It appears unless I want to spend ALOT of extra fly time, I will not be able to book a 100% skyteam flight to Sydney from ATL. I can do Delta to LAX...but then it appears only non skyteam is available.

I dont think it is worth it for ATL->ICN->SYD on Korean...lots more time.

Any rumors on adding skyteam members for australia trips from US?

Jim

I have been keeping an eye on this for a while, and there is nothing
reasonable to Australia or Newzealand on Skyteam.

Its either Korean, or Continental to Cairns. Both options are time consuming.

If you dont care about elite miles, Qantas has ties with continental and
its a good airline.

Assuming we're talking Skymiles, have you looked at perhaps ATL-SFO (DL) SFO-TPE (DL codeshare on CI) TPE-SYD on CI (which I believe is miles but no MQM). Might be a clean enough connection to be worth it.

Steve

After having done LAX-ICN-SYD-ICN-BKK, I can tell you it's not as bad as it first appears.

Mileage-wise, you cannot go wrong.

How are the CI flights? Never flown them. Korean Air recently was just OK....very friendly service but plane was not retrofitted....didnt compare to the layout of my CO flight back. All Biz class. (or whatever each airline calls it)

Jim

Or consider flying LAX to PPT (Tahiti) on AF, then onwards to SYD on QF or NZ (the latter via AKL).

I just went to OZ on Korean in business class, and it really is a long haul, especially when you know that there are much more direct options. ATL-ICN-SYD on KE is something like 14 hours to ICN and another 10 down to Sydney (with a nice short connection). But considering that the more direct ATL-LAX-SYD is about 5 hours to LAX and another 14 1/2 to SYD, and it doesn't seem all that bad.

The unfortunately thing is that KE's fleet upgrade process is moving along slowly, so ATL-ICN and ICN-SYD are equipped with the current/old equipment, and no date has been released for the switch to the new planes. So, either bring a laptop/DVD player or sleeping pill, or be prepared to watch whatever is on the main screen for 14 hours (which, FWIW, could include a Korean movie).
One option, if you have a couple more hours to kill, is flying through ORD or SEA (or even select JFK and LAX flights) and get the new equipment with AVOD to ICN, although still the old planes down to SYD.
FYI, per koreanair.com, the seat pitch in economy is 33-34", which is pretty good, especially compared to the 31" on the Qantas 747 and 330 (per seatguru), so that's gotta count for something.

If miles are more important than time, and perhaps comfort/IFE, as BumpMe says, KE to Australia is the way to go.

Can you fly Malaysian and go via KUL?

Malaysian is not a Skyteam member, so the benefits vary greatly by airline.

With Delta, you earn no DL miles when flying MH in economy, only in biz and first.

If you're more interested in NW miles, you can earn miles for all fare classes, but they do not count as elite qualification miles.

Continental has no mileage earning opportunity on MH.

No, they don't offers for the mileage on CO or MH get there to SYD. But, you will take QF, NZ or UA LAX-SYD. They will earning for mileage on UA to Australia. Become Skyteam are not part the list to SYD and you will get qualify with KE.

[QUOTE=dave_261]
If you're more interested in NW miles, you can earn miles for all fare classes, but they do not count as elite qualification miles.


I have never flown on Malaysian to OZ, but have used them to SE Asia enjoyed their service.

I see no reason why you could not connect onto SYD from KUL.

If you are interested in collecting miles on NorthWest be careful of the Malaysian fare classes. The heavily discounted tickets ( G, L, and V) do not accrue WorldPerks miles.