Going Down Under in Economy
 

I'll be departing from the East Coast of Canada (think small 4 short connection airport here) and heading to Australia (airports don't really matter) in just over a week for a short business trip there ,and then onto other places in Asia, and I'm wondering what would be my best and quickest option to get there.

My compagny is relatively small and cannot afford First Class or Business so this will have to be all in Economy class on the lowest fare that is available. I guess that means I can forget about upgrading to E+ on those airlines where it's available?

Anyways, I'm wondering which airline can make my trans-con + TPAC journey less "painfull". AC 33 (on a 777) starting in YYZ would seem like the quickest way to get to my destination as I can fly directly to YYZ and catch the flight from there, therefore avoiding the need of a long layover on the west coast in case of IRROPS (i really cannot get to Australia late). Is it a good flight?

I want to avoid convoluted Asian routes as my flight time will be long enough as it is already so let's forget about Asian carriers. What would be my best bet for the TPAC portion of the trip if Air Canada is too expensive (I'm still looking into pricing at this point).

I know AA and QF fly this route but there are no One World connections from my home airport so that pretty much disqualifies them as I would have to interline to use them and I'm not convince that would be worth the hassle (and I'm *A Silver and Sky Team Elite).

That would leave UA and Air NZ (on a 772) via AKL. How would they compare in Y to AC? Good food, AVOD, power, etc..? Anybody else I'm forgetting that would be good and get me there without too much detour (and ideally earn me miles, I'm with CO and AC)?

Thx a bunch!

Max

AA do not actually serve Australia, but you're forgetting HA via HNL.

So if you don't want to look at the Asian carriers your choices are:

AC dep. YVR
UA dep. LAX or SFO
HA dep. HNL
NZ dep. LAX
QF dep. LAX or SFO.

I would rank them: NZ, QF, AC, HA, UA. UA has a very high delay / cancellation rate on its Australia services, they are notoriously unrelable, so if you really have to be down there at a certain time I would reject UA on that basis alone.

Well, technically I am not completely dismissing Asian carrier but they would have to be absolutly incredible in quality AND price to justify the 8-12 hours detours I would incur (i.e I "somehow" end up in Business for the same price I would be flying in Y with the other carrier or some other incredible quality). Keep in mind I'm going halfway around the world here. Also, I only really have a choice if they are similarly priced (within a few hundred $$$) otherwise I have to pick the cheapest.

Any specific reason for the picking order?

AC's flight 33 actually departs from YYZ, moves on to YVR where it stays about 90 mins (according to AC's web site) to pick up passenger and fuel and then moves on to SYD. That brings my layover time on the west coast to 90 mins, something I would dare book if I wasn't flying with the same plane from the East Coast.


Thx for the feedback

Max

I would go Air NZ via LAX. The 747 has 34" pitch (and slim seats) so you basically get as good a seat as UA Y+. But on NZ there is great avod IFE, good food and drink, great service, and a chance to stretch the legs in AKL (not as long a flight as UA or AC). Plus, plenty of options to Australia from AKL - Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Air NZ also flies to AKL from YVR, SFO and HNL. YVR and SFO are on 777 which is about 32" pitch - good but not as good as the 747. HNL is on 767 which currently only has mainscreen IFE but is being upgraded to avod later this year.

Thanks for the info, I didn't realise NZ had such a good reputation.

I looked on their web site and 2 things are worrying me however.

1- The first proposal I received from my TA (I'm still waiting for an alternate one) has me booked in S class which according to both NZ and AC doesn't accrue any miles. That's a major negative for me as miles are the only bonus compensation I receive for my trouble at this time.

2- They state only 1 carry-on and nothing about 1 laptop bag + carry-on like other carrier do. How strict are they about this policy. I need to fly down with equipement that is too fragile to be checked but is smaller than the max. carry-on dimensions plus my laptop bag. Would they give me trouble? (shipping it is out of the question for various reasons)

Max

1 - yeah cheapest fares are non-earning, although S longhaul will credit to NZ Airpoints so you do have an earning option albeit not a good one

2 - if your laptop bag is small (read slim) you are allowed that as a personal item (ie that plus a normal sized carry on)

Yes -- I would agree 100%. The most comfortable ride I have EVER had in coach was on AZ from LAX to SYD on a 767ER. The seats had plenty of legroom (I'm 6'0" tall) and they were those new ergonomic seats that you just kinda' melted into. Mrs. Flies was flying with me. The difference between these coach seats and upgradeable coach seats was $600. We figured we would rather have the extra $1200 to spend in the Land of Oz. We definitely made the right decision.

Alitalia flies from LAX to SYD? :p

I flew to Oz in Y on QF and I can def. say that the leg room is pretty tight for a long flight. I am 6'1" and they also dump that bag o'goodies on your lap, with nowhere to put it, really, so it gets pretty stiff, especially by the window. I think if you fly in the aisle it's better.

Anyway, it's totally survivable, but not super enjoyable.

Talk to your management. While they can't afford a business fare, they should give you an extra day in a hotel and a day off when you get there to try to adjust to the massive time change. If they're not willing to do that then I'd look for another job.

In terms of the flight, I'd go out of LA or San Fran. This will cut some time off of your longest leg.

:confused: Can't quite wrap my brain around airports don't matter, especially if you are flying in Y to OZ. Fly Qantas out of LAX.

It's an option, although Y on the 747 is about the most miserable coach experience I've ever had. No pitch, narrow seats.

And it lasts for 14-15 hours, too.

I would fly Air New Zealand next time before even considering QF.

Personally I'd price it in coach, pay the difference to a circle pac J fare (which based on your travel plans won't be too much), book through AA flying QF codeshare LAX-SYD on AA flight number, join AA and do a challenge. Platinum by the time you get to aus and you should earn enough points on the trip to pay for a north america - europe return in coach to offset your contribution.

In the realm of sensible answers, in coach I'd likely fly air NZ

The reason I say that is that I work in a fairly tightly knit but highly competitive industry and I prefer not to post my detailed travel plans on a public forum. This is why I didn't specify a departing and an arriving airport.

Concerning a rest day, don't worry about it, that was the first thing I arranged before even starting to look at airfares.

Seems to me like so far the consensus is leaning toward NZ but I'm still a little bit worried about that carry-on policy they have posted on their web page. I've travelled pretty much everywhere in the world with my equipment + laptop bag and I never had any problems taking it on-board as a carry-on but I'd definatly like to avoid nasty surprises at LAX (because my laptop ag is not exactly thin, more like 4-5 inches thick).

How much could I be looking at to buy a circle PAC in J over the Y ticket? So far the itin. my TA has sent me is pricing out in the 4k $CAN range.

Thx for all the feedback!

Max

Air New Zealand. ^

My suggestion is ring them (Air NZ in the UK is a freephone No).

I am flying with them in Sept this year (LHR - HKG - AKL - HKG - LHR) and on the 2 occasions I have had to speak to them they have been very, very, very helpful, friendly and pleasant to talk to. :D