Is OneWorld Circle Pacific in J my best option ?

[Baysider]

I have to travel in J from Brisbane (BNE) to Toronto (YYZ), arriving on 6 March, then YYZ to Calgary (YYC) on 9 March, departing YYC for BNE on the evening of 11 March or the next morning. Have been asked to keep $ under 12K, but QF and CX options are coming up at $15-18K. Can be done with V-Australia via LAX both ways for about $12K, but prefer OneWorld as I've recently achieved QF WP and want to keep it.

I discovered the OneWorld Circle Pacific fare which is $9299 + taxes for under 22,000 miles. To use this I would have to travel BNE-HKG-YYZ, own arrangments YYZ to YYC and YYC to LAX, then LAX-BNE (or reverse routing at each end). Happy to do the YYZ-YYC and YYC-LAX in economy, and those total under $1K, so total $ is within budget. Problem is that to use the Circle Pacific I need two stops. YYZ counts as one but I cannot count YYC as it is not on the Oneworld routing. Best option seems to be to leave a day early and o/n in HKG.

Does anyone have any better suggestions, or alternatives to the Circle Pacific option? Should I just run with the V-Australia option and rack up a few Velocity points? Thanks.

 

[Keith009]

Look into the LH mini RTW fare if you don't mind the extra flying. The ZRFAU fare basis is especially good value. You have to use LH for the transoceanic sectors, but they have a wide range of partners you can use for the other sectors. Should run you at about $6193 +++.

You can do something like:
MEL-LAX UA
LAX-YYZ-YYC - own arrangements
YYC-LAX/SFO - UA/AC (can be done as an add on for $1000 in J or you can make your own arrangements which I suspect will be cheaper)
SFO/LAX-FRA/MUC-HKG LH (or any LH online ports)
HKG-BNE QF

There's also a similar LX fare at $7kish.

The other option is to use points or a one way fare ($2000ish on OZ SYD-ICN in J last I checked) to get to ICN and commence a Star Alliance Circle Pacific in J. AUD5157 +++, though look out for the 'new product' surcharges levied by SQ and OZ (and AC I believe if booking into their 'Executive First' cabin) which apply to any SQ 77W/A380 sectors and OZ213/214. Can be ticketed by a TA in Australia. The OW option is an extra $1000 and can only be ticketed in ICN (unless they've allowed online purchase for DCIRs as well?), which diminishes the value of commencing ex-ICN somewhat.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

The LH/LX fares are good, but will likely only give you two sectors on OW. By memory you can go QF outbound to LAX and inbound from HKG, but the main sectors from Canada/US to Europe and Europe to Asia must be LH or LX.

 

[Keith009]

From memory, I believe the LH fare allows more QF content (both Australia-North America and Asia-Australia). The LX fare only allows QF on Asia-Australia (unless buying the whY fare in which case QF can be flown on the transpacific leg also).

You can also fly out of YVR on the LH fare, which eliminates the need to do another US transit when leaving Canada.

 

[Baysider]

Look into the LH mini RTW fare if you don't mind the extra flying.

I take it LH is Lufthansa? I can't find anything about the mini RTW fare on their website - can you direct me any further? Thanks.

 

[Keith009]

I take it LH is Lufthansa? I can't find anything about the mini RTW fare on their website - can you direct me any further? Thanks.

Yes LH is Lufthansa.

The mini RTW fare is really a return fare to Europe with US/Canada add on and isn't commonly advertised as a RTW. You can book this with any travel agent - it is a rather popular fare and most TAs offer it. Alternatively try ringing up LH.

Bestflights has more details here:
Lufthansa, Thai & UnitedBusiness & Mixed Class with Qantas, Air Canada & More Feb 11-Jan 12

 

[drmikki]

Sorry if I am missing something obvious, but why can't you use YYC? AA flies there, according to OneWorld timetables and the online planner. According to the OW planning tool you can even go YYZ-YYC (spending a full day travelling via ORD/LGA or DFW/ORD) but certainly seems to be showing up on AA/AEagle flights, although the RTW booking tool can't find it I am sure a phone booking clerk/TA could. And YYC-BNE is also showing up.

Try this:
5 MAR BNE-HKG QF97
6 MAR HKG -YYZ CX828
9 MAR YYZ -YYC (either self-arranged or via 2 US ports as above)
12 MAR YYC - BNE (Via DFW/LAX) AA1166/AA2433/QF16


All in one fare, & the option of an all-day SC run to help keep WP. :mrgreen:

 

[Baysider]

Try this:
5 MAR BNE-HKG QF97
6 MAR HKG -YYZ CX828
9 MAR YYZ -YYC (either self-arranged or via 2 US ports as above)
12 MAR YYC - BNE (Via DFW/LAX) AA1166/AA2433/QF16

Thanks, I'll look into YYC. Think I still need an o/night in HKG, as the YYC-YYZ via US would push me over 22,000 miles, and I need 2 OW stops. Would have to do the YYC-YYZ rtn separately.

 

[wandering_fred]

You may find that same day routing Canada-USA-Canada (or USA-Canada-USA) will trigger some government interference. Whether that applies to a ticket like a CPac I can't say.

Worth asking before you are too committed to the flights.

Fred

 

[Gold Member]

Another suggestion is to depart from Taipei on a return trip to New York, and then make your own arrangements within North America. The return flight from Taipei to JFK (via HKG) is just over $4,000 AUD inc taxes! It was slightly more for the exact dates you requested but if flexible by 1-2 days then you should be OK. Then you'd just need to get a cheap return flight to Taipei in economy, if you could handle that.

And of course CX will give you all OWE benefits and status accrual.

 

[Baysider]

Solved for me by Qantas phone service. Routing is BNE-SYD (o/night stop), SYD-HKG-YYZ (stop #2), own arrangements YYZ-YYC and YYC-SFO, then SFO-SYD-BNE.

I don't have to depart until Sat evening 5 March, and get home 11am Sunday 13 March. Cost approx $9700, plus YYZ-YYC and YYC-SFO sectors, still well below alternative options.