Help me get to Canada...

[travelislife]

Thought I would throw it out to the brains trust...

We are trying to do a family holiday in Canada at the end of this year and a white Christmas. But struggling to get the 'perfect' flights over for our family of 4 (2 Adults and 2 Kids). Only looking at economy options.

Ideal is departing Sydney (preferred) or Melbourne/Brisbane on any of 20/12, 21/12, 22/12, 23/12 flying in to Vancouver. Our ultimate destination is to get to Big White (Kelowna closest town) by 24/12 at the latest. Can currently book SYD-SFO-YVR on 17/12, but my wife is a school teacher who's last day of work is 18/12. At a pinch we could depart 19/12.

We can get in to San Francisco on UA on any of those days above direct SYD-SFO and I am looking to book that in the next couple of days to lock something in, but still isn't the easiest/cheapest getting from SFO to Big White. And if I can score the connecting flight with UA in to Vancouver or Calgary it is zero extra cost in points.

Getting seats on the direct Air Canada flights appears to be pretty much zero chance at this peak time.

I do have 70,000 Qantas points could potentially use for local North American flights, but doesn't seem to many options doing that either.

We have already got the return flights booked YYC-SFO-SYD on UA departing 21/01/26 arriving 23/01/26. 192,000 points and $678.69 in total for the 4 of us. Great deal.

If anyone has any grand ideas, using Velocity points, to get 4 people there in economy I'd love to hear them!

 

[Mwenenzi]

We are trying to do a family holiday in Canada at the end of this year and a white Christmas. But struggling to get the 'perfect' flights over for our family of 4 (2 Adults and 2 Kids). Only looking at economy options.

Ideal is departing Sydney (preferred) or Melbourne/Brisbane on any of 20/12, 21/12, 22/12, 23/12 flying in to Vancouver. Our ultimate destination is to get to Big White (Kelowna closest town) by 24/12 at the latest. Can currently book SYD-SFO-YVR on 17/12, but my wife is a school teacher who's last day of work is 18/12. At a pinch we could depart 19/12.
<snip>

Cash or award AU Canada?
In days after schools close and to Christmas day will be 100's - 1000's trying to get flights out of (and into) Australia. Some what similar in Canada-USA, but Christmas is not as big for family meet ups as in AU. Airlines from AU will be expecting to sell all seats for very good money.

VA fly to NAN.
Fiji Airways fly CNS/BNE/SYD/CBR/MEL/ADL to NAN to YVR (and other USA destination). FJ is Oneworld ~ QF ff partner. But 70,000 QF points will not get 4 pax far.

Vancouver International Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Nadi International Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Can the family split travel? Some 17/12/25 and Mrs Travelislife later?
If possible worth avoiding USA. USA does not have the concept of transit.
Canada to USA can take advantage of USA pre-clearance at (most) Canadian airports, so arrive in USA like a domestic passenger.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I presume you're looking for 4 award seats in Y (one way) - if you're not seeing such seats at this stage you may be out of luck and with a holiday planned and 2 children you don't want to risk waiting until the last minute. Try searching for 2 seats (even on different flights/days) then can could travel 1 adult + 1 child on each. Clearly this is not ideal. You may need to consider paid - a quick Google search shows prices from about $1100 pp - try search to SEA (usually less expensive than YVR) and the bus to YVR is about $40 (I've done this but it must admit it's a hassle).