Travelling to and within in the US

[Harriet Vane]

Hi all. I found this group so helpful last time we went to the US, I've come back for some more advice! We're planning another US trip, leaving early December and returning 5-6 weeks later. The itinerary we'd like is something approximating this (all in Y!):

CBR > SYD
SYD > SFO
SFO > ORD
ORD > New York (not sure which airport)
(Then Amtraking to DC via Philadelphia)
IAD > TUS (or to PHX and make the drive)
TUS > LAX
LAX > SYD
SYD > CBR

My thoughts are that the best idea, particularly considering travelling in winter and in the more snow-prone parts of the US, is to get all flights on the one itinerary and in the one alliance. I guess I'm asking whether people think this is a good idea and whether, if we get stopped by snow, this will make facilitating the 'catch up' easier.

As much as I want to give our business to someone that isn't Qantas, I'm obviously leaning that way given the OneWorld Visit North America ticket and the strong AA network. United don't have decent onboard entertainment; V Australia doesn't have the 'network'; I assume Air NZ will be more expensive than Qantas.

Preliminary poking around on the QF website suggests that they charge more if you enter through SFO and leave from LAX than if you go in/out of SFO or in/out of LAX. Any tips on that other than paying the difference or just taking a short flights back to the original port of entry?

We're going to see the travel agent this weekend, so any hints between now and then are most welcome!

 

[clifford]

I assume Air NZ will be more expensive than Qantas.

Why would you assume that? You'd be quite wrong, but don't book now, rather wait for one of the many promos that will be coming up over the next few months (unless you want to pay over the odds).

I'd suggest Air NZ to SFO (why SFO, LAX is much cheaper and nicer?), then UA to wherever you want to go. All flights should be credited to UA's Mileage Plus FF program (Air NZ's program is hopeless if you are flying economy).

I already have 10 trans-Pacific flights on UA booked for this year, so I think I have some understanding of this topic.

PS. The airport code for Tucson is TUS, and why not get the Murray's bus to SYD airport, it will save you over $150.

 

[Harriet Vane]

Thanks, Clifford. I realised the Tucson airport code typo after the fact.

We thought we'd try SFO because we have friends we want to visit there and if we could avoid another internal flight, then that'd be a good thing! If it's cheaper to go in and out of LAX, then we will do that and just get a short flight to SFO.

As for Murray's bus...it's faster to fly and my SO gets bus sick quite badly! But I agree, and I would certainly do that if it were just me going.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[harvyk]

Hi Harriet

I'm also a CBR person who last year did

CBR-SYD-SFO then some internal flights (SFO-LAX-MIA-LAX)
then
flew back home LAX-SYD-CBR.

I didn't notice a price difference between SFO and LAX, and I found SFO quite a nice airport compaired to LAX.

AirNZ can arrange a QF flight to get to from CBR to an int airport so everything ends up on the one ticket. (I've used AirNZ to book a dom QF flight from SYD-CBR before, even earnt QFF points on the flight)

Also remember that from CBR, we are a little lucky in the fact that BNE \ MEL are also realistic options to fly from which doesn't really affect the amount of overall flying time. (it's an hours flight to SYD or MEL and only an hour and a half to BNE)

PS I'm also +1 for flying CBR-SYD over getting the murrays bus. I hate the final legs to CBR after a long int flight, so as far as I'm concerned I want that time to be as short as possible.

 

[drewbles]

I'd suggest Air NZ to SFO (why SFO, LAX is much cheaper and nicer?), then UA to wherever you want to go. All flights should be credited to UA's Mileage Plus FF program (Air NZ's program is hopeless if you are flying economy).

SFO is a *much* better point of entry for the USA if you want to avoid the nightmare that is/can be LAX. I try and avoid LAX for inbound, although outbound I don't mind. LAX is only usually around $30-40 less than SFO, and as the SYD-SFO route is often not as busy, upgrades are more likely to clear (if you're wanting that).

All in all, SFO trumps LAX in all ways, except the possibility of delay due to fog, but if you're not on a tight connection, this is really no issue.

 

[HardieBoys]

I agree that SFO is a much nicer airport than LAX, in part because it's much smaller.

Recommend in New York that you aim to land at La Guardia: much closer to Manhattan than Kennedy, cheaper in a taxi, and you don't have to deal with the Van Wyk Expressway from the airport to Manhattan. From La Guardia, the taxi hits the Upper East Side and snakes down the east side of Manhattan, which is a lovely approach to town.

Amtrak between NYK, Philly and DC is really hassle-free, compared with flying.

You didn't mention Delta in your original post. Not sure if this was an oversight, or something you'd never consider.

 

[Harriet Vane]

HardieBoys, I'm now considering V Australia in combination with Virgin America and Delta for internal flights. The product in Y looks very attractive, and I really would prefer to give my dollars to someone not Qantas...

Any experiences with V Australia or Delta?

 

[HardieBoys]

I've not flown Delta since the early 1990s, when the flight attendants' uniforms resembled an over-washed black cotton version of the outfit that Alice wore in the Brady Bunch. Beyond that, I have little memory. And I'm not claiming cause-effect here, either.

No personal experience with VA, but have a couple of friends who fly for them and are pretty positive about the product.

 

[harvyk]

Harriet, can I ask why your so anti using QF considering your QFF PS and QP? and from CBR your looking at gaining at least 20,000 QFF points and 110 SC's doing a CBR-US trip.

 

[Harriet Vane]

I'm anti using QF simply because I'm pro competition on the Pacific route. I think it's hypocritical of me to bemoan Qantas's price gouging pre the entry of these other airlines and yet then not support those competitors when I have the chance to put my money where my mouth is.

Further, I have stopped travelling for work now, so my QF status will be NB when this trip happens...and I don't have QC any more!

 

[HardieBoys]

Qantas are having a sale to the US at the moment, with return economy fares to LAX and SFO (ex Sydney) for $1281 including taxes, and $1481 to JFK. It will be interesting to see if the other airlines drop their prices in response to this.

 

[Harriet Vane]

Unfortunately, we won't be travelling until December, so the sales won't apply. Yes, if we waited we could probably save a little...but last time we did this we booked in June and ended up paying $2500 each, so I'd rather lock in a decent price than wait for an 'awesome' one.

I think it will be interesting to see how far QF goes in the discounting to try to drive at least some of the competitors out of the market. They can cross-subsidise from other routes, surely, better than some of the others.

 

[HardieBoys]

Notwithstanding that Qantas would never engage in anti-competitive behaviour (!), it's hard to see how four airlines are going to survive the trans-Pacific direct route. Add in Hawaiian, Air Canada and Air New Zealand, and the competition looks better than it's been in many years.

 

[Hvr]

Hi Harriet

PS I'm also +1 for flying CBR-SYD over getting the murrays bus. I hate the final legs to CBR after a long int flight, so as far as I'm concerned I want that time to be as short as possible.

Whilst I agree the worst part is that if you return on a weekend then you are most likely going to end up on a Dash 8 and may have luggage issues if you've just come back from overseas. Also cabin baggage can be an issue especially if you have visited the duty free shop.

I did use Murrays recently when I went overseas but found it easier to hire a car to get home at the end of the trip.

 

[Harriet Vane]

Whilst I agree the worst part is that if you return on a weekend then you are most likely going to end up on a Dash 8 and may have luggage issues if you've just come back from overseas. Also cabin baggage can be an issue especially if you have visited the duty free shop.

I did use Murrays recently when I went overseas but found it easier to hire a car to get home at the end of the trip.

Yep, I'd wait for a jet or stay the night in Sydney!

 

[clifford]

SFO is a *much* better point of entry for the USA if you want to avoid the nightmare that is/can be LAX. I try and avoid LAX for inbound, although outbound I don't mind. LAX is only usually around $30-40 less than SFO, and as the SYD-SFO route is often not as busy, upgrades are more likely to clear (if you're wanting that).

All in all, SFO trumps LAX in all ways, except the possibility of delay due to fog, but if you're not on a tight connection, this is really no issue.

Well, I do have to disagree with you.

Point 1, I fly to LAX and SFO 10-20 times every year, so I do have a feeling for the airports.

Point 2, SFO is no smaller than LAX (it's probably quite a bit bigger with the new (ish) Intl terminal.

Point 3, if you travel UA, as I do, you miss the zoo that is the Tom Bradley terminal (TBIT) at LAX, as UA have their own immigration/customs in T7 (note that Air NZ have a similar facility in T2, so they avoid the TBIT hassles too, unlike QF).

Point 4, Los Angeles is a much nicer place than San Francisco.

Point 5, if you wish to discuss further, please let me know, as there are a number of other reasons why I don't particularly like SFO, although I did meet and have a few drinks with a very nice UA CSO last time I was there.

 

[trooper]

As a regular NZ flyer (and a happy one) I'd automatically suggest a look at NZ's prices... you might be surprised...

BUT - Their best fares are ALSO ones that do NOT credit anything to any program other than airpoints... so be careful with that!

 

[clifford]

As a regular NZ flyer (and a happy one) I'd automatically suggest a look at NZ's prices... you might be surprised...

BUT - Their best fares are ALSO ones that do NOT credit anything to any program other than airpoints... so be careful with that!

Yes, it seems UA has wound back crediting on the cheapest NZ fares (X I L G S K P). What a bummer. So NZ is, unfortunately, now off my Chistmas card (and flying) list.

Is this what they really want, people like me not spending my money with them? I already don't fly NZ in the Pacific for the same reason. NZ points NIL, QF points ONE...

 

[RSD]

Just don't trust the Qantas Holidays brochure for hotel descriptions - I had a shoot in Fiji then a couple of spare days before one in British Columbia so I decided to spend a couple of days in L.A. to see the sights.

"Nice hotel on the edge of Downtown L.A." turned out to pretty reasonable hotel on skid row in what I think was the Guatemalan ghetto. Lying in bed of a night time I thought I had become a war correspondent judging by the gunfire.

 

[Harriet Vane]

RSD, Mr Vane is a LA local, so we have that much at least covered!

The STA site was quoting $1650 return to LA with VA when VA themselves were quoting closer to $1900...all very confusing. Delta don't fly LAX to SFO unless you go via SLC...and Virgin America don't have December flights available yet. I'm wondering if it's that risky to use different (i.e. non affiliated) airlines for internal travel. I'm mostly worried about weather delays.