Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday! Coffee's ready, the week's almost done. Fresh coffee, fresh finds. Today I've got three things to close it out:
Cash deals: Etihad business class to Europe ($960+)
Cash deals: Oceania → China in business class (~$2,000 - $2,250)
When Premium Economy makes sense
Cash deals: Etihad business class to Europe ($960+)
This one's wild. We found Etihad Airways business class from Hanoi (HAN) to multiple European cities, including London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Brussels, and Frankfurt, for as low as $960 USD one-way or about $2,000 USD round-trip.
Yes, that's Etihad business: fully flat seats, direct aisle access, solid catering, and the beautiful Abu Dhabi lounge on your connection. You'll fly HAN → AUH → Europe, usually on a Boeing 787-9, A350 or A380.
One type of Etihad’s 787-9 business class seats
Availability? Surprisingly broad. Dates are open across much of the calendar, from late 2025 into 2026, depending on the route. You can mix and match European destinations for roughly the same price, so it's perfect for an open-jaw trip.
To put it in perspective: Most Asia-to-Europe business-class tickets hover around $3,500–$5,000 USD. So under $1,000 one-way on a top-tier Middle Eastern carrier is borderline ridiculous.
If you're based in Southeast Asia or planning a trip there, it's worth booking a positioning flight to Hanoi just to start your journey with Etihad.
Cash deals: Oceania → China in business class
If you're in Australia or New Zealand and looking at traveling to Asia, here are two solid cash business class fares worth checking out:
Deal A: Adelaide → Beijing for ~$2,250 USD
One stop each way, mostly on China Southern's Boeing 787. The Dreamliner means a quieter cabin and better humidity on long sectors, making the flight more comfortable overall. Routing varies by date, but the ADL-PEK market often uses 787s or other widebodies on the main leg. There is availability throughout the year on different dates.
You can check Dan’s China Southern Business Class review below.
Deal B: Auckland → Beijing for ~$2,000 USD
One stop each way on Cathay Pacific's A350-900. Cathay's reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 layout give you fully flat beds with direct aisle access, plus excellent IFE and reliable Wi-Fi.
Cathay Pacific A350 business class cabin
I leave you to Dan’s review of Cathay’s newest seat, the Aria suite, which looks so good. I am definitely going to try it out!
How to book: Search Google Flights for your dates, filter by business class and one stop, then book directly with China Southern or Cathay Pacific. Fares are dynamic, so if the price works and the dates fit, grab it.
For daytime long-hauls, Premium Economy can be the sweet spot, with huge savings versus business, yet a significant comfort upgrade over regular economy. But when does it actually make sense to pay more? Here's a simple framework you can use every time you book.
1. Double-Economy Test
If Premium Economy (PE) is ≤ 2× the price of Economy (Y) on the same flight and date, it's usually worth it, especially for daytime long-hauls.
If PE is > 2.5× Y, think twice unless you need the extra comfort.
2. Half-Business Test
If PE is ≤ 50% of Business (J), PE is the sweet spot.
If PE creeps to ≥ 65% of J, consider stretching to business or waiting for a business sale.
3. Hour-per-Dollar Comfort Test
Compute (PE - Y) / flight hours. If the "comfort premium" is ≤ $40–$60 per hour, PE is usually a yes for daytime flights.
Seat & comfort reality check (why PE exists)
Typical Premium Economy gets you ~38 - 40″ pitch, ~19 - 20″ width, deeper recline, leg/footrests, better dining, and priority check-in/boarding. It won't beat a lie-flat bed, but on a 7 to 10 hour daytime sector, it can be a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
Emirates Premium Economy cabin
Emirates Premium Economy offers one of the best seats in the sky, offering about 40 inches of pitch, 19.5 inches of width, and a deep recline on the A380, all in a quiet front cabin with upgraded dining and service. The catch is price: Emirates often charges more than others. As a rule of thumb, if Premium Economy costs around 1.8 to 2.2 times the price of Economy and stays under half the price of Business, it's a good buy, especially for daytime flights when you don't need a bed. If it's more than 2.5 times Economy or close to two-thirds of Business, it's better to wait or book regular Economy.
Lufthansa Premium Economy, on the other hand, is one of the best-value options. It's a solid step up from Economy in comfort and service, and usually priced much lower than Emirates. You'll often find fares around 1.4 to 1.9 times Economy and well below half the cost of Business, which makes it a great deal for daytime transatlantic routes.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi