JASA or FASA to the US - any tips?

[piperlance]

Folks, I'm looking at travel to the US in my next QFF membership year (Apr 2011 - Mar 2012) and I am keen to find an affordable JASA in terms of points and cash, to get there and back. I have explored options out of AKL and can find affordable travel to LAX, but nothing on the return...

Given the propensity of regulars here to "think outside the square", does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives. For example I would be happy to go and return via HKG or NRT, but these options don't appear when searching online. Do I bite the bullet and call QFF? I am flexible with dates, so what I really want is to see a matrix of dates and points and select a business-saver JASA that works.

Thanks in advance - and Happy Christmas to all

 

[AV8]

I have been successful in the past with booking 2 x 1way JASA's rather than a return ticket.

 

[piperlance]

I have been successful in the past with booking 2 x 1way JASA's rather than a return ticket.

Yep, I have been successful doing that. I have two FASA's to SIN at reasonable cost in terms of points and cash. I guess that the US routes are that much more competitive - hence the scarcity of deals.

 

[ejb]

I recently got 2 rtn Syd-LAX FASA but I booked 11 months out and booked them as 2 one way flights for 2 pax.

Keep looking and I am sure you will find something.

ejb

 

[cove]

Recently it has been easier to get out of OZ than back.
We have been getting back on SQ on points thru Singapore on 4 tickets this year when QF were offering dust.
Can you run up some Quick points on SQ Kris using a credit card?

 

[Fifa]

I have booked two JASA AKL-SYD-LAX but even at 11 months out was unable to book the return. So I am now planning a SC run from MIA-HNL on AA then hope to pick up a *Class fare to Sydney.

 

[cove]

Back on QF you should book one way asap as it is there. Getting stuck just means you cancel for the modest points fee if you don't have the second chance with another carrier. Finally V Australia report is ok for getting home.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have booked two JASA AKL-SYD-LAX but even at 11 months out was unable to book the return. So I am now planning a SC run from MIA-HNL on AA then hope to pick up a *Class fare to Sydney.

In the same position, will buy one out of the US return. good deals on W+

 

[piperlance]

You know, I hadn't thought of just booking one when it comes up - and then cancelling if nothing else works out. Dunno why I don't think of that. That was just the sort of hint I was looking for...

 

[cove]

The most I have paid on 747 FASA has been about 159k points.If it is more than this just go Classic at 144k.
I dont know why there are so few seats out of LAX in J and F on QF but you can generally get back to SIN on the SQ all J class 98 seater A345 or their 747 First via Narita to SIN to OZ for about 100k.
We often split up by a day and get the QF seat coming back and we are ok on MEL and SYD as well as BNE if it is for J.

 

[dede]

So if I hypothetically booked a FASA from MEL-LAX for example for 144,000 points + $315.89 (points+pay) would it be fully refundable as per the conditions of the fare or is there still a 2500 point penalty. Also is this truly refundable or do you get one of those Qantas credits that have to be used toward another flight?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

So if I hypothetically booked a FASA from MEL-LAX for example for 144,000 points + $315.89 (points+pay) would it be fully refundable as per the conditions of the fare or is there still a 2500 point penalty. Also is this truly refundable or do you get one of those Qantas credits that have to be used toward another flight?

Change fee: 3,500
Cancel fee: 2,500 or 3,500 , and the points are converted into a QF voucher of cash value (at some horrible rate).

So either way, you won't get any points back booking an ASA seat.

However classic awards are entirely different....

 

[piperlance]

Change fee: 3,500
Cancel fee: 2,500 or 3,500 , and the points are converted into a QF voucher of cash value (at some horrible rate).

So either way, you won't get any points back booking an ASA seat.

Classic awards works differently.

I cancelled a domestic JASA recently over the phone and received all the points and cash back. I am sure there was a thread about cancelling advising to do it by phone rather than online. See http://www.australianfrequentflyer....am/advice-on-changing-jasa-flights-24087.html

 

[cove]

J Classic one way has been 96k points to LAX.
F Classic is 144k
F Any Seat can range from about 159k up to a real heap depending on time and demand for those seats.
Try to be at least QF Silver for seat selection.Have the meal before you leave and yes do go for the massage treatment all in the First lounge. That means you arrive a bit earlier but it is pretty nice.
The First lounge in LAX is very basic in comparison to SYD and MEL lounges.