Getting ticket from SFO to SYD?
Sep 20, 2011, 12:15 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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Getting ticket from SFO to SYD?
Kids are schooling. So I tried tkts to SYD during holidays - but it appears that I need to book 9 months ahead!
Could you give me some tips:
- when might be a time that is easier to book (summer, winter ...)
- what airlines and/or port?
- if you book well ahead, can I still fully recover points and possible fees if u had to cancel?
I am open to workarounds, say fly from LAX, Toronto ...possibly Van Cover ...
Plan is to use Advantage points.
Could you give me some tips:
- when might be a time that is easier to book (summer, winter ...)
- what airlines and/or port?
- if you book well ahead, can I still fully recover points and possible fees if u had to cancel?
I am open to workarounds, say fly from LAX, Toronto ...possibly Van Cover ...
Plan is to use Advantage points.
Last edited by sciconf; Sep 20, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Sep 20, 2011, 12:21 pm
#2
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gleff wrote an interesting blog post on this very subject a few months ago. I'd suggest giving it a read.
Sep 20, 2011, 1:05 pm
#3
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gleff wrote an interesting blog post on this very subject a few months ago. I'd suggest giving it a read.
Appreciate a few tips from experts.
Sep 20, 2011, 2:15 pm
#4
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The easiest routing for you would be AA to LAX and then QF to SYD. There are some indirect routings (for example through HNL or Asia) but it won't be a pleasant experience in coach.
Sep 20, 2011, 2:40 pm
#5
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How many tickets are you looking for. At what time of the year. If its for the upcoming holidays and you need more than one ticket it will be difficult. I assume you are looking for a coach award.
The easiest routing for you would be AA to LAX and then QF to SYD. There are some indirect routings (for example through HNL or Asia) but it won't be a pleasant experience in coach.
The easiest routing for you would be AA to LAX and then QF to SYD. There are some indirect routings (for example through HNL or Asia) but it won't be a pleasant experience in coach.
Going via Asia wouldn't be a nice choice , plus would require 2 awards
Sep 20, 2011, 2:43 pm
#6
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From LAX, one might also be able to secure award seats on Air Pacific (via NAN), Air Tahiti Nui (via PPT), or Hawaiian (via HNL). You might also be able to book Hawaiian out of the Bay Area. And a redemption on Hawaiian should permit a stopover in HNL, if desired.
From LAX, one might also be able to secure award seats on Air Pacific (via NAN), Air Tahiti Nui (via PPT), or Hawaiian (via HNL). You might also be able to book Hawaiian out of the Bay Area. And a redemption on Hawaiian should permit a stopover in HNL, if desired.
Sep 20, 2011, 2:45 pm
#7
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Travel time is open - Dec may be tough - so Summer next year
Coach only
HNL is fine - get to see it too
I wouldn't class going via HNL as unpleasant; I like that routing since can take a daytime service to HNL and then continue the next morning to Sydney and have no overnight flight in it. Flying time is not much more
Going via Asia wouldn't be a nice choice , plus would require 2 awards
Going via Asia wouldn't be a nice choice , plus would require 2 awards
Should the rtn also has to be via HNL?
Sep 20, 2011, 2:48 pm
#8
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Qantas to Sydney
The return does not have to be via HNL
From SFO, if you are happy with the overnight ( or stopover ) in HNL, it s the shortest route to Sydney. The distance via LAX is 7825 miles vs 7465 via HNL plus is all by day with a break after 5 hours rather than a 1 hour flight followed by a v long one
Just seen the flaw to this comparison; AA doesn't seem to fly non stop from SFO-HNL anymore so would still need to go via LAX. Even so, HNL still avoids a night flight
Another one to look for is via Auckland; I have seen the Auckland flight tend to have more availability and the connection in AKL is pretty easy
Last edited by Dave Noble; Sep 20, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Sep 20, 2011, 2:48 pm
#9
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AA's All-Partner awards are one-ways. So you can go through HNL in one direction only, if that's your preference.
You must call AA to book any award to SYD, since AA does not fly to SYD on its own metal.
AA's All-Partner awards are one-ways. So you can go through HNL in one direction only, if that's your preference.
You must call AA to book any award to SYD, since AA does not fly to SYD on its own metal.
Sep 20, 2011, 5:09 pm
#11
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AA to HNL
Qantas to Sydney
The return does not have to be via HNL
From SFO, if you are happy with the overnight ( or stopover ) in HNL, it s the shortest route to Sydney. The distance via LAX is 7825 miles vs 7465 via HNL plus is all by day with a break after 5 hours rather than a 1 hour flight followed by a v long one
Just seen the flaw to this comparison; AA doesn't seem to fly non stop from SFO-HNL anymore so would still need to go via LAX. Even so, HNL still avoids a night flight
Another one to look for is via Auckland; I have seen the Auckland flight tend to have more availability and the connection in AKL is pretty easy
Qantas to Sydney
The return does not have to be via HNL
From SFO, if you are happy with the overnight ( or stopover ) in HNL, it s the shortest route to Sydney. The distance via LAX is 7825 miles vs 7465 via HNL plus is all by day with a break after 5 hours rather than a 1 hour flight followed by a v long one
Just seen the flaw to this comparison; AA doesn't seem to fly non stop from SFO-HNL anymore so would still need to go via LAX. Even so, HNL still avoids a night flight
Another one to look for is via Auckland; I have seen the Auckland flight tend to have more availability and the connection in AKL is pretty easy
Sep 20, 2011, 6:37 pm
#13
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Irrelevant and not helpful to address OP's situation.
OP is thinking about coach - 4 tickets in F would probably not be feasible.
OP does not want to pay for 2 awards, but would love to have a stopover at HNL if no additional award is required. There are feasible options to achieve this.
Below would work, only that the availability to HNL could be an issue - 4 tickets even in coach are not easy to come by in high season. Both AA and AS have been very stinky in releasing award seats to/from Hawaii based on some checking done recently. No idea about HA's availability.
Last edited by JDiver; Nov 2, 2011 at 6:19 pm Reason: redacted content of deleted post
Oct 31, 2011, 12:07 am
#14
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So if I were to book
SFO - Hawaii - SYD using AA miles, can I do it online?
Which web site?
Pls give me details. I never did it before.
Thanks
SFO - Hawaii - SYD using AA miles, can I do it online?
Which web site?
Pls give me details. I never did it before.
Thanks
Oct 31, 2011, 12:13 am
#15
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No, you cannot book any partner award online; you must call AA, and pay the $25 telephone-ticketing fee.
Originally Posted by sciconf
So if I were to book
SFO - Hawaii - SYD using AA miles, can I do it online?
Which web site?
Pls give me details. I never did it before.
Thanks
SFO - Hawaii - SYD using AA miles, can I do it online?
Which web site?
Pls give me details. I never did it before.
Thanks