Best ie cheapest time to book Qantas to the USA for Jan 08

[Jenelle]

Hi all

Previously I have flown with points/around the world/other times of the year to the USA and have found out I will be having to go in January 08 to Wash DC.

Does anyone remember any good times when the prices drop flying Qantas to the USA during January? At the moment I am getting $3,600! Eeek!

Thanks heaps!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

January is peakest of peak periods so there are never any truly cheap fares or sales. That said, fare does seem higher than I'd expect. Have you looked at other airlines? What about other airports near to Washington? What about booking only as far as LAX/SFO/HNL and getting a separate ticket from there to Washington?

 

[markis10]

Sticking to QF may limit your options, for instance Luftansa have a RTW for $1589 ++ valid from Jan3 08, does not include internal US flights and QF is a permitted carrier.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Sticking to QF may limit your options, for instance Luftansa have a RTW for $1589 ++ valid from Jan3 08, does not include internal US flights and QF is a permitted carrier.

Just because a fare is valid doesn't necessarily mean there is availability

 

[markis10]

Agree that availability might be a question, however it is an option that could be worth further research for the OP that they may not have been aware of!

 

[FlyFirst]

Best time to buy tickets, if you haven't already got a good price through some special promotion, is closer to the departure time!

My sister was caught last year, purchased a MEL-LAX for something like $2600 for travel mid-Jan (just after the season change), only to find the fare drop to $1550 about three weeks prior to departure. Unfortunately she was on a non-refundable fare.

Recently a work colleague purchased a MEL-JFK, for $2500, the fare has now dropped to $1709 (for november), however this time, for $300 the fare can be cancelled, and so she has rebooked, pocketing just under $500 (although changed to a sale fare which can't be cancelled).

Even the $1709 fare to JFK is high, I paid $1400 for travel at the end of November last year.

Regards

FlyFirst

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Best time to buy tickets, if you haven't already got a good price through some special promotion, is closer to the departure time!

That is a bit of a generalisation. If you must travel then better not risking a modest saving when you could find the reverse - sells out or only full fares available.

 

[roego]

Make sure you look at going by Japan or Hong Kokng or similar

 

[Jenelle]

Thank you all so much for all your advice!

I just found out that can't actually wait until closer to the date it seems as it is a study program and they need confirmation of my flights earlier to know that I am going. Poor me! LOL

 

[Jenelle]

Looks like what I will do is pay for MEL-LAX return - at the moment it is $2900ish. (Which is still absolutely ridiculous)

Use points for LAX to Wash and Boston - Vegas so at least that is about a $600-700 difference.

Ergh - makes me feel ill considering I have paid $1700 return to JFK before

 

[wallacej]

If cost is an option, I have always found UA to be the cheapest. I did MEL-ORD every 6 weeks, and I understand you can't wait to book your tickets, but they always had seats and were always cheapest.

 

[Jenelle]

At the moment - UA are actually more expensive than Qantas! LOL

January is just a mental time to go it seems.

I better get my fave seat hehehehehe

 

[wallacej]

lol.. that is very unusual....

 

[Jenelle]

*nods* I think it is just because it is so far in advance at the moment.

 

[NM]

Thank you all so much for all your advice!

I just found out that can't actually wait until closer to the date it seems as it is a study program and they need confirmation of my flights earlier to know that I am going. Poor me! LOL

What do they require in the way of "confirmation"? Can you make a reservation for a fare type that does not require payment for a while, and provide those flight details to the study program. Then if you find a better deal later you can cancel that reservation and book the better deal.

 

[dragonman]

Just a cautionary note - going with a mate to LAX in october, fare has risen from $1978 to $2250 in the last few weeks. And yeah we were waiting for fares to soften.

 

[Jenelle]

Just to add to this thread - the prices are still the same - $2993 to LAX return . :shock:

 

[blue_ice]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member to this forum

I've been planning my first trip to the US and just found out from my local TA that the Qantas fare for me has increased by about $300 since the first quote I got (a few weeks ago approx). I'm thinking of waiting and get more quotes but do you guys think that the fares will ever be cheaper the more I wait? Thanks everyone.

Edit: Btw my trip will be in Dec 07.

 

[leny]

What do they require in the way of "confirmation"? Can you make a reservation for a fare type that does not require payment for a while, and provide those flight details to the study program. Then if you find a better deal later you can cancel that reservation and book the better deal.

That's what I was thinking and what I did when applying for a visa for grandparents overseas. I emailed them and got an itinerary and booking number which was registered under checkmytrip. Immigration accepted it because it hd flight numbers and times and all and they were granted the visa. I got this in April and they required NO deposit or any payment at all until June which was the latest CX would hold the reservation for that price. I have looked at other prices since, but they were only ever $50 or so more expensive so went ahead with the original. I was very happy with this, and didn't know it could be done without paying a cent in advance.

 

[serfty]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member to this forum

I've been planning my first trip to the US and just found out from my local TA that the Qantas fare for me has increased by about $300 since the first quote I got (a few weeks ago approx). I'm thinking of waiting and get more quotes but do you guys think that the fares will ever be cheaper the more I wait? Thanks everyone.

Edit: Btw my trip will be in Dec 07.

Hi blue_ice, welcome to AFF.

Generally fares go up rather than down the closer you get to departure.

For an idea of available fares, try this tool: ITA Software: Login (Enter your home port e.g. SYD for Sales city.)