Jul 4, 2014, 8:35 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
oneworld nonstop flights between USA and Australia are operated by American Airlines / AA and Qantas / QF. US gateways include DFW, JFK, LAX, SFO. Australia gateways include BNE, MEL, SYD.
Alternatives include using Hawaiian / HA from HNL, Fiji Airways / FJ from Los Angeles / LAX or SFO via NAN or Air Tahiti Nui / TN via PPT. (QF codeshares on Jetstar are no longer bookable as AA awards). You must route direct or South Pacific; awards via Asia, or transatlantic require two awards. Premium Economy services may not be booked with AAdvantage miles yet.
Awards using HA / Hawaiian Airlines require two awards, and one may not use HA between the mainland and Hawaii.
Only MileSAAver Awards are available on AA partners.
The usual award rules regarding Maximum Permitted Miles (MPM) and unconstructed origin-destination routings sold by the prevailing carrier apply.
Qantas releases awards ~355 days out; AA can not book anything beyond 331 days out. Qantas awards are challenging to secure. AA MileSAAver flights seem to be scarce on the LAX-SYD routing, even when aircraft go out with empty seats. AAnytime awards can be used on AA, but dynamic pricing may see those for as much as 225,000 miles one way in First.
Note: there are fees involved in award changes from oneworld airlines to non-oneworld partners or vice versa.
See here for current AA redemption charts.
Threads that can help include:
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) (you must use MileSAAver awards on partners; AAnytime wards may only be used on AA.)
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) (consolidated)
AAdvantage Miles Awards: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions
FJ / Fiji Airways (ex-Air Pacific) and AA, awards, etc. (consolidated)
Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)
Edit (post pandemic list at 06 Aug 2022 by Mwenenzi)
Member Mwenenzi posted
Alternatives include using Hawaiian / HA from HNL, Fiji Airways / FJ from Los Angeles / LAX or SFO via NAN or Air Tahiti Nui / TN via PPT. (QF codeshares on Jetstar are no longer bookable as AA awards). You must route direct or South Pacific; awards via Asia, or transatlantic require two awards. Premium Economy services may not be booked with AAdvantage miles yet.
Awards using HA / Hawaiian Airlines require two awards, and one may not use HA between the mainland and Hawaii.
Only MileSAAver Awards are available on AA partners.
The usual award rules regarding Maximum Permitted Miles (MPM) and unconstructed origin-destination routings sold by the prevailing carrier apply.
Qantas releases awards ~355 days out; AA can not book anything beyond 331 days out. Qantas awards are challenging to secure. AA MileSAAver flights seem to be scarce on the LAX-SYD routing, even when aircraft go out with empty seats. AAnytime awards can be used on AA, but dynamic pricing may see those for as much as 225,000 miles one way in First.
Note: there are fees involved in award changes from oneworld airlines to non-oneworld partners or vice versa.
See here for current AA redemption charts.
Threads that can help include:
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) (you must use MileSAAver awards on partners; AAnytime wards may only be used on AA.)
AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) (consolidated)
AAdvantage Miles Awards: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions
FJ / Fiji Airways (ex-Air Pacific) and AA, awards, etc. (consolidated)
Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)
Edit (post pandemic list at 06 Aug 2022 by Mwenenzi)
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia. Following the pandemic, routes are being restabilised and some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change.
Following the pandemic routes are being restabilised and with some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change
- Air Canada AC YVR – SYD BNE. [Star Alliance] .
- Air New Zealand NZ LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL. [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN LAX – via Tahiti & AKL. Last segments on QF codeshares. (AA & DL partner)
- American Airlines AA LAX-SYD due to restart 29 Oct 2022 [OneWorld Alliance]
- Delta DL LAX – SYD. [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ LAX SFO HNL – BNE SYD MEL via NAN Fiji. (OneWorld Alliance connect. QF AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA HNL – SYD. Pre CV19 also used to fly to BNE (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ HNL – SYD. Pre CV19 also used to fly to/from BNE & MEL.
- Qantas QF SYD - LAX DFW HNL YVR*; BNE - LAX ; MEL- LAX. {* seasonal}. MEL-DFW due to start 02 Dec 2022 (new route). SYD – SFO due to restart 30 Oct 2022. Pre CV19 also had SYD-SFO & SYD-JFK(via LAX). [OneWorld Alliance]
- United UA MEL-SFO, SYD-LAX SFO. BNE-SFO from 31 Oct 2022 (new route). MEL-LAX and SYD-IAH due to restart 30 Oct 2022. [Star Alliance]. (VA partner)
- and others via Asia & Middle East
Following the pandemic routes are being restabilised and with some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change
- American Airlines AA . DFW-AKL due to start 29 Oct 2022 to 25 Mar 2023(new route) LAX-AKL due to restart unknow. AA was to fly LAX-CHC 3 days a week from Oct 2020. [Oneworld Alliance]
- Air Canada AC YVR – AKL Due to restart 12 Nov 2022 [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ LAX SFO IAH YVR – AKL. Pre CV19 also had ORD. [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN LAX - AKL via Tahiti (AA & DL partner)
- Fiji Airways FJ LAX SFO HNL - AKL via NAN Fiji Pre CV19 used to fly to WLG CHC. (QF AA & AS partner).
- Hawaiian HA HNL – AKL (AA & VA partner)
- Qantas QF LAX SFO DFW JFK HNL YVR* via SYD BNE & MEL. {* seasonal} [Oneworld Alliance])
- United UA SFO – AKL [Star Alliance]
- And others via Australia, Asia & Middle East
Member Mwenenzi posted
Mxflyer Welcome to FT
Many threads on this topic.
USA <---->Australia business class awards are one of the hardest to get. An award in ~6 to 8 weeks time (short notice) even harder. 2 people on the same flight harder again.
Hard but may not be impossible. At times availability can increase close in.
What ffp's are you currently a signed up member of?
If you look only at LAX SYD you are restricting your options a lot, and then some. Look at SFO, IAH & DFW and BNE MEL. BNE can have better availability than other airports. Domestic USA & Australia flights as needed
Via Asia is the other option, but would be 2 awards. BKK, HKG, TPE, SIN, NRT, HND and others. Due to political unrest some HKG flights have low loads
They do not need to fly the same airline/ffp/routes/airports out & back. Look for one ways.
AA ff miles cannot be used to upgrade QF flights. Anyway upgrades, with any airline on the USA Aust routes are hard.
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia
Edit
List deleted due to out of date post Covid-19 pandemic (see above)
AA & UA also fly LAX-AKL. Then a 3:30hr flight across to Aust.
Via Fiji or on TN can work
AA forum
Consider these Award booking services - a list and some reviews
Credit card transfer links
Many threads on this topic.
USA <---->Australia business class awards are one of the hardest to get. An award in ~6 to 8 weeks time (short notice) even harder. 2 people on the same flight harder again.
Hard but may not be impossible. At times availability can increase close in.
What ffp's are you currently a signed up member of?
If you look only at LAX SYD you are restricting your options a lot, and then some. Look at SFO, IAH & DFW and BNE MEL. BNE can have better availability than other airports. Domestic USA & Australia flights as needed
Via Asia is the other option, but would be 2 awards. BKK, HKG, TPE, SIN, NRT, HND and others. Due to political unrest some HKG flights have low loads
They do not need to fly the same airline/ffp/routes/airports out & back. Look for one ways.
AA ff miles cannot be used to upgrade QF flights. Anyway upgrades, with any airline on the USA Aust routes are hard.
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia
Edit
List deleted due to out of date post Covid-19 pandemic (see above)
AA & UA also fly LAX-AKL. Then a 3:30hr flight across to Aust.
Via Fiji or on TN can work
AA forum
- Australia New Zealand---->AAdvantage award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
- FJ---->FJ / Fiji Airways (ex-Air Pacific) and AA, miles, awards, etc. (consolidated)
- HA---> Earning and Redeeming AA Miles on HA / Hawaiian Airlines (master thread)
- JL---> AAdvantage Award using JL / JAL / Japan Airlines (master thd)
- QF---> AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
- TN ----> AA Miles Award: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions (master thread)
Consider these Award booking services - a list and some reviews
Credit card transfer links
- Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs forum
- Amex MR Transfer Membership Rewards points to which airline or hotel program?
- Chase UR Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timeline, etc (2017)
- Chase UR Ultimate Rewards - Which airline/hotel should I transfer points to?
- Citi TYP Citi ThankYou Points (TYPs): airline transfer partners
AA MileSAAver award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
Feb 9, 2013, 6:52 pm
#31
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Im considering burning miles for a J saver award to SYD. Nothing is showing for QF but there is availability on HA. Includes a stopover in HNL. How is business class in HA, particulaly as it relates to HNL/SYD.
Feb 9, 2013, 7:15 pm
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Given that it is a daytime flight from HNL-SYD , I would not be too adverse to taking it. If QF4 operates that day, I would set an alert for availability for U class since QF's business class on their 767 ex HNL has 50" pitch in a 1-2-2 configuration
Last edited by Dave Noble; Feb 9, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Feb 9, 2013, 8:04 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 262
A friend and I booked an explorer award, I snagged the last biz seat, he took economy, but Qantas never opened up more business for award redemption and the airport staff would not reticket him. The plane left with empty seats in biz and I had to deal with his sourpuss attitude when we landed
Feb 9, 2013, 8:09 pm
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
A friend and I booked an explorer award, I snagged the last biz seat, he took economy, but Qantas never opened up more business for award redemption and the airport staff would not reticket him. The plane left with empty seats in biz and I had to deal with his sourpuss attitude when we landed
Feb 9, 2013, 8:15 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 262
That is to be expected. If there is U availability then AA can book passenger into business. If they do not open up U availability then c'est la vie. QF is not going to just give a free upgrade for the sake of it. That there were empty seats in business is nothing to be surprised about
While you might claim that empty seats in business might be nothing to be surprised about, compared to other carriers such as CX it might be surprising. CX seems to open up almost all seats for reward redemptions very close to departure. AA seems to do something similar.
If a person is not familiar with QF, or expect that QF agents can help you when on the ground with a OWxxxC award ticket, they could be surprised. Just reinforcing the fact that it's worth the time to stay close to KVS or your seat/inventory alert of choice and spend the money to phone AAdvantage vs dealing with it with another airline at the airport.
Feb 10, 2013, 5:48 pm
#36
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I had one of those booked for this coming May before Qantas opened up a seat a few weeks later. Don't forget you can use HNL as your North America gateway and get a free stopover there if you don't want to fly it straight through from the mainland. You can plot that out on the AA website and it won't deduct any additional miles.
Feb 10, 2013, 6:07 pm
#37
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Feb 11, 2013, 8:56 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 3
Contintental US -> Aus. Jan 2014
I was hoping for a mileage business class flight with any of the Continental US to Aus routes for the first week of January 2014. Main goal was to avoid the massive hassle of the HNL layover. Eight days of January flights have come and gone and absolutely nothing available. Is the entire month of January blacked out for these flights? What a disappointment.
Feb 11, 2013, 9:15 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
I was hoping for a mileage business class flight with any of the Continental US to Aus routes for the first week of January 2014. Main goal was to avoid the massive hassle of the HNL layover. Eight days of January flights have come and gone and absolutely nothing available. Is the entire month of January blacked out for these flights? What a disappointment.
You can register for a BA.com account and view inventory for all of January there.
Feb 11, 2013, 10:12 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 1999
Programs: AA EXP, SPG PLT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton GLD
Posts: 974
There is generally very good availability in both Business and First on AA into all of their Asia destinations. There is also very good availability to Australia on JAL out of Narita and now also on Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur. Use the BA website to check availability. I was quite suprised how much availability in premium cabins was available if you used AA to Asia and then a One World partner from Asia to Australia. You just need to put the time into checking all days/destinations.
Feb 11, 2013, 10:57 pm
#42
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 3
I was hoping for a mileage business class flight with any of the Continental US to Aus routes for the first week of January 2014. Main goal was to avoid the massive hassle of the HNL layover. Eight days of January flights have come and gone and absolutely nothing available. Is the entire month of January blacked out for these flights? What a disappointment.
So while I might be able to see flights on ba, qantas and other sites, it does me no good if I can't redeem my miles there.
Correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing something.
Feb 11, 2013, 11:33 pm
#43
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Maybe I misworded what I was trying to state: I want to redeem Aadvantage miles on a flight between the continental US <-> Aus.
So while I might be able to see flights on BA, Qantas and other sites, it does me no good if I can't redeem my miles there.
Correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing something.
So while I might be able to see flights on BA, Qantas and other sites, it does me no good if I can't redeem my miles there.
Correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing something.
That time is peak time for Australia: summer vacation
Feb 11, 2013, 11:48 pm
#44
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Maybe I misworded what I was trying to state: I want to redeem Aadvantage miles on a flight between the continental US <-> Aus.
So while I might be able to see flights on ba, qantas and other sites, it does me no good if I can't redeem my miles there.
Correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing something.
So while I might be able to see flights on ba, qantas and other sites, it does me no good if I can't redeem my miles there.
Correct me if I'm wrong or if I'm missing something.
AA limits booking to 330 days, but you can track availability from 355 days
Feb 12, 2013, 12:19 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
There is generally very good availability in both Business and First on AA into all of their Asia destinations. There is also very good availability to Australia on JAL out of Narita and now also on Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur. Use the BA website to check availability. I was quite suprised how much availability in premium cabins was available if you used AA to Asia and then a One World partner from Asia to Australia. You just need to put the time into checking all days/destinations.