Tips for booking SYD to LAX in business with points

[billmurray]

Hi All,

We have accumulated appx 450k VFF points so far and should have another 100k by the end of the year. We are looking to book a return trip to the US within the next year and a bit and are hoping to snag 2x return business class tickets to LAX. Our intent is to book the entire ticket with points.

Does anyone have any recommendations for this? A cursory search on Virgin couldn't find a single reward flights (i have seem them before for appx 110k one way?). Are there a number of known indirect routes we could take that could make the flight cheaper with Singapore Air perhaps? Obviously our preference is to fly direct but cant be picky with reward seats.

Furthermore is it easier to score a business class upgrade if you purchase the ticket outright then upgrade (appx 45k points?)

We are aiming to travel during the snow season for appx 5/6weeks, departing SYD anywhere from Feb - 2nd week of march and then leaving the US in April.

Thanks in advance.

 

[andyhui01]

Availability is very poor but if you keep checking from now for about a month. Something might pop up. Most likely one seat though.

you will need to be VA Gold or Plat to upgrade but your chances are not better by doing an upgrade. You are getting the same fare bucket. (Unless you need to travel regardless and you can wait list but you will only know 2-3 days before your flight)

most of here have seen additional reward seats pop up at T+ 30-45 days out as well

 

[PPOW]

Availability for AUS-USA is hard work. I was looking for J availability in January and nothing opened up upon release, I guess VA think they can sell those seats instead. Ended up converting points to KrisFlyer and booking with Singapore air.

Start looking into KrisFlyer now, availability should be starting to open up for your dates.

 

[JK1964]

Hi Billmuraay. I did mange to snag one Bne-Lax-Syd for June with points and paid for the other pax, but it was a case of perserverence and checking almost daily to see what was available and also being a little flexible with dates helped.

 

[Dannyism]

Don't do an upgrade. Book maximum days out, 330 or 355 or whatever it is. Be willing to leave and return on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Consider going in the shoulder season.

It can be done, don't give up.

 

[billmurray]

So had a look a Singapore air,

It appears they have considerably more options, and by that i mean i can actually find some reward seats!

This flight is going for 200,000 Kris miles + $1200AUD pp which equates roughly to 270,014 velocity points. This seems like pretty good value?

The flight is appx 30hrs round trip each way.

What are peoples thoughts?

 

[Dannyism]

Yeah I had a look and can't see any availability either.

Try calling up the call center, they are quite helpful. Ask if there is some bug in the system and no reward seats are being released? Try going from MEL instead?

It's a lot more points, dollars and time to go with SQ. However yes, plenty of availability. Be aware that on the 23rd of march the number of points required will go up about 15-25% and fees will come down to a couple of hundred dollars.

I assume you are going to the states in May-September for the good weather. You have plenty of time so keep reading and researching. You will get there.

 

[billmurray]

I assume you are going to the states in May-September for the good weather. You have plenty of time so keep reading and researching. You will get there.

I am aiming to book for this time next year. I just came back from an overseas holiday yesterday, and although its very rushed i am hoping to book flights in the next two weeks for Feb onwards next year.

 

[juliusg]

It's become almost impossible, in my opinion. I redeemed annually until 2015 when I could not find a flight in J anywhere near my travel dates, and that was 11 months out. Since then, scarce as hens teeth. It has greatly devalued my loyalty, I am still Plat but seriously flexible now about where I spend.

 

[Charleston]

So for what it's worth, I managed to book return flights PER => LAX business class return on my preferred dates in December - January so they are out there!

You're likely doing this already, but look at the flights as one way (not return) as there won't be any flights out for April yet, and just keep looking.

Unfortunately there isn't really any tricks, just persistence I was checking flights daily until I was lucky enough to find availability.

 

[PPOW]

So for what it's worth, I managed to book return flights PER => LAX business class return on my preferred dates in December - January so they are out there!

You're likely doing this already, but look at the flights as one way (not return) as there won't be any flights out for April yet, and just keep looking.

Unfortunately there isn't really any tricks, just persistence I was checking flights daily until I was lucky enough to find availability.

that's pretty impressive! I have been looking for January (ended up going with SQ) but never found bookable J reward to the east coast ports. Had seats show up on the rare occasion but it always flaked out when I went to confirm the booking.

Glad you've managed to get something!

 

[ozjuice]

I don't believe they release them at the 11 month period. I booked mine about 9 months prior to flying and there were actually quite a lot of choice. Looking at Jan / Feb 2018 there's none but Nov 2017 there's heaps.

 

[djchuckles]

I'd go with the SQ option but do it before March 21 as the 15% online discount is going and the number of points required is going up