New York on points

[BOZZ]

I was wondering if I could get some tips/pointers from people more knowledgeable than me. I have around 400K in QFF points and would like to take wife, baby (he'll be 19 months or so) and myself to New York next September (long while off, I know). I have few issues that I'd like to get some guidance on.
First topic is a stopover - I don't think that it would be wise to do this trip in one go with the baby, it could get uncomfortable for everyone. So, stopovers - LAX, NRT, maybe HKG?
Second topic - Even though baby will be less than 2 years old, I don't fancy the idea of holding him on my/my wife's lap for the 9-14 hours. So, do I get 3 seats in economy to say LAX and then buy tickets to NYC? I thought initially to get 2 PE tickets to LAX but then realised that arm rest/central console is fixed, so again, baby would need to spend fair bit of time in my lap (BTW, he'll weigh more than 12kg which I think is what bassinets carry). Then, I thought, what about 2 business class seats to LAX and then get add on fares on say Virgin America or JetBlue.
So, can you please advise of what would you do in my situation? Also, is it possible to get 2 sets (in any class) and then buy infant/toddler fare as an add on? Is HNL a viable stopover option - I think only Continental flies nonstop to NYC?
I apologise if there are too many questions/issues or if something doesn't make sense (probably due to lack of sleep) but I would appreciate your thoughts/insights/tips.
Thanks in advance!

 

[cove]

LAX to NYC is 50,000 points each way using QF (per person) to answer a little piece of your question.

 

[drron]

Dont forget to look at anytime awards.had a quick look and on 16/8/12 a JASA for 2 adults + 1 infant would be cheaper than a YASA.(J=business,Y=economy)
So for your 400000 points you could fly SYD-LAX in J then LAX-SYD in Y for ~400000 points + $1000 for 2 adults + 1 infant.

Of course at the end of September is the school holidays so need to be careful.Best to be booking the 12 months out especially if you want to snag the cheaper awards.

 

[Alanslegal]

I would try and snag 2 business class seats to LAX first, and best to get your skates on as September 2012 flights will be rolling out / released soon and they get snapped up faster than anyone can squat a fly! I'm not sure where you are originating from, but the 14hours to get to the west coast, that's the important leg to be comfortable.

The transcon to NYC, I'd be tempted to just pay for, say a JetBlue flight if you have zero airline status, not only do I find them very good, they have a near new terminal at JFK.

Then a few weeks later, try and snag the LAX-Australia return legs.

 

[cove]

My friends did QF Premium Economy SYD-LAX so instead of 4 lots of 96,000 for the super long haul you could try that as it would be about 75% of 96,000 in Classic or a bit more on Any Seat.

 

[BOZZ]

Dont forget to look at anytime awards.had a quick look and on 16/8/12 a JASA for 2 adults + 1 infant would be cheaper than a YASA.(J=business,Y=economy)
So for your 400000 points you could fly SYD-LAX in J then LAX-SYD in Y for ~400000 points + $1000 for 2 adults + 1 infant.

Thanks for that, I have overlooked anytime awards, will have to look at that option. Would I be better off going for one way awards as they come available, or should I wait until return leg becomes available?

Also, @Alanslegal, originating from SYD, I agree that first leg is important to be comfortable. I suppose if I fly business first leg, it could leave us reasonably fresh for the second leg, rather than spending the day/night in LA.
I flew JetBlue few years ago, was pretty impressed by them, although that was only short leg.

Cove, do you think that there is enough room for a baby & 2 adults in 2 PE seats?

Thanks everyone, I already have more ideas, BTW I'm thinking of taking this trip in the last week of September 2012 (I think Saturday comes to be 29/9).
Thanks again!

 

[drron]

If you want to go on Saturday 29/9 definitely book as soon as it becomes available-ie 365 days out.
A/ School holidays start then.
B/ Weekends go first.You will notice better award availability Mon,Tues,Wed usually.

For premium cabin awards you really have to be flexible as to dates when travelling to the USA.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Not sure what city you'll be flying out of but if it's BNE/SYD/MEL to LAX it starts at 96,000 points each way for a JASA plus taxes which are approx AUD700.00 to AUD800.00 per adult although will display on the QF website as 138,000 points but you can use the sliding scale to adjust the points down. This fare will earn you points also as it's an 'any seat award' as opposed to a 'Classic Award'.

IMHO it's better value to use the minimum points as above & pay some money rather than pay nothing but use max points which is around 138,000 per adult each way on a JASA.

If you get J class then I wouldn't worry about buying a seat for your infant, although you'll have to pay 10% of the fare for the infant even though they don't get to occupy a seat. A bassinet can only really accommodate infants up to about 6 months of age so I wouldn't consider that as a viable option.

I would definitely consider stopping off for a couple of nights in LAX maybe around the area of Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica or Venice Beach which is not too far from LAX.

For internal flights I've used Virgin America which is great but a friend was very happy with Jet Blue - great IFE & she was travelling with a toddler. There are a lot of good airfares domestically if you go via a hub city eg we did the following:

SEA/xSLC/LAS on DL for USD 59.00 pp one way
LAS/JFK on VX for USD 99.00 pp one way
LGA/MSY on NW for USD122.37 pp one way
MSY/xCLT/MCO on US for USD 64.19 pp one way
MCL/xIAH/SAN on CO for USD129.30 pp one way
SAN/SFO on VX for USD 49.00 pp one way

 

[cjd600]

Also, is it possible to get 2 sets (in any class) and then buy infant/toddler fare as an add on?

Hi guys,

can anyone confirm how you do this? (2 adult on points,then add a child/infant fare by pay)

Cheers

 

[Oneworldplus2]

To OP,
If travelling with a junior, l'd definetly take a break on a SYD-xx_-JFK trip for sure.

PE or J from SYD-HNL (JQ) or SYD-LAX (QF) and then fork out for a medium hop, HNL/LAX to JFK using AA Y/K 'up you might be able to snag premium cabins all the way?


OT;

The transcon to NYC, I'd be tempted to just pay for, say a JetBlue flight if you have zero airline status, not only do I find them very good, they have a near new terminal at JFK.

I never really paid much attention to 'JetBlue', so I looked 'em up on Wiki. Surprise Surprise.

JetBlue Airlines- Wiki

JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline.
According to Skytrax, JetBlue is the highest rated airline in the United States, and the country's only four-star airline.

Ok, l know that we should all take *Skytrax* with a handful of salt, but can this be believed?

 

[BOZZ]

Not sure what city you'll be flying out of but if it's BNE/SYD/MEL to LAX it starts at 96,000 points each way for a JASA plus taxes which are approx AUD700.00 to AUD800.00 per adult although will display on the QF website as 138,000 points but you can use the sliding scale to adjust the points down. This fare will earn you points also as it's an 'any seat award' as opposed to a 'Classic Award'.

IMHO it's better value to use the minimum points as above & pay some money rather than pay nothing but use max points which is around 138,000 per adult each way on a JASA.

If you get J class then I wouldn't worry about buying a seat for your infant, although you'll have to pay 10% of the fare for the infant even though they don't get to occupy a seat. A bassinet can only really accommodate infants up to about 6 months of age so I wouldn't consider that as a viable option.

I would definitely consider stopping off for a couple of nights in LAX maybe around the area of Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica or Venice Beach which is not too far from LAX.

Thanks for that, great tips!

Thanks everyone, I really apreciate your tips. I will definitely try to get JASA seats and then spend some time at LA.

 

[cove]

Bozz I have not tried Premium Economy so I cannot say.
Try both Classic and Any Seat and go for the one that works for you.
I would not bother doing the business class to New York if you are short of points as the long haul is what really matters.
I was always happy to stay at an airport hotel in Los Angeles as you get there fast in the hotel shuttle. We now stay in Marina del Rey and it is a fifteen minute ride in moderate traffic.

 

[rsellens]

BOZZ

Not sure where you live but have based the following on Sydney

Classic award in Y to New York is 128,000/person return without a stopover.

If you wanted to go QF as well say Cathay and AA then the OW points table applies (you have to use 2 other OW airlines)and you can have up 5 stopovers. e.g SYD-HKG(QF) then HKG-JFK(CX) then JFK-LAX(AA) and finally LAX-SYD(QF) for no more than 142,500/person in Y.
Plus taxes of course.

 

[Alanslegal]

128K return to NYC, or even 140K for a One World award (5 stops) is decent value BUT Bozz wants to do the flights in relative comfort, esp with a baby, and the most comfortable way I can see it ... is try to get into a premium cabin on the longest sectors, such as SYD to LAX. 96K will get you into J class, even better if on an A380, and that knocks away the most painful distance of the entire trip.

West Coast to East Coast can be done in 4-5hours, try the red-eye if you really dare, depart late at night, arrive into NYC first thing in the morning ..... drop the bags at the hotel, and start doing everything tourist-y.

Flying back home, well any cabin will do, because once you get home, you crash in your own bed and hours later, you will feel like new.

 

[rsellens]

128K return to NYC, or even 140K for a One World award (5 stops) is decent value BUT Bozz wants to do the flights in relative comfort.

Realised that. His original post did ask about economy options with stopovers and I was making sure he knew about the OW fare.

 

[Limewood]

Bozz I have not tried Premium Economy so I cannot say.
We now stay in Marina del Rey and it is a fifteen minute ride in moderate traffic.

Like accom. at Marina Del Ray it is?.

 

[browski]

Personally, if departing ex-SYD, I'd look at the J options on CX or JL. You really don't want to be mucking around with luggage and a toddler at LAX if you can avoid it. Flying direct into JFK is more civilised.

Connections are tight but do-able on CX. (Personally, I would not fly Y on CX due to the shell seats. J is good though if you like the coffin seats.

Alternatively fly Premium Economy on QF21 from SYD-NRT. Then fly NRT-JFK on JL6 in either Y or J.
NB QF only have PE on some departure dates using the 747s. Other days are just Y or J on the 330s (I think)

 

[BOZZ]

128K return to NYC, or even 140K for a One World award (5 stops) is decent value BUT Bozz wants to do the flights in relative comfort, esp with a baby, and the most comfortable way I can see it ... is try to get into a premium cabin on the longest sectors, such as SYD to LAX. 96K will get you into J class, even better if on an A380, and that knocks away the most painful distance of the entire trip.

West Coast to East Coast can be done in 4-5hours, try the red-eye if you really dare, depart late at night, arrive into NYC first thing in the morning ..... drop the bags at the hotel, and start doing everything tourist-y.

Flying back home, well any cabin will do, because once you get home, you crash in your own bed and hours later, you will feel like new.

thanks again everyone. I was aware of the OW awards, however with 142,500 required, three seats are more than 400,000 points. As I've said I don't think it would be good idea to keep my son on my lap for the 14-15 hours. Therefore, I either need 3 economy class seats or 2 business class seats (or even PE sets perhaps).
My preference would be to fly SYD-NRT(stopover)-JFK(stop)-NRT/HKG(stopover)-SYD but I can't see how I could do it with the number of points I have. So, I tend to agree with Alanslegal, premium cabin to LAX and then economy to NYC.
I thought that if I fly J class to LAX I could continue on to NYC same day, but it appears that majority of people recommend stay around LAX for a day.
Again, I want to thank everyone for their tips and recommendations. At the end of the day, class we fly will be determined by the availability of flights either as classic awards or as ASA.