too much. It's just the same with flights.

Business is more than leg room and better food. It's the service and the whole all round package that starts when the driver picks you up from home, continues in a pleasant lounge, continues where you don't have to queue to get on the airline, much more width and length to your area, a bigger, more comfortable seat (that goes flat), more staff & attention, better food, and at the other end rapid customs processing, rapid luggage pick up and car home. And door to door it tends to take us 27 hours rather than 16.

Last time I came out I was fortunate enough to travel first, via Emirates on an A380. Now that was a ridiculous level of pampering, service and luxury - absolutely tremendous. Do I think it was worth the cost? No. There are a lot of people who do though.

[pikey]

ariddell said:

$18k sounds a bit steep for Business, we paid about the same for 2 of us return heading back this xmas and NY with BA/Qantas in First.

We usually go through www.firstclass.com.au , they tend to show any of the ongoing specials at the rabies free end of the plane as cheap as I've ever seen anywhere else and save a load of hassle hunting around.

Don't bother with premium economy, if you're used to business you'll likely hate it - I've done it once with BA out to Japan from the UK and vowed never again, bumped the return leg back to business.

Ta.

We figure as it's a quiet time of year that it'll be cheaper nearer the time as they have empty seats. We're also trying to see if we can get a discounted one way ticket back using our points and then when we're there (or before) get a return FROM the UK with a flexible return date.