Gulf carrier Etihad is offering very reasonable fares from Oslo to Asia, more specifically Bangkok, Jakarta and Phuket in their business class right now. Prices start at €1,114 (~NOK 13,007) and always feature two layovers as Etihad doesn’t serve Oslo directly and needs a feeder flight to one of their destinations in Europe. Availability is very good before December.
Flights will always feature two layovers of which one flight is a connecting flight within Europe, as Etihad doesn’t directly serve Oslo. Partner airlines for these connecting flights are SAS and Brussels Airlines in most cases, and layover cities can be London, Manchester, Copenhagen, and Brussels. Of course, those flights will only feature a European business class, so not much comfort to be expected. But since they are only short, this shouldn’t be a big problem. Flights via Brussels seem to have the least duration with less than 20 hours of total travel time.
After the feeder flight you will most certainly get to experience two flights in Etihad’s long-haul business class cabin.
On these flights, Etihad will operate a Boeing 777 or 787 Dreamliner. If you are interested in more details about the cabins, check out the following reviews:
Search & Book
We couldn’t find the fare rules, but as always, a free stopover should be allowed each way and you may be able to use Etihad’s free stopover program. But you can also do a stopover in one of the connecting cities within Europe!
Google Flights displays the flights and is the tool of choice to find suitable dates (instructions). After finding these, head over to flyetihad.com to book directly with the airline or book via our Travel-Dealz search to save some more money. We would advise you to do the former. This is why:
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
Tickets are usually issued in booking class W. That will give a good mileage credit with most frequent flyer programs Etihad has a partnership with. Here’s a summary of what roughly to expect:
- 18,525 Award Miles on American AAdvantage
- 18,525 Award Miles on Asiana Club
- 18,525 Award Miles + 3,000 Tier Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 18,525 Award Miles + 21,376 Tier Miles on Etihad Guest
- 18,525 Award Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 18,525 Award Miles on Hainan Fortune Wings Club
- 18,525 Award Miles on Oman Air Sindbad
- 18,525 Award Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 18,525 Award Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 18,525 Award Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 18,525 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- 17,814 Award Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 17,814 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 17,814 Award Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 8,629 Extra Points + 1,300 Basic Points on SAS EuroBonus
Hotels
Hotels in Bangkok, Phuket, and Jakarta are generally speaking very cheap. It cannot hurt to compare prices nonetheless. Our favorite site for that would be booking.com:
Maybe, one or two of the following promotions and vouchers may be useful too:
Information & Tips for Thailand
Thailand is an increasingly popular holiday destination for Europeans – both beach and party tourists get their money’s worth in the South Asian tropical state.
Whether Bangkok, Koh Samui or Phuket, Thailand offers multi-faceted cities and quiet beaches. Also, the country is always easy to reach from Europe. Especially to Bangkok, there is almost always at least a good deal!
Best Time to Visit
While hot summer temperatures prevail the whole year long in tropical Thailand, the best travel time is definitely the winter from November to February. Thanks to the northwest monsoon it doesn’t get warmer than 33 degrees. In summer the temperatures can quickly reach 40 degrees. The rainy season also starts in June and will last until October – high humidity is what you’ll have to prepare for!
Entry & Visa
Most EU citizens do not need a visa for stays up to a length of 30 days. The entry permit can be extended by another 30 days before expiration by local immigration authorities.
Currency
The national currency of Thailand is the Baht (THB) which is divided into Satang. One Euro is about 40 THB.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Nomad, Airhub, and RedteaGO. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Thailand 🇹🇭 Compared (Bangkok, Phuket…)
→ All Dealz for Thailand
Information & Tips for Bangkok
Bangkok is both the capital and the largest metropolis of Southeast Asian Thailand. We often have reasonable offers to share with you. No matter if in Economy, Business or First Class – you can almost always find bargains for flights to Bangkok! Also, even luxurious 5-star hotels are available at excellent prices. Just some reasons why you shouldn’t miss Bangkok!
From the airport to the city center
Suvarnabhumi Airport is connected to the city center by train. Trains run between 06:00 and 23:59 approximately every 15 minutes and the journey takes 24 minutes. A taxi ride costs about 400 Baht and takes, depending on the traffic, 30 minutes to more than an hour.
→ All Dealz for Bangkok
Information & Tips for Phuket
Phuket is a southern province and also the largest island of Thailand in Southeast Asian. While Bangkok is more of a tourist destination, Phuket offers a lot of recreational options on the beach and is located in the Indian Ocean rather than the Gulf of Thailand.
Although Phuket is not always as easy to reach as Bangkok and it will often take an additional layover to get there, you can combine your beach holiday with a city trip to Bangkok. You can first book your flights to Bangkok and then separate (cheap!) flights from Bangkok to Phuket if you really can’t find a good deal from Europe.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to travel is from November to February. During this time it is dry and comparatively cool but of course still ideal for a beach holiday. The rainy season runs from mid-May to October.
From/to the airport
From the airport to different cities/resorts on the island, it is best to take a taxi (or Uber). Bus connections are cheaper but also much slower.
→ All Dealz for Phuket
Information & Tips for Jakarta
Jakarta is both the largest and the capital of Indonesia and is located in the north-west of the island of Java. The city is not only the financial, economic and cultural centre of Indonesia, but also the most populous city in Southeast Asia!
The Best Time to Visit
Not even dry season is completely dry on Java, but the temperatures and humidity from May to October are the most pleasant. Occasionally it can still be stormy.
From the airport to the city
A taxi from the airport to the city costs about €5-7 depending on the provider and the exact route. Alternatively, there are also cheaper shuttle buses, but some of them have a much longer journey time.
→ All Dealz for Jakarta
Source: YHBU – Thank you!
Cover Picture: © pranodhm - fotolia.com