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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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)
Dec 30, 2017, 2:32 pm
#541
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 624
I finally cashed in my miles for SJC>LAX>AKL ZQN>SYD SYD>LAX>SJC (taking Jetstar purely because of timing.) You don't fly half way across the glob and just ignore things if you don't know about when you're coming back.
Ended up getting Business Class LAX>AKL and SYD>LAX on 787-9 for both my wife and I was going to try and round trip LAX>AKL, but got blacked out of the return for some reason. It ended up not being a big deal because it helped us get those 2 days in SYD that we otherwise wouldn't have had.
Ended up getting Business Class LAX>AKL and SYD>LAX on 787-9 for both my wife and I was going to try and round trip LAX>AKL, but got blacked out of the return for some reason. It ended up not being a big deal because it helped us get those 2 days in SYD that we otherwise wouldn't have had.
The seats are there, but getting down here and home definitely takes some work.
Dec 30, 2017, 3:51 pm
#542
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BNA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 766
I finally cashed in my miles for SJC>LAX>AKL ZQN>SYD SYD>LAX>SJC (taking Jetstar purely because of timing.) You don't fly half way across the glob and just ignore things if you don't know about when you're coming back.
Ended up getting Business Class LAX>AKL and SYD>LAX on 787-9 for both my wife and I was going to try and round trip LAX>AKL, but got blacked out of the return for some reason. It ended up not being a big deal because it helped us get those 2 days in SYD that we otherwise wouldn't have had.
Ended up getting Business Class LAX>AKL and SYD>LAX on 787-9 for both my wife and I was going to try and round trip LAX>AKL, but got blacked out of the return for some reason. It ended up not being a big deal because it helped us get those 2 days in SYD that we otherwise wouldn't have had.
Jan 4, 2018, 1:41 pm
#543
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 321
I tried soon after tickets became available and it was not available for 40k/leg - so I gave up.
Now I found one for return.
Looking for something closer to 40k for Jan 14/15 (attending an event so no much flexibility). Tried Delta & United too to get one way but no luck.
Any tips in finding one for SFO to SYD?
Also, how long before the trip is ideal time to book award - I must have tried about 8/9 months ahead and Jan 2018 was expensive.
Now I found one for return.
Looking for something closer to 40k for Jan 14/15 (attending an event so no much flexibility). Tried Delta & United too to get one way but no luck.
Any tips in finding one for SFO to SYD?
Also, how long before the trip is ideal time to book award - I must have tried about 8/9 months ahead and Jan 2018 was expensive.
Jan 22, 2018, 12:13 am
#544
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 28
I've given this advice before, but it's helpful here too.
Try routing through Hawaii. Easy to find space to HNL, and then somewhat easy to find space from HNL>AKL/SYD/BNE. Cost is 132.5k miles one way, but you're essentially able to book a free stopover in Hawaii since you'll be booking two separate awards, one US>HI, and one HI>OZ.
Try routing through Hawaii. Easy to find space to HNL, and then somewhat easy to find space from HNL>AKL/SYD/BNE. Cost is 132.5k miles one way, but you're essentially able to book a free stopover in Hawaii since you'll be booking two separate awards, one US>HI, and one HI>OZ.
Jan 22, 2018, 1:44 pm
#546
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
Jan 22, 2018, 1:54 pm
#548
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 28
Mar 16, 2018, 2:42 pm
#550
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
First come, first served.
I just cancelled my June 18th QF12 LAX-SYD First Class award seat.
It's back in inventory and available.
I just cancelled my June 18th QF12 LAX-SYD First Class award seat.
It's back in inventory and available.
Mar 17, 2018, 6:19 am
#551
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 15
Could anyone help me out with pricing for the below award? Going off the award chart for J I was expecting 85k miles but an agent told me today it would be 115k? Is that correct? HUCA?
BNE-MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR
Can see the segments seperately but when I try to book BNE-LHR online, it tries to route me through HKG and doesn't bring up the SIN options.
BNE-MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR
Can see the segments seperately but when I try to book BNE-LHR online, it tries to route me through HKG and doesn't bring up the SIN options.
Mar 17, 2018, 8:11 am
#552
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Could anyone help me out with pricing for the below award? Going off the award chart for J I was expecting 85k miles but an agent told me today it would be 115k? Is that correct? HUCA?
BNE-MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR
Can see the segments seperately but when I try to book BNE-LHR online, it tries to route me through HKG and doesn't bring up the SIN options.
BNE-MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR
Can see the segments seperately but when I try to book BNE-LHR online, it tries to route me through HKG and doesn't bring up the SIN options.
What if you drop the BNE-MEL segment, can you get just MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR as a single 85k award I would assume?
Mar 18, 2018, 12:33 am
#553
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 15
Most likely a published fare issue. Just a guess, but coming from BNE, I bet the fares require you to fly straight to HKG or SIN etc., and do not allow backtracking first to MEL.
What if you drop the BNE-MEL segment, can you get just MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR as a single 85k award I would assume?
What if you drop the BNE-MEL segment, can you get just MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR as a single 85k award I would assume?
Learnt something at least.
Mar 18, 2018, 1:23 am
#554
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,608
If you start in Melbourne or Sydney, does it allow SYD/MEL-SIN-HEL-LHR as a single award
Last edited by Dave Noble; Mar 18, 2018 at 1:56 am
Mar 18, 2018, 12:08 pm
#555
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,461
Would someone remind me of how we ask AA to look at TN J Saver inventory, starting to plan a trip around 2/23-3/9 to AKL. I called yesterday and she couldn’t see anything for February, I remember a post a while ago with the exact language we need to guide them.