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Originally Posted by BenA
(Post 29832879)
Judging by the prices, I'm guessing business class? If so, definitely skew toward Qantas or Air New Zealand and away from FJ. FJ is great for what they are and they're delightfully Fijian in both service and character, but the business class experience isn't going to be remotely comparable to the other two carriers you mentioned. FJ might make sense if the price is dramatically cheaper than the other two and/or if you're interested in a stopover in NAN, though.
QF and FJ can be credited to Alaska Airlines; AS mileage might be of some value to you as a SoCal resident, and if you have any other trips coming up that could be credited to them, you might even start to get within throwing distance of MVP... Great advice, many thanks. I will avoid Fiji, I'm not planning to stopover. I've no real need to go to AS for anything either, so I'm leaning towards Qantas. I have a Qantas number with some activity on (usually local domestic flights), but this might push me up a little. |
Originally Posted by wrp96
(Post 29832885)
Do you have an account with any Star Alliance or OW airlines where you could credit the flights?
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Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
(Post 29833275)
What are departure & arrivals times? To me the departure/arrival times are important.
The return SYD-BNE-LAX is a little strange as QF flys SYD-LAX non stop, unless pricing comes in to play. UA & AA also fly SYD-LAX & AKL-LAX routes. Buying AKL-SYD as a one way may be worth it. Many airlines on that route, and not just Aust & NZ airlines. Or going by ship? Is ff miles a criteria of just the in flight experience? And I book the local (short) flights separately, I find the main in/out come in at one price but if you try to multi-sector it with different airlines then the pricing moves into the realms of bistromatics. |
Originally Posted by Austin787
(Post 29836062)
I'd go with Air New Zealand. Best J product of the 3 options, and great service too. Plus, ANZ flights to the USA depart late afternoon or evening - easier to sleep and more time in your final day in The Land Down Under.
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Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 29836078)
However, OP is flying back from SYD, so there would be an earlier flight SYD-AKL for the NZ return flight. I hate domestic to international or vv connections at major Australian airports as it's such a hassle in general to get between the terminals. I don't recall the specific situation at BNE for QF flights, but I would certainly want to check the logistical details before accepting this routing. |
Originally Posted by spamkiller
(Post 29833837)
As long as he is a lawyer, he'd be fine.....professional courtesy.
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All - many thanks for the very useful advice!
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Have you looked for Pacific Circle fares? I haven't looked in a while, but the deal had been that you take flights (within the same group of airlines, which wasn't the same as alliances) on a sort of mini RTW with stops over 48 hours in at least two different countries. I've done this with Hong Kong and Australia and Japan and Australia, so I'm not sure whether Australia and NZ alone would qualify without a brief stopover somewhere in Asia, perhaps Singapore. |
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 29836449)
Have you looked for Pacific Circle fares? I haven't looked in a while, but the deal had been that you take flights (within the same group of airlines, which wasn't the same as alliances) on a sort of mini RTW with stops over 48 hours in at least two different countries. I've done this with Hong Kong and Australia and Japan and Australia, so I'm not sure whether Australia and NZ alone would qualify without a brief stopover somewhere in Asia, perhaps Singapore. |
i would not recommend flying LAX-BNE-NZ...i did that on VA last year and it was rough. 13 hours LAX-BNE arriving at 6am, the last thing you want to do is get on a trans-tasman flight all day. granted I was in PE and coach, not J...but still. i did it on UA and NZ the previous year, LAX-MEL-CHC, not much fun either, even in J. that said, both MEL and BNE airports were exceptionally easy to transit through.
if you can get NZ LAX-AKL outbound, and returning SYD-AKL-LAX, i'd do that. the trans-tasman before the long flight in J is probably more bearable than doing it after the long flight southward. better would be if you can just book UA or AA LAX-AKL and SYD-LAX nonstops (obviously using NZ/QF codeshares as possible). |
AKL is actually really easy for I-I transfers. I actually did it several years ago flying SFO - AKL - CHC. I cleared customs at CHC.
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Originally Posted by tanglin
(Post 29836401)
I do have a BA number but don't live in the UK anymore so it's not that useful. I have also *A with United but not much status (peon).
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Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 29836078)
..I hate domestic to international or vv connections at major Australian airports as it's such a hassle in general to get between the terminals. I don't recall the specific situation at BNE for QF flights, but I would certainly want to check the logistical details before accepting this routing.
SYD, BNE, & PER have separate international & domsetic terminals that require a bus trip between. However at PER QF operate domestic & LHR international flights from the same terminal. Worth good money to avoid domestic <---> international transfers at SYD
Originally Posted by tanglin
(Post 29836392)
...I've no real need to go to AS for anything either, so I'm leaning towards Qantas. I have a Qantas number with some activity on (usually local domestic flights), but this might push me up a little.
Originally Posted by tanglin
(Post 29836401)
I do have a BA number but don't live in the UK anymore so it's not that useful. I have also *A with United but not much status.
QF is a very poor ffp. In Oneworld AA & BA are generally better, but does depend on what your objectives area. And [currently] AS is better again (QF & BA are partners & AA a limited partner) NZ is UA Star Alliance partner so would get UA ff miles for NZ flights. |
Originally Posted by SJC ORD LDR
(Post 29837047)
AKL is actually really easy for I-I transfers. I actually did it several years ago flying SFO - AKL - CHC. I cleared customs at CHC.
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Originally Posted by tanglin
(Post 29836401)
I do have a BA number but don't live in the UK anymore so it's not that useful. I have also *A with United but not much status (peon).
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