Marooned in LA!!!

[Bateo]

My wife and 3 kids are travelling to LA from Sydney in December and have booked FF tickets one way on Qantas. Unfortunately there are no FF seats available when we want to return in early January and the Qantas one way ticket cost from LA to Sydney ($2,180pp) is more expensive than what the return flights cost ($1,897pp) if we had have booked them instead of using FF!!

I noticed that the return flight cost is broken into two separate fares being $973 to LA and $924 back to Sydney. We are pretty new to using FF and I was wondering why we can't get the cheap $924 back if we are flying Qantas on the way over (via FF) and wanting to use them on the way back. I'd also welcome any other suggestions you may have about trying to get home from LA cheaply.

Thanks

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunatley a one-way fare is often more than the return. The exception to this is on LCC's where they'll sell each sector seperatley. I'd suggest looking at going LAX-HNL with any of the US carriers then connecting onto Jetstar who will sell you a one way HNL-SYD. It'll probably be the cheapest (although not very pleasant) option.

 

[straitman]

My wife and 3 kids are travelling to LA from Sydney in December and have booked FF tickets one way on Qantas. Unfortunately there are no FF seats available when we want to return in early January and the Qantas one way ticket cost from LA to Sydney ($2,180pp) is more expensive than what the return flights cost ($1,897pp) if we had have booked them instead of using FF!!

I noticed that the return flight cost is broken into two separate fares being $973 to LA and $924 back to Sydney. We are pretty new to using FF and I was wondering why we can't get the cheap $924 back if we are flying Qantas on the way over (via FF) and wanting to use them on the way back. I'd also welcome any other suggestions you may have about trying to get home from LA cheaply.

Thanks

Bateo,

Welcome to AFF.

I believe that as much as anything else you are a victim of the time of year. There are no FF tickets as it is a period of high yield for the airlines and for the same reason the paid tickets are also higher. You must remember that the airlines and their yield management systems are the experts at adjusting fares for periods of high or low yields. You are also asking for a relatively high number of seats on an individual aircraft. By looking at a lower requirement I see slightly better availability though I understand that this won't be practical.

Other than looking at the other routings that may be available. Even as a QF Platinum I can only see availability for your group on 25th Dec and 19th Jan.

 

[aus_flyer]

There are seats available if you are willing to be flexible.... such as LAX-MEL-SYD on 19 Jan

 

[Bateo]

Thanks for your replies and advice. We need to be back in Sydney by 10 January so the Jetstar option from Honolulu @$550ph looks like the way we'll have to go. I've never flown Jetstar... is it that unpleasant an experience?

Our FF flights over are with Qantas to Honolulu and then AA to LA. We might try and get FF on AA back to Honolulu as well. Never flown with AA either ... any tips?

Thanks again
Bateo

 

[MelUser]

what abput cancelling points tickets - getting points back and buying return flights?

 

[futaris]

Other option is to buy a return ticket from the US, and throw away/save the unused portion.

 

[NM]

Try calling the FF contact centre and asking about using CX via HKG. Its a much longer flight, but may have availability. CX award flights still do not show on-line so you have to call and will likely have to pay the 2500 assisted booking fee.

If the CX flights are available, you may be able to have the agent combine both routings into a single OneWorld award. The OneWorld award requires the use of two airlines other than Qantas, so your AA and CX flights would make it eligible for a OneWorld award.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Thanks for your replies and advice. We need to be back in Sydney by 10 January so the Jetstar option from Honolulu @$550ph looks like the way we'll have to go. I've never flown Jetstar... is it that unpleasant an experience?

Our FF flights over are with Qantas to Honolulu and then AA to LA. We might try and get FF on AA back to Honolulu as well. Never flown with AA either ... any tips?

Thanks again
Bateo

My wife and I did Syd-HNL on DeathStar in Jan. The A330 has a slightly wider seat than the 747 so I find that bit a little more comfortable. The main issue I think you would have is the lack of free food and bevvies for the 10hour flight. So either prepay to have a meal included or pack yourself a decent selection of nibbles. Lack of IFE could be a problem depending on how you like to entertain yourself for about half a day.

mt

 

[Fifa]

I have booked my son from SYD to HNL using my QF points in mid January then he is flying with Alaskan Airlines to Seattle which is only US$248 o/w.

It is certainly a cheaper option to book internal US flights (incl. HNL) via a US website.

 

[lampardcl]

We a family of 6 have just returned from our syd to hnl jetstar then hnl to lax AA. And i think it was a great cost saving way to travel and would do it again , I dont have a bad word to say at all about jetstar

 

[straitman]

I dont have a bad word to say at all about jetstar

:shock:

But lots of others do :!:

 

[oz_mark]

:shock:

But lots of others do :!:

Jetstar is fine, if, and only if:

1) Your expectations are in line with what Jetstar provides
2) Nothing goes wrong (like a plane going tech, the weather going bad etc)

 

[straitman]

Jetstar is fine, if, and only if:

1) Your expectations are in line with what Jetstar provides
2) Nothing goes wrong (like a plane going tech, the weather going bad etc)

I really should expand upon my post above (#12).

My one experience of JQ (SYD-CHC-SYD) was excellent.

There are a lot of bad stories around about JQ however there are also a lot of good stories as well and we all need to look at both sides of each and every argument.

 

[ANstar]

Ypu could also look at see what V Australia are charging for a one way flight as I think they offer 1 way fares like Jetstar

 

[futaris]

V Australia fares are available one-way, but you won't be able to get V Promos or V Deals, so they'll probably be just as expensive as a return ticket.