Good Australia business class fares with Singapore Airlines

As you have no doubt seen in the mainstream media, Australia will reopen for tourism later this month.

I wrote this article recently on how to use Avios to get to Australia. However, I also said in that article that cash is often a better way given how good the deals can be.

Here is an example. Singapore Airlines is currently offering great pricing from Paris to both Melbourne and Sydney. There are also good deals to other spots in Asia.

Typical business class fares are (as you can see on the French website here):

• Phuket €1,485 (£1,254)
• Bangkok €1,504 (£1,270)
• Male €1,832 (£1,547)
• Denpasar / Bali €1,983 (£1,675)
• Melbourne €2,204 (£1,862)
• Sydney €2,446 (£2,066)

The fare rules are:

• Travel by 30th November (no travel 8th July to 8th August)
• Stay at least 7 nights
• Book by 14th February

What is useful is that the calendar during the booking process shows you which dates have the cheapest fare available.

18th March is the first day with availabilty to Melbourne for €2,204, for example, and there are no dates in April. It gets easier after that.

Singapore Airlines is NOT a member of the oneworld alliance, so you can’t earn Avios or British Airways tier points. You can credit Singapore Airlines flights to Virgin Flying Club.

If you don’t want to earn Virgin Points, the mileage earned would need to go into Singapore’s own KrisFlyer scheme or potentially Lufthansa Miles & More. KrisFlyer is not a bad choice as you can top up your balance using American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 3:2.

The only downside with KrisFlyer is the hard three year expiry date. You must use the miles within three years or you lose them, irrespective of your status or whatever other miles you earn in the meantime. Miles & More is no better, of course.

We’ve never done a proper Singapore Airlines business class review on the site. Here is a quick look at the 777-300ER seat from 2015. Sinead is working on a Premium Economy review from her Christmas trip which should run in a week or so.

The sale website from Paris is here.

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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.

There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card. 

The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.

There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review