Routes for MEL - North America

[apatheia]

Hi all,

I'm trying to ascertain travel routes to North America for a year end trip. Departing Melbourne, choices of arrival points to be one of these -> San Francisco / NY / Vancouver. At the moment, ANA and Aeroplan aren't really giving me availability for business connections (they are all mixed and UA flights are only coming up!).

What routes have you traveled to North America? How many DMs for business? I've only ever been to Europe and they were 120k - about the same?

It's strange how TG / NZ routes aren't coming up despite playing with dates (from Mar to Nov). Anyone having same issues?

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you

 

[*A Flyer]

North America is 110K in Biz. It sounds like you may be searching too far in advance. Most programs only let you book 330days out. As for getting to North America, I'd be very surprised if you have issues. Availability directly across the Pacific can be difficult but you can find seats on UA to SFO or LAX and occasionally NZ via AKL to LAX/SFO/YVR. That said, you can fly via ICN with OZ (SYD-ICN-SFO/LAX/SEA/ORD/JFK) or connect via Europe to the east coast. SYD-BKK-Europe-North America is a tried and true routing with TG and UA/OS/LH/AC/US TATL. Do a bit of searching from gateway to gateway using beta.awardtravelr.com and see what comes up.

 

[neon_crossing]

Have travelled the MEL/SYD/BNE > AKL > LAX with NZ and MEL/SYD > LAX with UA and SEA > ICN > SYD with OZ. If you can try to get the Air New Zealand as I believe they offer the best service for J out of those 3. They do fly via HNL out of AKL as well if you are stuck. I found the North American routes to be the hardest. Also a bit of running around but I do believe Air NZ go via PVG as well. Most people I see book from MEL using TG via BKK. It really depends how long you want to stay in the air. The most direct route would be MEL > SYD > SFO/LAX on UA I reckon, not a bad seat but service not as good as NZ or OZ.

Also check out Air Canada I do believe they fly out of Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo to Vancouver so if you can make it to there via Air China, Asiana or Ana it might be another option worth looking at.

 

[apatheia]

Thanks for both your comments. You're right A flyer, I'm searching way too far in advance (got a wee bit excited planning for possible future holidays).

I'll just have to see what comes up. So far, I've never really heard much of a positive review of UA...

 

[mushypeas]

if you find any tricks apatheia, please share as i'm keen to book this fairly soon too!

i've found 1x first class with united but need 2 tickets !!

 

[burmans]

if you find any tricks apatheia, please share as i'm keen to book this fairly soon too!

i've found 1x first class with united but need 2 tickets !!

I went to NYC via ICN on OZ and back with AC via Vancouver. Air NZ may be good but v. hard to get, they reputedly only release 2 months out. I thought both OZ and AC were fine, in fact OZ food/service were as good as I have got and AC were very good to. Took the UA flight ICN - SFO - EWR, UA are best avoided IMO.

 

[mushypeas]

UA certainly aren't preferred but they are the most direct.... I really only want maximum one stop - worse case MEL > SIN > LAX or BKK > LAX etc ... only going to the West coast.

 

[alieninperth]

Check out the route explorer on award nexus (https://awardnexus.com/lab/route). Single stop only offers a few routes, 2 stops offers alot more. when you have the route, plug it into the united website and see what comes up. A quick search for June this year shows availablity in F and J (route is MEL-SYD-LAX)

 

[mushypeas]

great suggestion, appreciate it - only thing to confuse things is i'm booking with lifemiles instead of USDM

 

[NDiddy]

What routes have you traveled to North America? How many DMs for business? I've only ever been to Europe and they were 120k - about the same?

Hi apatheia,

I just recently booked the following: SYD-LAX-ICN-BKK-SYD. SYD-LAX was in UA J as there was no availability in F. It was pretty hard to find the direct UA flight in J or F but as others have mentioned OZ is a great option via ICN to LAX/SFO/ORD (with an internal flight to NYC).

Another option is to see if you can get a SYD-YVR on AC. Their J is pretty decent and I've flown the outlaws on that route twice now however availability can be very hit and miss. Your options out of MEL are going to be very limited unless you can find UA availability. Consider paying for a flight to SYD where more options open up.

Hope that helps.