SYD - LAX alternatives to Qantas

[elanshin]

Yes @elanshin living in Perth means we don’t go backwards when we fly to Singapore.
I couldn’t get my Resmed sleep machine to run on American 777 from SYD to LAX in first class so I won’t go longhaul with them again.
QF product is way under the standard that we are used to getting so I don’t use them for redemption flights.
Singapore Air,Qatar and Emirates have better product.
We use St George , US Chase and US Amex to get Kris Miles as they don’t have earn limits.

Mainly for OP as they're asking for SYD - LAX and I personally don't think it makes any sense to go 8h backwards just to fly SQ. PER-LAX I would totally agree with.

Yeh I did notice this too. I'm going to review a number of airlines now I've got all my points calculations worked out to decide is time vs cost worth it.

I've always opposed UA. I just feel they're a very 3rd tier carrier. But once again that's my bias towards Qantas coming in

If you don't want to go US big 3 or QF, then FJ (on QFF) or HA (VFF atm but very soon to be QFF) might be a better 1 stop option?

Or Tokyo with the Japanese airlines?

 

[big_RED]

If you don't want to go US big 3 or QF, then FJ (on QFF) or HA (VFF atm but very soon to be QFF) might be a better 1 stop option?

Or Tokyo with the Japanese airlines?

I would be happy with Delta or American. But I currently don't see a way of earning points in either unless I have a US credit card? Qantas doesn't seem to show any AA award seats for instance.

I also thought about Fijian Airlines, but once again Qantas wasn't showing any availability. However Americans search results were. So I'm unsure how to book that via Qantas if that's where I keep my points?

 

[masco131]

I would be happy with Delta or American. But I currently don't see a way of earning points in either unless I have a US credit card? Qantas doesn't seem to show any AA award seats for instance.

I also thought about Fijian Airlines, but once again Qantas wasn't showing any availability. However Americans search results were. So I'm unsure how to book that via Qantas if that's where I keep my points?

AA are part of one world and mostly have availability close in. You can book AA with Qantas definitely.
Those seats you can see on their website are most likely the points +pay option like CR+ that Qantas has.

FJ used to release one seat like a year out. I have not checked them recently so can’t comment on what’s going on with that. Maybe search from NAN-DFW and NAN-SFO

 

[WilsonM]

Would strongly suggest churning VA point-earning credit cards, and then being flexible for Aus-US ports. United often release Business Class availability from Australia-USA about 3 months prior to departure (can be different, especially around high demand periods). But, this also gives you the option to transfer to SQ if you want certainty earlier/can't find the UA availability.

Yeah, you may have to fly to SFO or IAH instead, or perhaps from BNE/MEL or even AKL. But mostly in J is better than none in J!

Also, the carrier charges are significantly less on United than Qantas.

If you have a Qantas balance, you could either try for Japan Airlines, or wait till close to departure for perhaps an award ticket on AA. Either that, or Qantas may bless us with a seat release.

 

[big_RED]

AA are part of one world and mostly have availability close in. You can book AA with Qantas definitely.
Those seats you can see on their website are most likely the points +pay option like CR+ that Qantas has.

FJ used to release one seat like a year out. I have not checked them recently so can’t comment on what’s going on with that. Maybe search from NAN-DFW and NAN-SFO

Do you mean Qantas likely shows AA but close to the departure date?
Fijian had a number of flights visible on the AA search. 0 on Qantas.

Would strongly suggest churning VA point-earning credit cards, and then being flexible for Aus-US ports. United often release Business Class availability from Australia-USA about 3 months prior to departure (can be different, especially around high demand periods). But, this also gives you the option to transfer to SQ if you want certainty earlier/can't find the UA availability.

The issue similar to masco131's comment above for me is that planning an international holiday 3mths out is just too risky. Potentially 0 seats available, increased flight costs, increased hotel costs. I suppose Ive been conditioned to Qantas "35x days out" for award bookings and always book the holidays a year in advance...

Yeah, you may have to fly to SFO or IAH instead, or perhaps from BNE/MEL or even AKL. But mostly in J is better than none in J!

Fully agree. Just need to get the wife onboard. And with a little one as well... The more direct route the better.

Also, the carrier charges are significantly less on United than Qantas.

If you have a Qantas balance, you could either try for Japan Airlines, or wait till close to departure for perhaps an award ticket on AA. Either that, or Qantas may bless us with a seat release.

The cheaper carrier charges are definitely a huge positive that's for sure!

We have 1.5mil Qantas points so we could just take the hit and use them on 1 X CR+ (~880,000 for 2 to Dallas). Or we keep them for domestic J on Qantas. I kind of don't want to give them to Qantas to be another data point for a "happy customer using points for CR+"!

 

[WilsonM]

Do you mean Qantas likely shows AA but close to the departure date?
Fijian had a number of flights visible on the AA search. 0 on Qantas.


The issue similar to masco131's comment above for me is that planning an international holiday 3mths out is just too risky. Potentially 0 seats available, increased flight costs, increased hotel costs. I suppose Ive been conditioned to Qantas "35x days out" for award bookings and always book the holidays a year in advance...


Fully agree. Just need to get the wife onboard. And with a little one as well... The more direct route the better.


The cheaper carrier charges are definitely a huge positive that's for sure!

We have 1.5mil Qantas points so we could just take the hit and use them on 1 X CR+ (~880,000 for 2 to Dallas). Or we keep them for domestic J on Qantas. I kind of don't want to give them to Qantas to be another data point for a "happy customer using points for CR+"!

Makes sense - but to face reality, its going to be hard to find 3 seats in J going forward, regardless of what program - even SQ doesn't always release more than 2 Saver to LAX from SIN, for example. A simple tactic could be booking Y to lock in dates and flights, allowing you to plan hotels, and set some alerts on Seats.aero or something like this for any J on those specific dates. Cancellation fees on both QF and VA are pretty minimal.

But yeah, realistically you're probably only going to get a WP/P1 seat release for J to the US in that 9-12 month prior to departure window. Just the way QF seems to be going

 

[cove]

Because SQ have multiple flights you can consider splitting into 2 flights of two on the same day or next day.