Planning Syd to LAX Premium Economy or Business via Points

[MelbourneBoy]

Hi team,

Thank you so much for your help with our recent holiday to Greece via Finnair. We enjoyed 2 x 13hr business flights which were excellent. We highly recommend Finnair.

My wife, daughter and I are thinking of heading to LA next year. We have +200k in QFF points and are looking at Classic Flight rewards between July-Sept 24

The options I can see are
- economy either via AA, Qantas or Fiji (Fiji is being highly recommended in a separate discussion);
- premium economy from Syd to LA on Qantas (84k pp);
- business via China Airlines although this isn't reasonable as the duration is +30hrs

Questions
- are there any routes to the USA that you've seen that Classic Flight reward seats that we could use 200k for some of the flights. e.g fly into a destination in the USA such as San Francisco and purchase a connecting flight? Are there oneworld partners that offer classic flights that I should be looking into as destinations have availability?

thanks in advance
michael

 

[SYD]

There’s usually reasonably good classic reward availability on FJ - so well worth considering.

If you’re interested in doing a stopover, you could consider buying SYD-NAN (return) in economy (either via QF with QF codes or via FJ with FJ flight codes) and then use points for J NAN-LAX on FJ (so less points but more $). FJ also fly to SFO if you were thinking of doing a trip between LA and SF.

Note that classic reward flights on FJ will book into an FJ flight number. That has implications for lounge access (usually none if flying FJ whY ex SYD). Booking with a QF code, anyone with QP or higher status can use the QF Biz Lounge (WP and above, the QF 1st lounge).

JL and CX are technically option but I believe you’ll use a lot more points.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

There’s usually reasonably good classic reward availability on FJ - so we’ll worth considering.

If you’re interested in doing a stopover, you could consider buying SYD-NAN (return) in economy (either via QF with QF codes or via FJ with FJ flight codes) and then use points for J NAN-LAX on FJ (so less points but more $). FJ also fly to SFO if you were thinking of doing a trip between LA and SF.

Note that classic reward flights on FJ will book into an FJ flight number. That has implications for lounge access (usually none if flying FJ whY ex SYD). Booking with a QF code, anyone with QP or higher status can use the QF Biz Lounge (WP and above, the QF 1st lounge).

JL and CX are technically option but I believe you’ll use a lot more points.

Thanks for this. I can see some flights Nan to LAX. Very helpful.

I'll look at SFO as well

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just make sure with FJ flights that you’re getting the a350 rather than the 330. The latter has angled beds in business, the former full flats.

It used to be that there was wide-open availability in the 330… but I think that went to SFO? LAX was often hard to find. Not sure if that’s changed post covid and if they got another a350

 

[UP4014]

I think with a trans pacific Y, just get it done and over with in a single hit. The airlines on this this route are all much the same.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

I think with a trans pacific Y, just get it done and over with in a single hit. The airlines on this this route are all much the same.

Yeah I'm thinking this

 

[MelbourneBoy]

An quick update

The Syd to SFO via Nadi is likely to be purchased in the next 1-2 weeks as business all the way for 216,000 for two adults is great value imo.

Plus the business class Fiji airways reviews seem quite good.

Happy to hear thoughts on Fiji v American Airlines as they also have some offers for rewards classic

 

[williamsf1]

An quick update

The Syd to SFO via Nadi is likely to be purchased in the next 1-2 weeks as business all the way for 216,000 for two adults is great value imo.

Plus the business class Fiji airways reviews seem quite good.

Happy to hear thoughts on Fiji v American Airlines as they also have some offers for rewards classic

If you see them now .. book them now ..... in 1-2 weeks they will be gone!

 

[MelbourneBoy]

If you see them now .. book them now ..... in 1-2 weeks they will be gone!

sorry realistically 1 week (had to buy wine today and the additional points are only received upon delivery).

I can see 3-4 various options in Aug/Sep-24. Do you think all 3-4 will go?

 

[MELso]

Just make sure with FJ flights that you’re getting the a350 rather than the 330. The latter has angled beds in business, the former full flats.

It used to be that there was wide-open availability in the 330… but I think that went to SFO? LAX was often hard to find. Not sure if that’s changed post covid and if they got another a350

FJ has just taken delivery of its latest two A350s (having four in the fleet), so only runs A350s on the transpacs from NAN. The A330s are on the SIN, HKG and NRT routes now.

Post automatically merged: Oct 4, 2023

sorry realistically 1 week (had to buy wine today and the additional points are only received upon delivery).

QF Wine points typically lob in on shipment, not delivery IME.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An quick update

The Syd to SFO via Nadi is likely to be purchased in the next 1-2 weeks as business all the way for 216,000 for two adults is great value imo.

Plus the business class Fiji airways reviews seem quite good.

Happy to hear thoughts on Fiji v American Airlines as they also have some offers for rewards classic

I would take AA over FJ. Non-stop. AA is perfectly fine in business class.

 

[cjd600]

I would take AA over FJ. Non-stop. AA is perfectly fine in business class.

I'd agree to avoid the stopover.
FJ A350 Business looks great, but have not flown it.
AA 777 Business we (2 adults, 2 kids) flew SYD-LAX-SYD, and loved it. On award tickets. Row 3 and 4 mini-cabin, nice and quiet

 

[MelbourneBoy]

I'd agree to avoid the stopover.
FJ A350 Business looks great, but have not flown it.
AA 777 Business we (2 adults, 2 kids) flew SYD-LAX-SYD, and loved it. On award tickets. Row 3 and 4 mini-cabin, nice and quiet

Hi all

A quick update

My wife, daughter and I have booked two X business class flights on FJ A350, Sydney to SFO (one way).

216k QFF plus $300 taxes was money well spent.

An overnight flight as well which we would appreciate with a 18 month old.

Thanks everyone for your help. Now to look at return airfares