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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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)
Mar 27, 2019, 11:22 am
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,457
Mar 27, 2019, 11:33 am
#707
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Or take the train... https://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-train
Mar 27, 2019, 12:16 pm
#708
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Mar 28, 2019, 11:45 am
#710
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,457
I'd stay at the IC San Diego since the train station is across the street.
Mar 28, 2019, 2:06 pm
#711
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
The front cabin on AA and AS two-cabin aircraft is denominated First Class, but books into Business Class award inventory. So if you can find "U" award space on AA LAX-HNL, or "A" award space on AS LAX/SAN-HNL, put that on a free hold now, and then call AA to see if the two segments can be combined into a single 80K award. Better yet, if aa.com is still showing HNL-SYD Business Class availability on HA, use the multi-city award-booking engine at aa.com to put LAX/SAN-HNL and HNL-SYD on a free hold on a single PNR. Do not be deterred if the booking engine prices it as two awards; an AA agent might be able to reprice the itinerary as a single Business Class award for 80K.
If you are considering traveling via Asia on two separate AAdvantage awards, be aware that neither CX nor JL award-seat availability can be searched on aa.com. If you do indeed go that route, note that you can stop over for days in Asia -- if you wish -- as you will be traveling on two separate awards. (And the stopover could be anywhere in AA's Asia 1 or Asia 2 zone; it would not have to be in Hong Kong or Japan.)
Good luck!
Edited to add: Have you found any real (non-phantom) award availability on the QF HNL-SYD flights?
Further edited to add: I'm not sure what the Minimum Connecting Time is at HNL for AS domestic to HA international, but aa.com is showing SAAver Business/First award space on the AS SAN-HNL nonstop that arrives HNL at 11:00 am on June 30, and on the HA HNL-SYD nonstop that departs HNL at 12:50 pm the same day. If that can work for you, I would put both on hold immediately at aa.com, and then call AA to see: 1) whether that's a legal connection; and 2) whether AA will reprice the itinerary as a single 80K award.
If you are considering traveling via Asia on two separate AAdvantage awards, be aware that neither CX nor JL award-seat availability can be searched on aa.com. If you do indeed go that route, note that you can stop over for days in Asia -- if you wish -- as you will be traveling on two separate awards. (And the stopover could be anywhere in AA's Asia 1 or Asia 2 zone; it would not have to be in Hong Kong or Japan.)
Good luck!
Edited to add: Have you found any real (non-phantom) award availability on the QF HNL-SYD flights?
Further edited to add: I'm not sure what the Minimum Connecting Time is at HNL for AS domestic to HA international, but aa.com is showing SAAver Business/First award space on the AS SAN-HNL nonstop that arrives HNL at 11:00 am on June 30, and on the HA HNL-SYD nonstop that departs HNL at 12:50 pm the same day. If that can work for you, I would put both on hold immediately at aa.com, and then call AA to see: 1) whether that's a legal connection; and 2) whether AA will reprice the itinerary as a single 80K award.
Mar 28, 2019, 2:36 pm
#712
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
I'm not even sure that it works with HA. The AAdvantage program requires that the "most significant carrier" on an itinerary publish a through-fare from origin to destination, and that such fare permits the particular routing and the particular mix of carriers in order for AA to issue it as a single award. If HA publishes a SAN-SYD through-fare that allows AS to be flown on the SAN-HNL segment, then AA should be willing to ticket the itinerary as a single award. Similarly, if QF publishes a SAN-SYD through-fare that allows AS to be flown on the SAN-HNL segment, then AA should be willing to ticket the itinerary as a single award.
Mar 28, 2019, 2:38 pm
#713
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
WOW! Thank you so much!!! I managed to get both the SAN-HNL and HNL-SYD on hold. I will be calling right when I get home to try to have the tickets combined.
It will still necessitate an overnight hotel in SAN, as I don't see any LAX flights that get me in to SAN before departure. But that is minor in the scheme of things.
Fingers crossed for an accommodating agent! And thanks again - I would never had known many of these tricks without your help!
It will still necessitate an overnight hotel in SAN, as I don't see any LAX flights that get me in to SAN before departure. But that is minor in the scheme of things.
Fingers crossed for an accommodating agent! And thanks again - I would never had known many of these tricks without your help!
Mar 28, 2019, 2:39 pm
#714
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
I'm not even sure that it works with HA. The AAdvantage program requires that the "most significant carrier" on an itinerary publish a through-fare from origin to destination, and that such fare permits the particular routing and the particular mix of carriers in order for AA to issue it as a single award. If HA publishes a SAN-SYD through-fare that allows AS to be flown on the SAN-HNL segment, then AA should be willing to ticket the itinerary as a single award. Similarly, if QF publishes a SAN-SYD through-fare that allows AS to be flown on the SAN-HNL segment, then AA should be willing to ticket the itinerary as a single award.
Mar 28, 2019, 2:42 pm
#715
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Mar 28, 2019, 2:45 pm
#716
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
Apr 2, 2019, 9:48 pm
#719
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 3.8MM AC; UA Silver; Hyatt Globalist; Honors Diamond; Bonvoy LT TTM
Posts: 336
Have others had consistent luck with releasing QF award inventory and having it go back into the same award inventory to be re-booked? I have a trip booked with a companion on QF93 in F saver, and I want to switch the companion. I believe the only way to do so is to cancel and hope the award inventory reappears.
Apr 6, 2019, 12:17 am
#720
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
Have others had consistent luck with releasing QF award inventory and having it go back into the same award inventory to be re-booked? I have a trip booked with a companion on QF93 in F saver, and I want to switch the companion. I believe the only way to do so is to cancel and hope the award inventory reappears.