Best point use for SYD - USA

[alexy23]

I'm looking to use some points on either F or J class to USA West/East Coast (July Holidays 1st - 16th this year)

I have AMEX Rewards and Westpac Rewards so I cover most programs.

I usually fly SQ but they don't have the best routing. I thought of SYD-AUH-JFK with EY (SYD-AUH in J and AUH-JFK in F) which is 214,387 per passenger this will allow use of full F class experience at AUH (stay the night). VA seems impossible to find flights so gave up there.

And QF would do 144,000 all F class with EK SYD-(LAX/SFO) but same as VA availability is impossible.

Any ideas would be great.

 

[Moindardt]

Check availability for EY on their website first. Also try looking at BNE-AUH on the 789. Not sure what date they are getting rid of F but even J is a very nice ride. Another way is using AA as it is the same points to either east or west coast via LAX. they are also partners with EY. They did have a lot of availability but not sure what it is like now. Also check going via Tokyo.

 

[Dr Ralph]

You are leaving it VERY late to be making a reward booking.

CX via HKG may be an option.

 

[alexy23]

You are leaving it VERY late to be making a reward booking.

Thanks I've been spoilt with lots of last minute F bookings with SQ to SIN - but realising now how popular the LAX/SFO/JFK routes are.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I am not sure where you wish to fly out of.

However last year I booked a J flight from MEL for one of my daughters to Florida return via QFF only 2 months before she flew.

There were a few options but the one that suited my daughter best was Jetstar Starclass (yes I know....) to Japan and then AA J to Florida. She stopped over in Tokyo on the way back. (As it turned out the final points cost was reduced as they changed the AA flight for the return and for some reason it earnt full points ! )

There were also options on CX via Hong Kong. Point cost was lower, but total flight time was more).

 

[alexy23]

Given up on this search.

Tried VA/QF xBNE xMEL xNAN absolutely nothing

Tried CX xHKG can get HKG-LAX but no SYD-HKG it's waitlist only (I was really hoping for this as it's a really good value redemption 120k points for J class - 24hr of flying).

School holidays are so hard!

 

[Limewood]

You are leaving it VERY late to be making a reward booking.

CX via HKG may be an option.

Got that right, over the past few years just got fed up with the measly award availability of J/F out of OZ to USA, my chosen path is via HKG overnight and then direct to numerous cities using CX, been rare not to find at least J seats. On top of that the fees are near zilch.

 

[Dr Ralph]

School holidays are so hard!

No, this isn't true.

As I was interested, I checked the Christmas holidays for December/January 2017/2018 in late January 2017 and there is a lot of availability for Australia to the US.

The issue is that you need to be very organised and book around 12 months out. Thinking that you will get your preferred flights 4 months out is just not going to happen.

It's definitely not the school holidays that's the issue. School holidays are not blocked out or subject to any surcharge.

 

[alexy23]

my chosen path is via HKG overnight.

is to usual to see SYD-HKG with zero availability?

 

[Dr Ralph]

is to usual to see SYD-HKG with zero availability?

I can't comment on this 3 to 4 months out as I've never taken specific notice.

But given the number of flights a day I am a little surprised. I assume that you've checked every class?

Sometimes with CX its also worth trying it as separate bookings. EG: SYD - HKG + HKG - LAX.

 

[11sjw]

A cash ticket to/from HKG and points from there?

 

[Franky]

Got that right, over the past few years just got fed up with the measly award availability of J/F out of OZ to USA, my chosen path is via HKG overnight and then direct to numerous cities using CX, been rare not to find at least J seats. On top of that the fees are near zilch.

And you can avoid LAX as well, so a bonus unless you really want to go there..

 

[dmitri]

Planning is key as per Dr Ralph's response, I was able to get 3 x y+ SYD-SFO and 3 x J SFO- SYD for this xmas 2 weeks ago. There were a few J class awards on QF SYD-SFO return when I looked again last week.

No, this isn't true.

As I was interested, I checked the Christmas holidays for December/January 2017/2018 in late January 2017 and there is a lot of availability for Australia to the US.

The issue is that you need to be very organised and book around 12 months out. Thinking that you will get your preferred flights 4 months out is just not going to happen.

It's definitely not the school holidays that's the issue. School holidays are not blocked out or subject to any surcharge.