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Just currently weighing up a flight from LAX – SYD 23 Sep at the moment and trying to weigh up the differences between aircraft if anyone has any thoughts.
AA73 is a 777 which I am leaning towards taking due to a 45 minute shorter layover time from arriving flight from LAS however QF12 is on a A380. Usually my preference of aircraft however flying in Economy (Due to only having just about enough points for Economy) and have never flown QF or AA before.
Would the 777 be a much newer aircraft as opposed to the product that would be on offer on the older A380 or am I bring to over analytical on something pretty irrelevant
A380 is a lower cabin altitude aircraft and the B777 isn’t. I’d choose the A380.
A380 is usually a much nicer experience in economy also – 777 10 abreast is pretty miserable on a full flight
That was my initial thoughts but where travelling with new airlines I have been really over thinking what really should be a simple decision. Now for the painstaking call to BA to get it booked as of course the website doesn’t work to book that option
+ 1 for the Qantas A380. I find the A380 much more comfortable than any 777. Also, the Qantas cabin crew are often really good on their LAX – SYD flights, even in economy, and that makes a real difference on such a long flight.
QF 12 shows as available on September 23 for economy awards on both the AA web-site and the QF web-site, so you should be able to book it via BA.
Another consideration could be having a back-up plan in the unlikely event of a flight cancellation. Qantas also have evening flights to both Melbourne and Brisbane, with onward connections to Sydney.
And finally, there may be something to be said for starting off your visit on the national airline and making the journey part of your experience of Australia.
One other thing you should check is cost of this flight on BA vs QR or Finnair as you can move your avios between all 3. You may find surcharges are lower on QR or Finnair than BA
Thanks all for the opinions. Decision made, QF12 here we come.
I hadn’t considered checking QR/Finnair. Would make sense as I am utilizing the QR Bonus scheme just released today to bridge the small gap I have so its definitely worth checking. I will report back my findings
Findings is, QR don’t show the QF12 as available on their portal = only the AA73 and is 51k Avios as opposed to options at 28k via BA so BA cheaper on this one but its a good exercise
A 45 minute LAX transfer is not long as usually at LAX you have to collect your luggage and recheck it back in, so a longer layover on the Qantas flight would be safer.
It actually would be 3 hours in total. The QF flight would be an additional 45 minutes as opposed to the AA FLIGHT
Ahh yes as you’ve chosen the QF flight, I think because of the sour relationship between QR/QF QF block their reward seats to QR
Probably not motivational for QF then, that QR has just taken something like a 20-25% onership in their competitor Virgin Australia.
Anything that shakes Qantas up in their monopoly-like complacency and overcharging is good for me. Their behaviour over simply refusing to refund the flights they cancelled during Covid hasn’t been forgotten. The place for them to get finance if needed was their bank on commercial terms or by other commercial methods, not by abusing consumers.
Yes and annoyingly it is no longer available via BA portal either which is even more annoying! My own fault for procrastinating and not getting things done sooner. Its not like ive had 4 months to book these flights haha.
AA73 for me, pending aircraft review 🙂
SO what an absolute disaster this has been trying to book this seat!
BA show availability for 23 SEP LAS LAX SYD in Y for 24,700 + 460.30 in tax. I was around 2500 avios short so purchase 3000 avios to bridge the gap. Try and book and met with error that you cant book this fare please contact BA.
Contact BA, they say flight is sold out although still shows 3 seats. I advise them that it is showing available as i am looking at it online right now. BA rep essentially calls me a liar. Says 1905 from LAS LAX is sold out.
I check availability on single route LAS LAX and shows available on 1905 which was advised previously sold out by BA rep. Was advised to book at 12000 avios and LAX SYD would be booked by BA rep and added to the booking.
BA rep then advised i didnt have enough avios to book the other flight LAX SYD showing at 18050 so would need to buy more!!
Back and forth then continues as i ask why i cant just book the flight i can see on the BA website.
BA rep then says… BA/AA doesnt allow this flight to be booked as a through ticket. Now without trying to sound like a condescending so and so, i work in the travel industry. I know how it works, you can book that exact flight 1905 LAS LAX connecting with 2305 LAX SYD should you wish to pay cash. It is plenmty over the minimum connecting time.
Long story short i am holding a seat currently at $1400 instead of booking the exact seat that is currently STILL showing available on the BA avios portal at 11.47pm SYD time.
Can anyone give their opinion on how to proceed trying to book this seat? After an hour and 51 min phone call i have made a complaint with BA but right now that doesnt get me very far.
HUACA – hang up and call again. And hope you get somebody better.
It looks as if BA may be correct here. As you may or may not know, BA can usually only book awards on flights that are offered by AA at the lowest mileage levels, so that may be the problem here. And even if they could book them individually, they may not be able to mix different types of mileage level on the two flights to create a single through award.
I’ve just checked your date and route on both the AA and QF systems, which can be done without logging in, unlike on BA. They both show the 19:05 connection costing more than the earlier 17:30 connection, which implies that it is probably not available for BA to book as a normal connecting flight. Have you already asked about the 17:30 flight? If not, it could be worth trying.
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