LAX to Australia - Reward Booking
Sep 18, 2014, 12:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
LAX to Australia - Reward Booking
Hi all,
So from my research this looks to be basically impossible to find a nice Business of First class seat on a trip to Australia from LA.
Any advice on where else I can look? Any possible weird routes that have worked for you?
Travel from mid-Nov to end-Nov beginning-Dec this year. (I know, way soon).
I have the following miles: 270K UR, 170 MR, 170 AA, 140 BA.
Thanks! Apologies if this isn't the correct forum.
So from my research this looks to be basically impossible to find a nice Business of First class seat on a trip to Australia from LA.
Any advice on where else I can look? Any possible weird routes that have worked for you?
Travel from mid-Nov to end-Nov beginning-Dec this year. (I know, way soon).
I have the following miles: 270K UR, 170 MR, 170 AA, 140 BA.
Thanks! Apologies if this isn't the correct forum.
Sep 18, 2014, 2:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: AA
Posts: 377
It depends how far in advance. You can find QF availability with your AA miles, especially in Business.
Or route LAX-HKG-SYD on CX. You'll be using two awards but it's not that unreasonable mile-wise.
Last year I found routings via HKG as suggested above, then was persistent in following up, and eventually found F availability both ways LAX-SYD on QF.
Or route LAX-HKG-SYD on CX. You'll be using two awards but it's not that unreasonable mile-wise.
Last year I found routings via HKG as suggested above, then was persistent in following up, and eventually found F availability both ways LAX-SYD on QF.
Sep 18, 2014, 2:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: AA
Posts: 377
BTW I highly recommend the Award Expert Service on upgrd.com. Although on my mentioned flights I found the straightforward QF availability on my own, Matthew found a lot of alternatives that I never would have.
Sep 18, 2014, 2:14 pm
#5
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
You are in the holiday season... so most award seats are gone.... they may appear again a few weeks out....
What do you consider a "nice" seat? Airline or plane configuration?
What do you consider a "nice" seat? Airline or plane configuration?
Sep 18, 2014, 2:46 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
Cheers.
Sep 18, 2014, 2:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cypress Hills Research Center
Posts: 5,295
Don't forget that you can book one-way reward tickets on some airlines and fly out on one airline and back on another. CX bookings using AAdvantage miles allows this, for example. Just note that not all airlines will allow one-ways at half cost for partner awards even if they allow them for their own FFs (I think Asiana falls into this category but it's been a long time since I last checked).
Sep 19, 2014, 4:15 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to Australia (most from LAX) are
- United (Star Alliance)
- Qantas (OneWorld Alliance)
- Delta (Skyteam Alliance) (VA partner)
- Virgin Australia (Delta partner)
- Hawaiian, via Hawaii (AA partner)
- Air NZ, via AKL (Star Alliance)
- Fiji Airways, via Fiji
- Air Tahiti Nui (last segments on codeshares) (AA partner)
- Air Canada
And others via Asia & Middle East
- United (Star Alliance)
- Qantas (OneWorld Alliance)
- Delta (Skyteam Alliance) (VA partner)
- Virgin Australia (Delta partner)
- Hawaiian, via Hawaii (AA partner)
- Air NZ, via AKL (Star Alliance)
- Fiji Airways, via Fiji
- Air Tahiti Nui (last segments on codeshares) (AA partner)
- Air Canada
And others via Asia & Middle East
Sep 19, 2014, 12:43 pm
#10
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
As this concerns the strategy for OP to use for a miles (award) ticket, I'll move the thread to the Information Desk for more assistance. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Sep 19, 2014, 1:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: PDX
Posts: 469
Availability on 11/12 LAX-SYD and 11/25 SYD-LAX both ways in United Business class, 140k miles R/T. Routing through Asia is another option with Star Alliance, though I didn't see a ton of options open when I just looked.
There is also availability on 11/9 LAX-BNE all in business class for 80k one way, going on Asiana/Thai...but would be 28 hours in the air.
There is also availability on 11/9 LAX-BNE all in business class for 80k one way, going on Asiana/Thai...but would be 28 hours in the air.
Sep 19, 2014, 3:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: EWR
Posts: 2,112
Don't forget that you can book one-way reward tickets on some airlines and fly out on one airline and back on another. CX bookings using AAdvantage miles allows this, for example. Just note that not all airlines will allow one-ways at half cost for partner awards even if they allow them for their own FFs (I think Asiana falls into this category but it's been a long time since I last checked).
Sep 19, 2014, 5:22 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
Like usual, everyone decides not to look at Delta's availability because it's a big pain to search.
First attempt:
NOV 10: LAX-ICN
NOV 12: ICN-SYD ---> 13 hour layover in SYD
NOV 27: SYD-BNE
NOV 27: BNE-LAX VA905/7
All in J and bookable on DL.com for 160,000 miles and about $200 in taxes.
Didn't look at CZ either or any of the other various partners that can be flown to Australia with Skyteam. I'd imagine there's CZ availability on practically every day for one person from LAX.
First attempt:
NOV 10: LAX-ICN
NOV 12: ICN-SYD ---> 13 hour layover in SYD
NOV 27: SYD-BNE
NOV 27: BNE-LAX VA905/7
All in J and bookable on DL.com for 160,000 miles and about $200 in taxes.
Didn't look at CZ either or any of the other various partners that can be flown to Australia with Skyteam. I'd imagine there's CZ availability on practically every day for one person from LAX.
Sep 20, 2014, 1:03 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,676
Sep 20, 2014, 1:16 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 133
Yup, the numbers are correct! Been binging! Now I suppose it's purging time.