Awards availability
 

Most of my miles are with BA, also some with AA. Searching for awards on other OW carriers seems unduly difficult. I'm looking for 2 business or first tickets from NYC to SYD next Feb. A search on BA shows availability in Qantas Y class via LAX (why does this come up when I'm specifically searching for C or F?) but no mention, for example, of CX via HKG which would actually be my preferred route, nor any other partner airlines.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a detailed online search? I know I can call BA but I find them very user unfriendly on the phone ... and there is usually a long hold time. Thanks.

Sign up for the Qantas FFP, also CX Asiamiles, and you can see redemption possibilities for their own members. In most cases you ought to be able to use BA miles if the trips are available to QF/CX fliers. You'll have to phone BA at some point anyway.

Like with all Frequent Flyer searches, it makes a lot of sense to break up the search into the individual segments. So looking for JFK-HKG and then HKG-SYD. Typing in JFK-SYD will only give you a fraction of what is possible. BA shows good availability accross all partners so it is a good program to do your search with. Also note, that premium cabins to LAX-SYD are difficult to get and are often booked out 10 months in advance. QF is starting DFW-BNE-SYD services so they might have some availability. And last but not least, there is no QF F JFK-LAX.

Can you not book the F on the 3 class AA 762 JFK-LAX that is marketed with a QF flight number, obviously not QF metal?

I know you can purchase JFK-LAX-SYD and v.v. with QF flight numbers in F.

Perhaps the OP was thinking of QF 10late, the QF 744 that runs JFK-xLAX-SYD, which no longer has F.

Not sure with BA miles, but AA partner awards require USA-Oz to be via the Pacific, and connecting via Asia 2 (HKG) is not allowed. If AA miles are to be used, you could route via Europe using an AA Oneworld award, but at a higher mileage cost. Routing via HKG on an AA partner award would require 2 awards, NA > Asia 2 and Asia 2 > Oz.

My understanding is that redemption for BA/QF premium seats on the Kangaroo route during the southern summer is even harder than US < > Oz at the same time. Of course I might be wrong on that.

This has been my experience. There are only two flights on BA between now and the end of February with any J award availability, for example.

Of course you can. But you can't do it on QF metal anymore. And while this AA flight will have the best domestic F AA has to offer, it is still only domestic F.