With Easter and the 2024 financial year behind us we're rapidly approaching the peak UK / Europe travel season. Significant events like Team New Zealand's America's Cup defence in Barcelona (August to October) and the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (26 July to 11 August) will continue to put pressure on airlines, cruises, tours and accommodation (read more about our cruise holiday services below).
If you're considering Business Class or Premium Economy travel in 2024, booking ahead and planning an itinerary that avoids major airport hubs (like Heathrow) are two ways we can help you find better priced airfares. On our UK / Europe Business Class page we include indicative pricing to London and Europe (generally based on Paris or Amsterdam) but we can research airfares for travel throughout Europe.
View UK / Europe Specials and Airfares
UK & Europe Business Class Updates and Specials
Turkish Airlines Business Class continues to be a very popular choice with Fine Travel clients. The route is via Singapore (with Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines), to connect with a Turkish Airlines aircraft to Istanbul and then the UK & Europe. The price point, the quality of its Business Class cabin, and its Star Alliance membership all contribute to this popularity.
The Emirates First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy offering to the UK and Europe provides a range of price points across its comprehensive network. Finding the "on sale" booking classes is a big part of the service we offer Fine Travel clients, along with a streamlined handling of "travel admin" such as loading frequent flyer memberships, advice on seat selection, booking chauffeur transfers (where available) and Dubai Stopovers. Emirates is currently on sale until 24 April 2024.
Although Air New Zealand no longer flies its own aircraft to London, its joint venture with Singapore Airlines means that we can book Air New Zealand Business Class and Premium Economy tickets through to the UK and Europe. An important benefit of this approach is that an Air New Zealand airfare will generally be refundable (with penalties) whereas the equivalently priced Singapore Airlines fare may not be refundable and may need to be held in credit.
The Qatar Airways Qsuite (pictured above) continues to win Business Class awards and the quad configuration is highly sought after. An important part of selecting a Qatar Airways Business Class airfare is understanding the inclusions. For example, the cheapest Business Class booking class for excludes lounge access and advance seat selection (you can read more here). Qatar Airways "R Class" airfares are on sale until 30 April 2024.
View UK / Europe Specials and Airfares
Tired of travel admin?
An aspect of our service that our clients really appreciate is how we can manage and simplify their travel admin. Through our Travel Management Software we store information like loyalty program memberships, passport details, airline preferences, special meal requirements and and seating preferences. When we book flights we include that information in your itinerary.
If you'd like us to start a Fine Travel Profile for you, please feel free to reply to this email to send us information like the photo page of your passport and any other information you'd like us to keep on file.
Stopover Packages
We're increasingly seeing our clients breaking up the long journey to the UK and Europe with a stopover - particularly with routes via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul and Oman.
For Dubai and Doha, Emirates and Qatar Airways have dedicated teams that we work with to arrange accommodation and sightseeing. As they are encouraging tourism, often the stopover packages are competitively priced. If you'd like to include a stopover package with your next trip, please let us know.
Navigating foreign exchange for cruises
Although New Zealand has an established cruise market, many popular cruise lines price their itineraries in a foreign currency (generally Australian or US Dollars). Credit card payments can be a solution, but often inflated exchange rates and bank fees can leave passengers feeling that the cruise is more expensive (in NZ dollars) than it needed to be (or feeling frustrated at navigating the international payments section of their internet banking).
When we book cruises like this for Fine Travel clients we can generally quote the deposit and the final payments in New Zealand dollars (at the time they are due) using Westpac's international transfer rate. Depending on the cost of the cruise this can result in a significant saving for our clients.
If you're considering a cruise that requires payment in a foreign currency, please feel free to contact us to discuss the options available to you.
Have you planned your winter escape?
If booking your winter escape drops down your to do list every year I'm here to help. Through our wholesale partners we can arrange packages so that all the moving parts are taken care of - flights, transfers and accommodation.
A big part of a holiday is not feeling the stress of pulling it all together and hoping you haven't missed anything. If you'd like help arranging a winter escape, please feel free to contact us.
Contact Us About a Winter Escape
Explore Cruise Specials
Cruise specials are released frequently by the major luxury and upper premium cruise lines and can include early booking discounts, air credits and solo traveller savings.
We include these specials on our website, but if you are looking at a particular itinerary, destination or cruise line we can also research current specials and provide you with options.
Planning for Your Travel Style
An aspect of travel planning that we really enjoy is the variety of approaches our clients like to take when preparing an itinerary and how we can leverage our experience to connect them with the right travel supplier.
For travellers who are busy, like a structured itinerary and the buzz of meeting new people, the variety of cruise lines and escorted coach tours means that there is almost no limit to preparing a suitable and comprehensive itinerary. We work with well known coach tour companies like Trafalgar, Globus, Insight Vacations and Backroads Touring.
Many of our clients prefer flexibility and to travel alone, as a couple, or with a small group of friends / family. This suits a "self-drive" approach (whether that be literally driving or utilising a driver) and for this style of travel we often work with in-country specialists to prepare comprehensive day-by-day itineraries.
No matter what you're travel style, we're here to help.
Contact Us About Your Itinerary
Cruise Charters and Groups
For larger family groups, special events (like a milestone birthday, business sale or retirement) or an overdue catch up with industry colleagues, chartering space on a cruise ship can offer a unique experience.
Logistically, moving parts like accommodation, drinks and meals are taken care of. An itinerary with multiple ports and shore excursions take care of keeping everyone occupied and on smaller ships (like the Mekong Princess pictured above) the entire vessel can be chartered so that it is truly an exclusive event.
If a cruise charter or group could fit with your plans, please feel free to contact us.
Contact Us About a Cruise Charter
As always, if there's anything else we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us.