Advice on booking MEL - JFK flights with LAS stopover

[Aggi]

Hi, I've been trying to book some flights on the Qantas website without much luck. Using the multi-stop option to book 2 economy seats from Melbourne to Las Vegas on 13th of August then Las Vegas to New York on 20th of August and New York to Melbourne on 29th of August. Have also tried other dates but keep getting either a '404 page not found error' or a 'could not find fare for the requested itinerary' error.
At some point i did manage to find flights with a LAX stopover for $1387 which wasn't too bad but would prefer a LAS stopover if possible. Called Qantas to see if I could book the flights over the phone but was quoted $3000+ per person! Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way of booking these flights, should i just stick with the LAS stopover or am I better off seeing a travel agent?

 

[trooper]

On ITA it prices out at AUD$1850 for the exact plan you want (all QF/AA right?)

..and at AUD$1500 odd if LAX is the stopover point....

Given the cost of a separate LAX-LAS-LAX ticket you'd save money doing it that way most of the time...

Bad news is the itinerary is available for under $1200 on UA!!! :shock:

(I accrue to the *A but no.. I wouldn't fly them either...)

P.S. ITA constructed itins can be printed out and taken to your tame TA for booking....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On ITA it prices out at AUD$1850 for the exact plan you want (all QF/AA right?)

..and at AUD$1500 odd if LAX is the stopover point....

Given the cost of a separate LAX-LAS-LAX ticket you'd save money doing it that way most of the time...

Bad news is the itinerary is available for under $1200 on UA!!! :shock:

(I accrue to the *A but no.. I wouldn't fly them either...)

P.S. ITA constructed itins can be printed out and taken to your tame TA for booking....

OPTION ONE
I would weigh up doing the above suggestion ie MEL QF LAX QF JFK QF X/LAX QF MEL (X/ = transit only) so MEL/JFK/MEL return fare with a stopover in LAX on the way whereby you purchase a separate ticket LAX/LAS/LAX & do Vegas as a side trip from LAX before heading off to the Big Apple.

OPTION TWO
MEL QF X/SYD QF SFO /- LAX QF JFK QF X/LAX QF MEL get to see SFO also so you would pay a return fare MEL/JFK then as you are purchasing a separate ticket SFO/LAS/LAX on VX (www.virginamerica.com) flying into SFO (ex MEL) then onto JFK ex LAX only counts as one stopover.

 

[Aggi]

thanks for the suggestions. I ended up calling Qantas again and got a much better agent who was able to book MEL-JFK with a stopover in LAX for $1296 for me so pleased with that. Now just need to find a cheap LAX-LAS return flight!