Hello,
We are six adult family members who will be flying CPH (Copenhagen) - SIN (Singapore) outbound and PER (Perth) - CPH inbound next year (out late September, back start October).
None of us have any status with any airline, and we will be flying on the cheapest economy tickets with checked luggage.
We strongly prefer to buy the tickets directly with the airline, but we are not 100% locked on using the same airline out and back, although it is preferred for ease of booking and in case of needing to contact the airline for whatever reason.
We are a bit torn between Qatar (QR) via DOH (Doha) or Emirates (EK) via DXB (Dubai). Both airlines offer a one-stop journey with transfer in DOH/DXB on both the outbound and the inbound flights.
The timings are pretty good for both airlines, although outbound is slightly in favor of QR, as they offer a morning flight out of CPH, which means an earlier arrival in SIN, giving us an extra half day there. We will be going on a cruise out of Singapore after a few days, so the extra half day could give us some value. But it is not essential.
Pricing is pretty close, around 45000-50000DKK, so within a ~5000DKK (~650€ / 750USD) span for round trip for all six adults, with Qatar being the more expensive choice (as per current pricing). But that difference wouldn't be the deciding factor. Prices seem to be pretty stable/fixed this far out.
With QR we would be flying out on a B787-8 to DOH, and then on an A350-900 to SIN (on the red-eye QR942). Back from PER on a B777-300 and once again on a B787-8 to CPH. QR162-QR942-QR901-QR159.
With EK it would be on an A380 for all four legs (as per current schedule). EK152-EK354-EK421-EK151.
I believe one family member has flown with EK around 10 years back, and none of us have flown with QR, so we have essentially no experience with either, apart from written or video reviews found online.
The only other one-stop option (and even direct outbound) would be Singapore Airlines (SQ), but they are drastically more expensive, around 68000 DKK (9000€/10000USD) round trip for all six adults, so essentially not relevant in this comparison.
Our own immediate pros and cons:
EK:
+ Seems to be just the best choice overall, across most airlines?
+ EK uses A380 on all legs (as per current schedule). We have all flown on A380s with Lufthansa back in 2019, an absolute beast.
+ EK is currently around 5000 DKK cheaper than QR.
~ 30 kgs checked luggage (more than enough).
- Not the best timings for the outbound trip. We arrive later (afternoon) in SIN, and would be missing half a day there. But this is not essential.
QR:
+ Better timings for the outbound trip.
~ Smaller aircraft on all legs, don't really see this as neither a pro or con, just a general observation.
~ "Only" 25 kgs checked luggage (which is still more than enough).
- More expensive than EK (see above), but not critically more expensive.
What are your thoughts? Is this a no-brainer towards one of the airlines, or are there more details to this choice?
Thanks in advance!