Anyone have experience flying to Europe/UK business or first?

[blakey72]

We're looking at flying to the UK at the end of the year and my wife has generously put me in charge of plans. This will probably be our one and only trip over there to see her family so we're looking at business or first class. It seems quite a few carriers are now bridging the gap between the two and some don't even offer first class any more. 

 

We can basically fly out of where ever but Melbourne is our closest. Sydney seems to offer more carriers than Melbourne so an hour to there shouldn't be a problem if needed. I guess we're after 'the best experience' and are looking at a budget of $20k or less each return which basically covers all airlines. The problem is picking the better one and are some carriers business class (eg. Qatar) s good or better than first class on others? 

 

It seems even the aircraft type can make a big difference to the experience. Any thoughts/suggestions from experiences you've had? I'm finding it really hard as we're just coming out of Covid and the airline industry has changed so much. 

 

Cheers

Blake.

[Guest]

Speaking from a lot of experience, unless you're cashing in points don't fly First. Business is MUCH better value if you are paying hard-earned cash. I only fly First when I have an abundance of points (I'm very much a points junkie) or I use a points broker. Business is where it's at, and of course it too varies between airlines. For that route, I'd be looking at Qantas or Emirates if flying Business.

 

You'd normally get easy flights via Dubai on any day of the week with just about any airline in normal times. But now, routes have not yet fully returned. I generally use Webjet or Skyscanner to get an idea of what is available via which routes. I wanted to fly to Munich this week, but out of Melbourne that included a 14 hour layover in Singapore (not acceptable to me). So I would have had to fly out of Sydney which is really inconvenient on long haul flights. If forced to do that, I usually manage my own domestic flights and go and have a few days in Sydney (or other capital cities) first.

 

You don't have the luxury of lots of choices of airlines or planes at the moment. But I use seatguru to work out which aircraft it is, and what type of seating. Ideally in business you want 1-2-1 for the best experience. Happy to answer any further additional questions you can think up.

[Guest]

Also, check One Mile at a Time, and other YT channels for reviews of specific airlines and classes.
I used to use those a lot before booking so I knew what I could expect.

 

Wish I had done that before paying cash for a Business Class fare to Bali with Jetstar a few years ago (hadn't flown them before). The seats didn't even recline (at all), and it was barely better than Economy for quite a premium price by comparison!

[blakey72]

Thanks @Marc, yeah it's not the easiest time to fly is it. I've read passenger reviews but I find them useless really. They just vary so much so I've given up on that. I guess things that are important to us are being able to talk to each other, so 1-2-1 centre seats would be best I guess.

 

Unless the window seats can turn around like I've seen on one carrier. Wifi is also fairly necessary. A comfortable seat and bed too as my wife has been on work cover for 2 years with a neck injury from nursing. There's a bit to consider, I've just been looking at Webjet so I'll check those other sites you mentioned out too, thanks for that. As you said, it is a bit of  hassle flying out of Sydney but if necessary we'll do what you said. Have a few days there beforehand. 

 

 

 

[Eggmeister]

Try youtube. Plenty of reviews.

[Mendes]

You will be very happy in business. It's always about the ratio of passengers to toilets  and being able to lie down and sleep.

[075Congo]

I flew to Heathrow out of Brisbane on Business Class with Emirates pre-COVID. Excellent service and getting to sleep on a flat bed was worth every  penny. Stopover in Dubai was a pain 4/5 hours. Bloody long time flying and utterly exhausted at the end of it. Not sure what COVID will add to the flight. Face-masks? I have done the "cattle-class" trip as well ......do not do it to yourself.

[lenticularis]

I had to fly three times on family emergencies in the last 5 months to UK ( Canberra - Sydney - Darwin - London Heathrow - UK regional airport), each about 36 hrs elapsed travel time one-way. Two trips were economy and one premium economy, each with Qantas.  Premium economy is worth the extra over cattle-class and business is much better again if your budget extends to it.

 

The 17 hr Darwin-Sydney ( or London-Perth which preceded it) flights are killers, however after about 10 flights each in the Boeing B787 Dreamliner over the past 5 years, the lower cabin altitude and higher humidity maintained relative to other aircraft types, do make significant improvements to overall dehydration and fatigue.

 

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, blakey72 said:

Unless the window seats can turn around like I've seen on one carrier. Wifi is also fairly necessary.

 

I've not come across this yet in my travels.

WiFi was also effectively useless on any plane I travelled in up to the pandemic. Not sure if the tech has improved yet.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, 075Congo said:

Stopover in Dubai was a pain 4/5 hours.

 

I now check in to one of the airport hotels now for any layover that's more than 2 hours.

Very affordable and while you can shower in the business or first lounge, you can't lay down, sleep or watch TV and chill like you can in the hotels.

[Volunteer]

In my experience, Emirates business will be the best option price/experience wise. I priced-up a UK trip and it was a drink over 8k return. Qantas code-share some flights with Emirates and were charging 11k for the same flights. The business lounge/showers etc on layover in DBX are as good as it gets. Echo what others have said on not bothering with first. Emirates will also do chauffeur pick-up and drop-off both ends of the journey in the ticket price.

 

Singapore is probably edging it for overall experience, but again, well over 10k per return ticket. I used to fly first/business on SQ out of Singapore and it was the best option when I lived there. Once I'd used all my FF miles and moved to Melbourne, I pretty much jumped ship to EK for good.

Edited May 16, 2022 by El Tel

[Guest]

17 hours ago, El Tel said:

Emirates will also do chauffeur pick-up and drop-off both ends of the journey in the ticket price.

 

Agreed with all the advice you offer there. Singapore First Suites is definitely an experience. I hoped one day to experience The Residence, but doubt points will ever get me that far.

 

I do believe Emirates has discontinued the chauffeur service on the AU end - unless its come back post-COVID?

[Super Mustud]

I was going to respond with a few comments however it seems it has already pretty much all been said. Yeah, business is the sweet spot although travelling first is very pleasant if someone else is paying or you have been bumped up. from business - although this pretty much only happens if you are travelling internationally every fortnight or so. I once made the mistake of accepting an upgrade to first while the Goddess stayed in business. Never made that mistake again.  Even the hostesses stirred me about it for the next few flights. If you are nice you can usually get champagne from first when flying business. I like that.

[blakey72]

I've done some serious YouTube watching and reading over the past few days. I actually used to read quite a bit of One Mile at a Time that @Marc suggested, he does a good job. Some catching up to do after Covid though cause a lot has changed. Thank you everyone for your comments and I'm taking it all into consideration. 

 

My personal favourites are 1. Etihad First on the A380, 2. Qatar Business QSuites, 3. Emirates Business A380, 4. Emirates First on the B777-300, and 5. Singapore First suites on the A380. My wife doesn't like 1 because it's 'too brown'  I like the QSuites but Mrs blakey72 has decided she wants first as this is our 'big trip' and after this it will be Business to places like Japan, USA and NZ.

 

So it has been decided that 5 is what it has to be. Joint suites/beds which will be nice. Not cheap by any means however we basically do nothing, don't drink, smoke, go out buy extra stuff (well some stereo gear), or travel...until now. 

[BugPowderDust]

I'll be controversial and say you need to add Cathay to that list. I've flown them all and I hate transiting via Dubai.

 

Flying to Europe via Hong Kong is good if you time your flights well time-zone wise. 

 

In terms of bells and whistles, the first class lounge in Hong Kong is great.  Cathay also count as points with Qantas (well they did the last time I flew). 

 

I have had very mixed experiences with Emirates. They are tight on the booze and they have a weird way of serving passengers in terms of their Emirates status rather than row 1, row 2 etc.  

 

Singapore Airlines I've found so so. Food can be hit and miss.

 

I generally don't hate flying business with Qantas, but was usually Platinum and their first class lounges are a great place to sink some time.

 

I'd never fly Qatar based on their recent behaviour: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/15/australian-women-to-sue-qatar-over-invasive-strip-search-ordeal 

 

@Marc is also right about hotel rooms. If you're there for more than a few hours it's nice to have a crap on a real toilet, shower and stretch your legs before you get back on the tin can.

[t_mike]

Sorry, can't help. The only time I've flown first class was by the seat of my pants.

[blybo]

On 17/05/2022 at 7:20 PM, Marc said:

I do believe Emirates has discontinued the chauffeur service on the AU end - unless its come back post-COVID?

It's back. Parents flew business Melb-Belfast via Heathrow in June. As an added bonus Emirates also threw in 2 cases of Covid for free . Can't blame the airline for that one, but I'm sure some would try. It did put a dampener on their holiday though.

 

Being a tight arse I used to fly Melb-Dubai business and Dubai-Milan economy as that leg is only around 7 hours compared to 14 Melb-Dubai. I was going every 6 months and found the saving was worth it for me. Do long hauls often enough and you learn to sleep even in cattle class, but it's still broken sleep.