To get the cheapest return flights to Australia to Europe you need to start somewhere other than Australia. Singapore Airlines currently have a fare from Stockholm Arlanda ARN airport to Sydney Kingsford Smith SYD airport for less than AUD$4,000 or SEK25,242 in business class. This is a saving of over $3,000 compared to a similar flight starting in Australia.
We discovered this fare using Miltons hack on finding cheap business class flights.
For Australians to take advantage of this deal you need to plan to visit Europe at least twice in a twelve month period. For example a cycling or hiking trip in June and a ski trip in December or January.
As someone who likes to visit Europe twice I year I have two trips in 2020 already booked using this travel hack.
In this post:
SQ362 and SQ361 between Singapore and Stockholm via Moscow
The key to low cost flights are SQ362 from Singapore Changi to Stockholm Arlanda via Moscow Domodedovo Airport and SQ361 in the opposite direction. You have a short one hour ten minute stopover in Moscow which is enough time to deplane, look at the tourist trinkets, visit the lounge and then return back to the plane.
This is a fifth freedom flight which means that Singapore Airlines can drop off or collect passengers for the shorter Moscow/Stockholm leg. On my first flight we had no one in business class doing this.
Can I stop over in Moscow on SQ232 or SQ361?
Based on my research the price increases significantly if you plan to do any type of stopover in Moscow. If you really want to visit Russia consider a short cruise from Helsinki to St Petersburg with the 72 hour visa. The Australian Government’s Smart Traveller site confirms this approach
Can I stopover in Singapore?
Absolutely you can stop over in Singapore which is something I plan to do on two of my four stopovers. Singapore Airlines also has some great offers for one and two night stopovers. My preference is to stay at the Hotel Indigo in Katong and enjoy the nearby hawker centre.
Another option is to have a five night stopover in Singapore and then fly to an interesting destination nearby eg Penang or Siem Reap. Something that you would not visit directly from Australia but makes an interesting side trip. In February Julie and I are visiting Penang and in May having an extended Singapore stopover with friends.
How to get started by using Points for a one way Award
The great thing about frequent flyer redemptions is the ability to make a one way redemption at half the price of a return. Major airlines such as Qantas often charge a premium to purchase a one way flight. The cancellation fees for Qantas redemptions are a modest 6,000 points.
My tip is start by finding the first trip to Europe with points and once that is done visit the Singapore Airlines flight to continue your planning.
Once you have booked your first one way award you are then ready to book your flight.
You will need to have enough points handy to also book your return leg unless you plan to keep this hack going for a number of years!
A worked example for 2019/2020
My twelve month plan looks a little like this:
Trip 1: Cycling in Italy
May 2019 – Frequent flyer redemption with Qantas to Milan
June 2019 – Stockholm to Sydney – Singapore Airlines Hack (Ticket 1)
June 2019- January 2020 – on a 210 day Sydney stopover ie at work!
Trip 2: Skiing in Switzerland
January 2020 – Sydney to Stockholm – Return flight from June 2019 (Ticket 1)
February 2020 – Stockholm to Sydney – Singapore Airlines (Ticket 2)
February 2020 – May 2020 – back at work on a 120 day stopover
Trip 3: Hiking in the Dolomites and Switzerland:
May 2020 – Sydney to Stockholm – Return flight to Stockholm (Ticket 2)
June 2020 – Zurich to Sydney – Krisflyer redemption
In the above example I did three trips to Europe two in business class with Singapore Airlines and bookended them with frequent flyer flights.
How much should I pay for a business class flight to Europe?
On a previous story I value a return business class flight from Australia to Europe at around $4000. Using frequent points, best case expect to use 144,600 plus taxes each way. At 1c per point that’s $1,446 plus taxes ie nearly $2,000. However it is often a lot easier to buy a ticket that’s convenient than to redeem points. That’s why I like this hack so much.
Do you still get Frequent flyer points?
You still get exactly the same amount of Krisflyers for this trip (24,780 Krisflyer miles) than if you started from Sydney. Plan ahead as Krisflyer points will expire after three years, thats why I am doing the Zurich redemption. The other great benefit is that you can direct the points to Virgin Velocity which brings the family transfer into play.
What are the risks?
These flights are marketed to residents of Sweden, I am not sure what that means but I got on the plane OK. You also have risks if you change your flight. This is no different to any other sort of travel.
You also need to factor in flights to your other destinations plus a night or two accommodation in Stockholm. However Stockholm is a jewel of Scandinavia and worth multiple trips!
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Introducing Our 2020 Ski Trip To Switzerland With Singapore Airlines
Cheap Business Class Flights Between Australia And Europe
Review: Sydney International Airport Lounge Choices Singapore or AirNZ or AMEX
Review: SQ222 Sydney – Singapore Airbus A380-800 in Business Class
Review: Silver Kris Lounge Singapore Changi Airport
Review: SQ362 Singapore – Moscow- Stockholm Airbus A350-900 in Business Class
Review: Moscow Airport Business Lounge
How to get to Stockholm from Arlanda airport
Review: Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel
Stockholm: 24 hours in Stockholm
Review: LX1249 Stockholm to Zurich Economy
Getting To Ski Resorts By Train In Switzerland
Review: Saas Grund/Saas Fee ski resort
Review: Hotel Roby Saas Grund
Review: Zurich OneWorld Lounge
Review: BA0773 Zurich to London Economy
Review: British Airways London Heathrow Galleries First
Review: BA0782 London to Stockholm Economy
Review: Radisson Blu Arlanda Hotel, Arlanda
Review: SQ361 Stockholm to Singapore Airbus A350-900 Business
Review: Qantas First Lounge Singapore
Review: Jetstar SIN-PEN 3K677 and 3676 PEN-SIN Airbus A320
Review: Eastern and Oriental Penang
Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Penang
Review: Yotel and Jewel Singapore
Review: SQ241 Singapore to Sydney Boeing 777-300ER Business
