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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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)
Aug 2, 2019, 9:00 am
#766
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
(Business Class) Award Tickets to Australia
Does anyone know why business class award tickets on AA seem to jump from 175k (saver) to about double on October 1st (anytime)? In September there is lots of availability for saver business class award tickets but after October 1 there seems to only be anytime. Is this a seasonal thing or are the saver award tickets only released N months in advance? Etc ...
Delta seems to be the same.
I was able to find one award via QF for MEL-LAX(-SFO) for 80k in Business for 11/1 and jumped on it but it looks like I will be buying a BOS-HNL-AKL ticket on Hawaiian unless something changes in the next couple of weeks. (I need to fly between 10/21 and 11/1 and am actually trying to get to NZ / WLG / CHC / etc. but am willing to buying AUS-NZ tickets etc. I was able to fly in July for 175k from BOS to SYD.
Delta seems to be the same.
I was able to find one award via QF for MEL-LAX(-SFO) for 80k in Business for 11/1 and jumped on it but it looks like I will be buying a BOS-HNL-AKL ticket on Hawaiian unless something changes in the next couple of weeks. (I need to fly between 10/21 and 11/1 and am actually trying to get to NZ / WLG / CHC / etc. but am willing to buying AUS-NZ tickets etc. I was able to fly in July for 175k from BOS to SYD.
Aug 2, 2019, 9:25 am
#768
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Aug 2, 2019, 10:54 am
#769
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
The school summer break will typically be December to early February. There will typically be a semester break (two weeks) in early October. If you are looking at the last week of October, that should not be affected by Australian holidays.
Aug 2, 2019, 4:56 pm
#770
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
Does anyone know why business class award tickets on AA seem to jump from 175k (saver) to about double on October 1st (anytime)? In September there is lots of availability for saver business class award tickets but after October 1 there seems to only be anytime. Is this a seasonal thing or are the saver award tickets only released N months in advance? Etc ...
Delta seems to be the same.
I was able to find one award via QF for MEL-LAX(-SFO) for 80k in Business for 11/1 and jumped on it but it looks like I will be buying a BOS-HNL-AKL ticket on Hawaiian unless something changes in the next couple of weeks. (I need to fly between 10/21 and 11/1 and am actually trying to get to NZ / WLG / CHC / etc. but am willing to buying AUS-NZ tickets etc. I was able to fly in July for 175k from BOS to SYD.
Delta seems to be the same.
I was able to find one award via QF for MEL-LAX(-SFO) for 80k in Business for 11/1 and jumped on it but it looks like I will be buying a BOS-HNL-AKL ticket on Hawaiian unless something changes in the next couple of weeks. (I need to fly between 10/21 and 11/1 and am actually trying to get to NZ / WLG / CHC / etc. but am willing to buying AUS-NZ tickets etc. I was able to fly in July for 175k from BOS to SYD.
FJ fly to AKL, WLG & CHC from NAN. FJ (LAX) are an AA ff partner (dedicated AA 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)
Many airlines from Au<---->NZ from/to a wide range of airports. Includes non local airlines EK, LA, SQ & CI (~3:30hr flight)
Academic year is approximately the calendar year (Feb to mid Dec)
https://publicholidays.co.nz/school-...ys/2019-dates/
https://www.australia.com/en/facts-a...-holidays.html
Aug 3, 2019, 10:41 pm
#771
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
AA fly LAX AKL
FJ fly to AKL, WLG & CHC from NAN. FJ (LAX) are an AA ff partner (dedicated AA 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)
Many airlines from Au<---->NZ from/to a wide range of airports. Includes non local airlines EK, LA, SQ & CI (~3:30hr flight)
...
FJ fly to AKL, WLG & CHC from NAN. FJ (LAX) are an AA ff partner (dedicated AA 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)
Many airlines from Au<---->NZ from/to a wide range of airports. Includes non local airlines EK, LA, SQ & CI (~3:30hr flight)
...
LAX to AKL was no better.
The AA Platinum Premier line was unable to find anything for less than 375k one way on a partner airline.
At this point I'm thinking of just paying for BOS-HNL-AKL on Hawaiian (and crediting the lines to Jet Blue if necessary).
Aug 13, 2019, 6:31 am
#772
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 13
AA Award Booking Help (to Australia)
Hello,
I am somewhat new to award fare booking. I am currently looking into booking an award flight to Brisbane. According to awardhacker and the dates and times I am looking to go I can book for around 80k AA points. I currently have 60k AA miles and 20k BA Avios. I do not believe these programs can be combined but is there any way to include the use of the Avios when booking these flights as I believe they are partner airlines? If there is a better way to take I am open to suggestions. Thanks !
I am somewhat new to award fare booking. I am currently looking into booking an award flight to Brisbane. According to awardhacker and the dates and times I am looking to go I can book for around 80k AA points. I currently have 60k AA miles and 20k BA Avios. I do not believe these programs can be combined but is there any way to include the use of the Avios when booking these flights as I believe they are partner airlines? If there is a better way to take I am open to suggestions. Thanks !
Aug 13, 2019, 6:37 am
#773
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA ExPlat, Delta GM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 140
There is no way to combine AA miles and Avios (of any flavor) in a single booking.
What you can do, however, is book using the AA miles into another Australian city (Sydney, for example) and then use the Avios to make a separate booking onward to Brisbane. Note this only works if an award to the other city is available for 60k AA miles, and I think the floor for USA -> Australia is 80k.
What you can do, however, is book using the AA miles into another Australian city (Sydney, for example) and then use the Avios to make a separate booking onward to Brisbane. Note this only works if an award to the other city is available for 60k AA miles, and I think the floor for USA -> Australia is 80k.
Aug 13, 2019, 12:39 pm
#775
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Aug 13, 2019, 2:34 pm
#776
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
I am somewhat new to award fare booking. I am currently looking into booking an award flight to Brisbane. According to awardhacker and the dates and times I am looking to go I can book for around 80k AA points. I currently have 60k AA miles and 20k BA Avios. I do not believe these programs can be combined but is there any way to include the use of the Avios when booking these flights as I believe they are partner airlines? If there is a better way to take I am open to suggestions. Thanks !
When?
As above, you effectively cannot merge ff miles/avios/points into 1 freq flyer program.
Awards are one way, so you can mix & match.
To/from HNL or NAN may be option. AA has some non Oneworld partners. FJ is now a OW connect ff partner
The cash cost of domestic flights in Australia can be reasonable (or expensive)
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd)
Australia New Zealand AA forum ---> AAdvantage award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
HA---> Earning and Redeeming AA Miles on HA / Hawaiian Airlines (master thread)
QF---> AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia
- Air Canada AC (YVR – SYD BNE MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO ORD 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) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL – BNE SYD MEL via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner) [NAN-ADL ceased 20 July 2019]
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – BNE SYD) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ (HNL – BNE SYD MEL)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK(via LAX) DFW HNL YVR* – SYD; LAX, SFO*, ORD* - BNE; LAX SFO - MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}{*BNE ORD from 20 April, 2020, *BNE SFO from 5 Feb 2020}
- United UA (LAX - MEL, LAX SFO IAH – SYD) (SFO - MEL from 20 Oct 2019)[Star Alliance].Reduced service IAH-SYD & LAX-SYD March 29 through October 25
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – BNE SYD MEL) (codeshares with AC*) (DL & AC* partner) [*= some routes in 2017-18 link]
- and others via Asia & Middle East
Aug 13, 2019, 2:38 pm
#777
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,488
I am assuming that you are traveling from the US to Australia? Or are you originating from elsewhere? Do you have a timeframe?
We will probably end up merging this into one of the threads devoted to redeeming miles between the US and Australia; many of the questions have more than likely already been answered.
We will probably end up merging this into one of the threads devoted to redeeming miles between the US and Australia; many of the questions have more than likely already been answered.
Aug 13, 2019, 5:20 pm
#779
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
- More award availability restricted by married segments / connections
- AAdvantage MileSAAver: “Through Award Fares”, a New (March 2019)
AA use a zone based system, so no difference in cost compared to LAX-SYD etc
BA use a distance-segment based system for awards.
On Qantas BNE others have reported better availability compared to SYD.
June July is mid winter in Australia, so less demand. Some airlines will have a reduced schedule
Good luck. Keep checking on award availability/routes
.
Aug 13, 2019, 7:02 pm
#780
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
There is no way to combine AA miles and Avios (of any flavor) in a single booking.
What you can do, however, is book using the AA miles into another Australian city (Sydney, for example) and then use the Avios to make a separate booking onward to Brisbane. Note this only works if an award to the other city is available for 60k AA miles, and I think the floor for USA -> Australia is 80k.
What you can do, however, is book using the AA miles into another Australian city (Sydney, for example) and then use the Avios to make a separate booking onward to Brisbane. Note this only works if an award to the other city is available for 60k AA miles, and I think the floor for USA -> Australia is 80k.