Flights from the USA?

[k_sheep]

I know many on this board "nest" their trips from the USA, since generally flights from US-Aust are far cheaper than the reverse. Indeed, I did similar from Asia for a couple of years. I am looking at doing similar, as I have a ticket to YVR thanks to the RGN fare, with currently no way to get home (planning on hopping the border to do some KUPPs while I'm there).

However right now it seems to be the opposite! For Qantas, it's $1199 BNE-LAX return, whereas the reverse is US$1298; mind you yesterday I think it was even more (a sale seems to have started today). Looking around, I can even get a one way on AirNZ for $700 odd which isn't bad.

Any suggestions for how to find cheap (or good value - happy to spring for W or J if the price is right!) flights ex-USA? I'm happy to leave from pretty much anywhere, with any crazy numbers of stops Prefer oneworld, but again, will do anything if the price is right. Or is it just that the Aus-US prices are cheap right now, and I have to suck it up?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I know many on this board "nest" their trips from the USA, since generally flights from US-Aust are far cheaper than the reverse. Indeed, I did similar from Asia for a couple of years. I am looking at doing similar, as I have a ticket to YVR thanks to the RGN fare, with currently no way to get home (planning on hopping the border to do some KUPPs while I'm there).

However right now it seems to be the opposite! For Qantas, it's $1199 BNE-LAX return, whereas the reverse is US$1298; mind you yesterday I think it was even more (a sale seems to have started today). Looking around, I can even get a one way on AirNZ for $700 odd which isn't bad.

Any suggestions for how to find cheap (or good value - happy to spring for W or J if the price is right!) flights ex-USA? I'm happy to leave from pretty much anywhere, with any crazy numbers of stops Prefer oneworld, but again, will do anything if the price is right. Or is it just that the Aus-US prices are cheap right now, and I have to suck it up?

What dates are you looking at? The fare difference may be due to the ex USA flights fall into high season if it's summer down under whereas it may be low season ex Aust if it's winter in the USA.

Have you got any QFF or Velocity ff points you can use HNL/BNE for a QF or HA redemption ticket?

If it was myself I'd choose to finish a KUPP in HNL as the difference eg SJU/LAX vs SJU/HNL may only be USD50.00, then find the cheapest one way back whether it was an award ticket or a paid fare.

If you do have ff points, a QF Classic/Partner award HNL/BNE is 36,000 points plus USD324.63 pp taxes. A Velocity award is 32,500 points plus USD52.54 pp taxes.

 

[vitagen]

Have you tried Y+ ex USA one way is quite decently priced on CX

 

[serfty]

I too have noticed in recent times ex USA in economy is often more expensive on the same flights than ex OZ.

Ebbs and flows, my most recent bookings ipso facto have been ex SWP!

 

[benlight]

I recently needed to book a one way from SFO-SYD in April, and these were some of the options I found (prices are from memory, so may be a bit out):

- ~$700 on NZ in Y SFO-AKL-SYD (or LAX-SYD-AKL on VA for a similar price)
- ~$900 on AA/FJ (AA codeshare)/VA in Y LAX-HNL-NAN-SYD
- ~$1,000 on AB/EY in Y LAX-DUS-AUH-SYD
- ~$1,400 on VS in Y SFO-LHR-NCE-LHR-HKG-SYD
- ~$1,600 on CX in W SFO-HKG-SYD
- ~$1,700 on JL in W LAX-NRT-SYD

Most of those fares allow/include stopovers.

But there's an excellent BCN-SYD(-HKG) return fare on BA at the moment (see the Mileage Run Deals section of Flyertalk) so I ended up booking this for ~$1,500 not including my transfers in Europe:

- SFO-JFK-LHR on AA (used a SWU to upgrade to J in their new 777-300ER with CX-style J seats)
- BCN-LHR-SIN-SYD (long-haul BA in W, will attempt to use Avios to upgrade to J)
- SYD-HKG-SYD in June (W on QF A380 inbound, Y on CX outbound)
- SYD-BKK-LHR-BCN in October (Y on QF and BA)

So somewhat crazily, the best value I found was to go round-the-world.

 

[Grooba]

I recently needed to book a one way from SFO-SYD in April, and these were some of the options I found (prices are from memory, so may be a bit out):

- ~$700 on NZ in Y SFO-AKL-SYD (or LAX-SYD-AKL on VA for a similar price)
- ~$900 on AA/FJ (AA codeshare)/VA in Y LAX-HNL-NAN-SYD
- ~$1,000 on AB/EY in Y LAX-DUS-AUH-SYD
- ~$1,400 on VS in Y SFO-LHR-NCE-LHR-HKG-SYD
- ~$1,600 on CX in W SFO-HKG-SYD
- ~$1,700 on JL in W LAX-NRT-SYD

Most of those fares allow/include stopovers.

But there's an excellent BCN-SYD(-HKG) return fare on BA at the moment (see the Mileage Run Deals section of Flyertalk) so I ended up booking this for ~$1,500 not including my transfers in Europe:

- SFO-JFK-LHR on AA (used a SWU to upgrade to J in their new 777-300ER with CX-style J seats)
- BCN-LHR-SIN-SYD (long-haul BA in W, will attempt to use Avios to upgrade to J)
- SYD-HKG-SYD in June (W on QF A380 inbound, Y on CX outbound)
- SYD-BKK-LHR-BCN in October (Y on QF and BA)

So somewhat crazily, the best value I found was to go round-the-world.

Certainly not crazy, more like standard practice round here

I also saw that fare on FT and wondered how I could make use of it but unfortunately no dice this time.

 

[k_sheep]

Benlight, that is just the sort of crazy I'm looking for! I'll have a play after work today

OBB, also good plan. I've got about 100k QF points to play with (used up a bunch on a JASA to start this trip!), but from HNL can fly with JQ for $510 odd, so probably not the best use of points. Am looking at early April. No VA points to speak of.

Will check out CX too. Great thinking guys

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I too have noticed in recent times ex USA in economy is often more expensive on the same flights than ex OZ.

Ebbs and flows, my most recent bookings ipso facto have been ex SWP!

I have noticed since the supposed break-up of QFi into a separate entity that fares seem to have become MUCH mosre competitive. Biz class fares are some of the lowest I've seen for a long time, and economy fare are now by and large very competitive. Seems to have been one good thing to come out of the restructure.

 

[k_sheep]

Sigh. Couldn't figure out how to get to BCN for a reasonable price. Looked at buying AA miles but there wasn't any availability early April, similarly couldn't find any USA-Australia awards ... eventually I figured out we're trying to get back just after Easter! (am due back at work on the 8th or thereabouts). Didn't plan that well.