Booking Business Class Flights?

Smiley012

Hi there,

Wondering if anyone knows the best way to go about this, myself and my partner want to take my mother on a long trip to Australia. Due to health issues, and this being the trip of a life time, we have opted to go the extra mile and do business class, and seeing if we can do a one or two night stop over on the way there and back.

Trying to figure this out online is really difficult, especially trying to add the stop over. I remember being able to go into a travel agent who could see all flight options and you could figure out what was easiest and worked best for you.

Do such places exist? I went into one today and I was told they only do package holidays, and don't really have options to see specific business class flights etc.

Anyway, if anyone knows of somewhere in Dublin or an online place that might be suited, please let me know. I have always flown economy before, so this is new territory for me!

Smiley

vicwatson

Download the Skyscanner app

Or google them

Smiley012

I have been looking on skyscanner and google flights, the hard thing is the stop over. The online sites don't easily give that option. I'll keep hunting. Thanks anyway!

Edser

You could try Trailfinders, have shops in Dublin, Cork & Limerick I believe, and can organise business class & long haul..

Nutser

Smiley012 wrote:

I have been looking on skyscanner and google flights, the hard thing is the stop over. The online sites don't easily give that option. I'll keep hunting. Thanks anyway!

Check the multi stop option on skyscanner. It may work out more expensive than direct though.

killbillvol2

Smiley012 wrote: »

I have been looking on skyscanner and google flights, the hard thing is the stop over. The online sites don't easily give that option. I'll keep hunting. Thanks anyway!

Trailfinders should be able to put it together for you.

It used to be possible to add a stopover on the Emirates website.

ted1

Etihad will put you up for two nights in Abu Dhabi. If you fly with them. https://www.etihad.com/en-us/destinations/abu-dhabi/stopover

Or if you book business: https://www.etihad.com/premiumstopovers/

Smiley012

Wow! Thank you for all the super helpful replies, I have googled Trailfinders and I'll book an appointment with them to talk options.

I'm also checking out Etihad for their stop overs.

Thank you all again - this has been so useful!

thisistough

Have used a crowd called Travel Counsellors before OP and found them to be very helpful. They seem to be some sort of a travel broker so may only be affiliated/have partnerships with certain airlines and hotels, I haven’t looked into their methods properly but they were very easy to use

vicwatson

Smiley012 wrote: »

I have been looking on skyscanner and google flights, the hard thing is the stop over. The online sites don't easily give that option. I'll keep hunting. Thanks anyway!

Isn’t there a multicity option?

spurious

Trailfinders or one of the travel counsellors will take all the hard work out for you.
Make sure to get the limo either end too.
Did the same thing for my mother to NZ with stopovers in Hong Kong out and back.

Charles Babbage

spurious wrote: »

Trailfinders or one of the travel counsellors will take all the hard work out for you.
Make sure to get the limo either end too.
Did the same thing for my mother to NZ with stopovers in Hong Kong out and back.

Check out Cathay Pacific, traffic volumes to Hong Kong are a bit reduced with the unrest, which may mean cheaper fares.

woodchuck

The best of luck with Trailfinders! They get my recommendation too. One of the first questions they ask if you're flying business class, so they can set you with the appropriate agent to cater to your needs.

We've only used Trailfinders once, but our trip included a week where we wanted to make our own arrangements while on the ground. They're flexible and should be able to help you out.

daheff

where do you want to stop over? Maybe see about flights to there, and then an onward flight to Aus?

You aren't then stuck with the same airline for all 3 legs of the journey (but that also has its downside if there are delays/cancellations etc)

Living Off The Splash

Smiley012 wrote: »

Wow! Thank you for all the super helpful replies, I have googled Trailfinders and I'll book an appointment with them to talk options.

I'm also checking out Etihad for their stop overs.

Thank you all again - this has been so useful!

I flew business class with Etihad to Hong Kong. Never again. Abu Dhabi is a horrible airport.

At this time of the year the airlines are having their sales so you need to be quick. Choose an airline and have a look at their website.

Also have a look here

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowForum-g1-i10702-Air_Travel.html

https://www.seatguru.com/

ted1

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

I flew business class with Etihad to Hong Kong. Never again. Abu Dhabi is a horrible airport.

At this time of the year the airlines are having their sales so you need to be quick. Choose an airline and have a look at their website.

Also have a look here

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowForum-g1-i10702-Air_Travel.html

https://www.seatguru.com/

Abu Dhabi is a good airport, I fly through it at least once a month. You’ll also have lounge access and fast track through security if flying business.

I think you need to put content to your posts. Linking to trip advisor offers nothing. Is there a particular post you want to link to?

Living Off The Splash

ted1 wrote: »

Abu Dhabi is a good airport, I fly through it at least once a month. You’ll also have lounge access and fast track through security if flying business.

I think you need to put content to your posts. Linking to trip advisor offers nothing. Is there a particular post you want to link to?

Many people don't even know that there is an air travel forum on Tripadvisor. Having a search for questions about flying to Australia may help the OP and give them a few tips.

I wouldn't recommend Etihad to anyone......just my experience.

T_hanks__

you cant go wrong with emirates, imo one of the best airlines in the world. call into trailfinders and they will sort you out

ted1

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend Etihad to anyone......just my experience.

What went wrong with Etihad? I like them, find the planes comfortable, good in flight entertainment, staff attentive, meals good, generous with drinks

JohnCleary

I can't remember if it's Etihad or Emirates but they do a multistop (I think it's called).

Have done this business class in the past no issues, all done direct on their site.

Check Qatar too, have flown business with them (and rate them the highest) but I didn't stopover (just a few hour layover in Doha... very nice lounge)