Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
#2506
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Thanks for the reply. If the numbers on the chart are return fares and *if* a one-way fare can be booked for 1/2 of that, then I should have enough miles anyway. I only need to visit Raleigh in NC and Buenos Aires, then on home to Perth, so three flights (with or without changing aircraft), each showing as around 100,000 miles on the chart. If one-way is half of that, then 150,000 miles, more or less. I'll phone US Airways as soon as my friends have confirmed the dates I can visit.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
#2507
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Thanks for the reply. If the numbers on the chart are return fares and *if* a one-way fare can be booked for 1/2 of that, then I should have enough miles anyway. I only need to visit Raleigh in NC and Buenos Aires, then on home to Perth, so three flights (with or without changing aircraft), each showing as around 100,000 miles on the chart. If one-way is half of that, then 150,000 miles, more or less. I'll phone US Airways as soon as my friends have confirmed the dates I can visit.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
#2508
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 35
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Just got off the phone to US-Airways, apparently you can use different carriers within One World for your outward and return journeys, is this new? I didn't think you could do that.
#2509
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Mix and matching carriers has always been possible...you could fly 10 different carriers on one journey if you liked.
#2510
LifeMiles award chart changes Oct 15th
Attention LifeMiles hoarders!
It seems very likely there will be award chart changes on Oct 15th.
Very incomplete info here:
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/tra/pro/proredeneur.aspx
In the absence of anything concrete I would bank on a big increase in Aus-Europe cost and if you have plans in mind, book before Oct 15th.
It seems very likely there will be award chart changes on Oct 15th.
Very incomplete info here:
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/tra/pro/proredeneur.aspx
In the absence of anything concrete I would bank on a big increase in Aus-Europe cost and if you have plans in mind, book before Oct 15th.
#2511
Just Joined
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Hi all, I've been watching this thread for a couple of years now and managed to take advantage of the *A awards several times (thank you bc!!). Now I am trying to get to Miami or Jacksonville (Florida) from Perth around the 29th August returning 16th September or thereabouts. Has anyone actually managed to find availability for any long haul flights with OW because I am just about tearing my hair out!!!
Any options would be gratefully received. The thought of going back to economy now is making my stomach turn
Any options would be gratefully received. The thought of going back to economy now is making my stomach turn
#2512
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Just for information, I phoned US Airways today to book a return flight LHR -> PER -> LHR. As bcworld pointed out, the round-the-world fares have disappeared, so I am having to back track across the Atlantic twice and then across Asia to achieve my itinerary: London -> North Carolina -> Argentina -> Australia. Not good for the planet, but it's the only way I can do it now. It's doing my head in! LHR -> RDU (Raleigh-Durham, NC) -> LHR -> GRU (Sao Paulo) -> EZE (Buenos Aires) -> Sao Paolo -> LHR -> Kuala Lumpur -> Perth!!!! I'm doing all the trips with miles except London to NC return, where I got a relatively cheap deal with Virgin Atlantic in Premium Economy.
I thought I was going to tell you my happy story of having used KVS Tool to find availability, and then got the flight booked. But just as we were confirming the last leg on the phone, I got cut off :-( .
And without a confirmation code, the new agent on the next call couldn't resume my booking.
In order to make the booking at all in the first place, I had to give flight numbers and dates as the only available flights in business or first did not appear on the agents' screens automatically. And I can tell you there is very little availability, with Malaysia being the only option for the outward flight (first half of October) and almost the only option for the return (first half of January). There were just a couple of Cathay flights available in Jan.
So the bad news - when I tried calling back, I found that the flight I wanted had now disappeared (just 5 mins later). I suspected it was still on hold for my previous booking somewhere in the ether, but if it was, the agent couldn't get it back for me.
Not sure what to do now....either someone else got that 1 seat, or maybe if I'm lucky, the booking will timeout and it will re-appear. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I feel very deflated. I've spent some seven hours today trying to book flights, only for this to happen.
BTW, the second agent suggested an alternative routing. Get this! LHR -> Windsor, Ontario -> Phoenix -> San Francisco -> Singapore -> Perth!!!!!!! I politely declined, not wishing to spend the better part of a week travelling.
I thought I was going to tell you my happy story of having used KVS Tool to find availability, and then got the flight booked. But just as we were confirming the last leg on the phone, I got cut off :-( .
And without a confirmation code, the new agent on the next call couldn't resume my booking.
In order to make the booking at all in the first place, I had to give flight numbers and dates as the only available flights in business or first did not appear on the agents' screens automatically. And I can tell you there is very little availability, with Malaysia being the only option for the outward flight (first half of October) and almost the only option for the return (first half of January). There were just a couple of Cathay flights available in Jan.
So the bad news - when I tried calling back, I found that the flight I wanted had now disappeared (just 5 mins later). I suspected it was still on hold for my previous booking somewhere in the ether, but if it was, the agent couldn't get it back for me.
Not sure what to do now....either someone else got that 1 seat, or maybe if I'm lucky, the booking will timeout and it will re-appear. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I feel very deflated. I've spent some seven hours today trying to book flights, only for this to happen.
BTW, the second agent suggested an alternative routing. Get this! LHR -> Windsor, Ontario -> Phoenix -> San Francisco -> Singapore -> Perth!!!!!!! I politely declined, not wishing to spend the better part of a week travelling.
#2513
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Just for information, I phoned US Airways today to book a return flight LHR -> PER -> LHR. As bcworld pointed out, the round-the-world fares have disappeared, so I am having to back track across the Atlantic twice and then across Asia to achieve my itinerary: London -> North Carolina -> Argentina -> Australia. Not good for the planet, but it's the only way I can do it now. It's doing my head in! LHR -> RDU (Raleigh-Durham, NC) -> LHR -> GRU (Sao Paulo) -> EZE (Buenos Aires) -> Sao Paolo -> LHR -> Kuala Lumpur -> Perth!!!! I'm doing all the trips with miles except London to NC return, where I got a relatively cheap deal with Virgin Atlantic in Premium Economy.
I thought I was going to tell you my happy story of having used KVS Tool to find availability, and then got the flight booked. But just as we were confirming the last leg on the phone, I got cut off :-( .
And without a confirmation code, the new agent on the next call couldn't resume my booking.
In order to make the booking at all in the first place, I had to give flight numbers and dates as the only available flights in business or first did not appear on the agents' screens automatically. And I can tell you there is very little availability, with Malaysia being the only option for the outward flight (first half of October) and almost the only option for the return (first half of January). There were just a couple of Cathay flights available in Jan.
So the bad news - when I tried calling back, I found that the flight I wanted had now disappeared (just 5 mins later). I suspected it was still on hold for my previous booking somewhere in the ether, but if it was, the agent couldn't get it back for me.
Not sure what to do now....either someone else got that 1 seat, or maybe if I'm lucky, the booking will timeout and it will re-appear. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I feel very deflated. I've spent some seven hours today trying to book flights, only for this to happen.
BTW, the second agent suggested an alternative routing. Get this! LHR -> Windsor, Ontario -> Phoenix -> San Francisco -> Singapore -> Perth!!!!!!! I politely declined, not wishing to spend the better part of a week travelling.
I thought I was going to tell you my happy story of having used KVS Tool to find availability, and then got the flight booked. But just as we were confirming the last leg on the phone, I got cut off :-( .
And without a confirmation code, the new agent on the next call couldn't resume my booking.
In order to make the booking at all in the first place, I had to give flight numbers and dates as the only available flights in business or first did not appear on the agents' screens automatically. And I can tell you there is very little availability, with Malaysia being the only option for the outward flight (first half of October) and almost the only option for the return (first half of January). There were just a couple of Cathay flights available in Jan.
So the bad news - when I tried calling back, I found that the flight I wanted had now disappeared (just 5 mins later). I suspected it was still on hold for my previous booking somewhere in the ether, but if it was, the agent couldn't get it back for me.
Not sure what to do now....either someone else got that 1 seat, or maybe if I'm lucky, the booking will timeout and it will re-appear. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I feel very deflated. I've spent some seven hours today trying to book flights, only for this to happen.
BTW, the second agent suggested an alternative routing. Get this! LHR -> Windsor, Ontario -> Phoenix -> San Francisco -> Singapore -> Perth!!!!!!! I politely declined, not wishing to spend the better part of a week travelling.
I have 120,000 points and have declined the last two 100% bonus miles offers, it just got too hard for returns from Perth to Europe/UK. I'll try to use them for either domestic flights, or perhaps Singapore.
But! It was great while it lasted, and lots of people who perhaps wouldn't have been able to otherwise, were able to experience business or first class long haul flights, thanks to BC World alerting us to this deal.
Back to spending the equivalent of a year's food budget on Emirates flights for us - at least it's only one stop between here and Manchester
#2514
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Speaking of LifeMiles, they have published the details of their award chart changes and they are actually quite good! Business class Aus-Europe drops from 87.5k to 85k each way and business / first from Australia to Asia drops substantially. The main loser is Aus - USA which has always been quite difficult to book with LM anyway.
#2515
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 83
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
just a quick thanks again for BCworld for bringing this to the masses just returned from a trip to Europe in Business, flew Melb - BKK with Thai, BKK - LHR with Eva then same in reverse. Eva air was way better in every way then Thai, especially as my return from BKK to Melb was on very old plane with the style business class.
#2516
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 125
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
just a quick thanks again for BCworld for bringing this to the masses just returned from a trip to Europe in Business, flew Melb - BKK with Thai, BKK - LHR with Eva then same in reverse. Eva air was way better in every way then Thai, especially as my return from BKK to Melb was on very old plane with the style business class.
#2517
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
And the saga continues.....the 3rd October flight from LHR to PER via KUL came back into play, so I tried to book it. The agent could not find it on her screen, even when breaking it down into its component parts. All this while I - simultaneously - checked with KVSTool and could see availability.
Since that was a no-go (she also checked via HKG and Doha) I moved on to my flight to Buenos Aires. She found the flight I wanted - to Sao Paolo on 10th Sep, BA 241 - but she saw availability only in economy. Yet, using the Awards/BA-Oneworld method on KVSTool I could see "CS9", i.e at least 9 business class award seats.
This seems to imply to me that US Airways is somehow restricting access to award flights that would be available if I had miles with BA.
This is the first time I have tried to book with US Airways. Is this normal? And if so, is KVSTool useful, given that what it says does not line up with what the US airways call centre tells me?
Just to be clear, the lady who answered did not seem unhelpful. She seemed to be really trying to find flights and she didn't mind if I told her what I had found - she was prepared to listen to my suggestions.
Since that was a no-go (she also checked via HKG and Doha) I moved on to my flight to Buenos Aires. She found the flight I wanted - to Sao Paolo on 10th Sep, BA 241 - but she saw availability only in economy. Yet, using the Awards/BA-Oneworld method on KVSTool I could see "CS9", i.e at least 9 business class award seats.
This seems to imply to me that US Airways is somehow restricting access to award flights that would be available if I had miles with BA.
This is the first time I have tried to book with US Airways. Is this normal? And if so, is KVSTool useful, given that what it says does not line up with what the US airways call centre tells me?
Just to be clear, the lady who answered did not seem unhelpful. She seemed to be really trying to find flights and she didn't mind if I told her what I had found - she was prepared to listen to my suggestions.
#2518
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
It implies to me that the BA search engine is giving inaccurate results, which it often does in my experience. CS9 is highly, highly unlikely to be true. If I saw that I'd try and verify the result with another method...JL would be my choice for likely most accurate results.
#2519
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Re: Business Class Airfares to UK / Europe - approx $2700 - $2800 rtn!
Thanks, I'll try that.
EDIT: The JL/OneWorld method seems only to show availability for CX, BA, AA or AF.
That means it misses several of the major carriers between LHR and PER such as QR and MH. MH was the only airline showing availability before (with the BA/Oneworld method).
Also, it doesn't show availability for LHR to EZE where the major carriers are TAM and IB, as well as BA.
EDIT: The JL/OneWorld method seems only to show availability for CX, BA, AA or AF.
That means it misses several of the major carriers between LHR and PER such as QR and MH. MH was the only airline showing availability before (with the BA/Oneworld method).
Also, it doesn't show availability for LHR to EZE where the major carriers are TAM and IB, as well as BA.
Last edited by markfisher61; Jul 26th 2014 at 9:45 am.