@OP

I know this won't fit your provided budget as per your boss... But in the few times I flew AC33 to get to MEL, I always did a separate booking on VA ex-SYD. The VA product is top notch. Many FTers helped me see the VA light. :)

Different topic - sorry, I didn't mean for it to be distracting to this thread. Yes, I cannot get to PPT on aeroplan miles only. But, I can get to AKL, and then buy an AKL-PPT seat in economy. Getting to AKL is much easier - likely on UA, but possibly on NZ (all business lay flats).

In case you're terribly bored, my quest is in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...ds-search.html

I did see your earlier post, and it was very helpful. This is great information. I'll shoot you a PM when I know my dates. I appreciate the help

[off topic]

Its very difficult to get business class awards on Air NZ. For years they had close to zero availability. But that has changed a little in the last year. Last year I got a AKL SFO business class award on Air NZ with UA ff miles 5 weeks before the flight.

Not that many airlines fly to PPT. Its a popular, albeit expensive, destination. http://tahiti-airport.com/airlines-and-destinations/

[/off topic]

What kind of VP just makes up an amount for the ceiling on 20 hours of flying? Sounds like a tool for sure. It costs what it costs.

Travel policies for lots of companies are much, much worse

The same type of tool who appreciates the fact that the difference between $3500 and $8000 is substantial. Do you rubber stamp your own employees for the $8000 option?

Amazing seat sale from YVR-SYD.
 

Lets hope AC or at least UA matches.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...-687k-usd.html

I suppose I live in a different world than some. Our multi-national manufacturing company normally doesn't even allow for business class travel anymore. We used to be able to fly business if the flight was >6 hours, but 2008 markets happened, and that was changed to economy, or PE now. Just flew to Frankfurt on PE, and it wasn't bad at all. Combine this with the fact that very few flights are needed to Australia in our business - so this is a "one off". Without me asking, the policy says PE - but I simply asked if there could be provisions made for a business class for such a long flight. Also, not sure if you noticed, but I also update the thread half way through where I updated him on the prices I was seeing, and he's lifted the limit - but I still need to be reasonable.

YYZ-YVR-BNE-MEL (AC/AC/QF) Dept Feb 16th Arrival Feb 18th
MEL-CAN-YYZ (CZ/CZ) Dept Feb 25th Arrival Feb 26th

Return has an 8hr layover in CAN

5700$ All J...

You get your points going to mel, coupled with a great product, as well as an "ok" product on the return, all in J. Your flights are changing prices because fares are filed with advanced purchase requirements so

A P fare with a 30 day advanced purchase requirement is 5000, a 14 day is 7000, 7 day is 8500, etc. If those are the only fares filed, then as soon as the 30 day mark is passed, the price immediately jumps 2k. It can also be as easy as the P fares are now sold out on your date and your now into a Z fare which can be several hundred or thousands more expensive. There are few situations where waiting will result in cheaper flights.

NZ has not J seats to release for upgrades. As an example its 787-900 have just 18 j seats.
NZ is a leisure market or there are not many locals willing to pay for J so the NZ plans its fleet with very few J seats.

NZ 787 with 18J seats do AKl-MEL/ AKL-SYD. Taken them couple of times last year.
Not AKL-LAX/SFO.

Hopefully this final(?) question gets some visibility. Dates are confirmed. For our dates, the following 3 options are all within +/- $700 of each other.

I'll look up which of these airlines are *Alliance - which is bonus to my AP account.

Recommendations?

(All seats are business class)

Option 1:
YYZ-LAX on AirCanada A321 (flight AC799)
9 hr layover in LAX
LAX-MEL on Qantas A380 (flight QF94)
Total journey time: ~30 hours

Option 2:
YYZ-Dubai on Emirates A380 (Flight EK242)
8 hr layover in Dubai
Dubai-MEL on Emirates 777-300er (Flight EK408)
Total Journey time: ~36 hours

Option 3:
YYZ-Abu Dhabi on Etihad 777-300er (Flight EY140)
10 hr layover in Abu Dhabi
AbuDabi - MEL on Etihad A380(flight EY460)
Total Journey time: ~37 hours

In all the carriers you listed, only AC is *A, unfortunately.

I would be looking at
(a) the trip back. Transit time & total journey time will be different
(b) the actual departure & arrival times (both ways)

Frequent flyer programms
www.wheretocredit.com/ac
www.wheretocredit.com/QF is an AA & AS ff partner
www.wheretocredit.com/EK is an AS ff partner
www.wheretocredit.com/ey is an AA ff partner