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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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)
Jun 18, 2018, 11:49 am
#616
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
MileSaaver Awards to Australia
Hi All,
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
Jun 18, 2018, 11:55 am
#617
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,920
You should be looking at the availability in May 2019 to see what seats get released at opening of schedule. September 2018 will have a lot of people already booked.
Jun 18, 2018, 12:42 pm
#618
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
Got it - I checked May 2019 and there isn't anything available...does that mean that likely they just never have these?
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
Jun 18, 2018, 12:54 pm
#619
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,492
I'm looking at late March/early April travel and I do see biz award space (LAX-BNE) on Qantas, on Expert Flyer. If you don't have one yet, I'd suggest getting a subscription to EF. Once your travel dates are available on there (about 300-330 days out), set up alerts.
Back in late January I found award travel for October, which seems to be the right timeframe. So you'll want to start looking in November and get serious in December.
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
These upgrades are space-available. If there is space, then they start with the highest status levels, then move down. So if you are AA Gold, you have a lesser chance of an upgrade, but more than a non-status passenger.
Jun 18, 2018, 12:57 pm
#620
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 304
Got it - I checked May 2019 and there isn't anything available...does that mean that likely they just never have these?
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
Hawaiian Airline first class is available for $4k, if you don't mind a one night layover in HNL. Their A330 lie flats are decent enough. You'll earn about 24k AA miles if you wanted to credit that flight to your AAdvantage account.
Jun 18, 2018, 12:58 pm
#621
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Hi All,
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
Mileage upgrades are possible, perhaps, if you find available upgrade space and secure it immediately. If not, the wait list priority is based on AAdvantage status, beginning with Concierge Key atbthe top, type of upgrade (you’re good there),followed by last 12 Month Elite Qualifying Dollar spend. IMO for nonstatus passengers to Oz, highly unlikely. See FAQ: Miles + Copay Upgrade / Upgrades (master thread)
Jun 18, 2018, 4:29 pm
#622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
..I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
Do not just look at LAX & SYD. Look at LAX SFO HNL JFK(QF) DFW and BNE SYD MEL. AKL and others cities in NZ. [Not from all airports to all airports]
AA has 1 flight a day LAX-SYD and 1 flight LAX-AKL. QF more flights from/to more airports. And then there is FJ and HA. [For example FJ fly to CHC in NZ]
Aust to/from NZ is cheap to buy for cash (~3:15hr flight). From many airport to many airports. Not just SYD-AKL
You cannot transfer AA points to another ffp. Anyway many ffp's have the same partners. You are competing against QF, AA, AS and all Oneworld frequent flyers (BA, QR, IB, CX etc) on a very popular route for premium awards. Not many airlines fly the routes: -AA, QF & HA non stop and FJ, TN via home bases
QF business class can at times fly near full with cash paying customers. QF will not just fill up business-first class seats with upgraders or awards. QF will fly with empty business-first class seats.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jun 19, 2018 at 1:37 am
Jun 18, 2018, 7:20 pm
#623
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hertz Gold Plus, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 338
Hi All,
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
Jun 19, 2018, 7:08 am
#624
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,511
It is extremely difficult to find two saver award seats to Australia or New Zealand for a specific date on any airline, but especially American. For something as important as a Honeymoon an award booking service might be the best option. There are many around and most of the popular bloggers have one. A fee is involved but this route could save you a lot of time and their expertise could come up with seats you might never have found.
Jun 19, 2018, 4:29 pm
#625
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,492
I looked for the full 330 days for LAX-SYD (June) and LAX-AKL (March) for business saver space using EF. Nothing turned up for the entire time for either one above economy awards--lots of those were available, but they're LONG flights to sit in economy. If we do either flight again, we'll pay for PE..
There's some limited space on SFO-SYD, but quite a bit on SFO-MEL.
The return options aren't nearly as open, but I do see a few dates with 1 seat.
If you are looking at that timeframe, I'd highly suggest booking these ASAP. Even if you just take the 1 seat now for the return, I'd grab it. Then keep looking. Perhaps another will open on that same flight, or you'll find 2 seats elsewhere.
None of these are showing on the AA website, so you'll need to call. Give the AAgent the specific flight numbers on the dates. That's what I did, and it worked like magic.
Jun 19, 2018, 5:56 pm
#626
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 321
Hi All,
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
I have been looking for MileSaaver awards to Australia / New Zealand for in September of this year to see what availability might be like for my honeymoon next year (September 2019). It doesn't seem like there are any Business / first MileSAAVer awards available - whenever I get one of the 80K reward options it is the business class flight to DFW or whatever and then economy to Australia (imagine if you didn't catch this!).
Does anyone have advice for finding rewards flights on MileSAAver to Australia / New Zealand through American / whoever else I could transfer AA points to? I'm worried that I committed to this airline because I have the most points with them but that I won't be able to actually use my points to fly business / first for my honeymoon.
I'm leaving from New York and headed over, connecting in DFW or LAX or wherever has the easiest rewards!
I got lucky on the return, found SYD-LAX-CLT in early Oct 2018, on AA metal the week before Xmas online. 787-9 I think.
All flights biz saavers!!
Jun 19, 2018, 6:16 pm
#627
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hertz Gold Plus, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 338
I'm on Expert Flyer right now and see multiple dates in late March 2019 with business space on QF for LAX-BNE.
There's some limited space on SFO-SYD, but quite a bit on SFO-MEL.
The return options aren't nearly as open, but I do see a few dates with 1 seat.
If you are looking at that timeframe, I'd highly suggest booking these ASAP. Even if you just take the 1 seat now for the return, I'd grab it. Then keep looking. Perhaps another will open on that same flight, or you'll find 2 seats elsewhere.
None of these are showing on the AA website, so you'll need to call. Give the AAgent the specific flight numbers on the dates. That's what I did, and it worked like magic.
There's some limited space on SFO-SYD, but quite a bit on SFO-MEL.
The return options aren't nearly as open, but I do see a few dates with 1 seat.
If you are looking at that timeframe, I'd highly suggest booking these ASAP. Even if you just take the 1 seat now for the return, I'd grab it. Then keep looking. Perhaps another will open on that same flight, or you'll find 2 seats elsewhere.
None of these are showing on the AA website, so you'll need to call. Give the AAgent the specific flight numbers on the dates. That's what I did, and it worked like magic.
Jun 21, 2018, 6:47 pm
#629
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Got it - I checked May 2019 and there isn't anything available...does that mean that likely they just never have these?
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
Jun 21, 2018, 7:09 pm
#630
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Got it - I checked May 2019 and there isn't anything available...does that mean that likely they just never have these?
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
I was also looking into mileage upgrades...am I missing something or do these seem like a steal? If I pay $2,400 for a main cabin round trip ticket, I can upgrade by paying 25K points and $350 per direction...so that would be $3,100 and 50K points for a round trip business class ticket that normally costs close to $12K...Does that upgrade get confirmed right away if available? As in, I book the main cabin ticket today and get on the phone / do a mileage upgrade and get confirmed in business class? Or do I have to book main cabin and hope / pray it is still available?
Am I missing something on the mileage upgrade?? It has a stop in LAX but theoretically I could use my 500 mile upgrades for JFK - LAX, right?
Thanks!
There is Hawaiian at $4000 but its seating is recliner seats with a 45" pitch - though you would earn 27,000 miles from the flight. I would rate 77,000 miles at approx $1500
Compared against $3100 plus 50,000 points , the saving isn't nearly as large as what I would actually purchase.
If you would have purchased a $12k ticket, then indeed a great saving