Just got asked to fly to MEL in 5 weeks - point me?
Jan 11, 2017, 1:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Just got asked to fly to MEL in 5 weeks - point me?
Just came up at a meeting today that I'm being asked to go to a tech meeting in Australia. I'm in Niagara, so flying out of YYZ (or Buff). I would MUCH prefer to get Aeroplan miles for this flight, so this restricts me on airlines. Also, VP has approved business class seats as long as they are <$5k return
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course. (reviews on Southern China seem OK if flying business - confirm?)
So, I'm jumping in here to see if I am missing something - or someone has suggestions I'm oblivious to.
I'm slightly flexible on dates, but it's looking like leaving YYZ on Feb 18, and returning on the 25th (not yet confirmed).
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course. (reviews on Southern China seem OK if flying business - confirm?)
So, I'm jumping in here to see if I am missing something - or someone has suggestions I'm oblivious to.
I'm slightly flexible on dates, but it's looking like leaving YYZ on Feb 18, and returning on the 25th (not yet confirmed).
Jan 11, 2017, 1:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: OSL
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 303
I did YYZ-MEL earlier this year...
YYZ->LAX (AC)
LAX->AKL (NZ)
AKL->MEL (NZ)
And back...
That said, it was $8500 (and that was a good price too). I am not aware of any possible way of getting to Australia in J for less than $5k. It's reputably bad for that.
You may look at doing it in Latitude or PE, then trying to upgrade out of pocket (eup or some other latitude magic). Do the YYZ->YVR->BNE or YYZ->YVR->SYD trips and do something local to get to melbourne.
YYZ->LAX (AC)
LAX->AKL (NZ)
AKL->MEL (NZ)
And back...
That said, it was $8500 (and that was a good price too). I am not aware of any possible way of getting to Australia in J for less than $5k. It's reputably bad for that.
You may look at doing it in Latitude or PE, then trying to upgrade out of pocket (eup or some other latitude magic). Do the YYZ->YVR->BNE or YYZ->YVR->SYD trips and do something local to get to melbourne.
Jan 11, 2017, 1:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: LAX/FAO
Posts: 355
Would this work? It's two extra days in Melbourne (a wonderful problem to have) and a little over budget, but may be worth it for the comfort and the accumulated miles.
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
Jan 11, 2017, 1:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: OSL
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 303
Would this work? It's two extra days in Melbourne (a wonderful problem to have) and a little over budget, but may be worth it for the comfort and the accumulated miles.
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
Jan 11, 2017, 1:32 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,017
Just came up at a meeting today that I'm being asked to go to a tech meeting in Australia. I'm in Niagara, so flying out of YYZ (or Buff). I would MUCH prefer to get Aeroplan miles for this flight, so this restricts me on airlines. Also, VP has approved business class seats as long as they are <$5k return
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course.
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course.
Also look for SYD. SYD-MEL is ~1:10hrs and can be about Au$150 (or less) in economy one way
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air Canada AC (YYR – SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX via Tahiti. Last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – SYD BNE via Hawaii) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL YVR*– SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner) MEL LAX restarting 4 April 2017
And others via Asia & Middle East
Jan 11, 2017, 1:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
Seems like your in the 6K range for Business... if your in the market for AE points...
If you have to pay 1000$ out of pocket for 28k points.... Depends if you need status or not... many credit cards offer 25k points for free or very low annual fees...
China Eastern has flat beds on the 777 and a lot of the 333s, and comes in at 3600$...
If you have to pay 1000$ out of pocket for 28k points.... Depends if you need status or not... many credit cards offer 25k points for free or very low annual fees...
China Eastern has flat beds on the 777 and a lot of the 333s, and comes in at 3600$...
Jan 11, 2017, 1:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
Just came up at a meeting today that I'm being asked to go to a tech meeting in Australia. I'm in Niagara, so flying out of YYZ (or Buff). I would MUCH prefer to get Aeroplan miles for this flight, so this restricts me on airlines. Also, VP has approved business class seats as long as they are <$5k return
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course. (reviews on Southern China seem OK if flying business - confirm?)
So, I'm jumping in here to see if I am missing something - or someone has suggestions I'm oblivious to.
I'm slightly flexible on dates, but it's looking like leaving YYZ on Feb 18, and returning on the 25th (not yet confirmed).
A quick search from YYZ-MEL shows that I cannot find Aeroplan earning business seats for that price range.
I see Southern China Airlines for about $4k - but no miles. I'll take no miles over not sitting in a business class lay flat, of course. (reviews on Southern China seem OK if flying business - confirm?)
So, I'm jumping in here to see if I am missing something - or someone has suggestions I'm oblivious to.
I'm slightly flexible on dates, but it's looking like leaving YYZ on Feb 18, and returning on the 25th (not yet confirmed).
Jan 11, 2017, 1:46 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Probably should add that I have 390,000 Aeroplan points in my account, but I am trying to save these if I can for an upcoming PPT vacation in 16 months. If this helps at all (no idea?) without using more than 100,000 of the miles, I'm game.
So, if I'm ok not earning miles (since I already have enough for my next big vacation to PPT), I'd love advice on the Southern China Air flights - YYZ-China(sorry, cannot remember the airport) - 6 hour layover, then Chine-MEL flight. For less than $4k - lay flat seats. Any thoughts on those?
So far, you seem to be all confirming what I thought -$5k is not very doable - with some nice flights coming in at the $7-9k range.
So, if I'm ok not earning miles (since I already have enough for my next big vacation to PPT), I'd love advice on the Southern China Air flights - YYZ-China(sorry, cannot remember the airport) - 6 hour layover, then Chine-MEL flight. For less than $4k - lay flat seats. Any thoughts on those?
So far, you seem to be all confirming what I thought -$5k is not very doable - with some nice flights coming in at the $7-9k range.
Jan 11, 2017, 1:47 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,017
Even if SYD is not your Au destination, it can be hard to avoid SYD as that has a lot more long flights that other Au (or NZ) airports.
And an international to international transit at AKL is 10 times more preferable than a international to domestic transfer at SYD. UA & AA also fly into AKL. UA is struggling on that route (being reduced).
And an international to international transit at AKL is 10 times more preferable than a international to domestic transfer at SYD. UA & AA also fly into AKL. UA is struggling on that route (being reduced).
Jan 11, 2017, 1:56 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Another quick question - what about these sites that say they deal exclusively with getting reductions on business class seats? I'm not sure I can mention the names here - but I submitted an online request on one of these sites, and got a call that I can get flights in lay flat UA and AC for ~4,700 (I'm assuming $USD), where the retail price is ~$7k. I'm skeptical, of course.
Jan 11, 2017, 2:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,958
Would this work? It's two extra days in Melbourne (a wonderful problem to have) and a little over budget, but may be worth it for the comfort and the accumulated miles.
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
https://goo.gl/flights/kXWL
I am sure you can do YYZ-YUL r/t for less than $1314