QR : ARN -> CBR - 2100 EUR in J roundtrip
 

Spotted on flights:

https://www.google.com/flights?lite=...7*2.GBP.189017

Decent availability in Feb/March. As usual can't comment on the quality of the QR onboard experience nor the lounges en-route. Interestingly, this entire route is on QR metal (including the SYD->CBR connection). Unsure how that works logistically (i.e. do you stay on the plane when you land in SYD or is clearing immigration necessary?). Also can't comment on milage accrual albeit I suspect you'll get a decent set of miles on OW. Would appreciate it if fellow FTers can comment on lounge access at ARN, DOH, SYD and CBR. I'm guessing the Aussie airports will give you QF lounge access with your QR J ticket?

Safe Travels,

James

Oh glad its not just me that thinks that. Truly dreadful

I always use the "Amex Lounge" in ARN, which is quite nice, including free a la carte dining.
It has a different name, but I can't remember.

I travelled that same route last year and paid 15,500 SEK which at the time I worked out at about 1,500 euro r/t.

The stop at SYD that day was almost two hours. Landed at 06:09 and airborne again at 07:59. They make you disembark at SYD and do immigration. I didn't look for a lounge. On the SYD-CBR sector all they had was coffee - they said all the catering had been removed.

On the return, the landing at SYD was about 14:30 and we boarded again at 15:50. I used the QF First Class Lounge at SYD which was excellent. Very varied dinner menu with table service. Good wine list too. Can't remember if I got that lounge because of the QR busx class ticket or because I am OW Emerald. Hope this is helpful.

That would be access because of the One World Emerald status.....

What's the best ex-Scandinavia airport in terms if QR lounges?

15hrs in non-q 777....i'd think twice about that...unless i actually needed to get to Oz of course.

Neither. You deplane at SYD and there is a security check at SYD. SYD-CBR is treated as an international flight. You will have access to the international lounges. Customs and immigration is performed at CBR.

The reverse is the same except no security check when deplaning at SYD.

Unless this has changed recently.

Staff is great though. The QR flight was delayed by 6 hrs. The receptionist/manager (?) could've locked up and gone home. Instead, she kept the lounge open, even brought out some food, opened their "VIP area" so we - a handful of QR passengers - could sleep on the couches. Pretty impressive to see someone so dedicated to the job that they exceed their shift by eight hours. Granted, the offering is not great, but then I try to keep time in any lounge to a minimum.

<Rant> You folks haven't clearly been to many lounges, if dirty plates and limited seating are the worst you can say about a lounge! In particular, I'd like to draw your attention to HNL where the Hawaiian lounge consists of soft drinks and cookies and limited seating and the United Club when I was there just had edamame and soft drinks. Meanwhile, the CAI domestic MS lounge just had cookies and soft drinks and was about the size of a broom closet. Thinking the US is better? Think again! Aside from breakfast, most Domestic United Clubs have the most basic food options (think soup and carrots!)</Rant>

This deal also seems to work out of several other Scandinavian destinations:

From OSL for ~2100 EUR:
https://www.google.com/flights?lite=...8*2.GBP.197568

From CPH for ~2500 EUR:
https://www.google.com/flights?lite=...4*2.GBP.226134

From HEL for ~2600 EUR:
https://www.google.com/flights?lite=...3*2.GBP.231393

Safe Travels,

James

Helsinki Finnair lounge in HEL it's pretty terrible, very crowded in peak hours, limited food offering, often line just to enter! Priority Pass/ non-Finnair lounge above gate 26 in Helsinki is very mediocre, at least it has many different areas and ok for the early morning flights.