Originally Posted by
vgutkovsky
I'm trying to book biz class for 1 person to/from Oceania (ideally into AKL and back from SYD). Unfortunately, dates are firmly set (peak travel times, around Christmas 2019), but routing can be flexible. Willing to position anywhere in the US, route through Asia (except for China), etc. Hours of research shows only waitlist availability, at best.
USA - Aust/NZ business class awards are amongst the hardest to get. Many threads on this topic, At a peak times even harder. Fixed dates (a cruise?) harder again.
Look for one ways on different airlines and/or routes. Look at SFO, LAX, YVR, DFW, ORD and BNE, SYD, MEL, AKL. WLG & CHC are also served by international airlines. Aus<--->NZ flights are frequent and from many airports, so no need to be into NZ and out of Australia.
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air Canada AC (YVR – SYD BNE MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO ORD 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 – BNE SYD MEL ADL via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – BNE SYD) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ (HNL – BNE SYD MEL)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK(via LAX) DFW HNL YVR*– SYD; LAX-BNE; LAX SFO-MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (LAX-MEL, LAX SFO IAH– SYD) (SFO-MEL from 20 Oct 2019)[Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – BNE SYD MEL) (codeshares with AC*) (Delta & AC* partner) [*= some routes in 2017-18 link
- and others via Asia & Middle East
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
Consider these
Award booking services - a list and some reviews