BNE-SYD-LAX-BNE VA Y US$266 on Orbitz [gone]

[andye]

I flew over a few weeks ago and got a window seat and two spare seats next to it so that wasn't too bad, i got a window seat with two teenagers next to be on the way back, not that they were too bad, but was eventually counting the moments till i got back...

While over there i got a motor home and drove from Orlando to LA....

Think it will be back to business or first for my next trip...

Thats a lot of time in seats counting transpacific flights and transconinental drive

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Think it will be back to business or first for my next trip...

Definitely. This trip was superb value, but rather unfortunate not being rested on arrival for such a short stay. I think I'm going to keep being a snob in J .

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Definitely. This trip was superb value, but rather unfortunate not being rested on arrival for such a short stay. I think I'm going to keep being a snob in J .

Agree! 14 hour Y flights I just cant face anymore .

 

[deva22]

I didn't have any problems with the flights.
Did BNE > LAX > MSP > DTW back to back, followed by BOS > SEA > LAX > BNE back to back on the way home!

Fantastic trip, and great value. Brought be a little closer to VA SG... Still gotta get another 150SC before July though ...

 

[anat0l]

Agree! 14 hour Y flights I just cant face anymore .

The temptation of it being really cheap (or at least very cheap at the time the fare was offered; nowadays, it's not as impressive) helps a bit.

In some cases, if the occupancy is not large, at least you can have a wide seat, or in some cases you also get a bed! However, I'm guessing VA are a bit smart and have not many flights; all that put together and even if the industry in general is hurting to fill up planes, I don't think there will be too many empty seats on my flight.

I'll just have to prepare myself for it. It will be five years since I flew Economy long haul (Australia to SE Asia not counting). I have no status and nothing else to help me (I have some lounge memberships but that's all). I just want an aisle seat and hopefully enough to eat and drink on the flight.

 

[JessicaTam]

The temptation of it being really cheap (or at least very cheap at the time the fare was offered; nowadays, it's not as impressive) helps a bit.

In some cases, if the occupancy is not large, at least you can have a wide seat, or in some cases you also get a bed! However, I'm guessing VA are a bit smart and have not many flights; all that put together and even if the industry in general is hurting to fill up planes, I don't think there will be too many empty seats on my flight.

I'll just have to prepare myself for it. It will be five years since I flew Economy long haul (Australia to SE Asia not counting). I have no status and nothing else to help me (I have some lounge memberships but that's all). I just want an aisle seat and hopefully enough to eat and drink on the flight.

Same, same. Except I will have a window seat, thanks.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Stupid question time.
Can you ring up VA and request a special meal or will that have to be done through Orbitz ?

 

[JessicaTam]

Stupid question time.
Can you ring up VA and request a special meal or will that have to be done through Orbitz ?

I expect through VA.

Joining the VA Y throng?

 

[serfty]

I expect through VA.
..

I had to call to get WP seating (nowadays they charge from $135 each way, at least I called before then).

...
Joining the VA Y throng?

I suspect the question is on behalf of young Felicia.

 

[Foreigner]

It's a scary thought about flying Y over 14 hours after a long while. I'll survive, i know.

 

[serfty]

It's a scary thought about flying Y over 14 hours after a long while. I'll survive, i know.

I only booked one of these - for August. It won't be that bad (I hope). I did travel on a QF "July 1st" fare in January - that was interesting,but I survived

 

[Princess Fiona]

I had to call to get WP seating (nowadays they charge from $135 each way, at least I called before then).
I suspect the question is on behalf of young Felicia.

You suspicion is correct

 

[anat0l]

Same, same. Except I will have a window seat, thanks.

I was thinking about a window seat. It'd be nice to have a wall to lean on for sleeping, and nice to have a view (at least when the shade is up).

However, it was a choice of to step over (window) or be stepped over (aisle). Considering as a fat man travelling, I thought the latter would be preferable, particularly if I select a seat in the middle section, where technically at most only one person has to bother me, compared to sitting in the side sections where it is two people to be bothered.

 

[greenfish]

I found the flight overall better than expected in Y - flew with my 3 kids at the end of March.

I had a shadow on both flights - which my eldest daughter benefited from as I stuck with the other two kids in the window seats. The flight to the USA was marred by a hyperactive elder couple in the row in front, one of whom stood for most of the flight wearing a head torch (which had side LEDs) - reading - until I eventually complained about having LEDs shining directly into my face. They kept their lights on throughout the flight. Result was arriving in LAX with absolutely no sleep, and a rental car drive to Anaheim. Bleh.

Flight home was better - no doubt aided by being a night flight so most people just wanted to sleep. One Imovane and I slept well enough that I was able to work all day on arrival back in Brisbane. The First lounge at LAX, although a fairly uninspiring space compared to the J lounge, were happy to make their a la carte pasta bland enough for my fussy 8 year old. The bigger kids (17 and 15ish) I gave cash to so they could forage in the terminal. Kept everyone happy.

All seats and special meal requests were made over the phone to VA a couple of weeks before the flight - the WP line was very helpful. I was reasonably impressed with the whole experience. On the way home I was singled out for WP treatment but they ended up getting the guy in the row in front - who didn't at any point tell them he wasn't me After the FA had finished her spiel, I caught her attention and explained what had happened - she handled it very well.

 

[Warks]

I don't have a problem with VA1 in Y. 14 hours - so what? It's all in day time. Four or five movies and you're there.
The night flight back is not so good of course, not being one to sleep on planes, even on those days on the company teat where they paid for J. What sleep I had was awful. Still just watch the screen and it's easy. Compare that with the good old days of one movie screen showing a movie you'd already seen or didn't want to watch and nothing else. Plus it was lights out and nothing to do. Luxury these days!

 

[JessicaTam]

I don't have a problem with VA1 in Y. 14 hours - so what? It's all in day time. Four or five movies and you're there.
The night flight back is not so good of course, not being one to sleep on planes, even on those days on the company teat where they paid for J. What sleep I had was awful. Still just watch the screen and it's easy. Compare that with the good old days of one movie screen showing a movie you'd already seen or didn't want to watch and nothing else. Plus it was lights out and nothing to do. Luxury these days!

VA1 heads east, so travels into the night to come out in the morning to land in LAX.

Flights heading west follow the sun, and so can all be in daylight if you leave before about 9am.

 

[Warks]

VA1 heads east, so travels into the night to come out in the morning to land in LAX.

Flights heading west follow the sun, and so can all be in daylight if you leave before about 9am.

I guess I mean "my day time" heading to LAX as it gets in about 11pm SYD time. I know attempting to sleep is a waste of time for me. I'm not a narcoleptic like so many of my fellow pax who fall asleep before take-off on SYD-BNE!

 

[JessicaTam]

I guess I mean "my day time" heading to LAX as it gets in about 11pm SYD time. I know attempting to sleep is a waste of time for me. I'm not a narcoleptic like so many of my fellow pax who fall asleep before take-off on SYD-BNE!

Got it. That makes sense.

 

[casanovawa]

Ok, haven't revisited this thread for a bit so missed some of the questions about my trip...

Yes there wasn't much time to sit back and smell the roses... I hired a relocation RV that needed to be driven from orlando to LA, it cost me the princely sum of US$1 a night.... I could have had it for up to 15 nights for that price i think, and thenprobably a few more for a bit more, but i booked the flights for only like 9-10 days over there before i booked the relocation deal, so it was a bit faster and bit longer stretches ont he road than ideal...

Stops along the way were Dallas, New Orleans, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, Las Vegas and then a few places along highways... Also visited the USS Alabama near Mobile, Alabama plus the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, Monument Valley in Arizona and the National Navajo Monument i think it was called plus a brief drop into Victorville airport....

One of the main parts of the adventure was just to see if i liked the concept of driving a big RV and if i would want to try it again because i do like my road trips....

There was also US$500 of fuel thorwn in against recepits, i think on getting back here and looking at my statements at fuel stops maybe i spent US$850 or so on fuel after i think working out a few ways to drive it more fuel efficently, but yes their miles per gallon is pretty lousy and the fuel tanks very big when refilling!!! So the US$350 or might equate to A$500 or so??? Seeing i would have had to pay for some fuel if driving a smaller car, pay a lot more for the rental, pay around the $100 a night mark for even like motel accomodation, was able to buy some food and prepare some meals along the way, it actually worked out pretty cost effectively...

But driving 5,000 km in 8 days or so wasn't the easiest, perhaps nicer if I had had someone to share the driving with...

Plenty of room, i think the big RV could sleep about 6 people and had a shower and everything on it...

Will have to write up a trip report sometime along with all my other trips and flights i need to get around to writing up...

The time i blew one of the rear tyres just outside of New Orleans and had to pull into some suburb with bars on the doors and windows and wait for 6 hours for some help to arrive will also make for good stories in the future...

 

[sausagefingers]

Ok, haven't revisited this thread for a bit so missed some of the questions about my trip...

Yes there wasn't much time to sit back and smell the roses... I hired a relocation RV that needed to be driven from orlando to LA, it cost me the princely sum of US$1 a night.... I could have had it for up to 15 nights for that price i think, and thenprobably a few more for a bit more, but i booked the flights for only like 9-10 days over there before i booked the relocation deal, so it was a bit faster and bit longer stretches ont he road than ideal...

Stops along the way were Dallas, New Orleans, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, Las Vegas and then a few places along highways... Also visited the USS Alabama near Mobile, Alabama plus the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, Monument Valley in Arizona and the National Navajo Monument i think it was called plus a brief drop into Victorville airport....

One of the main parts of the adventure was just to see if i liked the concept of driving a big RV and if i would want to try it again because i do like my road trips....

There was also US$500 of fuel thorwn in against recepits, i think on getting back here and looking at my statements at fuel stops maybe i spent US$850 or so on fuel after i think working out a few ways to drive it more fuel efficently, but yes their miles per gallon is pretty lousy and the fuel tanks very big when refilling!!! So the US$350 or might equate to A$500 or so??? Seeing i would have had to pay for some fuel if driving a smaller car, pay a lot more for the rental, pay around the $100 a night mark for even like motel accomodation, was able to buy some food and prepare some meals along the way, it actually worked out pretty cost effectively...

But driving 5,000 km in 8 days or so wasn't the easiest, perhaps nicer if I had had someone to share the driving with...

Plenty of room, i think the big RV could sleep about 6 people and had a shower and everything on it...

Will have to write up a trip report sometime along with all my other trips and flights i need to get around to writing up...

The time i blew one of the rear tyres just outside of New Orleans and had to pull into some suburb with bars on the doors and windows and wait for 6 hours for some help to arrive will also make for good stories in the future...

That actually sounds like you got a ripper deal.
I've done the Orlando-LA drive in an SUV with wife and two kids. and we stopped at many of the places you did. Its an amazing drive to do, the scenery changes along the way are incredible.
Would love to read a Trip report if you ever get around to it.