Looking to fly to Auckland from US West Coast
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
Looking to fly to Auckland from US West Coast
I've got 320,000 miles on my AMEX Mebership Rewards account but cannot seem to find which airline might be best to use (i.e. partner with AMEX Asia Miles, KrisFlyer, Delta, Air Canada, BA).
Seems the easiest flight is LAX direct to AKL, but that is with New Zealand Air and I do not know how to use points from the other carriers (if I transfer them in) for the purchase.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Seems the easiest flight is LAX direct to AKL, but that is with New Zealand Air and I do not know how to use points from the other carriers (if I transfer them in) for the purchase.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
I've got 320,000 miles on my AMEX Membership Rewards account but cannot seem to find which airline might be best to use (i.e. partner with AMEX Asia Miles, KrisFlyer, Delta, Air Canada, BA).
Seems the easiest flight is LAX direct to AKL, but that is with New Zealand Air and I do not know how to use points from the other carriers (if I transfer them in) for the purchase.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Seems the easiest flight is LAX direct to AKL, but that is with New Zealand Air and I do not know how to use points from the other carriers (if I transfer them in) for the purchase.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
The "best" is the ffp/airline that has availability close to the date you want to fly.
What ff miles/status do you have?
When do you want to travel?
Very general guide-->https://www.awardhacker.com/#f=SFO&f...=1&c=y&s=1&p=0
Air NZ (Star Alliance, so UA & AC partner) are know for not (~few/nil) offering awards to ff partners
Amex MR Transfer Membership Rewards points to which airline or hotel program?
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - AKL) [Oneworld Alliance] (AS partner). Suspended April through October for 2018.
- Air Canada AC (YVR – AKL)(seasonable from 12 Dec 2019 to end March 2020) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO ORD IAH YVR - AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX - AKL via Tahiti) (AA & DL partner)
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL - AKL WLG CHC via Fiji) (QF AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL - AKL)(AA & VA partner)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO DFW JFK HNL YVR* via SYD BNE & MEL) [Oneworld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (SFO - AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX via BNE, MEL & SYD) (DL partner)
- And others via Australia, Asia & Middle East
An award via Australia or to Australia and then a cash paid flight (~3:30hr) BNE/SYD/MEL-AKL is another option. AA, UA, QF, JQ, VA, DL, HA, FJ & AC fly USA/Canada to Australia
Edit. OP's other [old] threads on this topic. Did you do that trip?
- Anybody know best way to use miles to get to NZ from west coast of US?
- Help using miles to get from west coast US to NZ
- Help using miles to get from US west coast to NZ
3 business class awards on 1 flight will be hard/very hard/extremely hard/impossible. Need to be flexible with dates & routes
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 10, 2019 at 2:44 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,587
If you are considering using Aeroplan for the redemption, you might find this blog post helpful:
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/taxes...roplan-awards/
Caution: Do not transfer MR points to Aeroplan (or any other FFP) unless and until you have confirmed that the flight you want is available for mileage redemption. Reportedly, an Aeroplan agent will put an award on hold while you are on the line while you transfer MR points into an Aeroplan account. (You would need to have opened an Aeroplan account and linked it to your MR account before calling Aeroplan.)
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/taxes...roplan-awards/
Caution: Do not transfer MR points to Aeroplan (or any other FFP) unless and until you have confirmed that the flight you want is available for mileage redemption. Reportedly, an Aeroplan agent will put an award on hold while you are on the line while you transfer MR points into an Aeroplan account. (You would need to have opened an Aeroplan account and linked it to your MR account before calling Aeroplan.)
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
OK, we do not have any status on any mileage plans (do not fly enough).
But...your AwardHacker site is the AWESOME...did not even know it existed. That in itself is worth dinner and a beer if you're ever in San Diego.
Cheers
But...your AwardHacker site is the AWESOME...did not even know it existed. That in itself is worth dinner and a beer if you're ever in San Diego.
Cheers
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
AwardHacker: a tool we build to tell you how to travel with the least miles --> Awardhacker.com
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
I noticed that Asia Miles and KrisFlyer are MR partners...and Asia Miles is a Cathay Pacific FF plan, and Air New Zealand is a partner. How do I get miles from AMEX MR to Asia Miles to be able to book an Air NZ flight? This is where I get lost. I understand how I can transfer miles into Asia Miles and use it on Cathay, but not on how to use them for their partner, Air NZ.
Again, your patience and help are always appreciated.
Cheers,
Again, your patience and help are always appreciated.
Cheers,
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
I noticed that Asia Miles and KrisFlyer are MR partners...and Asia Miles is a Cathay Pacific FF plan, and Air New Zealand is a partner. How do I get miles from AMEX MR to Asia Miles to be able to book an Air NZ flight? This is where I get lost. I understand how I can transfer miles into Asia Miles and use it on Cathay, but not on how to use them for their partner, Air NZ.
3 years ago I got a business class award flight AKL-SFO on Air NZ using UA ff miles ~3 weeks before. But that was very unusual.
CX & NZ codeshare AKL-HKG flights. Are not full frequent flyer partners, just co-operate on that 1 route.
Edit. AsiaMiles - AirNZ needs a detailed check
https://www.asiamiles.com/en/earn-mi...zealand#redeem
Selecting LAX-AKL Air NZ is not on the drop down list
Are you wanting 3 business class award seats? Or 1 economy? Makes a big difference.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 10, 2019 at 3:42 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,587
I noticed that Asia Miles and KrisFlyer are MR partners...and Asia Miles is a Cathay Pacific FF plan, and Air New Zealand is a partner. How do I get miles from AMEX MR to Asia Miles to be able to book an Air NZ flight? This is where I get lost. I understand how I can transfer miles into Asia Miles and use it on Cathay, but not on how to use them for their partner, Air NZ.
Again, your patience and help are always appreciated.
Cheers,
Again, your patience and help are always appreciated.
Cheers,
Does Asia miles offer cheaper redemptions than Aeroplan for a U.S.-New Zealand award on Air New Zealand? Be sure to consider not only the number of miles required, but also carrier surcharges, if any.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
For non-Alliance partners I believe you have to call CX, they can't be booked online....AFAIK.
Having said THAT....I wouldn't set your heart on Premium award seats on NZ, they are sort of the Unicorns of transpacific award flights....
3 in Business? No.
Having said THAT....I wouldn't set your heart on Premium award seats on NZ, they are sort of the Unicorns of transpacific award flights....
3 in Business? No.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
3 business/premium economy class awards on 1 flight will be hard/very hard/extremely hard/impossible. Need to be very flexible with dates & routes. May need to split your party to 1+2 or 1+1+1 . And be prepared to fly on different days/routes/airlines/ffp. Or mixture of cash & awards.
USA-Aust/NZ premium awards have a reputation of being one of the hardest to get.
USA - BNE may have more availability than others. Recently Fiji airlines have had some availability.
USA-Aust/NZ premium awards have a reputation of being one of the hardest to get.
USA - BNE may have more availability than others. Recently Fiji airlines have had some availability.