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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Programs: Qantas, American Airlines, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 41
AA MileSAAver award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
Although the flights are not yet approved awards are now bookable from Oz to Europe via DXB. Availability looks pretty good in September in Y but searching for J seems to route via SIN and/or FRA. The AA award is a standard 45000 mile award so DXB is now officially a new route and the taxes/charges are not unreasonable at $US83.90. Unfortunately if I book the same award through QFF I have to pay $A462.42! Oh well, another new route to try.
Note to Moderator: Could someone please amend the sticky on Partner Awards to show DXB as an available route from South Pacific to Europe?
Note to Moderator: Could someone please amend the sticky on Partner Awards to show DXB as an available route from South Pacific to Europe?
Last edited by grussellt; Nov 11, 2012 at 1:20 pm Reason: Addition
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,438
Although the flights are not yet approved awards are now bookable from Oz to Europe via DXB. Availability looks pretty good in September in Y but searching for J seems to route via SIN and/or FRA. The AA award is a standard 45000 mile award so DXB is now officially a new route and the taxes/charges are not unreasonable at $US83.90. Unfortunately if I book the same award through QFF I have to pay $A462.42! Oh well, another new route to try.
Note to Moderator: Could someone please amend the sticky on Partner Awards to show DXB as an available route from South Pacific to Europe?
Note to Moderator: Could someone please amend the sticky on Partner Awards to show DXB as an available route from South Pacific to Europe?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Programs: Qantas, American Airlines, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 41
QF is also offering AY962 connecting in DXB and on to HEL although the connection time is not real good. This doesn't seem to show up an option on AA. Equally QF has onward travel to AMM on RJ (bookable as an award in October).
Last edited by grussellt; Nov 12, 2012 at 1:50 pm Reason: addition
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: aa
Posts: 1
first class to australia.
Hi! Want to use our aa miles to go to Australia for two weeks and then new Zea land. I think we have enough miles to go Business class or First Class. Would love any advice about booking tickets and the trip in general.
We are a group of four two couples in our late thirties very interested in Diving and seeing the country not really into city.
Thanks,
Ginger
We are a group of four two couples in our late thirties very interested in Diving and seeing the country not really into city.
Thanks,
Ginger
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
Welcome to the forum ^
Have you flown International First or Business before ?
Are you in the USA ? The only direct flights are on Qantas, using AA miles to get award flights (First or Business). Very hard to get these awards. The chances of getting 4 on one flight are low to zero.
Australia to NZ is by business class only with Qantas.
Other routes are via Asia or pacific islands
<redacted>
For Australia & New Zealand look in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...h-pacific-461/
Have you flown International First or Business before ?
Are you in the USA ? The only direct flights are on Qantas, using AA miles to get award flights (First or Business). Very hard to get these awards. The chances of getting 4 on one flight are low to zero.
Australia to NZ is by business class only with Qantas.
Other routes are via Asia or pacific islands
<redacted>
For Australia & New Zealand look in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...h-pacific-461/
Last edited by Microwave; Jan 4, 2013 at 1:27 am Reason: Removed circular link post merge
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,747
~Moderator
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
AA's "oneworld and other airline" awards allow a stopover only at the North American gateway. So, you would need to redeem 2 awards: North America to Australia, Australia to New Zealand (plus whatever awards you need to return to North America).
#8
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 58
Seems I have a similar question, and based on his answer/responses I might consider NZ as well. I have 150k AA miles and want to see about options for Aus in September. Flying from the Baltimore/DC area. Business/first isn't critical... but if I could afford it with my miles I probably would go for it.
Am I able to book 2 tickets (for her and I) with just miles under my name?
Am I able to book 2 tickets (for her and I) with just miles under my name?
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Programs: Qantas, American Airlines, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 41
It will cost you 75000 miles each for the round-trip. Remember to search for options via BNE and MEL as well as SYD. It will be cooler weather in September than the heatwave we are presently experiencing!
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 58
Thanks for the input. I did some searching yesterday and the dates I want seem to be open enough via economy class. Being it will be a honeymoon, family/friends may want to upgrade us... but it seemed like it would be very expensive to do so. I don't know if it is possible to upgrade rewards flights with cash though... and if so, for a flight to aussie, how many hundreds/thousands of dollars that would cost.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#13
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 58
I will be the first to admit I have never tried to use my AA miles yet, so yes I would be open to any of that stuff. I would be trying to minimize out of pocket spending though. 65000 for business class would be a round trip? or just one way? I figure NZ is New Zealand but I don't know what Oz stands for.
But yes, assuming there weren't a million extra connections with a ton of extra travel time that would be fine.
Likely dates are departing anytime after noon EST on Sept 16, returning Sept 29th or soon after based on availability.
If we landed in NZ at the start, we might kick around there for a few days if there were things worth seeing.
But yes, assuming there weren't a million extra connections with a ton of extra travel time that would be fine.
Likely dates are departing anytime after noon EST on Sept 16, returning Sept 29th or soon after based on availability.
If we landed in NZ at the start, we might kick around there for a few days if there were things worth seeing.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
Oz in this context is Australia. When you get here you learn to speak proper Australine .
Flights Aust to NZ return (3.5hrs) can cheap be to buy.
Qantas, Air New Zealand, Virgin, Jetstar, Emirates & LAN on these routes
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 9, 2013 at 2:40 pm Reason: spelling
#15
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
If you have (only) 11 days or so, then trying to cover both Oz (Australia) and NZ will be too much. You'd be better to pick one or the other. Personally, I'd pick Oz but then I'm biased ...