May trip SYD- BOS

[rotuma1]

Dear all

My sister is needing to go to BOS in May for a meeting.

She was looking at SYD- BOS 2/May & return BOS- SYD 28/May

She was wanting to go over in PE or J and come back PE or Y, as the trip over is more important than the return, due to attending a meeting in BOS, then visiting friends before coming back.

Any ideas?

She does want to spend alot, as could be going back again in July.

Also if ideas on which frequent flyer club, lounge club to join, as could 3 trips in this year to USA.

Thanks

 

[notzac]

First question: what airline or airlines?

 

[drewbles]

As far as Y+ seating/pricing goes, i'd suggest she look at V Australia. Far better pricing than QF and far better seating than UA. NZ also offer a product via AKL, but this would make add another stop to the USA for her.

As far as lounge access and the like, QF/NZ/UA are the main three offering the lounge product. I don't believe that you get access to a lounge with V Australia unless you're in Business or are Velocity Gold. Of course once she had Velocity Gold, there is lounge access. Qantas Club access will get her immediate lounge access on QF, NZ has Koru Club and UA has Red Carpet - All pay for clubs to gain access to said lounges on day of travel.

The V Australia lounge access page is at V Australia > Lounge Access

 

[rotuma1]

I think she will go with V australia SYD- BOS PE and BOS- SYD Y.

However I understand she would earn points/ stat credits as 1.25 SYD- LAX/ mile, then 1 LAX- BOS / mile. Also that the trip would be PE SYD- LAX, then Y LAX - BOS (as per V website). Having said that would she be better off booking to LAX, then booking one way LAX- BOS J & BOS - LAX Y?

Thanks

 

[drewbles]

I think she will go with V australia SYD- BOS PE and BOS- SYD Y.

However I understand she would earn points/ stat credits as 1.25 SYD- LAX/ mile, then 1 LAX- BOS / mile. Also that the trip would be PE SYD- LAX, then Y LAX - BOS (as per V website). Having said that would she be better off booking to LAX, then booking one way LAX- BOS J & BOS - LAX Y?

Thanks

Whilst Virgin America are not a part of the Velocity Rewards Program (Yet), The other option is to fly LAX-BOS on VX. They offer a Main Cabin Select and First class service, with in-flight power and internet (and from what i've heard, their F is excellent). This would probably be a good way to do it.

You would most likely need to book this as two trips though. I'm guessing that they'd want to be integrating the FF programs to tie in with V Australia, but with the DL tie up, who knows (of course you could look at Delta for the segment, but I have no idea if they fly LAX-BOS directly).

There are very few segments in the US that have Y/J/F, most are Y/F, with F being below the J standard of QF domestic. "Flagship" routes such as LAX/SFO-JFK have 3 class, and the trans-con 767's that AA fly have an acceptable F product.

If flying AA she could look for LAX-JFK-BOS in F, however it won't be cheap. She could also look at other routes using YUP/KUP fares - Full fare Y that books into First class (and credits to QF as F) in F seating. AA does fly out of T4 at LAX and she'll arrive into T3. It's a 5-10 minute walk from T3 past TBIT to T4 so it's not a difficult transfer.

 

[Must...Fly!]

If she has a desire to fly QF, may I suggest she buy 1 return ticket ex-Australia departing in may and returning when she needs to come back on the 2nd or 3rd trip.

Then buy return tickets as required ex-USA. These are much cheaper than buying ex-Australia!

 

[rotuma1]

Whilst Virgin America are not a part of the Velocity Rewards Program (Yet), The other option is to fly LAX-BOS on VX. They offer a Main Cabin Select and First class service, with in-flight power and internet (and from what i've heard, their F is excellent). This would probably be a good way to do it.

You would most likely need to book this as two trips though. I'm guessing that they'd want to be integrating the FF programs to tie in with V Australia, but with the DL tie up, who knows (of course you could look at Delta for the segment, but I have no idea if they fly LAX-BOS directly).

There are very few segments in the US that have Y/J/F, most are Y/F, with F being below the J standard of QF domestic. "Flagship" routes such as LAX/SFO-JFK have 3 class, and the trans-con 767's that AA fly have an acceptable F product.

If flying AA she could look for LAX-JFK-BOS in F, however it won't be cheap. She could also look at other routes using YUP/KUP fares - Full fare Y that books into First class (and credits to QF as F) in F seating. AA does fly out of T4 at LAX and she'll arrive into T3. It's a 5-10 minute walk from T3 past TBIT to T4 so it's not a difficult transfer.

Thanks, I'll look into this tonight on the net.
See what I come up with.

 

[drewbles]

Just noticed... If she flies DL she'll earn Velocity Reward points too. No idea of the rate of earn, but they will offer this. That may also be an option.

Lots of options, lots of competition