R there ever bus class sale fares USA-Australia on JAL, Qantas, Emirates or Fiji?
May 13, 2019, 5:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
R there ever bus class sale fares USA-Australia on JAL, Qantas, Emirates or Fiji?
hey there!
I’m new to the forum so if im asking a question that’s been asked hundreds of times before just let me know where to look! 😄
So ive just done another grueling five day trip lax-melb Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
So yes I will have the outlay of one business class USA-Australia fare a year but the other flights I can strategically book using points and not have to worry about losing my status.
i mean the ultimate way for making sure I keep my Alaska gold status would be a return business fare on emirates lax to melb. Hell of a long flight but in luxury so totally bearable. And I would be clocking up so many miles.
my question is though, are there ever business class fare sales on Alaska partners (ie Qantas, Emirates, Fiji air, American , japan or Cathay ) from USA to Australia?
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
xx
I’m new to the forum so if im asking a question that’s been asked hundreds of times before just let me know where to look! 😄
So ive just done another grueling five day trip lax-melb Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
So yes I will have the outlay of one business class USA-Australia fare a year but the other flights I can strategically book using points and not have to worry about losing my status.
i mean the ultimate way for making sure I keep my Alaska gold status would be a return business fare on emirates lax to melb. Hell of a long flight but in luxury so totally bearable. And I would be clocking up so many miles.
my question is though, are there ever business class fare sales on Alaska partners (ie Qantas, Emirates, Fiji air, American , japan or Cathay ) from USA to Australia?
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
xx
May 14, 2019, 8:42 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Japan/Thailand
Programs: AS, UA
Posts: 1,201
Prices will of course depend greatly on when you are looking to travel and sometimes on your trip length as well. I don't know about pricing in the US-Australia market, but even if $3000 might be possible in an off-season, if you are trying to travel during peak times or holidays then forget about it.
Check your math on this... A round trip LAX-MEL in business on Qantas should earn you about 35,600 miles, and if you fly Emirates through Dubai that would be about 70,000 miles. Not a bad amount, but if you will still be going to Australia more than once a year, one way in business will cost 55,000+ miles (economy will be 40,000+), and availability can be quite limited.
If you will be earning miles from credit cards or other sources then of course that will help too, but it still might not get you as far as you think.
So ive just done another grueling five day trip lax-melb Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
If you will be earning miles from credit cards or other sources then of course that will help too, but it still might not get you as far as you think.
May 16, 2019, 6:36 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
One thing to consider might be finding a TPAC business fare to a destination in Asia, and then adding a coach segment to AU. (Considering you're looking at JAL anyway, I assume you don't mind connecting in N. Asia.)
Not sure where in the US you are, but I'm guessing west coast if you're an Alaska elite. For one example -- Hainan (an AS partner, though no COS bonus on some of these fares) has run frequent deals in J on LAX-PEK for ~$2,100:
HU J: LAX - (CKG/CTU) - PEK rt $2075
Adding on PEK-MEL would be fairly reasonable. Lots of other examples; e.g., there was a recent AM sale SFO-NRT.
Not sure where in the US you are, but I'm guessing west coast if you're an Alaska elite. For one example -- Hainan (an AS partner, though no COS bonus on some of these fares) has run frequent deals in J on LAX-PEK for ~$2,100:
HU J: LAX - (CKG/CTU) - PEK rt $2075
Adding on PEK-MEL would be fairly reasonable. Lots of other examples; e.g., there was a recent AM sale SFO-NRT.
May 17, 2019, 1:22 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
Ooh ok!! That’s all very good information! Thanks so much!!
re points, I need to fly 50,000 miles to keep gold status on Alaska but obviously there is the bonus for flying business (which I can’t work out if it’s 50 per cent or 150 per cent of miles flown on Qantas?)...
Yes for sure business to Asia could be a goer... I’m in LA... and I’m totally cool with the stopover.... I haven’t looked into Hainan at all... have you flown them?
Thanks again everyone!! This forum is amazing!!
re points, I need to fly 50,000 miles to keep gold status on Alaska but obviously there is the bonus for flying business (which I can’t work out if it’s 50 per cent or 150 per cent of miles flown on Qantas?)...
Yes for sure business to Asia could be a goer... I’m in LA... and I’m totally cool with the stopover.... I haven’t looked into Hainan at all... have you flown them?
Thanks again everyone!! This forum is amazing!!
May 17, 2019, 1:40 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
Prices will of course depend greatly on when you are looking to travel and sometimes on your trip length as well. I don't know about pricing in the US-Australia market, but even if $3000 might be possible in an off-season, if you are trying to travel during peak times or holidays then forget about it.
Check your math on this... A round trip LAX-MEL in business on Qantas should earn you about 35,600 miles, and if you fly Emirates through Dubai that would be about 70,000 miles. Not a bad amount, but if you will still be going to Australia more than once a year, one way in business will cost 55,000+ miles (economy will be 40,000+), and availability can be quite limited.
If you will be earning miles from credit cards or other sources then of course that will help too, but it still might not get you as far as you think.
Check your math on this... A round trip LAX-MEL in business on Qantas should earn you about 35,600 miles, and if you fly Emirates through Dubai that would be about 70,000 miles. Not a bad amount, but if you will still be going to Australia more than once a year, one way in business will cost 55,000+ miles (economy will be 40,000+), and availability can be quite limited.
If you will be earning miles from credit cards or other sources then of course that will help too, but it still might not get you as far as you think.
thanks so much!!
May 17, 2019, 9:07 am
#8
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 453
Agreed with above
I'd agree with the above and keep an eye out for alerts on mistake fares. I snagged a RT for just over $1500 in January, but it was United Polaris ORD-LAX-SYD, followed by Air New Zealand business SYD-AKL-SFO, then United SFO-ORD.
I think those fares were a mistake put out by NZ, but I booked it and they honored it... Less than $3k is a blessing. Too long to fly in economy.
I think those fares were a mistake put out by NZ, but I booked it and they honored it... Less than $3k is a blessing. Too long to fly in economy.
May 22, 2019, 3:16 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,980
So I've just done another gruelling five day trip LAX-MEL Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
<snip>
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
Thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
<snip>
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
Thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
$3000 one way is not that unusual
May 22, 2019, 5:05 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,787
hey there!
I’m new to the forum so if im asking a question that’s been asked hundreds of times before just let me know where to look! 😄
So ive just done another grueling five day trip lax-melb Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
So yes I will have the outlay of one business class USA-Australia fare a year but the other flights I can strategically book using points and not have to worry about losing my status.
i mean the ultimate way for making sure I keep my Alaska gold status would be a return business fare on emirates lax to melb. Hell of a long flight but in luxury so totally bearable. And I would be clocking up so many miles.
my question is though, are there ever business class fare sales on Alaska partners (ie Qantas, Emirates, Fiji air, American , japan or Cathay ) from USA to Australia?
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
xx
I’m new to the forum so if im asking a question that’s been asked hundreds of times before just let me know where to look! 😄
So ive just done another grueling five day trip lax-melb Australia economy. I do a few a year as well as a lot of USA domestic.
And I’m now at the stage where I can not hack flying economy USA to Australia anymore and premium isn’t much better. So I figure perhaps the best thing to do is buy one bus class flight a year to from Australia, this will keep my gold status on Alaskan (provided I do the bus class flight on Alaska partners), and then use points for all the other flights I might want to do during the year.
So yes I will have the outlay of one business class USA-Australia fare a year but the other flights I can strategically book using points and not have to worry about losing my status.
i mean the ultimate way for making sure I keep my Alaska gold status would be a return business fare on emirates lax to melb. Hell of a long flight but in luxury so totally bearable. And I would be clocking up so many miles.
my question is though, are there ever business class fare sales on Alaska partners (ie Qantas, Emirates, Fiji air, American , japan or Cathay ) from USA to Australia?
Are there ever return fares for say under $3000?
thanks so much everyone.... I’m new to the business class world so would love any advice!
xx
May 29, 2019, 1:28 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
I'd agree with the above and keep an eye out for alerts on mistake fares. I snagged a RT for just over $1500 in January, but it was United Polaris ORD-LAX-SYD, followed by Air New Zealand business SYD-AKL-SFO, then United SFO-ORD.
I think those fares were a mistake put out by NZ, but I booked it and they honored it... Less than $3k is a blessing. Too long to fly in economy.
I think those fares were a mistake put out by NZ, but I booked it and they honored it... Less than $3k is a blessing. Too long to fly in economy.
May 29, 2019, 1:29 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
