Best way SYD-YYZ

[luxury-lizard]

Looking for ideas - I need to travel (one person) SYD-YYZ for about 10 days in March / early April - exact dates very flexible. Must be business class (except for any short sectors; .e.g. 1-3 hours).

I've looked for awards on *A and OW (having AC, SQ and AA points I can use - pickings are few and far between - with either crazy connection times or impossible routings (e.g. into HND and ex-NRT). I would prefer not to transit the US just because of the hassle of US immigration but I have not totally discounted this.

So I'm really looking for a paid fare or a combo of part paid and part award (e.g. award to SIN and paid ex-SIN). So far the best/shortest flights are SYD-YVR-YYZ on AC but it's > $10,000. When considering award vs paid I value the points at .025 cents to decide whether to use points or paid fares.

Some options I've considered include:-

1. SYD-xx_-EWR/LGA/JFK then a separate ticket to YYZ
2. There are SQ awards SYD-SIN-FRA-JFK but the flights available have some extremely long connection times so I've discounted this option
3. A paid or award ticket to SIN only then a paid flight ex-SIN to either JFK (best price) or YYZ (a more expensive).
4. I have considered a paid return trip to a Europe then an award to YYZ (can get this around $6400 + award points / about 120,000 return)
5. I did see one combo on NZ/AC for $6400 (SYD-AKL-YVR-YYZ) - but I'm really concerned that NZ won't actually fly even though the flights are scheduled.

 

[Gold Member]

It seems like you’ve done a comprehensive analysis of your options Lizard. One more option I can suggest is to get to BKK and fly SQ to LAX/SFO/JFK for $3,367 AUD return. Based on. Ery limited searches, I found the outbound has a 12 hr transit but the return is seamless. Your searches may yield a more favourable outcome. This option adds a bit more time as it back tracks through Singapore, but for the price it may be worthwhile?

Sticking with ex-BKK, for just over $4K you can fly with ANA, United and JAL with seamless transits in Japan.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Many thanks - I actually found awards seats on QF which work for me: SYD-YVR over then DFW-SYD back - 10 days later - something of a miracle (I looked but somehow missed these as I was using AA to search not QF as I have AA points). Will buy YVR-YYZ and YYZ-DFW.

 

[daft009]

Bit late but when I did this in July 2019 it was Sydney to Singapore to Taipei to Toronto.

All using KF points
SYD to SIN on SQ (spent 4-5 nights in singapore)
SIN to TPE could have been been SQ or EVA ( we went with EVA to experience the hello kitty aircraft on this route).
2-3hrs in TPE
then TPE to YYZ non stop