Business Class to USA

[mrblack]

Hi Guys,

Looong time reader (and traveller) and looking for your help on this one.

I have just come back from JHB on SAA both ways in economy. Service & food was great but of course being in economy, I am worse for wear!

I now have to make a trip over to LAX in the next couple of weeks and I would prefer to do it in business. I am travelling for work and they don't do business class purely because of the cost.

Checked the usual suspects MH, QF, SQ and they are all floating around the $3K each way!

Now I know for a fact that you can get some awesome deals on business class (depending on the time of year of course). We use a corporate travel agent and they are not able to 'find' anything either.

Any tips on where I can get a good price on business class over to the states? I am happy to exit out via sydney, singapore, kuala lumpur etc but would prefer a direct flight into LAX.

Thanks guys!

 

[Travel Guru]

If you can get QF for 3k each way to LAX, i'd be grabbing it coz thats a fantastic price.

You won't find much under 6k, infact I wouldn't think you'd find anything under 6k inc. taxes.

TG

 

[mrblack]

Sorry should have said that QF was the only one on that list that was NOT around $3K each way!

 

[MelUser]

Can you please tell me more about these 3K each way fares to US in business as I want to snap them up myself!

 

[NM]

Sorry should have said that QF was the only one on that list that was NOT around $3K each way!

Heck, if you can get SQ or MH for $6K to USA in business class, then grab it. That is incredibly cheap. In fact, anything under $8-10K is generally considered good value for business class to the USA.

Another option for a little more comfort at reasonable cost would be NZ Premium Economy.

 

[mrblack]

Can you please tell me more about these 3K each way fares to US in business as I want to snap them up myself!

I just went on to the malaysian airlines site and did a search. They have a business special for $3.5K each way.

 

[mrblack]

Another option for a little more comfort at reasonable cost would be NZ Premium Economy.

That was another options I was looking at. Is the NZ premium economy much better? Anyone got links to some pics of their cabins?

 

[NM]

That was another options I was looking at. Is the NZ premium economy much better? Anyone got links to some pics of their cabins?

I have not sat in te NZ PE seats. However, I have read here and elsewhere that there is a significant difference between the PE seats on the 777 and 747 aircraft. Others will be better positioned to explain the difference.

 

[Travel Guru]

MH is a good price for 7k, but the problem is it's a bloody long way around to get to LA, from the east coast, its 8 hrs to KUL and then a further 18 hours from KUL, via Taipei with 90 mins on the ground and then on to LA (18 hrs inc ground time)

Personally, i'd look at NZ Premium, had good and bad reports, but far more good than bad, its a good product, meals are better than economy and served on china plates, and service by all accounts is excellent, and when you're talking $3604 plus taxes, its a good compromise and avoids that 24hr trip on MH or the other asian airlines.

Alternatively, if its QF Status Credits and Pts you want, you could always do Jetstar StarClass SYD-HNL connecting to AA first class HNL-LAX for around $5700 inc taxes.

TG

 

[trooper]

I've travelled in NZ's Y+ half a dozen times now AKL-LAX vv... and as a self funded traveller I like it a lot - as a decent balance of cost/comfort.

I must emphasise however that I only book on 747 flights.. the 777 product is - IMO - simply not worth the price charged....

It is NOT Business class... If you keep that in mind you'll be fine...

On the 747 seat pitch of 42"... seat is slightly wider than normal Y and has a deeper recline....service is a good Business "lite"....:mrgreen:

I personally prefer the "mini cabin" of 8 seats main deck, portside... many others prefer the upper deck....

From SYD note also the Trans tasman leg will almost certainly be on an A320/767 in normal Y....

JMO.....

P.S. Booking this close in it is going to be $$$$$$...

 

[mrblack]

Hmm yes the more I think about it, the more i am liking ANZ to LAX....

 

[Travel Guru]

Hmm yes the more I think about it, the more i am liking ANZ to LAX....

As well you should be, good airline, good timings, good product, and it saves going via timbuktu to get there. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG

 

[dajop]

From SYD note also the Trans tasman leg will almost certainly be on an A320/767 in normal Y....

With this in mind (and the current state of the NZD vs the AUD) it would be worth looking at Y fare SYD/AKL and PE fare AKL/LAX, rather than buying as PE all the way thru and ending up in economy, there might be a few hundred $$$ in savings to be had. I have noticed business class fares ex-MEL (MEL-AKL-MEL) coupled with fares ex AKL (AKL-LAX-AKL) can be several thousand dollars less then MEL-LAX-MEL (via AKL in both directions) on exactly the same flights (same applies for QF 25/26).

The other thing to consider (depending on your budget and date of travel).... getting the cheapest possible fare across to AKL and buying J class from there. I just picked two random dates in July, fare AKL-LAX-AKL is $4900 AUD in business class on QF25/26 on those dates (7th/21st). For comparison, same flights, same dates, ex-MEL are a coold $14,000 AUD ...... Hmmm, $10K for J class trans-tasman.....

 

[Travel Guru]

Hmmm, $10K for J class trans-tasman.....

Probably not a great comparison given that most days of the week AKL-LAX is operated on an old 300 series 747.

But I understand what you're getting at, id certainly book Y across the ditch and then J or Y+ from there.

NZ from AKL-LAX in O (Y+) is $2854.90, so definately worth considering splitting it up.

TG

 

[Travel Guru]

As an aside, not sure where you're coming from, but you can get J on EK from SYD-AKL return for $1615.48 in C class.

TG

 

[Therma]

Probably not a great comparison given that most days of the week AKL-LAX is operated on an old 300 series 747.

But I understand what you're getting at, id certainly book Y across the ditch and then J or Y+ from there.

NZ from AKL-LAX in O (Y+) is $2854.90, so definately worth considering splitting it up.

TG

About 2 years ago I flew MEL-AKL-SFO Y and return Y+. Aircraft was 777 ex AKL. Very hard unyielding seats, like surfboards. Y+ Same seats with a bit more legroom. Food no different from Y except for a cheese platter! No premium bar service was offered even though it was promised (it was sorely needed to overcome the seats!). Food rations were fairly pathetic AKL-SFO, lucky my missus packed me some apples! Upper deck AKL-MEL was a lot more pleasant since it was 747. At least there was some space. Certainly not able to compare to now (sadly) defunct SQ Y+

 

[dajop]

Probably not a great comparison given that most days of the week AKL-LAX is operated on an old 300 series 747.

True ... but same aircraft operates from MEL on same day, so comparison to MEL fare is valid. But if it was available on the day, and not too much more than PE I'd still take the dreamtime seats. The fare when operated by Skybed equipped aircraft increases to $7.2K AUD.

 

[sr81]

Just did a quick look on Jetstar and AA for April 2009 SYD-HNL-JFK. I know its a long way off but just shows what you can do if you are able to plan ahead.

All in return (inc tax) for AUD$4951.49 with Starclass to HNL then AA First to JFK. The best bit is you get P class (HNL-JFK) which brings first class status credits. Just remember to pick the flight which has P class under Instant Upgrade.

The times work out and if you are going to do this as a holiday (me) a few days either side on a beach is not a bad thing. Flights times are a little longer, about 4 hours, if you push right through.

If flying from HNL then remember you can also look at SFO, DFW, ORD and LAX as options.

 

[mrblack]

OK I am finally getting somewhere with organising this trip.

Got a quote of around $4000 ex tax Perth-Auckland-LA in Y+.... but get this, the Y+ cabin is only available on the AKL-LAX leg but you still have to pay for the Y+ from Perth to AKL.

That is a bit of a rip dont you guys think?

 

[Therma]

OK I am finally getting somewhere with organising this trip.

Got a quote of around $4000 ex tax Perth-Auckland-LA in Y+.... but get this, the Y+ cabin is only available on the AKL-LAX leg but you still have to pay for the Y+ from Perth to AKL.

That is a bit of a rip dont you guys think?

As I mentioned before, NZ Y+ is a fairly pathetic product IMO, certainly not worth what they want. 10-20% at most over normal economy is fair value. If you are going ex Perth get a cheap flight to Singapore and then take TG ex Singapore to LAX via BKK. Will cost well under 5K SGD ( x1.36). BKK to LAX is a 340-500 non stop flight with proper shell seats