QR J class ARN-SYD £1568 return (approx A$3367) Another example of how people buying J class tickets in OZ seem to be penalised.

QR J class ARN-SYD £1568 return (approx A$3367)

Another example of how people buying J class tickets in OZ seem to be penalised. Qatar Airways is currently selling J class return tickets from ARN - SYD for c£1500 (best availability seems mid FEB to late MAR '16). What's more there are plenty of two stop routings such as ARN-DOH-HKG-SYD and same on return (in cahoots with CX) which for a BA exec Club member works out to 840 tier points - that is OneWorld Sapphire in one trip!

A shame these deals never seem to be available ex Oz. But if you are in europe and fancy a trip to oz early next year i'd jump on it!

perhaps its worth mentioning that these flights are generally cheaper from mainland europe ports rather than UK due to its higher taxes - we always fly from CPH and back as saves $800+ on business fares (including the trip from CPH to BHX/LHR) - UK residents also complain re the lack of cheaper fares from UK as much as they are never cheaper from Oz eihter

Another additional rationale that European carriers may use is that Feb-Mar in Europe is LOW season, and that is often when cheaper fares are offered to spur demand. Of course, at that time of the year, you are hanging just off the end of High season / Summer Australian fares.

Good discussion point though. Apart from dedicated Business travellers doing an Australia/Scandanavian run, it is a disincentive for Australian leisure travellers who may aspire to taking advantage of the Business cabin.

I guess the difference is though you can buy a ticket from LON-Scandi-LON for around £80-£100 and position to another city to take advantage of a mega fare saving - and maybe enjoying a nice night in Copenhagen or Stockholm too :-).  Unfortunately residing in OZ no such opportunity exists!

being an Expat thats exactly what people do - take a 'positioning' flight to somewhere in europe - then business from there to wherever - i totally agree with the exorbitant cost of tickets from Oz now i live here!

Because we a hub to nowhere ! Why do they all do it ? Because they can .

Exactly – while Australia is one of MANY destination from Europe, Europe one of ANY destination. We cannot go anywhere without boarding a plane and we relatively small nation. So they doing us simply because they can. Now lets talk about city council rates.

The best way for Australians to do this is position to a secondary Asian hub, like Denpesar. I checked and Qatar have Bali to Stockholm return business for $3900. Have a night in Bali before the long haul! 

i have found you can pay less taxes and charges by flying to hong kong on one ticket then another on to london.airlines pay different airport rates so check airlines as well!!

Illuminati I tells ya!