BNE - LAX the hard way

[eric2011]

I am planning a trip to LAX late this year and am going to start all the booking process soon however I have a couple of questions for those in the know.

I can fly BNE - LAX J class, direct on QF using a 747 non stop and the cost is coming in at around $15000 return for the 2 of us. ( bit pricey in my opinion )

OR

I can fly BNE - NAN on QF in J free using points, stay overnight (my choice) then fly NAN - LAX - NAN - BNE (with a couple of nights again in Fiji (my choice ) on the way back, using Fiji air, in J, for approx. $10500.

Big Difference,

Another consideration I guess is flying non-stop from BNE is a 14 hour flight (approx.) compared to a 4 hour on 1 day and 11 hours the next when using Fiji air.

So apart from the cost difference what do AFF'ers think of the Fiji air A330's over the QF747, your opinion on service etc etc.
SWMBO also doesn't really like QF full lie flat seats and I have explained the A330 seats have a small incline and she doesn't mind that

 

[MartinMemo]

I am planning a trip to LAX late this year and am going to start all the booking process soon however I have a couple of questions for those in the know.

I can fly BNE - LAX J class, direct on QF using a 747 non stop and the cost is coming in at around $15000 return for the 2 of us. ( bit pricey in my opinion )

OR

I can fly BNE - NAN on QF in J free using points, stay overnight (my choice) then fly NAN - LAX - NAN - BNE (with a couple of nights again in Fiji (my choice ) on the way back, using Fiji air, in J, for approx. $10500.

Big Difference,

Another consideration I guess is flying non-stop from BNE is a 14 hour flight (approx.) compared to a 4 hour on 1 day and 11 hours the next when using Fiji air.

So upart from the cost difference what do AFF'ers think of the Fiji air A330's over the QF747, your opinion on service etc etc.
SWMBO also doesn't really like QF full lie flat seats and I have explained the A330 seats have a small incline and she doesn't mind that

The NAN option is the same one I am looking at for a trip next year. I figure it's ideal, but I see my day or two in NAN being on the return end so I can spend a few days living like a king despite losing all my money in Vegas.

That being said i thought Fiji Air was about $2500 p.p in J NAN-LAX-NAN

 

[eric2011]

The NAN option is the same one I am looking at for a trip next year. I figure it's ideal, but I see my day or two in NAN being on the return end so I can spend a few days living like a king despite losing all my money in Vegas.

That being said i thought Fiji Air was about $2500 p.p in J NAN-LAX-NAN

It was a post on here a few weeks ago (may have been you, cant remember) that started me looking down this path, before that I would have just paid QF.
I haven't seen it that low but have seen some days at around $1300 each way. varies a bit day to day and what fare types are avail. from the top of my head I think the nan - lax return part came in at around $7800 and the nan - bne was around $2500 one way.

 

[Major]

I have a similar issue and looked at EVA which comes in at $5369 in J for BNE-xTPE-LAX return

 

[Major]

Another option is VA for $4928 in J for BNE-LAX-BNE

 

[smit0847]

It was a post on here a few weeks ago (may have been you, cant remember) that started me looking down this path, before that I would have just paid QF.
I haven't seen it that low but have seen some days at around $1300 each way. varies a bit day to day and what fare types are avail. from the top of my head I think the nan - lax return part came in at around $7800 and the nan - bne was around $2500 one way.

I'd recommend talking about the price of everything pp as people are very familiar with the FJ deal in pp prices. Saying the price for 2 people is confusing.

 

[desiredusername]

I fly non stop direct so Just asking: is there an extra layover in Fiji and if so is it worth the extra $ for hotels, drinks, drinks, drinks and meals, etc?

 

[MartinMemo]

I fly non stop direct so Just asking: is there an extra layover in Fiji and if so is it worth the extra $ for hotels, drinks, drinks, drinks and meals, etc?

From memory the resorts are dirt cheap, and it sounds like a relaxing way to start and end a holiday.

 

[desiredusername]

From memory the resorts are dirt cheap, and it sounds like a relaxing way to start and end a holiday.

Islands and sand and lazing around never turned me on but I take your point. But is the OP looking at the total cost of Direct Pricey Flight + $0 or Cheap Flight + Cost of the stop over? Or Cheap Flight + Big Bar Bill = Zero Difference

 

[eric2011]

I fly non stop direct so Just asking: is there an extra layover in Fiji and if so is it worth the extra $ for hotels, drinks, drinks, drinks and meals, etc?

Hotels.... Thanks to IC and to HH for supplying free night to me

 

[eric2011]

Another option is VA for $4928 in J for BNE-LAX-BNE

I would also be chasing QF points

 

[Mwenenzi]

...I can fly BNE - NAN on QF in J free using points....

No:- you cannot fly for free if you mean a QF award flight. A QF award has high cash surcharges.

I would also be chasing QF points

Too many people spend $100 to get $1 of points value. But QF like you. Look at what you can buy/fly for $$ difference

 

[eric2011]

Anyone got any discussion on the FJ A330 v QF747 keeping the price difference in mind

 

[eric2011]

No:- you cannot fly for free if you mean a QF award flight. A QF award has high cash surcharges.

Too many people spend $100 to get $1 of points value. But QF like you. Look at what you can buy/fly for $$ difference

When I said free, I meant, not bringing that leg into financial considerations. I will use a classic award or JASA or points plus pay or something else. It just wasn't part of any consideration

 

[smit0847]

Too many people spend $100 to get $1 of points value. But QF like you. Look at what you can buy/fly for $$ difference

This is one of the reasons QF is still in business. Blind faith.

 

[desiredusername]

This is one of the reasons QF is still in business. Blind faith.

An a ff dummy, I woke up during the spate of 'incidents', but most people I know are rusted on to Qantas like their engines. VA all the way these days.

 

[docjames]

Bear in mind BNE-NAN is usully a 737 so it's more like Y+.

The VA pricing looks good for the direct, but if you're keen to have a short break in FJ then the savings will be worthwhile.

 

[eric2011]

Bear in mind BNE-NAN is usully a 737 so it's more like Y+.

The VA pricing looks good for the direct, but if you're keen to have a short break in FJ then the savings will be worthwhile.

Thanks doc, agree it is a good price but would like to chase the QF points and have the day or two in Fiji as well

 

[smit0847]

Thanks doc, agree it is a good price but would like to chase the QF points and have the day or two in Fiji as well

Yes the price does fluctuate on different days of the week but if you pick the cheapest days and use your points to go BNE-NAN (Im not sure what the fuel surcharge and taxes would be?), then based on todays exchange rate you would be looking at:

$2295 NAN-LAX-NAN FJ J pp and
$700 NAN-BNE FJ J pp.

Excluding the 'cost' of the BNE-NAN points redemption that would be just under $3,000 pp return to LAX in J which is sensational value IMO. If you want to spend more than double that to go direct on QF go ahead but I don't know why you bothered starting this thread?!

I *believe* you earn SCs and QFF points on FJ anyway? Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Fly - Airline Partners

 

[eric2011]

If you want to spend more than double that to go direct on QF go ahead but I don't know why you bothered starting this thread?!

The major reason for me starting the post was what is written below, as as yet no-one has made any comment or response.

Quote: So upart from the cost difference what do AFF'ers think of the Fiji air A330's over the QF747, your opinion on service etc etc.
SWMBO also doesn't really like QF full lie flat seats and I have explained the A330 seats have a small incline and she doesn't mind that Unquote

So, for me to ask this in the post it would seem that I have already made up my mind as how I was going to travel, was just putting in the cost info as a reason why I would want to do it and I really needed clarification on the A/C. Sorry if what was between the lines wasn't clear.