Best Route BNE to JFK - QF15/QF107 or QF107

[Coley]

I am looking to fly to New York next year (either May or September, haven't decided) on a holiday with my SO and I am looking at the latest Qantas sale for $1649.

For only a couple of dollars difference, I can either fly QF15 from BNE to LAX and then QF107 from LAX to JFK or I can fly to Sydney on a domestic flight and just get QF107 all the way to NY with a stop in LA.

Has anyone had any experience's with either of these routes and no of any +/-? They seem to be both 747-400s, but does anyone in the know, know if these routes will change plane before May/September? Obviously flying to Sydney domestic and then changing to the international terminal would be a bit of a pain but if there are any advantages to the QF107 flight then it may be worth it. Or should I stick to the QF15 as it might be less full and more chance of snagging a spare seat next to us?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[harvyk]

If you are a WP, then flying via SYD will get you into the SYD FLounge, otherwise I'd just go via QF15...
Of course if you are out for maximizing your SC earn then via SYD would also do that.

 

[dajop]

Unless you are an F lounge obsessed platinum or need the extra 3000 points, I'd suggest the BNE-LAX service. Why bother getting to the airport 3 hrs earlier and have to do the terminal transfer at SYD?

Of course if you are out for maximizing your SC earn then via SYD would also do that.

Actually the SC earns is the same either way.

 

[harvyk]

Actually the SC earns is the same either way.

You're right, the extra SC's earned via BNE-SYD are nicely offset by the loss of SC's by flying on SYD-LAX-JFK on the one flight number (forgot about that lovely gotcha), now if you could only change the SYD-LAX flight to something else...

 

[Coley]

You're right, the extra SC's earned via BNE-SYD are nicely offset by the loss of SC's by flying on SYD-LAX-JFK on the one flight number (forgot about that lovely gotcha), now if you could only change the SYD-LAX flight to something else...

I've been trying my best in ITAmatrix to reroute my flights, but the only real combination I can get is BNE-LAX-DFW/ORD-EWR/LGA however this puts the price up past $1800 as you start to use AA metal and only for an extra 20SC. If I'm looking at doing that, I may as well go all out and just fly to LA for $1399 and then do a status run on AA which at some point takes me to NY. So many possibilities......

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I am looking to fly to New York next year (either May or September, haven't decided) on a holiday with my SO and I am looking at the latest Qantas sale for $1649.

For only a couple of dollars difference, I can either fly QF15 from BNE to LAX and then QF107 from LAX to JFK or I can fly to Sydney on a domestic flight and just get QF107 all the way to NY with a stop in LA.

Has anyone had any experience's with either of these routes and no of any +/-? They seem to be both 747-400s, but does anyone in the know, know if these routes will change plane before May/September? Obviously flying to Sydney domestic and then changing to the international terminal would be a bit of a pain but if there are any advantages to the QF107 flight then it may be worth it. Or should I stick to the QF15 as it might be less full and more chance of snagging a spare seat next to us?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

With Australian School Holidays in May & September I wouldn't bank on getting a spare seat next to you & I don't think taking QF15 would give you any more chance of this over flying ex SYD or MEL.

If you're PS lounge access is not an issue so I would just stick with the most convenient route which would be to fly ex BNE on QF15 BNE/LAX then connect with QF107 LAX/JFK. Occasionally the aircraft that operates the QF15 will operate the QF107 LAX/JFK sector.

Don't forget you can always book the special fare on an open jaw basis eg BNE/xLAX/JFK /- LAX/BNE or BNE/xLAX/JFK /- HNL/xSYD/BNE

I've been trying my best in ITAmatrix to reroute my flights, but the only real combination I can get is BNE-LAX-DFW/ORD-EWR/LGA however this puts the price up past $1800 as you start to use AA metal and only for an extra 20SC. If I'm looking at doing that, I may as well go all out and just fly to LA for $1399 and then do a status run on AA which at some point takes me to NY. So many possibilities......

I'd forget about the $1800.00 fare on AA metal as the extra dollars may as well go towards a status run in a premium cabin JFK/xx_ then xx_ to LAX or HNL before resuming the QF Sale ticket back to BNE.

 

[Coley]

Thanks for your suggestions. I now thinking of going in early September and getting the BNE - LAX and then returning JFK-LAX-BNE and maybe looking for some decent status run fares to get us around.

One thing to note is that if I come back via Sydney on the open jaw, I believe its 110SC instead of 90SC :-|

If you're PS lounge access is not an issue so I would just stick with the most convenient route which would be to fly ex BNE on QF15 BNE/LAX then connect with QF107 LAX/JFK. Occasionally the aircraft that operates the QF15 will operate the QF107 LAX/JFK sector.

I was actually looking at purchasing the $99USD 30 day AA Admirals Club Pass on the first day of the trip for myself. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this should entitle me and my SO, aka 1 guest, to access the Qantas Lounges in Brisbane/Sydney and LAX as I'm flying with Qantas, as well as the basic AA lounges when I am flying throughout the US with AA. Seems ok value if I only have to pay for one pass and we both get in, although of course they are only the basic QF/AA business lounges.