US Trip Advice - Using QF points for US flights & other important questions

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Bulldog

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Long time reader, first time poster (please be gentle).

Looking for some advice re: trip to the US in June/July 2012.

Travelling with Mrs Bulldog (QF Platinum), infant Bulldog (18 months at the time of the trip) and the Bulldog in-laws (both no QF status). I’m currently QF Gold, however will drop back to QF Silver by the time of the trip, a change of job means less work travel :D.

I have spent countless nights trying work out which is the best way to get to YVR with as little impact on our daughter as possible, therefore have been considering (MEL-HKG-YVR, MEL-LAX-YVR, MEL-DFW-YVR, MEL-HNL-YVR), we have finally settled on MEL-LAX-YVR and the below full itinerary:

MEL-LAX
LAX- YVR
YYC – JFK
JFK – LAS
LAX - MEL

The MEL-LAX, LAX-MEL flights are ok in terms of classic award booking availability.

I’m having difficulty with classic award availability on the LAX-YVR (only flight on offer is a 21:00 (AS) departure, after a 06:55 arrival which is not practical). There are AA flights (operated by AS) available at 09:30/11:30 departure times which better suit. With both JFK – LAS, YYC-JFK there is little availability at the end of June/July. Even so, you click on a flight showing availability and then it comes up unavailable and disappears as an option, very frustrating :evil:

My preference is to use points for these flights, given I’m footing the bill for all 5 people.

Questions:

1. Does award availability differ (improve) for OneWorld alliance partners based on the use of QF assisted booking?
2. Does the 3,500pts for assisted booking per person apply to each booking or each leg?
3. If I can't use points for these flights, any recommendations for booking either through AA (Aus) or AA(US)?
4. Do AA baggage charges apply (US domestic/Canada) for those with no OW status, if a QF Platinum FF is linked to the booking?
5. If baggage fees applies, is it based on the ticketed airline (i.e. AA) or who the flight is operated by (i.e. AS)?
6. I’m not ambitious (stupid) enough to think I could get the 5 of us travelling in economy into the F lounge (on a classic award :eek:), however was hoping my wife could take both her parents in, having spent some time in their previously, happy to give it a miss for them. Have many people had success in getting an additional person in the F lounge (i.e. 3 in total incl the QF P FF when traveling economy)?
7. Is a 9:30 departure to YVR cutting it too fine, post a QF 93 arrival? If the bookings are linked and we miss the flight we will be rebooked without charge on the next available flight?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
 
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We ended up buying tickets on the Australian Expedia for LAX to YVR and YVR to SFO as the price we got was so low that points use was a waste. AA thru Alaskan do not have flights that really suit so we bailed on points and used a modest amount of money to do those short hauls with our friends. We credited to Kris Flyer as the carrier was *Alliance that had the great schedules. Suggest you look into the other carriers to score the schedule that works foy you.
By booking in $AUD you dont lose out on getting a fair exchange rate.
We would not continue the journey to YVR.....stopping at a LAX hotel always worked for us especially with I Bulldog and the OLDS in tow.
LAS can be a 4.5 hour drive from LAX and you can hire a car around LAX to carry 5 and luggage for sub $50/day including insurance from Argus or equivalent car trawler site.
These thoughts may change your plan??
 
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Night flights are often more relaxing with kids - a vote here for a break in HNL on the way up, but coming back through LAX. I've used YUPPs ex HNL which were pretty cheap and earn loads of SCs for returning to Gold. Not sure if this will work ex YVR though.

I did see some pretty cheap flights ex HNL to SEA earlier in the year.
 
Keep in mind June/July is peak season for North America, so any award availibility is limited.
 
I have done a search on aa.com.The only flights LAX-YVR with 4 adults and 1 infant that have milesAAver awards are the late night AS flights.Occasionally an earlier flight at 2000.
For YYC-JFK milesAAver awards for 4+1 are available 18,19,20,25,26 June and 1,17,24 july.
For JFK-LAS on 26 June and 1,2,3,4,10,11,14,17 July.
Mile sAAver awards are basically the classic awards and should be available to QF.They cost 12500 AA miles per sector.
I would agree-see what price you can get for those sectors.Often very good prices on alternatives.
 
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