Sale fares to the US ... any comments please ?

[Dougo]

Hi

I know there are a couple of sale fares on offer for Qantas, Virgin and Delta to the US that expire on 25th July, but was wondering if I can do better and if I should wait a month or two?

What I've been looking at is a Premium Economy fare for two people from SYD to LAX on Qantas which will cost over $7K ... alas no FF points to speak of as we used them for our trip a couple of months ago. Virgin is cheaper (around $5,800 I think) and Delta is cheaper again.

Thanks

 

[markis10]

Delta dont have a PE product, just extra comfort Y (legroom).

 

[Dougo]

I didn't look into whether Delta has PE or not, but noticed that they had sales on as did Virgin and Qantas.

Do you recall if ale fares to the US have been offered a little later in the year ? I know that they have to Europe and the UK around October but can't recall whether the US was included in those sales on offer at that time.

Thanks

 

[robd]

Hi

I know there are a couple of sale fares on offer for Qantas, Virgin and Delta to the US that expire on 25th July, but was wondering if I can do better and if I should wait a month or two?

What I've been looking at is a Premium Economy fare for two people from SYD to LAX on Qantas which will cost over $7K ... alas no FF points to speak of as we used them for our trip a couple of months ago. Virgin is cheaper (around $5,800 I think) and Delta is cheaper again.

Thanks

Paid about $2.9k on VA PE last year.

 

[markis10]

When do you want to travel, there may well be sales on later but not cover the dates you need?

 

[Dougo]

Paid about $2.9k on VA PE last year.

I think that's about the cost of the fare on offer now.

 

[Dougo]

When do you want to travel, there may well be sales on later but not cover the dates you need?

Depart - 17th March 2014
Return - 8th May 2014

 

[RAM]

Depart - 17th March 2014
Return - 8th May 2014

If you don't like flying then stick with the direct options but if you like flying (& a day or two stopover perhaps) then looking at flying to Taiwan (China Airlines - the Taiwanese carrier) and then to LAX may be worth looking at. The Taiwanese Gov provides free half day sightseeing tours (morning - old Taiwan = ancient, or afternoon - modern Taiwan).

Equally flying to Malaysia (AirAsiaX premium seat and then KUL-LAX) can give you a stop over if wanted and often better pricing.

OR look at Singapore etc.

Just depends what you want to achieve.

I find buying 9-10 months ahead often yields the best fares (8 out of 9 years so far) BUT the time of the week you check can make a huge difference. Seats seem to be loaded by most airlines after Friday lunchtime (SYD time, so maybe Thursday US who knows why). Checking after 3pm then scores best results BUT they do not last long.

One year due to CC issuer caused mistake (claimed against issuer and got refund) the price for 5 tickets went up $400 as cheapest class sold out in time it took to re-enter all details.

Good Hunting

 

[TravelAllTheTime]

You can get a Round The World Business class ticket for $7300 with Swiss Air. I am going Sydney-Vancouver-NY-Zurich-Amsterdam-Zurich-Tokyo-Sydney.

 

[Bindibuys]

When do you want to travel, there may well be sales on later but not cover the dates you need?

markis, what would you recommend for travel to UK x 3 pax, departing May 17 return 1 x 30 May 2 x 27 June. J syd to LHR wait until around October to purchase tickets?

 

[travelislife]

I would be currently looking at USDM where you could get to Europe in J for about $3000 return starting from scratch or the US in J for about $2700 return. Just have to find availability and can put seats on hold prior to having to outlay any cash. LM also has sales on at the moment but you would have needed to already be a member with them.

 

[Mitch_W]

I would be currently looking at USDM where you could get to Europe in J for about $3000 return starting from scratch or the US in J for about $2700 return. Just have to find availability and can put seats on hold prior to having to outlay any cash. LM also has sales on at the moment but you would have needed to already be a member with them.

Could you explain "USDM" and "LM" please. I have never seen these acronyms used before.

Thanks,

Mitch

 

[travelislife]

Refer to the following threads:

US Airways Dividend Miles (USDM): http://www.australianfrequentflyer....d-miles/us-dividend-miles-buy-gift-21844.html

Avianca Lifemiles (LM): http://www.australianfrequentflyer....programs/avianca-life-miles-new-ff-40866.html

Not that USDM is sadly to cease in the near future but should be still good for current bookings.

Warning!! These threads may consume hours of your life but it will definitely be worth it for the cheap J/F tickets you are getting, it is just a pity the US dollar has slipped so much recently.

 

[serfty]

Could you explain "USDM" and "LM" please. I have never seen these acronyms used before.

They are now mentioned here (but travelislife's post is more comprehensive):

Abbreviations and explanations

 

[Tonyynot]

Be careful with this fare which I used earlier this year. You can fly from Sydney to anywhere in the USA or Canada providing it is a direct flight of one or two sectors (ie AC33/34 SYD-YYZ). You can fly from anywhere in the USA or Canada that has a direct flight to Zurich with Swiss International. It does not include any separate flight across the USA or Canada.