Brisbane to Panama - ideas for J travel - Oneworld/Lifemiles/cash etc :)

[juddles]

Hi all,

have been plying the "southern route" (SYD-SCL) for years and want to change. Basically I want any ideas anyone has to get best bang for buck doing BNE-PTY. I use Lifemiles points often (am StarAlliance Gold), but also am with One World (Emerald).

Initial concepts I have include such combos as

1.- QF cash ticket on Prem Econ sales fares to LAX with points upgrades, then Lifemiles tickets on Copa or Avianca down

2.- Cheap Jetstar J fares to HNL, then AA "first" from there to PTY

3.- some sort of Star Alliance (ANA or Asiana?) J or F lifemiles redemption as far as LAX or SFO, then something else down.

I am NOT seeking SC's - have enough. Have far more lifemiles points than QF points (as you can buy them to top up ) I will not travel economy long haul (unless I risk the QF upgrade lottery - am P1 so have good chance there) Basically I want to get best class with least cost (all self-funded)

Anyway, any ideas whatsoever greatly received.

Cheers!!

 

[Boca68]

Tough one juddles, but thinking of #3, had a friend who just flew SYD-YVR-MEX-BOG. I'm sure you could work PTY into a Lifemiles into that with Air Canada, Avianca, Copa? Even QF to YVR? Thinking out loud here....

Just a thought, but like you I do the SYD(MEL now)-SCL-LIM many times, I have done MEL-LAX-LIM before....ufff! Be prepared for a long flight, with possible nuts connections

 

[serfty]

With AA you can get First class return fares from west coast to PTY from about USD900.

Many use these fares for MR's heading via ORD and MIA, but nothing wrong with DFW.

Have a look at ex YVR.

 

[juddles]

Tough one juddles, but thinking of #3, had a friend who just flew SYD-YVR-MEX-BOG. I'm sure you could work PTY into a Lifemiles into that with Air Canada, Avianca, Copa? Even QF to YVR? Thinking out loud here....

Just a thought, but like you I do the SYD(MEL now)-SCL-LIM many times, I have done MEL-LAX-LIM before....ufff! Be prepared for a long flight, with possible nuts connections

Have never tried Air Canada - will look into YVR.

Back in 2010 when I starte dto "commute" to Colombia, I did fly via LAX a couple of times, but back then that required a 23hr stopover in LAX - horrendous. At least the SCL stopover was "only" 12 hrs back then. I think that Avianca and Copa have a few more options now for that LAX - sth america leg.

But it is a tough one I actually flew back to Astralia a while back via Asiana (JFK-ICN-SYD) and loved it - was downgraded to J from an originally F JFK-ICN leg, but even in J just loved the food. But getting a Lifemiles ticket for that route starting in Australia seems too hard.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You could fly BNE/LAX/MIA on QF/AA then I believe AV have a flight MIA/BOG around 0200 ish then around 0400 CM to PTY but not sure of the connection time with PTY/BOG.

AV have a lounge in MIA in the J concourse of the South terminal so if arriving in terminal D or E on AA you would need to go landside then go through TSA again at the J concourse. It may be worth getting a day rate or paying for a night at the MIA Airport Hotel if prices aren't too exxy. We stayed there once and really liked it. http://miahotel.com/

It's also a Priority Pass Lounge which is handy if not flying J on AV or not *A Gold.

 

[browski]

This seems obvious, but why not just use Star Alliance (Avianca?) FF Points to redeem J on SYD-IAH-PTA.
Just use Qantas for the BNE-SYD leg.
Looks the perfect flight option:
Depart SYD at 10.50AM; Arrive Houston at 10.30AM. Fly on their newish Dreamliner

2 hour transit in IAH

Depart IAH at 12.30pm; arrive PTA at 4.35PM (it is on a 737, but it is only a 4hour afternoon flight)

 

[juddles]

This seems obvious, but why not just use Star Alliance (Avianca?) FF Points to redeem J on SYD-IAH-PTA.
Just use Qantas for the BNE-SYD leg.
Looks the perfect flight option:
Depart SYD at 10.50AM; Arrive Houston at 10.30AM. Fly on their newish Dreamliner

2 hour transit in IAH

Depart IAH at 12.30pm; arrive PTA at 4.35PM (it is on a 737, but it is only a 4hour afternoon flight)

This sounds great, but can this actually be booked on the Lifemiles website? Or do I need to learn the dark arts of "the screen-shot method" and similar?? Or, God forbid, telephone them??

 

[browski]

This sounds great, but can this actually be booked on the Lifemiles website? Or do I need to learn the dark arts of "the screen-shot method" and similar?? Or, God forbid, telephone them??

I am unfamiliar with Life Miles.
However to see Star Alliance FF availability I use the ana.co.jp website.
Then if I cannot redeem on-line (i use Krisflyer), then I call them (but at least I know that the seat is definitely available on that date.)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

This seems obvious, but why not just use Star Alliance (Avianca?) FF Points to redeem J on SYD-IAH-PTA.
Just use Qantas for the BNE-SYD leg.
Looks the perfect flight option:
Depart SYD at 10.50AM; Arrive Houston at 10.30AM. Fly on their newish Dreamliner

2 hour transit in IAH

Depart IAH at 12.30pm; arrive PTA at 4.35PM (it is on a 737, but it is only a 4hour afternoon flight)

Not sure if the OP travels with checked bags or not however if flying QF BNE/SYD on a separate ticket it would mean leaving very early eg QF503 0520/0755 then collecting bags and taking TBus or train around to SYD T1 then checking in from scratch with UA. Cannot use QF airside bus from gate 15 at T3 with checked bags but fine if HLO.

As UA would be separate ticket, no protection for missed connections etc although IIRC Juddles is P1 so I'm sure the SST could help out with QF rebooking however not with UA though.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Are you looking for a creative way to use miles, or also when paying cash?