Globaliser

The easiest way to check this, if you have an EF subscription, is to use Fare Information search. Put in your origin and destination, any random current dates (eg today or tomorrow) into both the outbound and inbound date boxes, limit your search to BA and G class, and check the box to search fares for all travel dates. This should return a listing of all valid G class fares for any travel dates. You can then drill down a bit further if you want to see the reasons for any differences between them, if there are any.

Having a quick look at HAJ using this, there are basically two levels of G class fare. Each level has a Saturday variant and a Sunday variant, but the fares are the same for both days. The differences appear to be related to which flights can be used. I haven't done a cross-check against the timetable, but my guess would be that the cheaper fares are more limiting on which flights can be used.

If you have a list of destinations that you're interested in, using ITA can be a more powerful search than Google Flights, especially if you're only really interested in the G class weekend day trip fares because you can limit your search to those using the advanced controls. But if you do this, remember to deduct £8 each way from the ITA quote to get what ba.com will quote, because of the GDS fee that's included in the ITA quote.

Globaliser

I don't keep a close eye on them, but whenever I look I seem to find that G class fares are loaded. So I suspect that they always are.

Instead, what constrains your ability to use them is G class availability, and as far as I can see that is done on the usual revenue management basis, ie you can't tell. Some people report being able to find availability at short notice but not a bit further out, but I've just seen some for Germany in November.

florens

It depends, and it is very hard to predict I'd say. Sometimes they are available at very short notice, <24h, and sometimes very far out, as you mention.

kt74

What's there to do in Trier? Any tips/lunch/beverage recommendations? ...with my scheduled travels I was 10 TPs short of Gold, so I have a (week)day return trip to LUX booked in September for just £51.60 - with champagne brekkie in the T3 CX F lounge, that's what I'd call a result!

dp1586

You can see the Porta Nigra (roman remains) in the city centre. Last time I was there we ate at a wine bar opposite the cathedral which had a lovely garden, definitely recommended (https://www.weinstube-kesselstatt.de/)

corporate-wage-slave

Trier is the oldest city in what is now Germany, with a renown university and it has a thriving city centre within a short walking distance from the railway and bus station. LUX is connected by direct coaches 30 miles away, and you can also just catch the regular train services between Trier and Luxembourg stations, the LUX airport shuttle passing by the station. In addition to Porta Nigra, which is right by the centre, there is the cathedral (Dom) which is just about the oldest European church north of the Alps (it was rebuilt by the Vikings!) and combines Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Another sight to consider is the townhouse where Karl Marx was born. More generally there is a very pleasant pedestrian area and many good places to sit outdoors, have your tipple of choice and admire city life going on around you.

BA usually have an early and late service into LUX so a typical day could involve the ride to Trier (in itself an attractive one, either by the motorway or by rail), a couple of hours walking around the city centre, lunch somewhere, visiting the Dom and perhaps Karl Marx's home, a visit to Judengasse, in the former Jewish quarter, to admire the old buildings (look upwards!), perhaps a bit of shopping (beer mugs....) then taking a train / coach perhaps a bit before you need, and having a bit of lounge wind-down time in LUX. If you go at least one way by rail then you can also have a bit of a peek at Luxembourg city as you go through.

My list of places in Trier includes Brunnenhof by the Porta (my notes say "tourist trap but a nice one!"), Coyote Cafe ("best in the evening, but open for lunch"), Christis ("homemade ice cream using fruit directly, and coffee"). However the place is covered in cafés and restaurants, so I'm sure you can amble around and find your own selection.

I'm just going to ping in @travelwithross since I think he also knows the place.

Flame3601

travelwithross

Thanks @corporate-wage-slave

Trier is one of my favourite cities especially as a teenager/kid. It's especially rich in Roman heritage and history

Sights:
-Aula Palatina - Basilica of Constantine - from the 4th Century. The Ceiling is magnificent.
-Roman Bridge - A 2nd Century Bridge that still exists today, over the Moselle. Oldest standing bridge in Germany.
-Imperial Baths - Constructed in 4th Century, and also part of UNESCO World Heritage. If you are lucky, live actors do sport reenactments in the bath grounds.
-A wee bit away - but reachable, is Eltz Castle. It's a truly magnificent castle, and the architecture is amazing - also makes for some fantastic instagram opportunities.

Food/Drink:
Weinstube Kesselstatt - This old-style Weinstube is my relaxing place for a tipple and bite to eat - excellent food (think simple and hearty), spectacular grounds, and inside the walls/wine/barrels make for a wonderful sight. If you don't already know, Trier is full of vineyards, which line the Moselle, Saar, and Ruwer Rivers. Grape specialties found here are Auxerrois Blanc and Müller-Thurgau, and the other varieties are Gamay, Gewürztraminer, Meunier, Pinot noir, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris and Riesling.
Soup here is good - Linseneintopf mit Einlage/Würstchen usually.

Aom Ecken - If you want a truly authentic experience, you won't go wrong here. Full of locals. They also have amazing homemade apple wine. The chef is a 74 years old. My recommendation: Try the mushroom and cheese covered pork with spargel (white asparagus).

Wine Booth - Main Market - open from 10am-10pm, you can usually get a glass of wine, or sparkling wine, from the vintners from Trier - menus change weekly as do the vintners. Costs around 10EUR for a tasting and snack. Hic!

kt74

Thanks dp1586, CWS and travelwithross - very looking forward to my trip now!
This sounds dangerous!

above the clouds

Thanks guys, and apologies for not replying sooner, I only just saw your replies.
Zurich was lovely on Saturday. I have been 4 times since December, but Saturday was actually the first time I made it into town in many years.
The other times recently I got as far as the local airport hotels.

Got a day ticket for local trains for around CHF 13 and took the train 2 stops to Hauptbahnhof, then walked down Bahnhofstrasse (main shopping street), past Storchen Hotel (hotel goals for another visit), over the bridge across the Limmat, down Bellerivestrasse, stop at Molino for ice cream, back through the old town to Hauptbahnhof with enough time for Aspire lounge dinner and plane spotting on the terrace. Zurich really is perfect for a day trip, especially in the Summer. Only negative are the local prices for just about anything, but they didn't come as a surprise.
Next time I'll try the trains you suggested for the views, now that I have done the city centre route : )

Keep it Riel

Relatively slim pickings this weekend and next as the Summer is upon us. FRA is available on 7/7 though - instead of heading to Frankfurt city though, are there options in the other direction? Wiesbaden and Mainz seem to be easyish to get to - any recommendations?

Globaliser

Wiesbaden is probably more attractive than Mainz. But depending on how you're planning to get around, it might be more interesting still to go a bit further along to either Ruedesheim or Bingen.

Deltus

These fares really do come and go! I wanted a day out this Saturday, so booked LUX yesterday because it was either that, ZRH or GVA, and I don't think I can afford lunch in Switzerland... Then checked again today and both NCE and LIN have appeared (although with a 3pm return for LIN).

I'd rather have had a day on the Cote d'Azur than in LUX, but nevermind. At least I can enjoy breakfast in the CX J lounge...

makeitthisfar

Thanks @corporate-wage-slave and @travelwithross. I remember seeing this comment about Trier a few months ago. Woke up this morning to find some cheap g-class day return flights to LUX for tomorrow. Figured I will go out to Trier this time.

My history is not that great and had no idea Karl Marx was born in Trier. I only happened to visit Highgate Cemetery yesterday!

thebigben

Just had one of those to Stuttgart. Enough time for the Porsche and Mercedes museum and some proper German food in the city centre... will be trying another one soon enough Booked a day into Zurich for November too, a month or so in advance.