Getting seats to North America and back in points-based comfort and without swearing too much

[aspro2]

I'm on a foolhardy quest to create a comfortable trip to/from North America ex Melbourne, using my relative paucity of hard-scrounged SQKF miles and/or my Covid-induced slightly better stashes or QFF and VA points... (I also have 65K Amex... but I don't think that'll solve these problems).

I'm not too scared of interesting solutions, as long as I don't go insane (cos I have to work when I get back). I don't want to do Economy for these distances. I dislike spending my points (or cash) on PremY cos (apart from the miles equation being wrong) I have longish legs, so the legrests do little for me.

I am trying to achieve MEL-YVR(-YTO-PHX)-MEL in September (for preference), where YTO and PHX will probably have to be separately ticketed events. The order of sectors can also be different/reversed if essential.

For revenue tickets I can't do Business, so PremY for $3500-4300 seems to be the range if I just get to LAX, and over $4800 to get to YVR, with some SQ options at the lower end of those prices but via SIN is a long way in PremY!

And so to the points game, and particularly QF/Oneworld's teeth-shattering irritations: There is of course nothing in J to/from Australian east coast that I can find. Nor in PremY. To be expected, of course.

I looked at creative solutions (positioning tickets or odd routings). I've covered lots of other bases before coming to these seemingly "best" options, but I'm putting it out here in the hope someone might have some other ideas. (I'm not a Oneworld or positioning expert. I've also ruled out transiting fun in MNL, Scoot/Jetstar, and messy multi-segment positioning.)

Not ideal, because I'd have to go through US-immig twice on the whole trip, plus extra travel:

• SQ to Seattle (via SIN) in PremY at 113K Velocity or 105K Krisflyer (the former is better value relative to earning difficulty for me), then onwards to Vancouver by bus.
• Or there is some SQKF J "advantage" (170K) availability to SFO/LAX (nice for a free fifth-freedom stopover at NRT), then onwards from SFO/LAX somehow.

Faffy and involving some Economy:

• I could position myself in Taipei (MEL-TPE QFF 59K PE/76K J on CI) but getting to North America requires using SQKF points for BR Economy (59K, poor value) or cash at A$1300 Y or $2400 PE (BR/CI to YVR o/w).

Destroyed by (mostly) Oneworld:

• In theory I could position myself in Tokyo and use something like JL cash Y to YVR ($1500, ouch), or go to LAX with Zipair (budget business) or SQ (poor points value), but there are no JL/QF seats MEL-TYO at all showing for me on QFF, and as for the joyful experience of finding seats on the VA site... no (and the value for J via CNS on a 737 is unspeakable).
• And while we're here, a shout-out to the nonawesomeness of married segments in QFF, where you can get from Tokyo to Calgary on Westjet if you're transiting onwards, but not if you just want to get into bloody Canada and stay there. But anyway, can't get to TYO from MEL, as already mentioned...

Coming back to MEL is less problematic at the time of writing, with SQ J availability back to MEL for a few options, but nothing I've found that is more direct.

Or I just need to get over my points-spoiled-bum fear of Y. {no suitable emoji} Thanks for your indulgence, AFFers

 

[levelnine]

If you can travel in August, Qantas just released some SYD-LAX premium economy and business class award availability in both directions until 31 August. You'll need to jump on it immediately. It'll be gone in a day or two, if not by tonight.

If you can hold out on booking and are willing to check pretty much every day, Qantas will probably release some seats to somewhere in North America for September at some stage.

 

[aspro2]

If you can travel in August, Qantas just released some SYD-LAX premium economy and business class award availability in both directions until 31 August. You'll need to jump on it immediately. It'll be gone in a day or two, if not by tonight.

That's great feedback thank you. If only I could jump on it! August is just a tad too early (self-employed and have to plan absences way in advance).

 

[aspro2]

That's great feedback thank you. If only I could jump on it! August is just a tad too early (self-employed and have to plan absences way in advance).

AND I've now discovered another reason to hate QF... I checked this availability and it sure is there from SYD, but even though there's award availability on the first flight MEL-SYD of the day, giving a legal 3hr transfer, Qantas isn't offering this routing if you search MEL-LAX. FFS.

 

[RooFlyer]

How much is your time (in searching) worth? Get a quote and hopefully a solution:

Welcome to Frequent Flyer Concierge - Frequent Flyer Solutions

frequentflyer.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

If you can travel in August, Qantas just released some SYD-LAX premium economy and business class award availability in both directions until 31 August. You'll need to jump on it immediately. It'll be gone in a day or two, if not by tonight.

Thanks so much for posting this. Benen looking for J rewards for August over the last month to US or UK without success. Just snagged SYD-LAX on 1st Aug, LAX-SYD on 30th.

Whilst I loathe LA Im sure I will be able to get flights to places I actually want to be from there; and as will be Platinum will make sure I get some first-class lounge time in LAX on way back.

With luck may be able to turn into a OWA when I have more time.