The Cheapest Business Class Round-Trip I Ever Found to Australia? Maybe This $2,232 One

September 2023
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How + where relentless upgraders who’ve already purchased and spontaneous travelers can save up to 79% on Air New Zealand, American, Qantas, and United flights

Who is this article for?

#1: Those who have already booked a ticket to the South Pacific and are still looking to “upgrade” their trip. I put “upgrade” in quotes because our definition of upgrade is improving your travel situation.

In the last few issues of The Upgrade Advisor, we’ve found great examples of “iterative upgrading,” which is the art of improving your flight circumstances even after you’ve booked. That continues here for people who’ve already booked to the South Pacific but suffer from the nagging feeling that they could have done better.

#2: Last-minute bookers are always on the lookout for a gleaming sunset deal. “Last minute” to the other side of the world, you say? Darn right.

Pain Points or Are They?

Sure, it takes longer to get to places like Australia and New Zealand, but it's just more hours on a plane. Don’t let that trick you into thinking the entire trip is somehow a bigger affair. It takes the same time to plan and book as, say, a trip to London. It just seems bigger because it’s farther.

And it’s purely for that very reason — distance — that you want to do it right. You don’t want to be flying in coach, but you don’t want your retirement savings gouged out of your account, either.

Attention Story Collectors

This is for story collectors. The South Pacific region is prime territory for that. Tell the kids or grandkids about the crocs in Australia’s Kakadu National Park, the impossibly turquoise lakes in New Zealand’s South Island, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or experiencing the bubbling mud pools of Rotorua, New Zealand.

But that’s where the story could take an iffy plot turn. Both fares and mileage tickets to the South Pacific can easily cost an arm, a leg, and a grass skirt.

Below are samples of typical Business Class fares and mileage costs to Australia and New Zealand for context.

Fares

Business Class Airfares Aren’t Cheap:

To Australia:

Qantas’ round-trip flights from Los Angeles typically go for $10,142 to Brisbane and $10,136 to Melbourne.

American’s round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Sydney typically go for $9,867.

United’s round-trip flights from Los Angeles typically go for $10,136 to Melbourne and $10,100 to Sydney. From San Francisco, $9,375 to Melbourne and $10,136 to Sydney.

To New Zealand:

Air New Zealand’s typical round-trip flights to Auckland from Houston go for $7,672, and from Los Angeles and San Francisco for $8,772.

United’s round-trip flights to Auckland from San Francisco typically go for $10,860.

Booking with Miles

Business Class Mileage Rates Aren’t Cheap Either:

Take a look at the screenshot below of American Airlines, which is charging 673,000+ miles round-trip for a Business Class award ticket!

Solution: Look for Great, Then Iterate

Today we have savings on Air New Zealand, American, Qantas, and United, using their own miles and booking with their partner miles.

No Miles? No Problem!

The table below is key, as it shows how you can iterate yourself to a far better deal. Thanks to the lockdown, there are generally little or no penalties for canceling a ticket. Instead of losing money, you simply use the value on a future flight within a 12-month period. So, if you have a ticket and are grumbling about its cost or in a class of service lower than you’d like, book a better ticket and cancel the old one.

–The Qantas Strategy–

The strategy is to buy the miles required for your South Pacific adventure — if you don't have the miles already — from a partner airline versus buying the Qantas ticket directly. For example, you can save up to 78% with Alaska for the Los Angeles-Brisbane route if you buy miles when on sale. If you buy miles when they are not on sale, you can still save up to $6,690 / 66%.

But Bennett, which partner should I use? Some Qantas partners do not offer the same or any award space on Qantas Business Class flights for close-in travel.

Qantas partners Alaska, American, and Cathay Pacific have similar mileage availability for Qantas flights. More on this below.

Sample Qantas Partner Mileage Costs

Here are the mileage costs for partners Alaska, American, and Cathay Pacific for Qantas’ Los Angeles-Brisbane route.

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Qantas’ Partners Business Class Mileage Award Seat Trends

For award-seat availability on Qantas for Los Angeles-Brisbane and Los Angeles-Melbourne routes, keep in mind it is an on-again, off-again affair. So keep your bags packed and your web browser bookmarked.

Brisbane To/From Los Angeles on Qantas

We found award-seat availability recently for up to two travelers on the Los Angeles-Brisbane route in both directions using Alaska, American, and Cathay Pacific miles. Three and four seats were occasionally found outbound only.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6865" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

 Melbourne To/From Los Angeles on Qantas

A few single award seats were found Los Angeles-Melbourne using Alaska and American miles. A handful of days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers was found using Alaska and American miles on the return. This just means that you want to mix and match your routes, also known as an open jaw. Cathay had no award seats on this route in either direction, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

Melbourne to Dallas, and Los Angeles-, Dallas-, San Francisco-, and Vancouver-to-Sydney routes had scattered seats here and there. Be sure to give it a look before you rule them out.

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No award space was found on Qantas’ New York-Auckland route in either direction.

–The American Airlines Flight Strategy–

Here are Business Class mileage costs for American’s Los Angeles-Sydney route.

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American’s Business Class Mileage Award Seat Trends

 Sydney To/From Los Angeles on American

Los Angeles-Sydney had a few days with award-seat availability for up to four travelers in both directions, using American miles, though there are more days with seats on the return. Partners Alaska, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific did not show any seats on this route.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

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No award space was found on American’s Dallas- and Los Angeles-Auckland routes in either direction.

–The Air New Zealand Flight Strategy–

Here are Business Class mileage costs for partners Air Canada, All Nippon, United, and LifeMiles for Air New Zealand’s Los Angeles-Auckland route.

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Air New Zealand's Partners Business Class Mileage Award Seat Trends

Air New Zealand’s partners did not offer the same, or in some cases, any award space on Air New Zealand’s Business Class flights for close-in travel, but some looked really good. Let’s look at the trends on Air New Zealand’s Houston-, Los Angeles-, and San Francisco-Auckland routes.

Auckland To/From Houston on Air New Zealand

From Houston to Auckland, Air Canada, All Nippon, and LifeMiles had a handful of days with award-seat availability for up to three travelers outbound. Using United miles, we have seen a handful of days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers in both directions.

From Auckland to Houston, All Nippon had a handful of days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers in both directions. Air Canada, LifeMiles, and United had a decent number of days, with four seats available only on the return. This just means that you want to mix and match your routes, also known as an open jaw.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6870" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Auckland To/From Los Angeles on Air New Zealand

Air Canada, All Nippon, LifeMiles, and United had a handful of days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers from Los Angeles to Auckland and a few days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers from Auckland to Los Angeles. All Nippon had fewer seats in both directions.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6871" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="narrow" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Auckland To/From San Francisco on Air New Zealand

Air Canada, LifeMiles, and United had a handful of days with award-seat availability for up to two travelers in both directions. All Nippon had only a handful outbound and none on the return, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6872" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="narrow" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

No award seats were found to/from Chicago, New York, and Vancouver to Auckland.

–The United Airlines Flight Strategy–

Here are mileage costs for partners Air Canada, All Nippon, and LifeMiles for United’s Los Angeles-Sydney route.

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United and Its Partners’ Business Class Mileage Award Seat Trends

United’s partners did not offer the same, or in some cases, any award space on United’s Business Class flights for close-in travel.

Award-seat availability trends on United’s Los Angeles-Melbourne and -Sydney, and San Francisco-Auckland, -Melbourne, and -Sydney routes.

Auckland To/From San Francisco on United Airlines

Award-seat availability was plentiful using United miles in both directions. Award-seat availability has been decent using partner All Nippon miles. Air Canada has had fewer days with seats, and LifeMiles had none in either direction, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6874" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Melbourne To/From Los Angeles on United Airlines

Air Canada, LifeMiles, and United have had a few days with award-seat availability in both directions. All Nippon had almost no seats outbound and none on the return, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6875" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Melbourne To/From San Francisco on United Airlines

Air Canada, LifeMiles, and United have had a few days with award-seat availability in both directions. All Nippon has none in either direction, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6876" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Sydney To/From Los Angeles on United Airlines

LifeMiles and United have had a handful of days with award-seat availability outbound and a decent number of days with seats on the return. Air Canada has only had a few seats on the return; this means you want to mix and match your routes, also known as an open jaw. All Nippon had almost no seats, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6877" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

Sydney To/From San Francisco on United Airlines

Air Canada, LifeMiles, and United had a decent number of days with award seats in both directions. All Nippon had none, so we left them out.

Frequency (%) of days within 30 days of departure we recently found that low-cost Business Class awards were available

[table_opt id="6878" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

No award space was found on United’s Los Angeles-Auckland route in either direction.

So, when was the last time you saw a 15-hour, $10,142+ flight in Business Class go for $2,232? Who gives this a vote for a top deal of the year?

See you up front.

[["Los Angeles - Brisbane","Alaska","American","Cathay Pacific"],["Buy Miles/Points from","Alaska","American","Amex"],["Approx. Cost Cost per Mile/Point When on Sale","1.8\u00a2","2.4\u00a2","2.5\u00a2"],["Points Transfer Partner","N/A","Citi","Amex, Capital One, Citi"],["Mileage Required R/T","110,000","160,000","150,000"],["Total Cost of Miles for Business Class R/T","$2,032","$3,930","$3,750"],["Approx. Taxes R/T","$200","$100","$200"],["Total Cost R/T","<strong>$2,232</strong>","$4,030","$3,950"],["Typical Fare","$10,142","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["\nSavings","$7,910","$6,112","$6,192"],["#rowspan#","78%","60%","61%"]]
[["Qantas Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats"],["\n\nAlaska","Outbound:","9%","6%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>12%</strong>","2%"],["\n\nAmerican","Outbound:","9%","6%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>12%</strong>","2%"],["\n\nCathay Pacific","Outbound:","9%","6%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>14%</strong>","2%"]]
[["Qantas Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats"],["\n\nAlaska","Outbound:","3%","0%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","4%","2%"],["\n\nAmerican","Outbound:","3%","0%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","4%","2%"]]
[["<strong>Los Angeles - Sydney</strong>","#colspan#"],["Buy Miles/Points from","American"],["Approx. Cost per Mile When on Sale","2.4\u00a2"],["Points Transfer Partner","Citi"],["Mileage Required R/T","125,000"],["Total Cost of Miles for Business Class R/T","$3,070"],["Approx. Taxes R/T","$100"],["Total Cost R/T","$3,170"],["Typical Fare","$9,867"],["Savings","$6,697"],["#rowspan#","68%"]]
[["Operating Carrier","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAmerican","To:","4%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From:","<strong>12%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]
[["Los Angeles - Auckland","Air Canada","All Nippon","LifeMiles","United"],["Buy Miles/Points from","Air Canada","Amex","LifeMiles","United"],["Approx. Cost Sale Cost per Mile/Point When on Sale","1.3\u00a2","2.5\u00a2","1.4\u00a2","1.8\u00a2"],["Points Transfer Partner","Amex, Capital One, Chase","Amex","Amex, Capital One, Citi","Chase"],["Mileage Required R/T","150,000","120,000","160,000","220,000"],["Total Cost of Miles for Business Class R/T","$1,950","$3,000","$2,192","$3,960"],["Approx. Taxes R/T","$200","$88","$80","$100"],["Total Cost R/T","$2,150","$3,088","$2,272","$4,060"],["Typical Fare","$8,772","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Savings","$6,622","$5,684","$6,500","$4,712"],["#rowspan#","75%","65%","74%","54%"]]
[["Air New Zealand Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","<strong>12%</strong>","7%","1%","0%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>41%</strong>","<strong>33%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>15%</strong>"],["\n\nAll Nippon","Outbound:","8%","5%","1%","0%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","4%","3%","0%","#colspan#"],["\n\nLifeMiles","Outbound:","<strong>12%</strong>","7%","1%","0%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>41%</strong>","<strong>33%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>15%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","<strong>12%</strong>","6%","0%","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>41%</strong>","<strong>33%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>15%</strong>"]]
[["Air New Zealand Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","<strong>34%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>56%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>"],["\n\nAll Nippon","Outbound:","<strong>21%</strong>","7%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>17%</strong>","2%"],["\n\nLifeMiles","Outbound:","<strong>34%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>56%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","<strong>34%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>56%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>"]]
[["Air New Zealand Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","<strong>20%</strong>","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","5%","#rowspan#"],["\n\nLifeMiles","Outbound:","<strong>20%</strong>","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","5%","#rowspan#"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","<strong>20%</strong>","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","5%","#rowspan#"]]
[["Los Angeles - Sydney","Air Canada","All Nippon","LifeMiles","United"],["Buy Miles/Points from","Air Canada","Amex","LifeMiles","United"],["Approx. Cost per Mile/Point When on Sale","1.3\u00a2","2.5\u00a2","1.4\u00a2","1.8\u00a2"],["Points Transfer Partner","Amex, Capital One, Chase","Amex","Amex, Capital One, Citi","Chase"],["Mileage Required R/T","150,000","120,000","160,000","200,000"],["Total Cost of Miles for Business Class R/T","$1,950","$3,000","$2,192","$3,600"],["Approx. Taxes R/T","$200","$88","$80","$100"],["Total Cost R/T","$2,150","$3,088","$2,272","$3,700"],["Typical Fare","$10,100","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["\nSavings","$7,950","$7,012","$7,828","$6,400"],["#rowspan#","79%","69%","78%","63%"]]
[["Operating Carrier / Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","4%","3%","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>10%</strong>","9%","8%","#colspan#"],["\n\nAll Nippon","Outbound:","6%","4%","3%","2%"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>16%</strong>","<strong>10%</strong>","<strong>8%</strong>","#colspan#"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>18%</strong>","<strong>17%</strong>","<strong>16%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>36%</strong>","<strong>35%</strong>","<strong>33%</strong>","<strong>31%</strong>"]]
[["Operating Carrier / Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","To","2%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","5%","#colspan#","#colspan#","4%"],["\n\nLifeMiles","To","<strong>7%</strong>","<strong>6%</strong>","<strong>5%</strong>","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","<strong>13%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>","#colspan#","<strong>10%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","To","7%","6%","5%","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","<strong>13%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>","#colspan#","<strong>10%</strong>"]]
[["Operating Carrier / Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","2%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","3%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["\n\nLifeMiles","Outbound:","7%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>15%</strong>","<strong>14%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","7%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>15%</strong>","<strong>14%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>"]]
[["Operating Carrier / Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","To","0%","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","7%","#colspan#","#colspan#","5%"],["\n\nLifeMiles","To","2%","1%","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","<strong>23%</strong>","<strong>22%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>17%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","To","2%","1%","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","From","<strong>23%</strong>","<strong>22%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>17%</strong>"]]
[["Operating Carrier / Partner","Route","1+ Seat","2+ Seats","3+ Seats","4+ Seats"],["\n\nAir Canada","Outbound:","5%","4%","3%","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Return:","5%","#colspan#","4%","#colspan#"],["\n\nLifeMiles","Outbound:","<strong>14%</strong>","<strong>13%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>21%</strong>","<strong>21%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>19%</strong>"],["\n\nUnited","Outbound:","<strong>14%</strong>","<strong>13%</strong>","<strong>12%</strong>","<strong>11%</strong>"],["#rowspan#","Return:","<strong>21%</strong>","<strong>21%</strong>","<strong>20%</strong>","<strong>19%</strong>"]]