Challenge: Cheapest flight from Aus to US

[Simsy85]

Sooo I'm flying AirNZ J to LAX in September, taking my parents on a holidays as a thank-you for somethings they did for me.

SWMBO couldn't get the time off, but has now decided that she wants to go, but only for a week or two.

So I need your help.

We live in DRW, so via MNL, SIN or DPS is a definite possibility. We both have family in BNE so thats always good too.

She loves breaking flights up into small chunks, so doesn't mind taking 4 flights to get there....

My challenge to you all - best I can get so far is $1320 return:

Dates - flexible but around 4 sept to 17 sept

Doesn't have to be to LAX, we are planning on travelling around in US, so I can meet her just about anywhere.

What are people's thoughts?

 

[boylero]

From Melbourne $1179
Brisbane $1199

You will fly with Delta Airlines from Australia via Los Angeles to your choice of the following cities...
Zone One Burbank - Long Beach - Los Angeles - Ontario - Palm Springs - San Diego - Santa Ana - Santa Barbara

Delta Airlines Sale to Over 250 Cities in the USA Jul 12-May 13

Sale Ends
29/06/2012 ​

 

[ausflyer]

Might be worth check out some of the pretty cheap QF flights on offer around that time at expedia.ie

Examples:
Sydney to Los Angeles

Tue 4/Sep/2012 QF11 - Mon 17/Sep/2012 QF108
852 euros == $1,063AUD/pp


OR

Brisbane to Los Angeles

Tue 4/Sep/2012 QF15 - Mon 17/Sep/2012 QF108/QF516
859euros == $1071AUD

If you have a 28degreescard.com.au credit card you wont pay international transaction fees

 

[Alanslegal]

Might be worth check out some of the pretty cheap QF flights on offer around that time at expedia.ie

Examples:
Sydney to Los Angeles

Tue 4/Sep/2012 QF11 - Mon 17/Sep/2012 QF108
852 euros == $1,063AUD/pp


OR

Brisbane to Los Angeles

Tue 4/Sep/2012 QF15 - Mon 17/Sep/2012 QF108/QF516
859euros == $1071AUD

If you have a 28degreescard.com.au credit card you wont pay international transaction fees

Nice pick up. Welcome to AFF.

 

[Isochronous]

Nice pick up. Welcome to AFF.

Those are great deals.

 

[Bricktwo]

Should have grabbed those great QF fares when they were available as it looks like the expedia.ie 'glitch' on the QF fares has been 'fixed' - fares back up to 1200+Euro

 

[tuppaware]

Normally the prices are related to when QF has sale fares on at the same time.

 

[Isochronous]

We'll have to check during the next sale if this trick works again.

 

[BABENS]

Hi - I have a couple of young friends who what to spend NYE and a signficant birthday of mine in NY in early January. We will join them from Europe at this stage. One of them in particular is looking for the absolute cheapest way to get to NY from either Melbourne or Brisbane. Any ideas?

 

[markis10]

If you could get to Rangoon there were some cracka airfares with Delta on the weekend for 60 euro each way in J!

 

[smit0847]

Hi - I have a couple of young friends who what to spend NYE and a signficant birthday of mine in NY in early January. We will join them from Europe at this stage. One of them in particular is looking for the absolute cheapest way to get to NY from either Melbourne or Brisbane. Any ideas?

So you would be going late Dec - early/mid Jan and it's already late August? You have picked the absolute most expensive time of the year to travel to NY and you are booking at short notice. When your young friends display shock at the prices please repeat the previous sentence to them.

I would be thinking any flights you can find for under $3k return in Y would be extremely good value considering the circumstances.

EDIT: Just checked - both VA and QF are $3.5K return as expected.

Cheapest is Emirates at $2.5K but it's a longer trip because you are going to long way (via Dubai).

Korean is probably your best bet via Asia ($2.7K)

 

[BABENS]

Thank you for coming back. I know they are going to be shocked. I always book very late as we generally use Finnair business either RTN Europe or RTW and they are fantastic and reasonable at the upper end of the scale. Might have suggest going elsewhere.....

 

[BABENS]

Now you have me curious. If they fly to Rangoon (which I think Jetstar does) they can fly from Rangoon to NY city for 60 Euro? Sounds too good to be true

 

[markis10]

Now you have me curious. If they fly to Rangoon (which I think Jetstar does) they can fly from Rangoon to NY city for 60 Euro? Sounds too good to be true

It was available on most of the Expedia sites on the weekend, and being a fare that routed through to the US, is likely to be honoured.

 

[smit0847]

Thank you for coming back. I know they are going to be shocked. I always book very late as we generally use Finnair business either RTN Europe or RTW and they are fantastic and reasonable at the upper end of the scale. Might have suggest going elsewhere.....

Will they want Y if you usually fly J?

Will they be happy to take the long way via DXB to save money or are they one of those types of people that will want to pay $1000 extra to fly Qantas so they receive the meagre points and SCs? You know, the types of people that are keeping QF in business?

 

[smit0847]

Now you have me curious. If they fly to Rangoon (which I think Jetstar does) they can fly from Rangoon to NY city for 60 Euro? Sounds too good to be true

If they are the sort of people who book NYC for NYE 3 months out and hope for a good price I would not be recommending they attempt to transit through a difficult 3rd world country with confusing entry requirements to try and have a mistake fare honoured. Not for the faint-hearted and you will get the blame if anything goes wrong.

 

[hedge]

If you could get to Rangoon there were some cracka airfares with Delta on the weekend for 60 euro each way in J!

Is this still valid? Can't seem to find it?