Business class fares SYD-JFK July/August

[cssaus]

Looking to purchase a business class return ticket to JFK via LAX in late July/August.

The VA web site is offering me business class SYD-LAX and LAX-JFK but on the return all of the flights I've looked at from JFK-LAX are coming up with economy only with LAX-SYD in business. Cost is about $7200. Not sure if I should buy the ticket or hang out to see if there will be any sale fares offering business class on all sectos.

 

[kevinkhchan]

Slightly off topic - apologies. That was one of my gripes when trying to find good fares for SYD - JFK with VA. There would be a surprise Y in there with what I thought was a J price.

I had been tossing up between VA and QF (read cheapest Business class) for this trip that we're on.

My TA ended up getting QF for about $5.5K each. Threw in the 100K from ANZ Black sign-up for QFF and scored an upgrade to F for SYD-LAX.

Coming back on-topic. May be worth keeping an eye on the fares...or have a good TA who keeps an eye on it for you.

 

[JaneFlyer]

Have definitely seen that for $5500 pretty readily on QF during sale periods. Personally would not pay $7200! QF have a big sale in February (around Valentine's Day historically), might be worth waiting for that?

 

[cssaus]

Have definitely seen that for $5500 pretty readily on QF during sale periods. Personally would not pay $7200! QF have a big sale in February (around Valentine's Day historically), might be worth waiting for that?

No I don't intend paying $7200. Last year I got a fare for just over $6,000 for a similar time of the year. Hoping you're right that if QF comes out with a sale next month VA will follow.

 

[JaneFlyer]

Can't say i'm as familiar with VA's sale timings. Are you committed to flying with them? Air NZ have some fares around $6500 at the moment but it would obviously involve two stops instead of one.

 

[cssaus]

Can't say i'm as familiar with VA's sale timings. Are you committed to flying with them? Air NZ have some fares around $6500 at the moment but it would obviously involve two stops instead of one.

Kind of committed to VA, need the SC's & eligible sectors to retain status.

 

[haloboy]

Just remember that you earn SC's etc flying with Air NZ. You will actually earn more SC flying with them because of the leg to Auckland. I choose these flights as a quicker way to keep Platinum.

Yesterday I bought tickets to LAX for $4200 on Air NZ, Business return. Virgin direct was $7000 and you earn 320 SC RT. On my Air NZ ones, I earn 440 SC RT, for less money. The down side is the stop in Auckland, but Air NZ have a great Business product... and garlic bread.

 

[cssaus]

Just remember that you earn SC's etc flying with Air NZ. You will actually earn more SC flying with them because of the leg to Auckland. I choose these flights as a quicker way to keep Platinum.

Yesterday I bought tickets to LAX for $4200 on Air NZ, Business return. Virgin direct was $7000 and you earn 320 SC RT. On my Air NZ ones, I earn 440 SC RT, for less money. The down side is the stop in Auckland, but Air NZ have a great Business product... and garlic bread.

Thanks for the info.

As mentioned in my original post, I'm flying return to JFK so going via Auckland would make it a 2-stop journey each way and besides earning status credits I want to rack-up my eligible sector count.

 

[haloboy]

Yes, sorry. I also am heading to NY and got a great Delta First fare across. Yes, its 2 stops to NY, but the extra status credits make up for that for me. Its only 2 sectors you are losing with VA. Almost be worth just doing a quick trip in Oz if you needed the sectors, especially given the Air NZ prices (available till the end of the month)