Flight from Sydney to LAX

[Dawn1004]

Hi folksHoping for some flight suggestions from a well travelled person ( to assist this non well travelled person!) ok, so next May we are going to LA.

We are driving 12 hours, sleeping the night, then flying Perth to Sydney. We'll stay a night in Sydney, then I was originally thinking of flying direct with VAustralia to LAX (3 adults flying).Or possibly Qantas, depending on fare costs and luggage allowance.

Ideally we would want Premium Economy. I find the benefits of this would be catching 1 flight, no stops, so hopefully luggage would arrive with us!Premium economy we hope would make the long haul flight a bit more comfy for us - I'd rather fly on the cheap fare and have more spending money, whereas hubby would prefer to fly in comfort and not be cramped in the seats.

Someone suggested flying Jetstar to Honolulu and catch a flight Honolulu to LAX.Have looked at this, and they have economy fare and their business class is only $899 plus fee/taxes, but that is still less than a plain economy flight on VAustralia or Qantas. I don't think Jetstar's business class would be the same as Q or V's of course.

Iam wondering if well travelled forum members would suggest taking the Jetstar option, then the other flight to LAX, would it be worth it? I have looked and of course there would be more travelling time, waiting time, as need to wait for the flight to LAX from Honolulu, plus plane back to Honolulu would be from Seattle, so I think I added pretty much 2 days extra travelling, ie if we fly Sydney to LAX direct we arrive at about 6am, but with Honolulu we wouldn't arrive in LAX until 9 or 10pm. plus can't fly back on Sunday from Honolulu so would be an overnight stay as well.

Looking at the flights, it only ends up a little cheaper overall, to me I dont think it is worth the extra time to get to our destination.

one good thing would be we would do the customs/immigratTion at Honolulu instead of the very busy (and I'm told sury LAX officials), as I believe the other travel would be domestic so no immigration and customs line ups.

Im hoping the premium economy will go on sale for the May period, looking on the best fares on VAustralia at the moment they are selling for $3099 return, wheras the prices for May 2012 are still showing at over $2000 one way each.Thanking you in advance for your travel suggestions.PS you may be wondering why I have typed with none of your abbreviations - I'll admit, Im still getting my head around all the flight abbreviations/terminology.happy travels

 

[Dawn1004]

Seemed to have lost my formatting. Sorry about that. Typed on Ipad, so maybe that is why the spacing and paragraph spacing had disappeared.

 

[cove]

I have done the run to LAX from PER more than 100 times but only with QF and SQ.Friends and work colleagues have done VA premium economy and they would do it again.We used to have to stop because the planes could not do it in one hop and I don't miss that.If you are going ex SYD stay overnight in SYD as the midnight run to connect is a nasty idea for Perth passengers.Six months ago those VA prices were $2,900 but fuel went up a bit.

 

[Justchecking]

Go for exit row economy over PE, you get all the legroom at a fraction of the price. If you want more space buy the middle seat as well. It's still cheaper than 2 PE seats. Virgin doesn't offer the ability to purchase exit row at time of booking, but QF does. Direct flight definately, stopovers, unless they are the multiple-day variety are no fun at all.

 

[Dawn1004]

Thanks for the responses, Glad to know that others also think the direct flight is the much better option.Will look into the exit row seats over premium.Thanks once again - really looking forward to this trip.

 

[Justchecking]

Other considerations on seat choice include recline, meals, seat width and priority boarding which are different for PE. In PE you generally get a J style of service, pre-takeoff drinks, multiple-course meal and real rather than plastic plates. PE seats are about 2" wider than economy seats and recline 3" more.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also worth checking Air Pacific who offer business class for around AUD3000 return (see threads elsewhere on AFF).

If those fares are available they are a good option, with a brief few hours stop in Fiji each way (with lounge).

A friend of mine (first trip outside Australia) recently took the plunge with Air Pacific and said it was fine with no problems. Nice big seats, lots of legroom. Service is not QF standards by a long shot, but it is very well priced.

 

[danielc]

Just to put some other options up, have you investigated Air New Zealand via AKL. I have flown them several times MEL-AKL-SFO and found their service to be excellent. Flying via AKL makes the trans-pacific leg just that little bit shorter although coming from Perth the connection times in NZ may be a bit of an issue. Happy travels ! NZ also offers premium economy and their fares are usually quite competitive. When I lived in Perth I also used Cathay Pacific via HKG which can make for an interesting routing and avoids SYD altogether.

 

[cove]

I have been going on SQ through Singapore or QF through Melbourne or Sydney as all of these are non stops.Watch out for layover times and take off and landing times if you don't like midnight runs.

 

[Noob]

Firstly, I would either take V Australia or Air NZ because I prefer the two airlines to Qantas, and they offer arguably better products. Also remember Premium economy passengers get more benefits than just a seat! Better food, better drinks, priority boarding (get to board the plane before economy passengers), bigger seat back screens etc.

Unique to both V australia and Air NZ is they have the latest cabin lighting which changes colours throughout your flight to help you adjust to the different time zones and reduce jet lag (in theory). Plus it looks awesome!

Air NZ, and V australia have also been listed in "the top three premium economy food offerings", both airlines also use proper chinaware and metal cutlery compared to the plastic in economy: http://www.worldairlineawards.com/Awards_2011/wcatering.htm



AIR NEW ZEALAND PREMIUM ECONOMY

If you fly Air NZ in premium economy on their new 777-300ER aircraft which mainly service this route you will get their latest product which recently was awarded "world's best premium economy class airline, and world's best premium economy class airline catering".
Premium economy legroom on Air NZ will be increasing from August this year also, so by May when you are flying you will have extra legroom!
See a picture of the cabin at this website, note the legroom will be greater when you fly:
The best seats in Premium Economy (Spaceseat) on Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300ER - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller






V AUSTRALIA (VIRGIN AUSTRALIA) PREMIUM ECONOMY

If you fly V Australia Premium economy (which will be called Virgin Australia by the time you fly next year to fit in with the rest of the Virgin company) you won't be disappointed. V Australia also won the "Best staff service in the Australia/pacific region". They also have an inflight mini bar which i unique to them on this route.
Here's a link to a review: http://www.theage.com.au/travel/tra...australia-premium-economy-20100729-10xa7.html

some pictures of V Australia's Premium economy cabin:

 

[serfty]

Firstly, I would either take V Australia or Air NZ because I prefer the two airlines to Qantas, and they offer arguably better products. Also remember Premium economy passengers get more benefits than just a seat! Better food, better drinks, priority boarding (get to board the plane before economy passengers), bigger seat back screens etc. ...

AirNZ have cut back on their 773 PE food service as "It took too much time".

Also, they stuffed up with their PE set-up as for those over 175cm, there is not enough room to stretch out to sleep. There have been reports of "Cramps" (if not DVT) and N are taking a row of PE out of their 773's.

I have not travelled Virgin PE, but have with QF and NZ and I'd take the QF PE ANY day over NZ's 773 offering.

FWIW, the AirNZ 744 PE is the best I have ever experienced.

 

[Noob]

AirNZ have cut back on their 773 PE food service as "It took too much time".

Also, they stuffed up with their PE set-up as for those over 175cm, there is not enough room to stretch out to sleep. There have been reports of "Cramps" (if not DVT) and N are taking a row of PE out of their 773's.

I have not travelled Virgin PE, but have with QF and NZ and I'd take the QF PE ANY day over NZ's 773 offering.

FWIW, the AirNZ 744 PE is the best I have ever experienced.

Firstly, they had more room than economy so the whole "cramps" thing sounds like some people need to take a ride in the back of an airline to see what cramped really is

Secondly, by the time this member wants to fly with Air NZ would have increased the legroom so this is not an issue.

Either way, Air NZ's latest premium economy product has been named the best in the world by Skytrax, along with Air NZ receiving the best airline in the Australian Pacific region title...

 

[pauly7]

I have not travelled Virgin PE, but have with QF and NZ and I'd take the QF PE ANY day over NZ's 773 offering.

FWIW, the AirNZ 744 PE is the best I have ever experienced.

For me having flown all three, I'd put Virgin last for sure on such a long flight. Don't bother.

NZ are ok but I just can't be bothered with the transit.... And keep in mind that pesky ash cloud!! Hope by then it is gone.

QF A380 is the way to go, for the best all round experience and if considering Y - the much talked about 80a/k are fantastic also.

Good luck!!

 

[serfty]

Firstly, they had more room than economy so the whole "cramps" thing sounds like some people need to take a ride in the back of an airline to see what cramped really is

Secondly, by the time this member wants to fly with Air NZ would have increased the legroom so this is not an issue.

Either way, Air NZ's latest premium economy product has been named the best in the world by Skytrax, along with Air NZ receiving the best airline in the Australian Pacific region title...

How you flown in one?

Actually, most economy seats have more leg room than the NEW AirNZ PE seats. There is no lateral movement available.

Yes, the design is innovative and deservedly won those awards - however I have flown in them and while they are fine for a simple 3 hour trans-Tasman they are to be avoided if intending to sleep or travelling on a 12 hour trans-Pacific.

I can assure you now that Air NZ would not be reoving 6 of these seats from the cabin if there was not a major problem ... and this still won't solve the lack of lateral space for one's legs.

See here for a thread on the FT: 777-300 ER mini-reviews - FlyerTalk Forums (Posts from February get interesting).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How you flown in one?

Yes, the design is innovative and deservedly won those awards - however I have flown in them and while they are fine for a simple 3 hour trans-Tasman they are to be avoided if intending to sleep or travelling on a 12 hour trans-Pacific.

I can assure you now that Air NZ would not be reoving 6 of these seats from the cabin if there was not a major problem ... and this still won't solve the lack of lateral space for one's legs.

Agreed. Didn't those awful economy seats on CX (slide forward in shell) also win some sort of award at one stage? (clearly the panel didn't sit in one for more than 5 minutes...)

Award winning doesn't actually mean it's any good!

 

[Noob]

How you flown in one?

Actually, most economy seats have more leg room than the NEW AirNZ PE seats. There is no lateral movement available.

Yes, the design is innovative and deservedly won those awards - however I have flown in them and while they are fine for a simple 3 hour trans-Tasman they are to be avoided if intending to sleep or travelling on a 12 hour trans-Pacific.

I can assure you now that Air NZ would not be reoving 6 of these seats from the cabin if there was not a major problem ... and this still won't solve the lack of lateral space for one's legs.

See here for a thread on the FT: 777-300 ER mini-reviews - FlyerTalk Forums (Posts from February get interesting).

I have been with Air NZ (747/777-300ER), Qantas(747/A380), Virgin(777-300ER) and Delta(777) transpacific for work flying in both J and Y+. I have flown the new Y+ on Air NZ and I really liked it, and overall found it a better experience than Qantas Y+ or Virgin Y+. The fact that it is regarded by some as cramped is not relevant in this thread as the original poster is flying next year in may AFTER they remove a whole row and legroom will be increased.

Cheapest one way premium economy fares for the SYD-LAX leg compared in May 2012 when the OP is flying:

Air NZ = $2,422
Virgin = $2,645
Qantas = $3,128

I know what I would pick.....

 

[serfty]

... The fact that it is regarded by some as cramped is not relevant in this thread as the original poster is flying next year in may AFTER they remove a whole row and legroom will be increased. ...

Actually, it IS relevant.

It really depends upon one's height.

How tall are you?

I don't believe adding from 150mm will make that big a difference. Yes, at 6', I'll then be about to stretch out without coming up against the end of the tunnell under the seat in front but there is still the issue of lack of lateral space. FWIW, I'm a "foetal" position sleeper - an need to be able to move my feet from side to side. I can do this in economy on AirNZ, Qantas & BA. I cannot do this on AirNZ 773 PE, nor BA Club World.

FWIW, the best sleep I have ever had was on an AirNZ 773 Business class seat. The best PE sleep was downstairs on an AirNZ 744.

 

[Noob]

Actually, it IS relevant.

It really depends upon one's height.

How tall are you?

I don't believe adding from 150mm will make that big a difference. Yes, at 6', I'll then be about to stretch out without coming up against the end of the tunnell under the seat in front but there is still the issue of lack of lateral space. FWIW, I'm a "foetal" position sleeper - an need to be able to move my feet from side to side. I can do this in economy on AirNZ, Qantas & BA. I cannot do this on AirNZ 773 PE, nor BA Club World.

FWIW, the best sleep I have ever had was on an AirNZ 773 Business class seat. The best PE sleep was downstairs on an AirNZ 744.

lol I was 6' last time i checked as well, I am just not that fussy due to my time in Y. The thing is with the addition of 6 inches per row, the legroom will be more than Virgin PE or Qantas PE.

 

[trooper]

C'mon guys... you are BOTH right! :mrgreen:

It is terribly subjective....

I think NZ is doing the right thing with the row removal on the 773.. but, like serfty, I would suggest the NZ 744 PE (especially the private little 8 seat "cabins" on the main deck) are probably the best "of type" in the region...
SO.. fly via SFO while that option still exists?

JMO of course.

 

[FlyboyAl]

We got home on Saturday after flying VA in PE SYD-LAX-SYD.
The check-in and on board service on VA was excellent, but those leather seats!!!!!!!!
I've flown QF in Y, Y+ and J, and, in my opinion, all the Qantas seats were better than the VA leather ones.
We went over in the back row of PE, and came home in the front row of PE and the leg room was fine (I'm 6'), the seat width was fine, but the seat base was just too firm.
For the first time ever, I had a sore backside when I got off the flight at LAX, and when I came home, I used 2 pillows under me to "soften the blow"! Even my wife commented on the (hard) leather seats on the VA flight.
We flew to SYD-ADL in J on Qantas, and the seats were wonderful after the VA leather ones.

If I was to do it again (and I am in 5 weeks time!), I'd go Qantas for the simple reason of seat comfort. If I'm sitting for 12-14 hours, I figure its kind of important.

Can't comment on Air New Zealand - have not flown them.