Qantas to Alaska via Hawaii. Possible?

[offshore171]

Any QF booking engine gurus want to have a crack at this one?

I'm looking at travelling SYD > HNL > ANC return in March or April with Qantas+Alaskan next year.

Qantas flies to HNL and Alaskan flies from there to ANC. Should be an easy one stopper right?

The Qantas booking engine doesn't like it.


Method 1 - Plug in SYD to ANC and let the system sort it out

The site always comes back with Sydney to SFO or LAX, then a connection to Seattle, and another flight from SEA to ANC. Long and messy.


Method 2 - Multi city booking.

Site hates this one, I think because of the international dateline thing. The HNL - ANC flight takes off "before" SYD-HNL. Played with a few variations and couldn't get a result.


Method 3 - Book Qantas SYD <> HNL and separately book Alaskan for HNL <> ANC.

This works, but being entirely separate tickets there's no protection for misconnects, cancellations etc.

Any ideas? Is this one of those book by phone things?

 

[defurax]

QF publishes the routing: e.g. "36. SYD-HNL-QF/AS-ANC". So you can call QF reservations or your travel agent to book it.

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Routing Search:
Departing SYD on 15/03/23 for ANC
Fare basis code SLX0A
Flying QF
Routing via Pacific

    V FARE BASIS     BK    FARE   TRAVEL-TICKET AP  MINMAX  RTG
  1   SLX0A          S R  1964.00     ----      -/ /12M PA01
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT                 AUTO PRICE-YES              
FROM-SYD TO-ANC    CXR-QF    TVL-15MAR23  RULE-3002 IPRP/3
FARE BASIS-SLX0A             SPECIAL FARE  DIS-E   VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-XEX      RT-REGULAR EXCURSION
AUD  2902.00  CONS  E27OCT22 D-INFINITY   FC-SLX0A  FN-AZ   
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 26OCT22/2308  EXPIRES INFINITY
 
**** CONSTRUCTED ROUTING SYD-ANC/QF      EF-27OCT22 DIS-INDEF
**PUBLISHED  SYD-LAX   TPRG/3    PUBLISHED ROUTING 0657
**ADDON DST      ANC   TPRG/3    PUBLISHED ROUTING 1412
 
/VIA THE PACIFIC/
 BETWEEN HNL AND KOA SURFACE SECTOR REQUIRED
 BETWEEN HNL AND LIH SURFACE SECTOR REQUIRED
 BETWEEN HNL AND OGG SURFACE SECTOR REQUIRED
DOM ROUTE VALIDATION APPLIES WITHIN US ONLY
MAP CONSTRUCTED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT
 1. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-LAX-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-
    QF/AS/AA-ANC
 2. SYD-SFO-QF/AA-LAX-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 3. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-LAX-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 4. SYD-MEL/BNE-LAX-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 5. SYD-LAX-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 6. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-
    QF/AS/AA-ANC
 7. SYD-SFO/LAX-QF/AS/AA-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 8. SYD-LAX-QF/AA-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
 9. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
10. SYD-MEL/BNE-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
11. SYD-SFO-QF/AS/AA-SEA/SAN/PDX-QF/AS/AA-ANC
12. SYD-YVR-WS/QF/AS-SEA-QF/AS/AA-ANC
13. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-LAX-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
14. SYD-SFO-QF/AA-LAX-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
15. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-LAX-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
16. SYD-MEL/BNE-LAX-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
17. SYD-LAX-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
18. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
19. SYD-SFO/LAX-QF/AS/AA-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
20. SYD-LAX-QF/AA-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
21. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
22. SYD-MEL/BNE-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
23. SYD-SFO-UA/QF/AS/AA-ANC
24. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-LAX-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-
    ANC
25. SYD-SFO-QF/AA-LAX-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
26. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-LAX-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
27. SYD-MEL/BNE-LAX-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
28. SYD-LAX-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
29. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-
    ANC
30. SYD-SFO/LAX-QF/AS/AA-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
31. SYD-LAX-QF/AA-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
32. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
33. SYD-MEL/BNE-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
34. SYD-SFO-QF/AA-SEA/PDX-QF/AA-ANC
35. SYD-YVR-WS/QF/AS-SEA-QF/AA-ANC
36. SYD-HNL-QF/AS-ANC
37. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-LAX-UA-ANC
38. SYD-SFO-QF/AA-LAX-UA-ANC
39. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-LAX-UA-ANC
40. SYD-MEL/BNE-LAX-UA-ANC
41. SYD-LAX-UA-ANC
42. SYD-HNL-OGG/LIH/KOA/HNL-QF/AS/AA-SFO-UA-ANC
43. SYD-SFO/LAX-QF/AS/AA-SFO-UA-ANC
44. SYD-LAX-QF/AA-SFO-UA-ANC
45. SYD-HNL-UA/QF/AS-SFO-UA-ANC
46. SYD-MEL/BNE-SFO-UA-ANC
47. SYD-SFO-UA-ANC
.

 

[jpp42]

You're trying to book a cash fare, right, not awards?

For method 2, I was able to get the outbound to work okay:



So I don't think the dateline issue is a problem there.

However, the return seems to require an overnight stopover in HNL - this is your expectation, right? That shouldn't be an issue for the mutli-city engine. So I'm not sure what's going wrong. I agree I couldn't get the full itinerary to price.

Incidentally, Google Flights says you have to call Qantas to book ANC-HNL-SYD although it does show this codeshare and fare are available.

 

[defurax]

I haven't read the entire fare rules, my guess is that HNL is only allowed on the outbound or inbound of the through fare.

 

[defurax]

Yes, HNL only allowed in one direction.

IF A FARE COMPONENT ON THE PRICING UNIT INCLUDES TRAVEL
BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND HNL THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY QF
FOR EITHER OUTBOUND OR INBOUND TRAVEL BUT NOT BOTH.

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Routing Search:
Departing SYD on 15/03/23 for ANC
Fare basis code HLX0A
Flying QF
Routing via Pacific

Rule Category                           Rule Text

RULE APPLICATION AND OTHER CONDITIONS      NOTE - THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS INFORMATIONAL AND NOT
                                           VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
                                           ECONOMY FLEX FARES
                                           FROM AUSTRALIA TO USA/MEXICO/CENTRAL AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
                                           APPLICATION
                                            AREA
                                             THESE FARES APPLY
                                              FROM AUSTRALIA
                                              TO AREA 1.
                                            CLASS OF SERVICE
                                             THESE FARES APPLY FOR ECONOMY CLASS SERVICE.
                                            TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
                                             FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
                                              ONE-WAY/ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.
                                            CAPACITY LIMITATIONS
                                             THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS
                                              CARRIED ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY
                                              THIS RULE AND SUCH FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE
                                              AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS. THE NUMBER OF SEATS,
                                              WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN
                                              FLIGHT, WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CARRIERS BEST
                                              JUDGEMENT.
                                            OTHER CONDITIONS
                                             FARES ONLY APPLY IF PURCHASED BEFORE DEPARTURE
                                             EXCEPT WHEN USED FOR ENROUTE UPGRADE FROM ANOTHER
                                             FARE PROVIDED ALL CONDITIONS OF THESE FARES ARE
                                             MET OR FOR ASSESSING THE REFUND OF A PARTIALLY
                                             TRAVELLED TICKET.
                                             ---
                                             THE OPERATING SCHEDULES OF PARTICIPATING CARRIERS
                                             MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. SERVICES
                                             TO SOME DESTINATIONS MAY BE OPERATED ON A SEASONAL
                                             BASIS.
                                             ---
                                             THE FARES ARE ROUTE BASED ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED
                                             ROUTE MAPS.
                                             ---
                                             THE PAYMENT OF PASSENGER EXPENSES ENROUTE DOES NOT
                                             APPLY.
                                        
ELIGIBILITY                                NO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS APPLY.
                                        
DAY/TIME                                   OUTBOUND -
                                             PERMITTED MON THROUGH THU ON EACH TRANSPACIFIC
                                             SECTOR.
                                           INBOUND -
                                             PERMITTED SUN THROUGH WED ON EACH TRANSPACIFIC
                                             SECTOR.
                                        
SEASONALITY                                PERMITTED 17JAN THROUGH 30MAR OR 12APR THROUGH 21JUN
                                           OR 10JUL THROUGH 14SEP OR 27SEP THROUGH 24NOV ON THE
                                           FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR. SEASON IS BASED ON DATE OF
                                           ORIGIN.
                                                 NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
                                                  FOR OJ JOURNEYS - AS IT IS THE DATE ON THE
                                                  OUTBOUND INTERNATIONAL SECTOR THAT DETERMINES THE
                                                  SEASONAL PERIOD FOR EACH HALF OF THE JOURNEY THE
                                                  RESULT MAY BE THAT DIFFERENT SEASONS APPLY
                                                  OUTBOUND AND INBOUND WHEN FARES WITH DIFFERENT
                                                  SEASONALITY ARE COMBINED.
                                        
FLIGHT APPLICATION                         THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
                                           TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR BUT NOT ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY FJ.
                                           AND
                                           IF A FARE COMPONENT ON THE PRICING UNIT INCLUDES TRAVEL
                                           BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND HNL THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY QF
                                               FOR EITHER OUTBOUND OR INBOUND TRAVEL BUT NOT BOTH.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY AM FLIGHT OPERATED BY AM
                                                   ANY AS FLIGHT OPERATED BY AS
                                                   ANY AV FLIGHT OPERATED BY AV
                                                   ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
                                                   ANY UA FLIGHT OPERATED BY UA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT.
                                                 NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
                                                  PERMITTED CARRIERS / AS PER ROUTE MAP.
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
                                           TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR BUT NOT ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY FJ.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL BETWEEN
                                           AUSTRALIA AND HNL.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY AM FLIGHT OPERATED BY AM
                                                   ANY AS FLIGHT OPERATED BY AS
                                                   ANY AV FLIGHT OPERATED BY AV
                                                   ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
                                                   ANY UA FLIGHT OPERATED BY UA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT.
                                                 NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
                                                  PERMITTED CARRIERS / AS PER ROUTE MAP.
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ.
                                           AND
                                           IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL WITHIN AREA 1
                                               THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
                                           TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT
                                                   ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA.
                                                 NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
                                                  PERMITTED CARRIERS / AS PER ROUTE MAP.
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ.
                                           AND
                                           IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL WITHIN AREA 1
                                               THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST NOT BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
                                           TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY FJ.
                                           AND
                                           THE PRICING UNIT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA NAN 
                                               FOR EITHER OUTBOUND OR INBOUND TRAVEL BUT NOT BOTH.
                                           AND
                                           THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
                                               ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
                                                   ANY QF FLIGHT
                                                   ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
                                                   ANY AM FLIGHT OPERATED BY AM
                                                   ANY AS FLIGHT OPERATED BY AS
                                                   ANY AV FLIGHT OPERATED BY AV
                                                   ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
                                                   ANY UA FLIGHT OPERATED BY UA.     
                                        
                                        .

 

[offshore171]

You're trying to book a cash fare, right, not awards?

Thanks,
Yes cash fare.

For method 2, I was able to get the outbound to work okay:

Interesting. The site threw an error when I tried that. Will give it another go.

So I don't think the dateline issue is a problem there.

However, the return seems to require an overnight stopover in HNL - this is your expectation, right?

Happy to do so. Even a few nights would be fine.

 

[offshore171]

Yes, HNL only allowed in one direction.

IF A FARE COMPONENT ON THE PRICING UNIT INCLUDES TRAVEL
BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND HNL THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY QF FLIGHT OPERATED BY QF
FOR EITHER OUTBOUND OR INBOUND TRAVEL BUT NOT BOTH.

Ok, so that would mean if we did the outbound as:

SYD > HNL > ANC

The return would have to be something like

ANC > SEA > LAX > SYD


Or vice versa and do HNL on the way back

Have I understood correctly? It strikes me as a very odd restriction. I wonder what is the rationale behind it?

 

[defurax]

Ok, so that would mean if we did the outbound as:

SYD > HNL > ANC

The return would have to be something like

ANC > SEA > LAX > SYD


Or vice versa and do HNL on the way back

Have I understood correctly? It strikes me as a very odd restriction. I wonder what is the rationale behind it?

Yes, it appears QF transpacific fares when they allow transit via NAN, HNL or PPT it is always in only one direction. You can look at post #2 for all allowed routings not via HNL.

 

[jpp42]

It strikes me as a very odd restriction. I wonder what is the rationale behind it?

I suspect the fares are a template of those used for most US domestic destinations, neglecting the fact that ANC is in quite a different location. They are probably trying to make sure you stay on QF metal as much as possible, while still allowing you the option to go via HNL as a holiday stopover. It's to avoid bleeding too much traffic to codeshare partners to do things like SYD-HNL-DEN or SYD-HNL-ATL or whatever when they'd prefer you to go via LAX.

 

[offshore171]

I suspect the fares are a template of those used for most US domestic destinations, neglecting the fact that ANC is in quite a different location. They are probably trying to make sure you stay on QF metal as much as possible, while still allowing you the option to go via HNL as a holiday stopover. It's to avoid bleeding too much traffic to codeshare partners to do things like SYD-HNL-DEN or SYD-HNL-ATL or whatever when they'd prefer you to go via LAX.

Got it. That actually makes sense, even if it's a little anticompetitive.

.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies if not appropriate, but consider going to a travel agent to book exactly what you want rather what the airline wants. It won't cost any more and they can do a LOT more than web site bookings can. And if the airlines change stuff on you, they sort it out.

By TA, I don't mean Flight Centre or on-line jobs.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I would be curious what something like a SYD > HNL return and HNL > ANC return would price out as versus a roundtrip or (heaven forbid) multi city SYD > HNL > ANC > HNL > SYD? I would assume that it would be cheaper to book the two returns independently than to force a routing via HNL due to the way fares price out. Then again, as others point out you don't have protection against mis-connections. However, if you do space out the flights enough that shouldn't be much of an issue (i.e. 1-2 day layover in HNL each way). I understand that would result in added costs but on the other hand it would make travelling such distances in whY more tolerable!

-RooFlyer88

 

[offshore171]

Apologies if not appropriate, but consider going to a travel agent to book exactly what you want rather what the airline wants. It won't cost any more and they can do a LOT more than web site bookings can. And if the airlines change stuff on you, they sort it out.

By TA, I don't mean Flight Centre or on-line jobs.

Definitely open to it, but wouldn't they still be ultimately bound by the fare basis conditions as per the expertflyer extracts above?

 

[offshore171]

I would be curious what something like a SYD > HNL return and HNL > ANC return would price out as versus a roundtrip

From what Ive found so far, the HNL<>ANC return booked direct with Alaskan is pretty reasonable.

However the QF SYD<>HNL is extremely expensive.

or (heaven forbid) multi city SYD > HNL > ANC > HNL > SYD? I would assume that it would be cheaper to

This is the combination that doesn't appear to work. Booking engine rejects it and the rules appear to not allow it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Definitely open to it, but wouldn't they still be ultimately bound by the fare basis conditions as per the expertflyer extracts above?

Possibly#, but they can also look at other options for you and can join up sectors from different airlines etc.

# They CAN get fare rules broken. My long time-TA got an exception for me where I returned to Nth America after visiting Sth America from Nth America on a RTW fare. Called the airline and asked and got an OK. Now, I don't try it regularly, but a good TA has a direct line to airlines who can make these sorts of decisions.

 

[justinbrett]

However the QF SYD<>HNL is extremely expensive.

Y or J?

If Y, it’s much cheaper to book QF return to HNL and book HNL-ANC separately. HNL return is usually around 1K, anything to the mainland is closer to or more than 2K.

J to HNL is expensive.

 

[madrooster]

Is there a particular reason for going via HNL in both directions? The connections in both directions are poor, assuming no desire to stop in HNL.

If you're trying to cut down the number of connections, you could go ANC-LAX-SYD, although be warned AS may refuse to through check to QF as you would have a >12h connection.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

One question for the OP to consider: is there a specific reason why you want to fly QF specifically up to HNL? The reason I ask is there are other airlines who may provide non-stop service either cheaper (i.e. JetStar) or better (i.e. Hawaiian) than QF. With the former, you can add Qantas status credits provided you book a Starter Plus, Starter Max, or Business Max fare. You would also have QF lounge access on departure at SYD and HNL. With the latter, you can credit the flight to Virgin Australia where you could earn quite a few status credits.

Having flown JQ from SYD to HNL back in May, I would make the argument that it may even be better than QF for a couple of reasons. First, the JQ flight is operating on a 787 which is way more modern than the dinosaur QF uses on that route (an A330) including higher humidity to reduce the amount of jet lag one gets from these flights. Second, the flight gets in super early (6 AM) meaning you aren't dealing with other international arrivals which can slow down baggage, immigration and customs. Third, if this is being booked out as a classic award booking you would need fewer points to make the booking requiring only 26,000 points each way versus 31,500 points each way (remember all QF classic awards include checked baggage, even on JQ)

-RooFlyer88

 

[offshore171]

One question for the OP to consider: is there a specific reason why you want to fly QF specifically up to HNL? The reason I ask is there are other airlines who may provide non-stop service either cheaper (i.e. JetStar) or better (i.e. Hawaiian) than QF.

Thanks, yes entirely open to other airlines.

Hawaiian is an option, but I'm not keen to put Jetstar on the table at this stage. There's been widely reported issues with cancellations and multi-day delays on JQ International sectors. This is particularly problematic when it forms part of a longer journey.

Other options I've looked at
AA throws an error for SYD <> ANC
United goes SYD > SFO > DEN (denver colorado) > ANC. Ouch

 

[offshore171]

Is there a particular reason for going via HNL in both directions? The connections in both directions are poor, assuming no desire to stop in HNL.

Looking to stopover on the way back.

If you're trying to cut down the number of connections, you could go ANC-LAX-SYD, although be warned AS may refuse to through check to QF as you would have a >12h connection.

I wouldn't mind that routing on the way over, but the site wants to keep adding Seattle. If I could get a LAX>ANC non stop that would work.