Melbourne to San Francisco via Japan

[pn1]

Around May 2019, I am planning to visit (from Melbourne) my daughter in San Francisco. Previously, I've had good deals from Air New Zealand and have been happy with that.

This time I was thinking of a stopover in Japan.

Had a look at various options and it seems rather expensive to do a Melbourne-Japan-San Francisco return trip, economy. Better options for separate trips? Cathay Pacific to Japan and Air New Zealand to SFO?

I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions.

 

[RooFlyer]

Look at one world Circle Pacific fare.

Eg MEL-Japan-SFO-MEL or round the other way. Maybe SYD needed rather than MEL

 

[Himeno]

The only airlines flying non stop to Japan from MEL are QF (day flight north) and JL (night flight north). These flights both go to NRT.
The JL flight to SFO goes from HND, which means you've then have to enter Japan and change airports (assuming you'd be connecting without a stop over)

What is the MEL-JP-SFO return flight price you looked at?

You may be better off with a oneworld circle pacific (mileage based fare) via the following.

• Asia (Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam)
• Southwest Pacific (Australia and New Zealand)
• North America (USA and Canada)
• South America

Using any oneworld flights within the above areas (QF, CX, JL, UL, QR, BA, JJ, LA, AA, MH, RJ + QF coded JQ).
ex-AU economy fares are:
22,000 miles $3699+tax
26,000 miles $4399+tax
29,000 miles $4899+tax (only available when flying via South America)

 

[wandering_fred]

And if you need a short break in AKL before the trip (or an excuse for a mileage run)
LCIR22 = AUD3229
LCIR26 = AUD3875
LCIR29SA = AUD4244

Don't forget the tax is added but should be similar no matter where you start

Happy wandering
Fred

 

[Oxy]

Depends on your definition of expensive. I have found lots of availability with JL from MEL to SFO, but as others have noted you need to change airports or fly from SYD or into LAX. If you plan on stopping over anyway in TYO that might not be an issue to you. Pricing up under $1800 return.

Flights