Best award redemption to NZ and Australia
Aug 28, 2018, 10:09 pm
#16
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Economy award availability seems quite good this year. Almost wide open. October / November is kind of a low season for USA-Aus travel, but still, much better than I've seen in recent years.
Aug 30, 2018, 8:04 pm
#17
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My back hurts thinking about going all that distance in Y.
CX via HKG on AA miles is going to run at least 220k in J for the round trip and that’s without a stopover. It’s hard to beat ANA award rates at 120k round trip, with one stopover allowed. I booked far out for my trip to NZ this year, not sure what availability is like closer in.
CX via HKG on AA miles is going to run at least 220k in J for the round trip and that’s without a stopover. It’s hard to beat ANA award rates at 120k round trip, with one stopover allowed. I booked far out for my trip to NZ this year, not sure what availability is like closer in.
Sep 1, 2018, 10:35 am
#18
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My back hurts thinking about going all that distance in Y.
CX via HKG on AA miles is going to run at least 220k in J for the round trip and that’s without a stopover. It’s hard to beat ANA award rates at 120k round trip, with one stopover allowed. I booked far out for my trip to NZ this year, not sure what availability is like closer in.
CX via HKG on AA miles is going to run at least 220k in J for the round trip and that’s without a stopover. It’s hard to beat ANA award rates at 120k round trip, with one stopover allowed. I booked far out for my trip to NZ this year, not sure what availability is like closer in.
Does ANA also fly nonstop to AKL?
Sep 1, 2018, 11:13 pm
#19
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We ended up flying ORD-NRT-PEK-AKL-PEK-NRT-JFK in J all the way for 120k ANA miles per person, transferred from Amex at 1:1. You’re allowed a stopover and an open jaw so you can really maximize the routing if you desire. Yes, routing via northern Asia is a long way to go if you just want direct to AUS/NZ, but availability is considerably better.
Qantas awards also popped up a couple times while I was planning the trip. If you prefer that route, a few ExpertFlyer alerts would possibly be helpful.
Last edited by javabytes; Sep 1, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Sep 4, 2018, 5:36 pm
#21
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Sep 5, 2018, 2:39 am
#22
Join Date: May 2006
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I have done just about everything, Y, Y+, PE, J, F between Australia and the USA, and Y, Y+, PE, & J between Australia and China.
Honestly, unless I wanted to stop in Asia, I'd rather fly PE or even Y+ (on DL or VA, with 9 across 777), direct. Even over J connecting in Asia. You are basically doubling what is already a crazy long time in transit by connecting in Asia. And China in particular is not a super-fun transit point (although it is getting better). There are some exceptions, like if you are flying JFK-PER for example, it totally makes sense. But not if you can one-stop in the USA then onwards to SYD/MEL/BNE.
Just my opinion and I'm sure others will differ. But the EconomyX product on VA is quite tolerable IMO, and so is Economy Comfort on DL (while it lasts). Don't get me wrong I'm always trying to move up towards the front of the plane, but adding 15 hours of transit is a big downside to me.
Honestly, unless I wanted to stop in Asia, I'd rather fly PE or even Y+ (on DL or VA, with 9 across 777), direct. Even over J connecting in Asia. You are basically doubling what is already a crazy long time in transit by connecting in Asia. And China in particular is not a super-fun transit point (although it is getting better). There are some exceptions, like if you are flying JFK-PER for example, it totally makes sense. But not if you can one-stop in the USA then onwards to SYD/MEL/BNE.
Just my opinion and I'm sure others will differ. But the EconomyX product on VA is quite tolerable IMO, and so is Economy Comfort on DL (while it lasts). Don't get me wrong I'm always trying to move up towards the front of the plane, but adding 15 hours of transit is a big downside to me.
Last edited by CPMaverick; Sep 5, 2018 at 2:46 am
Sep 6, 2018, 12:40 am
#23
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The connection via PEK is brutal I wouldn't do that even in J. Of course this is coming from someone who's flying NYC-SFO-AKL-CHC in Y+ soon.
Sep 6, 2018, 12:45 am
#24
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