Ridiculous Business Class Fares to Europe?!!
Mar 29, 2001 | 3:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: palo alto, ca
Posts: 45
Ridiculous Business Class Fares to Europe?!!
I am trying to plan a business trip to Italy next month from SFO. The best fares I am finding (and I would prefer to take Star Alliance) are close to $7k RT!!!!
I never flew on the Concorde but I seem to remember that the RT fare on it was around $10k
Any explanations for this (fuel cost, etc.) and strategies as to what to do?
I never flew on the Concorde but I seem to remember that the RT fare on it was around $10k
Any explanations for this (fuel cost, etc.) and strategies as to what to do?
Mar 29, 2001 | 3:37 pm
#2
Join Date: May 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 565
Hmm. Business class fares are typically OUTRAGEOUS! What would you consider to be a typical fare? 4k? 5k?
I think there are business class consolidator fares out there...but I don't know where to find them.
How about using some miles? That seems to be the most popular way.
If you don't have enough miles and can't find something more affordable, drop me an email and I'll see if I can help in some way.
I think there are business class consolidator fares out there...but I don't know where to find them.
How about using some miles? That seems to be the most popular way.
If you don't have enough miles and can't find something more affordable, drop me an email and I'll see if I can help in some way.
Mar 29, 2001 | 3:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
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RTW fares might be cheaper?
Upgrade TWA?
Check out originating in Thailand or Canada...
I'm sure there are others with good ditrect experience here.
Then there's that travel agancy with "one" in it's name which sells discount first and biz tickets.
Upgrade TWA?
Check out originating in Thailand or Canada...
I'm sure there are others with good ditrect experience here.
Then there's that travel agancy with "one" in it's name which sells discount first and biz tickets.
Mar 29, 2001 | 4:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: bringing sexy back
Posts: 7,751
Originally posted by nologic:
Then there's that travel agancy with "one" in it's name which sells discount first and biz tickets.
Then there's that travel agancy with "one" in it's name which sells discount first and biz tickets.
Anyone have good experience with them? I left a "request for quote" on their site last year, and they got back to me two weeks later, after I had returned from the trip! What are the discounts like, and do the tickets earn miles?
Mar 29, 2001 | 4:36 pm
#5
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
Mar 29, 2001 | 5:17 pm
#8
Community Director Emerita
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Be sure that your agency prices your ticket as two one-way tickets, instead of RT. Tickets to both Italy and Spain are cheaper this way. Their currencies are soft, and international carriers price tickets more cheaply from those countries than to those countries.
Mar 29, 2001 | 5:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat | TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,969
Here is ex-YVR, full J class:
YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY
From To Carrier Flight/Class Date Depart Arrival
VANCOUVER INTL (BC) TORONTO PEARSON (ON) AC 142 J April 15, 2001 08:30 15:55
TORONTO PEARSON (ON) MILAN MALPENSA (IT) AC 9822 J April 15, 2001 17:25 07:35 +1
MILAN MALPENSA (IT) TORONTO PEARSON (ON) AC 9823 J April 26, 2001 10:45 14:05
TORONTO PEARSON (ON) VANCOUVER INTL (BC) AC 147 J April 26, 2001 15:15 17:06
FINAL FARE QUOTE DETAILS
Passenger Type Base Fare Taxes Total Fare Nbr Total Rules
Adult 6399.00 14.00 6413.00 1 6413.00 Refundable
Grand Total (Canadian Dollars) 6413.00
Dorian
YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY
From To Carrier Flight/Class Date Depart Arrival
VANCOUVER INTL (BC) TORONTO PEARSON (ON) AC 142 J April 15, 2001 08:30 15:55
TORONTO PEARSON (ON) MILAN MALPENSA (IT) AC 9822 J April 15, 2001 17:25 07:35 +1
MILAN MALPENSA (IT) TORONTO PEARSON (ON) AC 9823 J April 26, 2001 10:45 14:05
TORONTO PEARSON (ON) VANCOUVER INTL (BC) AC 147 J April 26, 2001 15:15 17:06
FINAL FARE QUOTE DETAILS
Passenger Type Base Fare Taxes Total Fare Nbr Total Rules
Adult 6399.00 14.00 6413.00 1 6413.00 Refundable
Grand Total (Canadian Dollars) 6413.00
Dorian
Mar 29, 2001 | 5:27 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat | TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,969
Or you could take me with you...for about CAD1200 each...and I could upgrade us to J!
Dorian
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Dorian
------------------
The Global Lounge Project - open source airline lounge listings - managed by Dorian
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel tips - managed by Catman, Shareholder, Rudi & Dorian
The Star Alliance RTW Price Chart - by Dorian
The Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart - by Blondebomber
Mar 29, 2001 | 5:51 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Posts: 1,829
7k for a business seat from Seattle to London is about right. It doesn't surprise me that SFO is the same. You can find lower fares, but I wouldn't call 7k uncommon or unheard of pricing.
Mar 29, 2001 | 7:29 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: LAX, HKG
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Posts: 2,228
ex-east cost J fare to London is $6700+
a few options to get lower fare
1. issue 2 one-way tickets (since ex-USA is more expensive)
2. detour from another country (e.g. ex-Canada), not too practical for business travellers
3. try to travle further down. e.g instead of LAX-LHR-LAX
you fly LAX-LHR-FRA-LHR-LAX...again, not too practical for business traveller, unless you cheat by tearing the middle coupons ( again you can still use the 2 1-way trick)
4. RTW (see RTW column)....some restrictions apply, not too suitable for business traveller again
[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 03-29-2001).]
a few options to get lower fare
1. issue 2 one-way tickets (since ex-USA is more expensive)
2. detour from another country (e.g. ex-Canada), not too practical for business travellers
3. try to travle further down. e.g instead of LAX-LHR-LAX
you fly LAX-LHR-FRA-LHR-LAX...again, not too practical for business traveller, unless you cheat by tearing the middle coupons ( again you can still use the 2 1-way trick)
4. RTW (see RTW column)....some restrictions apply, not too suitable for business traveller again
[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 03-29-2001).]
Mar 29, 2001 | 8:01 pm
#14
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Join Date: Feb 2000
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Originally posted by SanDiego1K:
Be sure that your agency prices your ticket as two one-way tickets, instead of RT. Tickets to both Italy and Spain are cheaper this way. Their currencies are soft, and international carriers price tickets more cheaply from those countries than to those countries.
Be sure that your agency prices your ticket as two one-way tickets, instead of RT. Tickets to both Italy and Spain are cheaper this way. Their currencies are soft, and international carriers price tickets more cheaply from those countries than to those countries.
[This message has been edited by zrs70 (edited 03-29-2001).]
Mar 29, 2001 | 8:13 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: SEA-TAC
Posts: 211
I can't understand why you are buying business class tickets in the first place. If you have the means, buy a coach ticket and upgrade them to business class, with miles, coupons, or whatever. Sure, you might not be able to get seats at short notice, but if booking in advance, your set.