Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - NY-Perth

I need to fly from NY-Perth in December. I have flown there before via HKG and once Via LA and SYD. What is the quickest and cheapest way (Either Or) to get to Perth? Thank You Very Much

NY to Perth is a long flight. On UA, it would be NY to LAX or SFO (I much prefer SFO), then to SYD. To get from SYD to Perth, you would need to fly Qantas. Virgin Blue might be an option also.

Perth is the major city furthest from New York. According to the Great Circle Mapper (http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH-UNITS=mi&PATH=JFK-PER), JFK-PER is 11627 mi/18712 km (out of a theoretical maximum of ~12500 mi/20000 km).

Some possible 1 stop routes:

JFK-DXB-PER (EK) 24h 50m 12449 mi
EWR-SIN-PER (SQ) 26h 35m 11951 mi
EWR-HKG-PER (CO/CX) 27h 35m 11796 mi
JFK-HKG-PER (CX) 27h 55m 11805 mi
JFK-NRT-PER (JL/QF) 29h 5m 11662 mi
JFK-BBK-PER (TG) 38h 40m 11970 mi

For routes with 2 stops, it generally looks like heading eastbound (with an extra stop in Europe) is somewhat quicker than heading westbound (with a second stop on the West Coast).

You should definitely look at RTW (Round The World) fares for this. The oneworld Explorer fare is continent (as opposed to mileage) based and will allow you to take up to 20 flights total. Check out the oneworld forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=411) and be sure to read the "stickies".

Slightly OT: While you're there, take a drive down to the Margaret River (http://www.margaretriver.com/) region, and make sure to visit the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse (http://www.lighthouse.net.au/Lights/WA/Cape%20Leeuwin/Cape%20Leeuwin.htm). Other than a few rocks and uninhabited small islands, this is as far from New York as you can get on land. Times Square-Cape Leeuwin is 11771 mi/18943 km.

NY to Perth is a long flight. On UA, it would be NY to LAX or SFO (I much prefer SFO), then to SYD. To get from SYD to Perth, you would need to fly Qantas. Virgin Blue might be an option also.

You could also go via AKL on NZ, NYC-LAX/SFO/HNL-AKL-PER.

You should definitely look at RTW (Round The World) fares for this. The oneworld Explorer fare is continent (as opposed to mileage) based and will allow you to take up to 20 flights total. Check out the oneworld forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=411) and be sure to read the "stickies".



I'm not so sure a xONE4 is the best option, they are geared more for when you want to visit alot of places, as you point out having the flexibility to goto upto 20 destinations. But if the OP is looking for a straight NYC-PER-NYC then it would probably be cheaper to just buy a return ticket.

I'm not so sure a xONE4 is the best option, they are geared more for when you want to visit alot of places, as you point out having the flexibility to goto upto 20 destinations. But if the OP is looking for a straight NYC-PER-NYC then it would probably be cheaper to just buy a return ticket.Yeah - I was thinking about business (DONE4) of first (AONE4) class where the RTW product can actually save you money over a straight round trip. I agree that for economy class a simple round trip ticket would be significantly cheaper.

If I ever had to do this routing, I'd go NYC-SA-JNB-SA/QF-PER or NYC-SQ-SIN-SQ/QF-PER.

If I ever had to do this routing, I'd go NYC-SA-JNB-SA/QF-PER or NYC-SQ-SIN-SQ/QF-PER.

I will second this suggestion of going through SIN or JNB.

SAA and SIA are much better way to fly there.

SIN even better since SQ has a direct flight from EWR-SIN

EK would be the next option.

I will second this suggestion of going through SIN or JNB.

SAA and SIA are much better way to fly there.

SIN even better since SQ has a direct flight from EWR-SIN

EK would be the next option.
I concur.

The OP mentioned "cheapest" suggesting this is a coach ticket. EK in coach is hellish -- over half the EK fleet is equipped with a high-density Y that is about 20% less space per pax than the industry norm, and I think DXB-PER is served by such aircraft. Thus EK is particularly uncomfortable for this flight. CX via JFK-HKG-PER is probably the best in Y out of the available options, with SA via JNB probably being the next best.

The OP mentioned "cheapest" suggesting this is a coach ticket. EK in coach is hellish -- over half the EK fleet is equipped with a high-density Y that is about 20% less space per pax than the industry norm, and I think DXB-PER is served by such aircraft. Thus EK is particularly uncomfortable for this flight. CX via JFK-HKG-PER is probably the best in Y out of the available options, with SA via JNB probably being the next best.

I concur. EK is no good in Y one extra seat per row on their 777 fleet compared to every other airline operating that aircraft. CX or SQ would be the bees knees.

I concur. EK is no good in Y one extra seat per row on their 777 fleet compared to every other airline operating that aircraft. CX or SQ would be the bees knees.
Now that you mention it, the OP may want to consider SQ's Exec Economy on the EWR-SIN n/s for more comfortable coach. In C/F I'd say SA, but in Y SQ is probably most logical.

Now that you mention it, the OP may want to consider SQ's Exec Economy on the EWR-SIN n/s for more comfortable coach. In C/F I'd say SA, but in Y SQ is probably most logical.

^ Yeap.. I love the exec economy.. and the SQ service in general.

Now that you mention it, the OP may want to consider SQ's Exec Economy on the EWR-SIN n/s for more comfortable coach. In C/F I'd say SA, but in Y SQ is probably most logical.Except that SQ's Exec Economy is circa USD 3000 more expensive than regular economy (in fact you can get business class for some airlines for the same money!). Making it a rather expensive alternative that is comfortable but not cost effective; the real value is a non-stop flight to SIN, which is worth very little when traveling to PER!

In olden days (of my youth), a New Yorker going to Perth, Au. was said to be going to The Antipodes.



I need to fly from NY-Perth in December. I have flown there before via HKG and once Via LA and SYD. What is the quickest and cheapest way (Either Or) to get to Perth? Thank You Very Much

It's been awhile since I checked the fares (and I was considering DFW not JFK) but JFK-NRT(AA) followed by NRT-PER(QF) certainly is the choice I would make. QF is only three days a week and remember the international date line.....

Cheap fares to NRT should be possible. QF has a K class economy fare that should be ticketable ex USA. Talk with the fine folk at AA to be certain. From PER it is a standard (and very cheap) fare. Cheaper than going through SYD.

Happy wandering

Fred

In olden days (of my youth), a New Yorker going to Perth, Au. was said to be going to The Antipodes.

Oh-so-true! If one could dig the hole thru the center of the Earth from the US East Coast, one would come out much closer to Perth than to anywhere in China!

Except that SQ's Exec Economy is circa USD 3000 more expensive than regular economy (in fact you can get business class for some airlines for the same money!). Making it a rather expensive alternative that is comfortable but not cost effective; the real value is a non-stop flight to SIN, which is worth very little when traveling to PER!(Bolding is mine.)

Would you care to expand on this?

I'm actually considering (and probaly favouring) EWR-SIN-PER on SQ on a possible upcoming trip in Feb. My company won't pay for business class, but Premium Econ is OK, so the SQ price doesn't bother me. The connection time in SIN both outbound and return seems very reasonable, 3-5 hrs.

I even have to add on the IAH-EWR segment.... but this still seems like one of the better options to get IAH-PER. I could go IAH-LAX and then LAX-SIN-PER on SQ, which would be shorter flight time but acutally longer travel time since the connection in SIN to and from PER is not very good.

My only one-stop option from IAH (that I have found) is IAH-NRT on CO and then NRT-PER on QF, but with significant layovers in NRT. And since neither airline offer a prem. econ. I'm leaning towards SQ.

Any thoughts?

FWIW a long layover in SIN isn't bad. The airport is designed for transiting pax, and it will probably be a good excuse to get out and stretch your legs. There are free bus tours of the city and the airport has everything you could ever need, right down to swimming pools. I would go for the IAH-LAX-SIN-PER route. Of course from where you are, using QF and transiting through SYD also starts to make sense.

Thanks for the advice on SIN layovers. Unfortunately I don't have *G status anymore so all the lounges are off limits for me, which makes me dread long airport layovers...

Of course from where you are, using QF and transiting through SYD also starts to make sense.Yes, except for a prem. econ. product not beeing offered by QF on the tans-pac segment (or any segments).

I had a similar trip last year, except I needed to spend time in both PER and MEL. So ended up with IAH-LAX-AKL-MEL-PER and return, in NZ's prem. econ. on the long hauls, which was ok. The LAX-AKL-PER route is still an option in NZ PE, but I'm not sure...

I would still like to maximise my Continental OP miles on such a trip, but I have essentially given that up...

Thanks for the advice on SIN layovers. Unfortunately I don't have *G status anymore so all the lounges are off limits for me, which makes me dread long airport layovers...

For someone with no access to any lounge, SIN is one of the best if not the best airport to have a long transit. As mentioned very easy to head into the city (either free tour or make your own way cheaply & quickly with no immigration hassles). Within the airport plenty of free computer terminals, tvs, loungers etc. Also swimming pool, free movie theater, supermarket and the usual shops (duty free, food and drink).


Plus lots of FTers based there or passing through all the time.

PS no premium economy for AKL-PER.

(either free tour or make your own way cheaply & quickly with no immigration hassles).

Now they have free shuttles to/from the city.. I believe they have
a couple of drop-off/pick-up locations. Don't remember the names.