Unusual way of flying to Europe in business that's often cheaper and quicker than well-worn routes

News.com.au

4 hours ago

When travelling to Europe, Australians typically choose from a limited range of options when it comes to airlines and stopover points.
It's Qantas via Singapore, or increasingly direct from Perth to London, or one of the major Middle Eastern carriers – Qatar, Emirates and Etihad – via their homebases in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
But there's another option that has flown under the radar, pardon the pun, which is strange given it's often quicker and cheaper.
Thai Airways has a growing presence in Australia and its convenient daily services to Bangkok offer a host of options for getting to popular destinations in Europe.
The airline is renowned for its exceptional on-board service and high-end, restaurant-quality cuisine, so the time and cost savings only make it more of an appealing consideration.
And those wanting to splash out and fly at the pointy end of the plane in business class can also nab more affordable fares than those travelling via the Middle East on larger carriers.
The time and cost comparison is clear when measuring Thai Airways with popular carriers.
News.com.au crunched the numbers looking at a flight to the two most popular destinations for Australians – London and Paris – in early autumn, on the shoulder of peak season.
Flying from Sydney to London on Qatar involves 25 hours and 30 minutes of travel, including a 95-minute stopover in Doha, at a cost of $9508 roundtrip in business class.
Qantas can deliver you fastest, with a total flying time of 23 hours and 55 minutes, inclusive of a brief 90-minute transit in Perth, but it'll set you back $10,298 return.
By comparison, flying Thai Airways to London requires 25 hours and 25 minutes, including the 3 hours and 20 minutes transit time in Bangkok, for $9464 return at the pointy end of the plane.
Those heading to the French capital can secure even bigger savings.
Flying business class on Etihad to Paris via Abu Dhabi will take 24 hours and 20 minutes, including a 140-minute stopover, and cost $10,536.
Qantas can get you there in 24 hours and 35 minutes, with a two-and-half hour stopover in Perth, for $11,344, while a ticket on Qatar sets you back $9288 and takes 25 hours and 40 minutes, with an almost four-hour stop in Doha.
But flying Thai Airways from Sydney to Paris takes 24 hours and 20 minutes, with an almost three-hour stop in Bangkok, for $9188.
There are periods throughout the year where the cost difference for a business class ticket between Thai Airways and the major carriers is even greater.
For example, in August, in the midst of peak season, return business fares to London are $1600 cheaper on Thai Airways, while a trip to Paris in the same period is about $1500 cheaper.
The airline has invested heavily in expanding its international services over recent years, adding dozens of new routes, with several in Europe.
In addition to London and Paris, Australians transiting via Bangkok can now fly directly onto Copenhagen, Milan, Brussels, Oslo, Stockholm, Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt and Istanbul.
A stack of new aircraft are on the way in coming years.
It also recently announced plans to roll out a new business class and premium economy offering across its entire long-haul fleet of Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s and Boeing 777s.
In particular, the 'state-of-the-art' business suites are set to impress, with privacy doors and a host of tech features, like huge screens, Bluetooth audio and wireless battery charging.
It has also bolstered its presence in Australia, now offering twice-daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok, as well as recently relaunching its direct service from Perth to the Thai capital.
Thai Airways operates twice-daily services from Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok, and once a day from Perth to Bangkok.