SYD to LAX in J - NAD Air Pacific or direct QF - Price difference worth it?

[nonpop]

Hi All,

Need to head over to LAX in August.
Have started flying J with QF and am enjoying it very much now that work is paying the bill.

But the August trip will be out of my own pocket.
So I'm now tossing up one idea which was to fly with Air Pacific.
Air Pacific is approx AUD6.2k vs QF AUD9k.

Now I appreciate they are very different products with Air Pacific more like QF Domestic J.

So am wondering if anyone has done it via Air Pacific and could advise their thoughts.

And no I'm not made of money, so cost / benefit is always a decision. I used to be able to do it economy and always hated it. Now I would hate it even more. But I think Air Pacific may be an interesting mid point.

P.S Am Qantas Gold so would want to ensure I pick up SCs for whatever travel I do vs not getting them and use lounges along the way if that helps (and no I can't do a points booking - this is pure cold hard cash).

Gracias

 

[ozmille]

Hi All,

Need to head over to LAX in August.
Have started flying J with QF and am enjoying it very much now that work is paying the bill.

But the August trip will be out of my own pocket.
So I'm now tossing up one idea which was to fly with Air Pacific.
Air Pacific is approx AUD6.2k vs QF AUD9k.

Now I appreciate they are very different products with Air Pacific more like QF Domestic J.

So am wondering if anyone has done it via Air Pacific and could advise their thoughts.

And no I'm not made of money, so cost / benefit is always a decision. I used to be able to do it economy and always hated it. Now I would hate it even more. But I think Air Pacific may be an interesting mid point.

P.S Am Qantas Gold so would want to ensure I pick up SCs for whatever travel I do vs not getting them and use lounges along the way if that helps (and no I can't do a points booking - this is pure cold hard cash).

Gracias

SYD-LAX-SYD on QF in J gives 360SC's
SYD-NAN-LAX-NAN-SYD gives 440SC's

Am not too sure about the difference if booking FJ flight numbers versus QF flight numbers on FJ changes this. I have just completed a NAN run and FJ J class is quite a bit better then QF domestic J you can be sure of that. A lot more space.

 

[concorde71]

Does not matter who you fly with in J, you will get lounge access. As for points......hmmmm put the dollar value on them, then consider, if you are already QF Gold, one J trip will set you up well on the way to DJ Gold, if you try VA. Just my two bobs worth, Id rather DJ/VA any day. But I will get flamed for that. As far as Im concerned, Skippy has lost touch with the real world.. 9K for a trip to LAX.... Also check JAL. You would be pleasantly surprised, and get status/ points as well. JUst a thought if you insist on staying with QF and being treated like cough.

 

[pshepvic]

The other option (which I mentioned in another thread this morning) is the deals through Amex Platinum Travel ($900 annual fee for the Platinum Charge card, but with significant savings off flights - and you might be able to negotiate a discount on the annual fee for the first year, especially if you already have a card with Amex).

They do single traveller fares with V Australia, Singapore, JAL and Delta, and companion/multiple traveller fares with Singapore, JAL, Delta, Emirates, and United.

Out of those, United is the only one that you're not guaranteed to get a flat bed in J.

 

[Austman]

The important thing here is to book separate tickets on Air Pacific. Fiji Holidays - Fiji Vacations - Air Pacific

Depending on the dates:

1. Business Class NAN-LAX-LAN is approximately AUD 1,850.00
2. Business Class NAN-SYD is approximately AUD 512.00
3. Business Class SYD-NAN is approximately AUD 675.00

Total for Business Class SYD-NAN-LAX-NAN-SYD is just over AUD 3,000.00

 

[Timtammi]

The other option (which I mentioned in another thread this morning) is the deals through Amex Platinum Travel ($900 annual fee for the Platinum Charge card, but with significant savings off flights - and you might be able to negotiate a discount on the annual fee for the first year, especially if you already have a card with Amex).

​

Are these really that good? I have had a plat charge card for years and did get quotes a few times a year or two ago but they weren't any better than I could get myself either with the same airline or cheaper with another, in other words the quotes I got wouldn't have saved me any money. After that I gave up asking as I figured it was all smoke and mirrors. Do you get points/SC's in the relevant programs when booking with them?

cheers

​

 

[markis10]

The important thing here is to book separate tickets on Air Pacific. Fiji Holidays - Fiji Vacations - Air Pacific

Depending on the dates:

1. Business Class NAN-LAX-LAN is approximately AUD 1,850.00
2. Business Class NAN-SYD is approximately AUD 512.00
3. Business Class SYD-NAN is approximately AUD 675.00

Total for Business Class SYD-NAN-LAX-NAN-SYD is just over AUD 3,000.00

+1, I glad someone beat me to pointing this out! Also if you are serious about the SCs, book the flights on the NAN SC run which is BNE-MEL-SYD-NAN for $675 and NAN-SYD-MEL-BNE for $512 booked on the AUS/Fiji QF sites, that puts you on 360SC just for getting to Fiji and back!

Dont forget you can do a stopover in SYD - so your journey can stop and start at SYD to go to LAX, you just have a BNE-MEL-SYD J leg to do before the trip and a SYD-MEL-BNE J trip to do after for no extra charge!

 

[ozmille]

The important thing here is to book separate tickets on Air Pacific. Fiji Holidays - Fiji Vacations - Air Pacific

Depending on the dates:

1. Business Class NAN-LAX-LAN is approximately AUD 1,850.00
2. Business Class NAN-SYD is approximately AUD 512.00
3. Business Class SYD-NAN is approximately AUD 675.00

Total for Business Class SYD-NAN-LAX-NAN-SYD is just over AUD 3,000.00

Just done a test in August all on QF flight numbers including taxes is AUD3655. Quite cost effective way to get to LA

 

[gumpy]

If you must fly a QF product get a ticket ex Auckland...

Go SYD AKL on a cheap ticket

THen AKL LAX SYD AKL and keep the last leg open. That will save you a decent amount as well...

 

[Austman]

Just done a test in August all on QF flight numbers including taxes is AUD3655. Quite cost effective way to get to LA

Yes now that you can set qantas.com to Fiji in the upper right corner.

Booking the QF numbers would get you into the Australian Flounges if you're WP.

 

[nonpop]

Ok some really good options are coming through. Thanks.
I think I will take the route via Nadi.

The price difference with Air Pacific seems acceptable vs the product.
Shame they aren't flat beds, but the break up of the journey should be fine.

 

[pshepvic]

One more option just to confuse things!

Jetstar *Class to Honolulu, then AA to LAX. Don't know the AA return price for a YUPP though from HNL, but JQ you might get a sale price depending on the dates.

 

[wandersen]

The seats on Air Pacific are "old school" but still very comfortable. I have no problem at all sleeping in them - lots of recline and a good footrest. The IFE is a bit second rate though ....

 

[flyinghightoday]

Jeez worked out a fare from ex MEL via SYD and NAN to LA, around $3400AUD and 520 SC's. Just need a double SC promo to go with it

 

[Stafman]

Have you considered Delta?

Booking 3 months out will get you J seats (flatbed, good meals / service / entertainment system etc) for about $6k.

Have flown the Business Elite on Delta for Syd-Lax quite a few times and am quite happy.

Extra benefit is seating configuration which is 4 x 1 seat. ie every seat is next to an aisle so no climbing over anyone / or someone climbing over you when asleep.

Its now my first choice over Qantas Business and has been since the first time I flew it 18 months ago.

 

[ejb]

Have you considered Delta?

Booking 3 months out will get you J seats (flatbed, good meals / service / entertainment system etc) for about $6k.

Have flown the Business Elite on Delta for Syd-Lax quite a few times and am quite happy.

Extra benefit is seating configuration which is 4 x 1 seat. ie every seat is next to an aisle so no climbing over anyone / or someone climbing over you when asleep.

Its now my first choice over Qantas Business and has been since the first time I flew it 18 months ago.

But as this will gather no SC's the OP would not be interested as they wish to get some SC's on the trip.

Good price however.

I would certainly do the FJ option and link it with the NAN run.

ejb

 

[ozmille]

But as this will gather no SC's the OP would not be interested as they wish to get some SC's on the trip.

Good price however.

I would certainly do the FJ option and link it with the NAN run.

ejb

Including JASA positioning flights from SYD it nets 720SC's...

 

[flyinghightoday]

Booking on the FJ website seems to bring the prices down a fraction more however they are all FJ number flights.

However booking FJ flight numbers should still allow the same earn rate as booking on the QF website with QF flight numbers?

Only difference I can gather would be that you wouldn't get status bonus for points however the class bonus would still apply.

 

[Stafman]

But as this will gather no SC's the OP would not be interested as they wish to get some SC's on the trip.

Good price however.

I would certainly do the FJ option and link it with the NAN run.

ejb

OP also said cost / benefit was a primary factor. Saving $3k over the Qantas J seats is worth more than the SC that are picked up IMO.

 

[ozmille]

OP also said cost / benefit was a primary factor. Saving $3k over the Qantas J seats is worth more than the SC that are picked up IMO.

So flying on FJ for 3600 and saving almost another 3000 (and getting some SC's) seems like the cheapest option