Sydney, Australia: €3,457 Qatar Airways Business Class from Sofia (Incl. Lounge Access, Long Layovers)

Oneworld member Qatar Airways currently sells discounted business class rides from Sofia, Bulgaria to Sydney, Australia. A roundtrip comes with the price tag of BGN 6,762 (~€3,457) and requires a change of planes in Doha both ways. Since this is a Business Classic fare, lounge access is included.

A long (overnight) layover in Doha on the inbound is necessary to get the cheapest tickets. Also, flights between Sofia and Doha are Airbus A320 services, with recliner seats in a 2-2 seating pattern rather than lie-flat business class seats.

We have been able to find these tickets for the following dates (there are certainly more dates):

• May 19 – June 12
• June 9 – June 27
• June 13 – July 8
• June 28 – July 6
• July 7 – July 29¹
• September 5 – September 25¹
• October 4 – October 23¹

¹Discounted tickets departing after June also feature a long layover on the outbound.

Our Go2 will forward you to Qatar Airways with your selected flight dates. We have been able to find tickets at the advertised fare between May and October 2025.

Flights between Doha and Sofia are Airbus A320 services, on which you will be seated in Qatar Airways’ regional business class of recliner seats in a 2-2 seating pattern. The journey to Australia takes place in an Airbus A380, which sports one of the oldest business class layouts the airline has to offer. It still receives decent reviews. Some flights are also operated by Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER fleet, which are code share flights with Virgin Australia.

While Qsuites are not advertised for these flights, you might get lucky with an equipment change.

While Qatar Airways flights are especially popular among our readers, we have significantly cheaper business class deals to Australia:

• Australia: €2,223 Business Class with Turkish Airlines & Malaysia Airlines from Sofia to Adelaide
• Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand: €2,854 Air China Business Class from Budapest (Long Layovers)
• Australia and New Zealand: €3,094 China Eastern Business Class from Amsterdam (Long Layovers; €3,336 from Copenhagen)
• Sydney, Australia: €3,463 ANA Business Class from Stockholm (Japan Stopover Possible)

Search & Book

According to the fare rules, these tickets are on sale until March 31, 2025. A minimum stay of four days is necessary to get the cheapest fare, while you may not stay longer than three months. You have to book at least 60 days in advance to get the cheapest tickets.

Both Google Flights and the ITA Matrix have trouble previewing available flight dates accurately. The best way to find availabilities is looking for €3,500 fares on Google Flights and see if they are actually available on Qatar Airways’ website. We recommend buying business class tickets directly from the airline.

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.

Miles & Points

Qatar Airways issues tickets for all tickets in booking class R. A roundtrip earns the following miles & points:

Destination

Information & Tips for Australia

Australia is known for natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and the beaches of Sydney, along with vibrant cities like Melbourne and Sydney. The local currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The price level can be high, especially in major cities, but there are budget options available for food and accommodation. The weather varies by region—tropical in the north, temperate in the south, with hot summers and mild winters. The best times to visit are typically during spring and autumn for mild temperatures.

Australia’s transport infrastructure is generally good, with well-developed road networks, public transit systems, and domestic flights. In major cities, public transport options like buses, trams, and trains are widely available, though some areas may require a car for convenience. Between cities, domestic flights are common and fast, but bus and train travel can be slow and less frequent for long distances. Driving is a popular option for exploring regions outside cities, with roads in good condition but long travel times due to the country’s vast size.

We’ve compared various esim providers, such as RedteaGO and Airalo. 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 Australia 🇦🇺 Compared

→ All Dealz for Australia

Information & Tips for Sydney

Sydney is known for its iconic sights like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach. The currency used is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The city can be expensive, particularly for accommodation and dining in tourist areas, though there are more affordable options in less central locations. Sydney has a temperate climate, with mild winters and warm, humid summers, making it a year-round destination. The best time to visit is typically during the spring and autumn months for pleasant temperatures.

We’ve compared various esim providers, such as RedteaGO and Airalo. 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 Australia 🇦🇺 Compared

→ All Dealz for Sydney