Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Airline choices for AUS

I'm Chairman's Preferred on US and looking at booking a trip to SYD/CNS for May/June this year. It looks like I've got 3 choices for getting there:

1) Qantas: good = direct flights, decent prices; bad = no FF mileage towards US

2) Air New Zealand: good: FF mileage and status credit, decent prices; bad = connect through AKL to get anywhere

3) United: good: direct flights, FF mileage and status credit; bad: higher fares and lesser service quality?


It would seem United would be my best bet, but I've read that their service quality on this route is substandard. Could anyone offer any specifics? Any other advice?

My answer would depend on what class you intend to fly. But here are my comments (as an Australian who does the SYD-LAX/SFO-SYD trip 5 or 6 times a year).

Air NZ - I've not flown with them. I like the idea of their premium economy with its extra legroom and extra seat width (on the 747s), but the idea of going via AKL and adding several hours to an already long trip doesn't appeal to me.

United - Economy sucks. Only main screen movies (no seat-back personal screens). Economy Plus has the extra legroom, but that's all (and I'm not sure if your US staus would get you an E+ seat anyway). Business is OK. Food is quite nice, actually, although the choice for breakfast is minimal. And the FAs seem attentive. Seats are better than UA domestic First Class. I have not flown international First Class.

Qantas - Economy service is, I think, better than United (i.e. better food, and they have seat-back entertainment). But there is no concept of Economy Plus (i.e. legroom is standard coach). Business class is very nice. Certainly a step above United Business. Very nice meals (with a choice of meals for breakfast), great lie-flat seat (although it is at an angle), and the seat feels much more private than the United business. I've only had a positive experience with the FAs.

Another option (although I haven't tried this myself) might be JetStar (JQ). This is a LCC owned by Qantas and they have just started to fly SYD-HNL a couple of times a week. Maybe you could get a US flight to HNL and then JQ to SYD. JQ have "StarClass" on these flights, which are a "business class-like" seat. From what I've read, StarClass is about on par with (or even better than) UA/AA domestic First Class (with a 38" seat pitch). This could also be a good option if your origin is not LAX/SFO as you may be able to fly direct to HNL (e.g. JFK-HNL-SYD rather than JFK-LAX-SYD).

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Hope this helps,

Glenn

Thanks for the feedback, Glenn. We're likely going Economy and will be originating from RDU (a long way from SYD!) which means 2 flights just to get to LAX.

Also, AC flies HNL-SYD, which would earn miles on US.

i've flown all the carriers between the west coast and aus and between hawaii and aus (except deathstar, which just started a few weeks ago).

while i've rarely done it (thank god), economy for me pretty much equally sucks on all carriers, but is better if you can get an empty seat next to you of course. since you'll most often be flying down overnight, you'd hope to sleep (ha ha), and entertainment/food aren't big issues.

i tend to stick with a carrier where i can get upgraded (ha works best in that regard for me, even though their service level is poor).

another consideration, as discussed ad nauseum hereat, is whether you prefer to be insecticide (disinsection) sprayed on arrival or dipped before departure.

another consideration, as discussed ad nauseum hereat, is whether you prefer to be insecticide (disinsection) sprayed on arrival or dipped before departure.

Who sprays on arrival these days? I know QF and UA don't (at least on none of the dozen or so flights I've taken over the last two years).

Haven't flown UA to SYD but don't think any US status scores you E+ seats any longer.

I did fly NZ to MEL via AKL in June but in Y. Seatback inflight entertainment was great and coach seats were fine. Service was very friendly and food wasn actually pretty good.

AKL is not a big airport at all and very easy to change planes there. There are shower facilities near the shops. They're free but $5 NZD for a towel and soap. I freshened up before the flight to MEL and it was just fine. And the NZ miles posted to my US account as soon as I returned home.

One other thing to remember, not totally sure on US's agreements, but I think that if you fly NZ you will NOT get ans many redeemable miles as if you fly UA.

I have flown both QF and UA in economy LAX-SYD. (And QF LAX-MEL once as well).

QF is MUCH better service in Y. Much better entertainment as well (personal system, instead of outdated big-screens on UA).

However, UA E+ was very nice as well. Much more space than QF which is very appreciated. Of course, as a US member this isn't guaranteed to you.

Neither plane will have power ports. Which makes the IFE more important!

I was happy with UA's service, even though it wasn't to QF standards. I can earn AA miles on QF so I can go either way, and to me, if you are flying Y and can get E+ on United, neither holds a huge advantage, it just depends what you want- legroom or entertainment/service.

UA service is acceptable, and if you go armed with the knowledge you need to entertain yourself for 14 hours, it's not so bad. I brought my laptop with several extra batteries, and the trip went by pretty fast.

I would like to try Air New Zealand next time though. They seem to have the best overall package (good entertainment, more legroom than QF, and from what I've heard great service). And I want to do a NZ stopover anyway! ;)

Good luck in your decision, and remember, even if you choose the 'wrong' airline, you're still going to end up in a pretty nice place! ;)

Thanks for all the feedback. It sounds like Economy Plus on UA is not an option since I've got no UA status and the lack of decent entertainment rules out UA Economy.

I've got enough miles left for a Biz Class ticket via *A - would that equate to Premium Economy on NZ? I'm not sure PE is worth double the fare for my other ticket, but will look into it. Anyone know what the typical load factor is like on NZ in June? Some breathing room in Economy might not be bad at all and overnight in AKL sounds interesting.

It's really too bad QF/US are ending their relationship in Feb...

If the UA E+ sounds good, you might like to check out the United web site for "Economy Plus Access". This allows you to buy E+ access for $299 a year, but you do need to be a Mileage Plus member. Maybe this is an option?

woodg - would I be able to bump my wife up on her US award ticket?

Who sprays on arrival these days? I know QF and UA don't (at least on none of the dozen or so flights I've taken over the last two years).


Not sure who is spraying and who is dipping at the moment, and it can vary from time to time. BUT, if you think dipping is better, suggest you think again, as you will be exposed to far greater amounts of dangerous chamicals for far longer. Have a look on the net and find one of the disinsection dipping videos, in case you aren't sure.

woodg - would I be able to bump my wife up on her US award ticket?

I don't know if you can get actual experience with this but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You get to have a E+ seat for yourself and a 'travelling companion', and your wife would simply be in a different fare class, no big deal.

I don't know if you can get actual experience with this but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You get to have a E+ seat for yourself and a 'travelling companion', and your wife would simply be in a different fare class, no big deal.

This is as how I read it as well.

Glenn

BUT, if you think dipping is better, suggest you think again, as you will be exposed to far greater amounts of dangerous chamicals for far longer.

I wasn't saying one was better than the other. My personal preference is "dipping", but that's just me. In any case, if you want to visit Australia then one or the other is going to be done.

Well, since I need to lock in the domestic flights on US asap and NZ award availability is not accessible at the moment, I think I am going to go a completely different route. I've got a Star Alliance economy award on hold with SQ with the EWR/SIN segments in Executive Economy. Cost on the purchased ticket for me is very close to the NZ price for PE.

I was also able to book my mother a roundtrip ticket on AA/QF for the same trip for only 75k Advantage miles! She's happy and we're happy to be travelling alone! :D

I'm sure I will be back with some more questions. Thanks to all for the advice/input.

Thanks for all the feedback. It sounds like Economy Plus on UA is not an option since I've got no UA status and the lack of decent entertainment rules out UA Economy.

I've got enough miles left for a Biz Class ticket via *A - would that equate to Premium Economy on NZ? I'm not sure PE is worth double the fare for my other ticket, but will look into it. Anyone know what the typical load factor is like on NZ in June? Some breathing room in Economy might not be bad at all and overnight in AKL sounds interesting.

It's really too bad QF/US are ending their relationship in Feb...

No - a business award gets business class, which on NZ is about as good as UA first (some would say better). No question that NZ has the best product between US and Australia currently, in economy and business.

Downside is the transfer at AKL although this is painless (and a great lounge if you have *G status or flying business), but it does add a bit of time. Certainly much easier transferring at AKL than at SYD (no direct flights to CNS).

The link from Air NZ to partner FFPs has been down but reportedly is now back up.

Not that it matters any longer since I'm going to confirm my SQ tickets on hold later today, but I thought Business class on NZ required a 1st class award using US miles? At least that is what US told me when I was checking on the 744 flights from LAX.

Not AFAIK. If US Dividend Miles does this then they are the only FFP to charge F award mileage for business class on NZ.

Some friends of ours apparently found a good airfare deal on Malaysia Airlines to Sydney, and they asked if I'd heard anything about them - anyone?

Sorry, I don't know if they are planning on flying coach or biz, nor do I know if they are part of any FF program. From the vagueness of their question, my guess is that they are not. I have only flown QF, so I can't be of much help there. Any feedback would be most helpful, thanks!

I wasn't saying one was better than the other. My personal preference is "dipping", but that's just me. In any case, if you want to visit Australia then one or the other is going to be done.

Can anyone explain what the dipping-spraying thing is when arriving in Australia?

Some friends of ours apparently found a good airfare deal on Malaysia Airlines to Sydney, and they asked if I'd heard anything about them - anyone?

Sorry, I don't know if they are planning on flying coach or biz, nor do I know if they are part of any FF program. From the vagueness of their question, my guess is that they are not. I have only flown QF, so I can't be of much help there. Any feedback would be most helpful, thanks!

Malaysia Airlines has a 5* Skytrax rating overall, and their Y product gets 4*. Apparently their standard pitch in coach is 34". If flying via Europe doesn't put you off, they might be more than OK!

Can anyone explain what the dipping-spraying thing is when arriving in Australia?Every aircraft arriving in Australia must be disinsected. Traditionally, this was done by spraying the aircraft with insecticide before arrival, usually at top of descent. (Cabin crew literally walk through the aircraft with aerosol sprays going.)

As an alternative, the aircraft can be treated with a long-lasting insecticide that's allowed to soak into all of the cabin furnishings, esp the carpets and seats. Airlines whose aircraft are frequently arriving in Australia tend to do this (eg Qantas). This way, the passengers don't notice the disinsection being done.

It's a controversial topic whether it's more harmful to passenger health to be sprayed for a few seconds or to be sitting on an insecticide-soaked seat for 14 hours.

Every aircraft arriving in Australia must be disinsected. Traditionally, this was done by spraying the aircraft with insecticide before arrival, usually at top of descent. (Cabin crew literally walk through the aircraft with aerosol sprays going.)

As an alternative, the aircraft can be treated with a long-lasting insecticide that's allowed to soak into all of the cabin furnishings, esp the carpets and seats. Airlines whose aircraft are frequently arriving in Australia tend to do this (eg Qantas). This way, the passengers don't notice the disinsection being done.

It's a controversial topic whether it's more harmful to passenger health to be sprayed for a few seconds or to be sitting on an insecticide-soaked seat for 14 hours.

Yikes!

Yikes!Lots of airlines do this, and not just when landing in Australia. Most airlines don't publicize where it is done, but Air Canada has disclosed their procedures in detail (to their credit). AC sprays for flights from/to Canada from Aruba, Australia, Barbados, Cuba, Grand Cayman, India, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St-Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Buenos Aires.

In general any destination with a malaria risk will be sprayed by all airlines (often required by govt regulations). It is not just an Australian idiosyncracy.