QFF NB - J Award to LAX

[Craigie]

Due to an amex and a thing called 'rental rewards', where you pay for your rent off you're credit card(And a recent double points promotion from ANZ Amex). I'm accruing some points fast, and am almost at the amount required for a J award SYD-LAX.

Its been a dream and goal of mine to travel J on the SYD-LAX route on an A380(there or back), because i really cannot see myself paying cash for business class long haul anytime soon, an award seat is the only way i can do it.

Having a look on the qantas site quite a few times, there's not much, not much at all. Especially on direct flights, they're mostly connections through hong kong and with CX, and not many of them even.

As a NB, i'm right down the importance list, but i'd like to hear others experiences regarding getting award seats especially on this route. Or any experiences with buying Y seats and putting in for the upgrades a NB?

Oh, and looking for US winter time flights, Jan-Mar next year. Obviously those months aren't open to look at yet, but january looks pretty bare

 

[MelUser]

You just have to keep trying. You can phone qantas and they can look/book but if you proceed with the booking they do charge a few thousand extra to help out.

Traditionally, Qantas are the most tight of any oneworld airline in releasing international business class award seats. On most flights they release 2 seats at the 330 day mark (or whatever it is) and that is it.

The only other way to travel business is to buy an economy (S) ticket or better and upgrade but upgrade is very hit and miss especially for someone who is a bronze.

Although BNE to LAX Tues through Thurs is quite good for upgrades.

 

[Blackadder]

I would be more inclined to look at a Y+ ticket rather than J for a reward, Y+ is more than adequate for the flight to LAX, even more so on A380.

 

[Craigie]

You just have to keep trying. You can phone qantas and they can look/book but if you proceed with the booking they do charge a few thousand extra to help out.

Yea it may be worth it in the end, because i need something fairly specific

I would be more inclined to look at a Y+ ticket rather than J for a reward, Y+ is more than adequate for the flight to LAX, even more so on A380.

Yea but J's the dream, thats the one i want

 

[Alanslegal]

Yea but J's the dream, thats the one i want

Depending on availability, you could always consider going (at least one way) via HKG with Cathay Pacific ... then one way with QF on the A380. It may be easier to obtain booking this way.

Also you you get to try two different J products, and three different lounges (SYD,HKG and LAX) if you took this method.

And if you are flying solo then (for me) I find the Herringbone J seats on CX just as good as the QF A380 Skybed's.

 

[Craigie]

As a little update, i've got enough points and found a J award ticket on the A380 SYD-LAX at exactly the time i want for my holiday. In fact i can book as an anyseat award, pay about $400 for the difference of a classic award seat and the anyseat award of about 20,000 points and get credited the SC's and FF points, not bad at all!

But my question is this. The cheapest one way ticket back from LA is close to the $2K mark... which is ridiculous as thats more than a return. So i thinking i'd book a return flight, which is about $1,100 and be a no show for the SYD-LAX part, and just fly the LAX-SYD route of the fare and save myself some coin.

Anyone have any thoughts on the dangers. Obviously it'll look weird under my bookings, 2 SYD-LAX legs and only 1 LAX-SYD leg. But that could be argued that i returned on a different carrier for 1 flight. What i'm most concerned is my no-show for the first half of the SYD-LAX return ticket. Will it cancel my return flight?

 

[Maca44]

What i'm most concerned is my no-show for the first half of the SYD-LAX return ticket. Will it cancel my return flight?

I think you are correct, or they may even ask for the difference between a return and oneway.

 

[Craigie]

Cancellations (including no show)

• Before and after departure:
  • No refund
• This fare may be used as credit towards the payment of any higher fare from the
  point of origin, provided the new fare conditions are met. A reissue fee of A$200 per person applies. If the new fare is cancelled the original fare cancellation conditions will apply. This credit must be used within 12 months of the originals tickets date of issue.
• Any credit is the Australian dollar price.
• Note: If this fare is combined with another fare the most restrictive cancellation conditions apply.

I guess the key is in that Note: where its combined with another fare? I hope im wrong

But if that's the case, i'll just book a return flight from the US, and make the first leg and no-show for the return.. nobody judge me

 

[MarcB]

I guess the key is in that Note: where its combined with another fare? I hope im wrong

But if that's the case, i'll just book a return flight from the US, and make the first leg and no-show for the return.. nobody judge me

Booking a return from the USA would work. Why don't you just make the return leg of that flight as far in the future as you can, and then go to the US on another trip? By the time it comes around, you should have enough points for a one way economy from LAX-SYD (48k). Thay way you get 2 trips...paying $200 to change to later dates isn't so bad either...

 

[v8Statesman]

and make the first leg and no-show for the return.. nobody judge me

Or take the return 11.5 months later and by that stage maybe have another points for a J award back to SYD and have 2 USA holidays 12 months apart.


Edit: What MarcB said

 

[hollydavid69]

Hey Craige,
Check out my maiden speech on here, if you can find it.
I'm a QP NB & have a 100% success rate in requesting upgrades (mind you i've only ever put in for 2 upgrades), both from flying from Beijing to Sydney.
If you travel with the mindset that your in Economy & if your upgrade comes through then thats a bonus .

 

[Joshua]

If you're quite sure you wouldn't be going back to the US within 12 months to use the 2nd return ticket it could be possible to book a Y seat on the same plane... and get the points for it? I know we've talked about booking a spare seat in Y before but how about a 'spare' seat in a different cabin? Would that be pushing it too much?

Otherwise, you could strongly consider VA who often have decent OW prices.

 

[grussellt]

Booking single fares is always a bit hit and miss. It's a bit exotic but try Air Pacific (via Jetabroad) for a one way from LAX back to SYD for a little over $A1000 in Feb/Mar 2011.