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Older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: AAdvantage miles awards to / from Australia (consolidated)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 23, 2018, 12:24 pm
#631
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I think that the main thing that you are missing is that there are other airlines that offer fares from JFK-AKL and start at $5000 on China Southern, then $6200 on Fiji Airways
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
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
Jul 26, 2018, 9:08 pm
#632
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Posts: 7
How do I Book Business Class SFO to BNE in June 2019 (to merge)
I am totally stumped on how to fly one-way from San Francisco to Brisbane, Australia in business class using my American Airlines miles. I want to fly on June 27, 2019. Tickets are not available yet for that date (on American Airlines Rewards booking) but they are available one week earlier on June 22, however, they only have coach for 40,000. They have business for 80,000 but only in February or March 2019 and earlier.Are they just not releasing the business reward seats yet, or do they not offer business rewards during summer?
Do you know how I can use my AA miles to fly business from SFO to Brisbane? I have about 240,000 miles and I want to take my son. We will fly home in coach but I really want to fly out in business. Thank you for your time!
Do you know how I can use my AA miles to fly business from SFO to Brisbane? I have about 240,000 miles and I want to take my son. We will fly home in coach but I really want to fly out in business. Thank you for your time!
Jul 26, 2018, 9:21 pm
#634
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,551
Premium class saver awards to Australia are difficult to get on all 3 alliances. I've never tracked it by season or anything like that but I look occasionally. I do echo what enviroian said. You could easily get a "Mixed Cabin" award that might be F from SFO to LAX, and J from LAX to BNE.
As regards season, remember that June is winter in Oz. But maybe Australians would prefer to come to the USA that time of year, I don't know.
If you want two J saver tix to Oz, be prepared to be extremely flexible on your dates.
As regards season, remember that June is winter in Oz. But maybe Australians would prefer to come to the USA that time of year, I don't know.
If you want two J saver tix to Oz, be prepared to be extremely flexible on your dates.
Jul 26, 2018, 9:24 pm
#635
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Posts: 7
Wow, it is Economy! I never caught that. Even though it says "Business" from SFO to BNE, when I checked the details, it is actually First Class SFO to LAX, and then Economy LAX to BNE! That is not worth twice the miles just to have first class for one hour. I just learned a lot--thank you!
Jul 26, 2018, 9:49 pm
#636
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,252
Wow, it is Economy! I never caught that. Even though it says "Business" from SFO to BNE, when I checked the details, it is actually First Class SFO to LAX, and then Economy LAX to BNE! That is not worth twice the miles just to have first class for one hour. I just learned a lot--thank you!
or to make it more appropriate : Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy AAction.
Jul 26, 2018, 9:53 pm
#637
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
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Please have a look at the thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html (link), particularly the Wikipost at the top of the page. There’s a lot of experience and guidance there.
It can be done, and BNE / Brissie (in the “Strine” language) is slightly easier than SYD or MEL in my experience.
Please have a look at the thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html (link), particularly the Wikipost at the top of the page. There’s a lot of experience and guidance there.
It can be done, and BNE / Brissie (in the “Strine” language) is slightly easier than SYD or MEL in my experience.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:57 pm
#638
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
Jul 30, 2018, 11:30 pm
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
I am totally stumped on how to fly one-way from San Francisco to Brisbane, Australia in business class using my American Airlines miles. I want to fly on June 27, 2019.
AA fly LAX-SYD
QF fly LAX to BNE, SYD & MEL
QF fly SFO to SYD & MEL (MEL from later in the year)
QF fly DFW to SYD
Look for the long haul first. 2 business class seats on the same flight is 4 times as hard (2 to the power of 2).
If needed buy the USA and/or the Aust domestic flights separately.
I have been looking on & off for business class awards on AA/QF Aust USA return in June - July 2019 for some time without success.
Also look at these threads in AA forum. AA, QF FJ, TN & HA can get you to Australia.
Australia New Zealand AA forum AAdvantage award to / from Australia, New Zealand (master thread)
QF AA forum -->- AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
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)
TN-----> AA Miles Award: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions (master thread)
==================
A lot more than advisable
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jul 30, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Jul 31, 2018, 12:47 am
#640
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
Flexibility in date and routing, patience and paying attention are crucial. Iirc I’ve secured eight pairs of J awards to or from Australia over the years, for ourselves and friends.
Jul 31, 2018, 7:20 am
#641
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
Any chance of getting Syd-LAX or SFO the first week or two of January? I assume that is the highest part of high season.
Jul 31, 2018, 10:28 am
#642
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
Flexibility, looking at FJ or using HA ex-HNL, etc. would definitely be good ideas.
Aug 27, 2018, 4:21 pm
#643
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 23
I'm in a similar boat to previous poster. My fiance has her eye on a honeymoon in NZ. The time that works best for me given work is around the holidays when everyone else is off. Thus I was thinking around December 2019. I've been racking up AA miles for the trip hoping to score business savers on the way there and flying economy on the way back. I recently noticed as posted here that most of those 80k business savers are economy over the pacific. Some of the first savers at 110k are first/business all the way. I feel somewhat confident that we could find econ availability in December both ways (misplaced?). My main questions would be
1) Anything in particular I should be doing to look for these business award savers? I've been looking on qantas and alaskan for fiji availability about 330 days out from today just as a reference point. As this December/January rolls around I will call AA since I know there's availability they see that we can't. Seems like its also worth trying that aussie line
2) Debating getting a FE subscription for a few months as well, worth it? Is it helpful?
3) Do the 80k awards even exist anymore with bis/first all the way or do they typically come at 110k?
4) Will it be impossible to find 2 seats in early december returning mid december? love to go later around xmas but assuming that's impossible / blacked out?
5) I'm guessing the answer is no but can you go from CHC or AKL to NAN using AA miles as a standalone flight?
Flying from RIC/IAD/DCA. Dream would be to go IAD->LAX->AKL (80k saver) AKL->CHC (paid) CHC->NAN (paid) NAN->LAX->IAD (40k or 80k saver)
Any recent thoughts / tips / success DPs would be helpful thanks
1) Anything in particular I should be doing to look for these business award savers? I've been looking on qantas and alaskan for fiji availability about 330 days out from today just as a reference point. As this December/January rolls around I will call AA since I know there's availability they see that we can't. Seems like its also worth trying that aussie line
2) Debating getting a FE subscription for a few months as well, worth it? Is it helpful?
3) Do the 80k awards even exist anymore with bis/first all the way or do they typically come at 110k?
4) Will it be impossible to find 2 seats in early december returning mid december? love to go later around xmas but assuming that's impossible / blacked out?
5) I'm guessing the answer is no but can you go from CHC or AKL to NAN using AA miles as a standalone flight?
Flying from RIC/IAD/DCA. Dream would be to go IAD->LAX->AKL (80k saver) AKL->CHC (paid) CHC->NAN (paid) NAN->LAX->IAD (40k or 80k saver)
Any recent thoughts / tips / success DPs would be helpful thanks
Aug 27, 2018, 5:11 pm
#644
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
<snip>
5) I'm guessing the answer is no but can you go from CHC or AKL to NAN using AA miles as a standalone flight?
Flying from RIC/IAD/DCA. Dream would be to go IAD->LAX->AKL (80k saver) AKL->CHC (paid) CHC->NAN (paid) NAN->LAX->IAD (40k or 80k saver)
Any recent thoughts / tips / success DPs would be helpful thanks
5) I'm guessing the answer is no but can you go from CHC or AKL to NAN using AA miles as a standalone flight?
Flying from RIC/IAD/DCA. Dream would be to go IAD->LAX->AKL (80k saver) AKL->CHC (paid) CHC->NAN (paid) NAN->LAX->IAD (40k or 80k saver)
Any recent thoughts / tips / success DPs would be helpful thanks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_I...tional_Airport
To NZ via Aust is another option. Easier to transit air side in BNE/SYD/MEL for CHC than landside at AKL.
That time of year a lot of people in Aust & NZ are on annual summer holiday/vacation and go travelling. Schools & university's begin the new academic year late Jan/early Feb