Syd to US route advice

[laffer]

Hi all,

I hope I can get some opinions to help make a call.

I am looking to go from Syd to the Us (LAX ideally although any east coast stop will do).

I looked at some fares in J and the cheapest seems to be United at about $6.5k.

I love the SQ product so looked at fares out of Asia to the US. Singapore to the US was $$$ as was HKG. I found a fare on SQ from Tokyo for $3.5k which I think is a good deal. The only issue is getting there in comfort from Syd. The Oz airfare hike has prices to Tokyo in J at $4k which makes the direct United deal look good. I have flown United but never business but they were awful and I am not keen to repeat the experience and I am not interested in paying the QF premium of $1.5k over United for direct.

I think the reality is I will fly Y up to Tokyo and then go from there. But what I'm interested in is whether others have gone to the US via Asia. Is it worth it? Should I be looking at other departure ports? Or is direct really best and I should just snavel that united deal? Many thanks all.

 

[nljc88]

Just booked Qantas J - Sydney --> Dallas at Christmas (most expensive time) for $5200 - It's a longer flight, but would much prefer that over economy to Tokyo and the extra travel time etc...

 

[laffer]

Just booked Qantas J - Sydney --> Dallas at Christmas (most expensive time) for $5200 - It's a longer flight, but would much prefer that over economy to Tokyo and the extra travel time etc...

Thanks NLJC88. Do you mind if I ask around what dep date you have? I was looking to go around that time myself (anytime from the 21st really).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think the reality is I will fly Y up to Tokyo and then go from there. But what I'm interested in is whether others have gone to the US via Asia. Is it worth it? Should I be looking at other departure ports? Or is direct really best and I should just snavel that united deal? Many thanks all.

Fares out of Tokyo might appear cheaper but remember the flight to LAX is only 9.5-10.5 hours. It's fairly short. Your economy leg to Tokyo will be equally as long. Plus you have the issues of separate tickets.

Air New Zealand has fares in June for $4442 all the way from SYD-LAX. I don't know if that fare is available on the dates you intend to fly however. If the fare is not available for your dates you might also consider the air new zealand sky couch - three seats in economy that convert to a single bed. You can buy that all the way from Australia.

Korean has fares for $5100, Hawaiian for $5600. There are a lot of options which will get you there in full flat beds the whole way without a long economy leg.

 

[cjd600]

Thanks NLJC88. Do you mind if I ask around what dep date you have? I was looking to go around that time myself (anytime from the 21st really).

QF website is showing $5400 up to Dec 16

Dates and details

 

[Quickstatus]

Try FJ
SYD-NAN-LAX

 

[dajop]

Just booked Qantas J - Sydney --> Dallas at Christmas (most expensive time)

Not necessarily most expensive time, depends on destination. Around Christmas ( in many markets), it is the most expensive time of year for economy, due to all the leisure and visiting friends & relatives traffic. However, for many places, that's when bargains can be had in business class as the demand for business travel goes down, because people are on holidays.

 

[Franky]

I always thought LAX was on the West coast...

 

[Quickstatus]

For F aficionados :
SYD-DFW return is $10k in F in January 2019

J same flight is more expensive

 

[laffer]

I always thought LAX was on the West coast...

Oops. Embarrassed.

 

[futaris]

Laffer, you need to buy the parachute from the FLIGHT INSURANCE machine before you board your flight over Nontoonyt.

 

[laffer]

Laffer, you need to buy the parachute from the FLIGHT INSURANCE machine before you board your flight over Nontoonyt.

I am very popular there. Haha! Well with some.

 

[juddles]

I don't do it very often, but for cheap higher-grade flying to the USA I always consider Jetstar to HNL, then American "domestioc" from there on. Two tickets.

 

[SYD]

FJ can be done as two tix also. SYD-NAN (ret). Then NAN-LAX (or SFO). SYD-NAN (ret) are day flights, so you could consider booking in whY to save money. Both sectors can be booked online via FJ or QF (as codeshares). The later with a QF flight number has advantages for SYD lounge access if eligible.

I’ve booked this as sep J PNRs in the past (sub $5k) via QF. The same plane from SYD went onto the US - so I figured there was some protection in case of disruptions. The ret, we planned a nice couple of days stopover in Fiji.

If you want some QF SCs, I saw last night flights from CHC to SFO via NAN in J for $3500! Just need to get to CHC.

The current QF Sale fares are ok (I’ve seen them do slightly cheaper).

 

[laffer]

Thanks Syd and Juddles. What’s the FJ hard product like?

I did some quick searching for QF fares and could not spot a matching return fare (found sale fares over but not coming back). But it was only a quick look so I will drill down a bit further this shortly.

I’ve never been overly impressed by QF J so I will see if there is a fair deal otherwise I will try some of the other options. Thanks to all for wonderful assistance

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Syd and Juddles. What’s the FJ hard product like?

I did some quick searching for QF fares and could not spot a matching return fare (found sale fares over but not coming back). But it was only a quick look so I will drill down a bit further this shortly.

I’ve never been overly impressed by QF J so I will see if there is a fair deal otherwise I will try some of the other options. Thanks to all for wonderful assistance

FJ has angled lie flats - the same seats as SQ's regional A330s. So not really conducive to sleep.

There have also been some reports that if buying separate tickets via NAN (to take advantage of the cheaper fares), sometimes check-in at Australia will only tag your bags as far as NAN and you have to enter Fiji, collect your bags, then head back to check-in again. This isn't a consistent policy as far as I can make out, but happens often enough that you should be prepared for a less than relaxing transit.

Reports seem to suggest catering is very basic in business class, even on long sectors.

 

[SYD]

Thanks Syd and Juddles. What’s the FJ hard product like?

Their A330s are 2-2-2 in J. Same seat as the previous gen of VA J. So not fully flat, but better than Sky Bed Mk1 (IMHO). I found it adequate for the shorter flight.

Fiji Airways Airbus A330 business class: Nadi-Sydney

Flight test: Fiji Airways business class

Note that some flights SYD-NAN are 737 with similar seat to QF/VA domestic/trans Tasman.

You can book a range of multi city combos on the FJ website as one PNR (to ensure luggage is checked through). I didn’t have a problem on two QF bookings.

Another option to consider is SYD-HNL. Does the QF sale cover your travel period?

 

[jase05]

Have you checked out CI yet?
My parents are heading to the US at Christmas time and I recently helped them book on CI. SYD-TPE-LAX return for $4097 in J. A long layover in Taipei on the way over but they don’t mind that as they can have a look around the City for the day as they have never been there. On the return it’s only a 2 1/2 hour stop over. I recommended CI to them on personal experience as I love their product and find their seating especially comfortable. I’ve always found their staff very attentive and willing to do that little bit more for you. The SYD-TPE leg is on their A350 and TPE-LAX on their 777. When I booked their tickets it was the same price to SFO or JFK but I have no idea if those prices are still available or at the dates you want.

 

[ojm]

I've been looking at MEL-LAS in business class. Thought I'd throw some other options into the mix by checking via SYD too!

China Airlines -
- SYD-TPE-LAX-LAS (29 hrs, ~33 hrs with MEL-SYD)
- LAS-LAX-TPE-SYD (31 hrs, ~55 hrs with SYD-MEL)
- Can fly up to SYD on the morning of the flight.
- The most airports of all options.
- Pretty long travel duration.
- With SYD flight, total ~$4.9k

Korean Air
- SYD-ICH-LAS (25 hrs + overnight stay)
- LAS-ICH-SYD (36 hrs, ~40 hrs with SYD-MEL)
- 9am am flight from SYD, so would have to fly up to SYD the night before -- pretty much writing this option off because of this.
- On way home, layover of 12 hours in ICH -- another write off.
- With SYD flight and hotel, total ~$5k.

Hawaiian Air
- SYD-HNL-LAS (20 hrs, ~24 hrs with MEL-SYD)
- LAS-HNL-SYD (23 hrs, ~27 hrs with SYD-MEL)
- Night flight out of SYD (big plus, 9.40pm departure)
- Fly home from LAS at 1.30am (another big plus, as trying to minimise my time in the US. Earliest I can get to LAS airport on way home is about 8pm, so for most options, have to wait for the next day)
- Layover of 6 hours way back in HNL, so perhaps enough time to check Pearl Harbour.
- Would get home the night before any other option, all other options are morning of next day at earliest.
- Will make me maintain Velocity Gold (and perhaps get to platinum).
- Save on a hotel night in LAS.
- With SYD flight, minus extra hotel night, total ~$5.3k

AirNZ - MEL-AUK-LAX-LAS (27 hrs), LAS-LAX-AUK-MEL (22 hrs)
- Mid afternoon departure, which is nice like with Hawaii
- Business ~$6.3k.

Virgin Australia - MEL-LAX-LAS (19 hrs), LAS-LAX-MEL (22 hrs)
- Premium Economy ~$3.7k, Business ~$10k.
- Maintain Gold, maybe reach platinum.
- Expensive!
- But the J is good.. could hope for a points of $ bid upgrade, but could be stuck in PE.

Edging towards Hawaiian, spend the most time at home (arrive the night before on way home, vs next morning) -- important as our expected bub will be only a few months old when I have to travel for the expo.. next best is probably AirNZ at $1k more, followed by Virgin PE.

Any advise anyone! Are Hawaiian OK? Worth spending a bit extra on AirNZ, and arrive home the next morning?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any advise anyone! Are Hawaiian OK? Worth spending a bit extra on AirNZ, and arrive home the next morning?

Hawaiian offers a basic premium service - more like domestic USA first class than a true international business class. But do you really need the full international service? The quality of food is good. The beds are full flat. And you pocket a grand.

Here's a review: Flight Review: Hawaiian Airlines' new lay-flat Business Class offering from Sydney to Honolulu (HA452)