Which option would you take? Xmas flight SYD - YYZ.

[justcallmeryan]

So I'm looking at going home to YYZ over Xmas and the usual flights I take (either VA via LAX connecting to AC, or AC all the way via YVR) are horrifically expensive - like +$3.5K return. I've scouted out a few different options and am a bit torn as they are both less than ideal, and one a bit more expensive than the other.

NOTE: I am a lowly QF RED flyer and not particularly motivated to accumulate any points or SCs through them and would certainly not get any lounge access along the way. I don't have a bone to pick with QF, but try and steer my flying to VA and the patchy alliance as it works for me. So even though most of you would recommend me to go QF for SCs and Points, it's of little interest to me (although admittedly more so than Korean points). Budget is also a consideration for me as I'm paying my way. All trips in Y.

What would you do??

Korean Airways
Return trip around $2100.
Itinerary:KE 122 18DEC SYD ICN 0900 1740
KE 73 19DEC ICN YYZ 1020 0920
KE 74 01JAN YYZ ICN 1130 1530 (2 Jan)
KE 121 03JAN ICN SYD 1905 0710 (4 Jan)

Pros:
Cheapest flight - in fact very good value for Christmas flying from OZ to Canada.
Get to spend a night in Seoul in either direction as connections don't work and see something new - never been to Korea before.
Get to avoid boring and long US customs and get a new stamp in the ole passport.
Cons:
All flights are long.
No status or points or anything.
The overall trip is longer than I would like to spend getting to and from YYZ.

Qantas/American airlines
Return trip around $2550.
Itinerary:
QF SYD - DFW 18 Dec 15:25 - 13:45
AA DFW - YYZ 19 Dec 7:00 - 11:07
AA YYZ - DCA 1 Jan 12:22 - 14:00
AA DCA - LAX 1 Jan 17:10 - 19:52
QF LAX - SYD 1 Jan 22:05 - 8:05 (3 Jan)

Pros:
Shorter overall flying time.
Get to accumulate points (not really interested in Qantas points, but they could be useful given how many I'd accumulate, whereas Korean useless).
Get to try Qantas A380 and longest flight in the world.
Cons:
Boring - I'd have to spend a night at DFW airport on the way over which does not excite at all, would simply be for breaking up long flight.
Flight home SUPER long (26 hours) and all in Y as wouldn't bother with stopover.
US customs is awful and would have to experience both in DFW and YYZ.

What would you do?

 

[knasty]

I'd take option 1. When i plugged those flights into Kayak I found many sites offering sub-2k prices for them, down to almost $1900.

 

[RooFlyer]

Of the two you mention I would definitely choose QF over KE!!

Other options for you to price / schedule:

1) Qantas will be flying direct to Vancouver at that time (seasonal service) and then you could connect to Westjet to YYZ (Qantas code-share or WJ code, which would probably be cheaper). QF flight probably not cheap (?similar to AC?), although you would connect straight through at YVR and avoid US customs and overnighting in DFW (price this saving in) and bags would get checked all the way through;

2) Air Fiji is often spoken of as a well priced TPAC option - obviously stop off in Fiji on the way through to LAX;

3) United :shock: via LAX (not attractive, I know, but an option);

4) Air NZ to YVR and on with AC (both star alliance, so bags would probably be checked through).

5) Left field: Go westwards with one of the Gulf carriers to the Gulf and onwards to YYZ.

And what about those leafs?

 

[justcallmeryan]

We think alike - and I have looked into all of those options. Unfortunately not affordable. See comments below.

1) Super expensive. QF charging a premium for YVR services. Think +$3.5K return.

2) Reasonably priced but not really possible due to the dates. They only fly to LAX a few times per week and don't coincide with my dates. Also, would take forever and be expensive as ATM flights LAX - YYZ are $$$.

3) QF via DFW cheaper and miles better!

4) Soooo expensive not even worth looking at!

5) Thought of that. Unfortunately EK and EY only fly a few days per week to YYZ from their respective hubs due to some stupid Canadian rule so the flights are invariably full and expensive. No go. Also very very long and given travel would have to factor in a night in either direction at DXB or AUH.

Of the two you mention I would definitely choose QF over KE!!

Other options for you to price / schedule:

1) Qantas will be flying direct to Vancouver at that time (seasonal service) and then you could connect to Westjet to YYZ (Qantas code-share or WJ code, which would probably be cheaper). QF flight probably not cheap (?similar to AC?), although you would connect straight through at YVR and avoid US customs and overnighting in DFW (price this saving in) and bags would get checked all the way through;

2) Air Fiji is often spoken of as a well priced TPAC option - obviously stop off in Fiji on the way through to LAX;

3) United :shock: via LAX (not attractive, I know, but an option);

4) Air NZ to YVR and on with AC (both star alliance, so bags would probably be checked through).

5) Left field: Go westwards with one of the Gulf carriers to the Gulf and onwards to YYZ.

And what about those leafs?

 

[RooFlyer]

Bummer. I fly 4 or 6 times a year into YYC and usually alternate AC to YVR and QF to LAX.

There was some fight between UAE and the Canadian authorities. I think UAE wouldn't give AC more slots or were restricting them in some way, so Canada retaliated. I thought it got resolved, but maybe not. Calgary desperately wanting EK to fly A380s into their expanded airport.

 

[RooFlyer]

OK, last throw of the dice from me: Have you looked at a oneWorld Circle Pacific ticket? Often priced cheaper than Oz-LAX direct on Qantas.

For instance, you would go Oz-HKG on QF or CX (compulsory stopover) HKG-YVR on CX (open jaw - allowed) then LAX-Oz on QF, with a side ticket YVR-YYZ-DCA-LAX OR The latter might be allowable to be included in Circle Pacific. I think you are allowed to have at least one or two stops in Nth America on a Circle Pacific and that could be your big saving to offset night in HKG. You can do it via NRT using JAL to YVR too. Can do it in either direction.

Come to think of it Star Alliance probably have a similar product - go via Seoul and use combination of KE, AC and UA?

I don't think you can book it on-line (Qantas doesn't publicise it much); if you don't have a TA get some-one light Flight Centre to price for you.