MEL-LAX FASA The Long Way

[QF029]

I'm considering MEL-LAX for a FASA next year. Have many board members done this and gone via Sydney (QF11) for the extra SC's and longer time in the F lounge? I thinking of connecting to SFO seeing as though the points cost no more and I could do the coastal drive back to LA and pick up even more SC's. A downside would be I can't take advantage of the Chauffeur service terminating in SFO.

 

[Kangol]

Good luck in finding one at classic award prices.

Oddly enough I just had a quick look at availability for next year and even though I can find a QF93 classic award F seat, I can't book it as an ASA at a classic award price but can as an AA milesAAver award:

 

[QF029]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm utlimately heading to NYC so I could go J instead (still via SYD if necessary) to the East Coast. I figure I'll come back using AA points if I can get the availability. I'm fairly happy in J but haven't done F before and figure it;s worth a try once and to make use of the lounge it makes more sense to do F ex Australia.

 

[Kangol]

If you want to make the most of the F lounge, you could get a FASA on QF11 (departs at 1.05pm or 3pm depending on DST) and book a separate MEL-SYD at 7am or something. That way you'll get at least 4 or so hours in the F lounge.
The other option is to look at the meetings and social events section and see if someone would be kind enough to guest you in.

It may have been discussed here before, but I *think* there is the possibility of "combining" a MEL-SYD JASA (U class) and SYD-LAX FASA (P class) at classic award prices if they are available on your required dates by ringing up and booking (if it is unavailable online). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Paddy55]

Did the reverse SYD-MEL-LAX for 2 x JASAs last Dec - extra SCs and miles are important!

 

[Anna]

It may have been discussed here before, but I *think* there is the possibility of "combining" a MEL-SYD JASA (U class) and SYD-LAX FASA (P class) at classic award prices if they are available on your required dates by ringing up and booking (if it is unavailable online). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

After days of trying with no availability, last night I was finally able to snag ADL - MEL - LAX in F on a classic award for April 2014 (departing only 48 hours after my preferred date, and I would also have preferred via SYD not MEL, but this was the best I could get).

So I'm also interested in if it is correct that I could request a FASA at the classic award price. Does anyone know? QF hasn't ticketed it yet.

 

[markis10]

I'm also interested in if it is correct that I could request a FASA at the classic award price. Does anyone know? QF hasn't ticketed it yet.

You cannot get a FASA at classic pricing, what you can do is reduce the points required to that equal to a FASA by making a cash payment.

 

[Anna]

You cannot get a FASA at classic pricing, what you can do is reduce the points required to that equal to a FASA by making a cash payment.

Thanks Markis10.

The FASA was going at over a million points on the days I was searching. Think I'll stick with 144,000 points for my classic award, and sample the F experience despite the lack of SC or points earn.

 

[Kangol]

Did the reverse SYD-MEL-LAX for 2 x JASAs last Dec - extra SCs and miles are important!

Did you book it online? How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

 

[QF029]

If you want to make the most of the F lounge, you could get a FASA on QF11 (departs at 1.05pm or 3pm depending on DST) and book a separate MEL-SYD at 7am or something. That way you'll get at least 4 or so hours in the F lounge.
The other option is to look at the meetings and social events section and see if someone would be kind enough to guest you in.

It may have been discussed here before, but I *think* there is the possibility of "combining" a MEL-SYD JASA (U class) and SYD-LAX FASA (P class) at classic award prices if they are available on your required dates by ringing up and booking (if it is unavailable online). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I was WP for a couple of years so the First lounge is just a nice to have. It won't be the end of the world if I don't make it. A JASA MEL-SYD-LAX-JFK with chauffeur drive in MEL and New York isn't a bad consolation.

 

[Paddy55]

Did you book it online? How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

Booked in Dec 2011, the day they were available.

2 x JASAs were 96,000 + $6xx each in fuel fines if memory serves me correctly.

Of course, Mrs Paddy and Jnr Paddy received points and SCs for the pleasure :mrgreen:, and a 4 hour camp in the MEL Flounge while a tech problem was fixed. :mrgreen:

Much the same coming back when we snared 3 x JASAs on QF108 for travel on Jan 7 this year.

All booked online... except I made the SYD-MEL-LAX JASAs bookings on Xmas Day for the wrong day :shock:, and I called up within the hour and they very kindly move them forward one day for me.

 

[Kangol]

Booked in Dec 2011, the day they were available.

2 x JASAs were 96,000 + $6xx each in fuel fines if memory serves me correctly.

Of course, Mrs Paddy and Jnr Paddy received points and SCs for the pleasure :mrgreen:, and a 4 hour camp in the MEL Flounge while a tech problem was fixed. :mrgreen:

Much the same coming back when we snared 3 x JASAs on QF108 for travel on Jan 7 this year.

All booked online... except I made the SYD-MEL-LAX JASAs bookings on Xmas Day for the wrong day :shock:, and I called up within the hour and they very kindly move them forward one day for me.

Awesome, does that mean there was availability for 2x SYD-MEL-LAX in U class on two consecutive days that hadn't been snapped up? ie the pair at 351 days out and the one released the day before were still available? You must have great luck!

To the OP: had another quick search on the booking engine and for days where there are mixed class classic awards available (ie MEL-SYD in J, SYD-LAX in F), those same routes cannot be booked as a mixed J/F ASA at classic award prices.

ie. when I search for the same as the below on the ASA booking engine, neither the highlighted option nor the direct QF93 can be booked as a FASA at classic award prices (asking 1.6+ million QFF points).

If it's the same class all the way, like in Paddy55's example, you can book them with no problem on the standard booking engine.

My guess is the system doesn't know how to do the mixed class ASA properly..... might have to ring up I suppose.

This is probably a similar situation as what Anna was facing.

 

[Paddy55]

Awesome, does that mean there was availability for 2x SYD-MEL-LAX in U class on two consecutive days that hadn't been snapped up? ie the pair at 351 days out and the one released the day before were still available? You must have great luck!

Actually the reverse - range up and booked one day earlier than I meant to... called back and the 'new day' availability was still there!
This all happened on Xmas Day which might have helped others might have been focussed on other things than JASAs :shock:

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks Markis10.

The FASA was going at over a million points on the days I was searching. Think I'll stick with 144,000 points for my classic award, and sample the F experience despite the lack of SC or points earn.

Nothing wrong with that, the experience is the experience!!