How to Snag a $19,000 First Class Ticket to Australia with Amex, Capital One, & Citi Points

April 2024
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Or take the family in Business Class with points or 48% off with cash

Ladies and gentlemen, or as we say Down Under, blokes and sheilas, g’day. It’s your FCF Aussie correspondent Dazza Dundee (no relation).
Now my mate Bennett tells me that some of you are fair dinkum busting to come down here for a holiday, and I can’t blame you. Look at me, I’ve just been for a dip at the lagoon and I’m on my way for a barbie at my mate Speedbump’s house. They call him that because people go out of their way to avoid him. A barbie is a BBQ by the way. I thought I’d better mention that.

Settlement Cove Lagoon on the beach on sunny day, Redcliffe, Brisbane, Australia

Anyway, there’s plenty of sun and sand to share, and we love you Yanks even if you drive on the wrong side of the road.

Now I know it costs a lot of cabbage to get here, so Bennett has found a way — even if you want to bring your other half and a couple of sprogs! That’s right, award availability for up to two seats in First Class and up to four seats in Business Class. That’s a dead-set beauty. Crikey — come on down!

Ripper Deal: 2x First Class Tickets with Points or 4x Business Class

Consider that fares Down Under can run $19,000+ in First Class and $9,946+ in Business Class to the South Pacific. Starve the lizards!

Qantas is an Amex partner, so you can buy points at 2.5 cents each and you'd still save up to $11,103/56%. Mate, I could buy a ute with that.

First Class Savings

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It’s a dead-set steal, saving up to 56% in First Class or 48% in Business Class.

Business Class Savings

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And the Uluru-sized news flash to share is that we found First Class seats for two on the Los Angeles-Sydney route using 162,800 miles each way (which you can get via points transfers with Amex, Capital One, and Citi).

Oh, and we love kids here at FCF, so we’re a great source for finding award seat availability. See our Sweet Redeems alert in the FCF newsroom.

And to that point, we found Business Class seats for 4+ travelers on the Los Angeles-Brisbane route using 108,400 Qantas miles each way, and award seats for 2+ travelers from Dallas and Los Angeles to Melbourne and New York to Auckland.

Here’s a look at FCF’s treasure chest:

Qantas First Class Award Availability Trends

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Qantas Business Class Award Availability Trends

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BTW…When we checked Qantas partners we did not find any award seat availability in First or Business Class.

Award space always comes and goes, so keep your eye out for the best deals and be ready to chuck your boomerang to clock a deal. If your current itinerary does not meet all your requirements, there’s a chance you booked backwards. You can always upgrade closer to your travel date.

Well, it’s been bloody great chatting with you, but I’ve gotta get to Speedbump’s place for the barbie. He’s cooking chops and snags. I know Australia is expensive to get to, but once you make it here, trust me you’ll love it. And now that Bennett’s on the case, it’s easier to get to than ever.

I’ll see you Down Under.

[["Route","Amex Partner Cost R/T","Cost of Miles at 2.5 Cents","Total Cost Including Award Ticket Taxes","Typical Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Los Angeles-Sydney","325,600","$8,140","$8,667","$19,770","$11,103","56%"]]
[["Route","Amex Partner Cost R/T","Cost of Miles at 2.5 Cents","Total Cost Including Award Ticket Taxes","Typical Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Dallas-Melbourne","253,000","$6,325.00","$6,852.00","$13,302","$6,450","48%"],["Los Angeles-Brisbane","216,800","$5,420.00","$5,947.00","$10,235","$4,288","42%"],["Los Angeles-Melbourne","216,800","$5,420.00","$5,947.00","$10,232","$4,285","42%"],["Los Angeles-Sydney","216,800","$5,420.00","$5,947.00","$9,946","$3,999","40%"],["New York-Auckland","253,000","$6,325.00","$6,919.00","$9,727","$2,808","29%"]]
[["\n\nQantas First Class","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Los Angeles - Sydney","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov., Dec., Feb., March</span>","Nov.","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov., Dec., Feb., March</span>","Nov.",""]]
<small>Months in black have at least one seat available; <span style="color: #6699cc;">in blue</span>. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile…</small>
[["\n\nQantas Business Class","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Dallas-Melbourne","Aug., Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Dec.,</span> Feb., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March</span>","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov.,</span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March</span>","",""],["Los Angeles-Brisbane","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.,</span> Jan.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., Dec.,</span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.</span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct. to Dec., Feb., March</span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,</span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.</span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.</span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Nov.,</span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.,</span> Feb., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March</span>"],["Los Angeles-Melbourne","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.,</span> Feb., March","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.</span>","Dec.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.,</span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,</span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March</span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.</span>","Oct., Nov."],["Los Angeles-Sydney","Oct., Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.</span>","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.,</span> Dec.","Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.</span>",""],["New York-Auckland","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.</span>","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.</span>",""]]
<small>Months in black have at least one seat available; <span style="color: #6699cc;">in blue</span>, at least two seats; <span style="color: #009966;">in green</span>, at least four seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile…</small>